Hey Another poster that usually doesn’t post in these, but I want to also add some encouragement and perspective!
Deep friendships take lots of time. It usually isn’t a specific experience with someone or always being invited to things by people that create these friendships. It’s the hours and hours spent doing the mundane things, talking about anything. It’s the shared time, whether it be in a sport or other shared activity, watching TV, or discussing a shared interest. It’s not usually something you seek out, it just kinda happens.
My freshman year, I pretty much left in the same scenario as you.
Two years later, I’ve picked up three more in various ways, and a few that are inching closer. All of them came because I kept giving people a chance. For every one good friend you find, you’re probably going to invest hundreds of hours in other people who you won’t end up being that close with. That type of close friendship is rare, and it’s important to keep that in perspective.
One of my now closest friends also used to be one of those types of “I know everyone and go to all the parties” people. She never had the close friendships, but now the close friendships with myself and a few others are probably where they spend a good deal of their time, and as far as I know, they are much happier about it. I couldn’t agree more with the quality over quantity.
In high school, it’s easier in some ways because people share all that mundane time every week without having to schedule it. Lunch, gym, classes, school projects, studying, activities. In college, a big shift is that you have to actively make that time. So, if you have someone you think could possibly be a good friend, make the time and try it out! If it doesn’t work, oh well, it was statistically likely. If it’s a good experience, do it again! Soon enough, the connection will grow into someone you can sit around with and talk with easily or have a comfortable silence with.
Last thing: cherish your close friends, and make sure they know how much you value them. Not all the time or in a clingy way, but just express the appreciation. It goes a long way.
PS: This article gives some cool frameworks for how to look at friendships - No one will have all or even a majority of the “types” discussed, but think about how your friendships map into this framework over your life, and what you would want ideally
http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/12/10-types-odd-friendships-youre-probably-part.html