<p>It shouldn’t be hard to make friends. You’ll meet people in your dorm, especially on your floor, and in classes. Get involved with an activity or sport. Maybe there is a club for people from foreign countries. Be open to different people and experiences. When I went to college in 1976, I was a US citizen living in England. I didn’t know anybody at college. I made friends almost immediately with people on my dorm floor (three of whom I’m still friends with 35 years later). I got involved in theater and made more friends. Yes, UMass has a lot of people from Massachusetts. But the vast majority of them won’t know more than a few people at most when they arrive. There will also be people from other states and other countries. You’ll be fine.</p>