What to do if you're going to the same college with your high school friends?

So me and two of my close friends have been accepted to UCSD and are probably all going to it. While I’m glad that I get to keep in touch with my friends, and will ultimately benefit from having them as connections throughout college, a small part of me is a little bummed. I have this idea that college will be a place for me to recreate myself. I’ve been super introverted and cautious in high school, but in college I want to improve myself. Better clothes, appearance, personality. Make new friend groups, explore my interests. Maybe even “out” myself to some people (my friends don’t know). Since we’re definitely going to hang out in our time in college, I’m afraid of them judging me for whoever I become. Funnily enough, I kind of get the vibe that my two friends feel the same way. Luckily, we’ve been accepted to different majors and different “colleges” within UCSD, so it’ll give us a lot of space from each other. Still, UCSD is “UC Socially Dead,” and if this is true, I’ll probably won’t make many friends and will spend a lot of time with them instead.

I’m not really sure what I’m trying to say or ask here. I don’t want to appear that I want to completely cut ties with them, and in fact, I’ll be sad if they move entirely on from me. Ultimately, I want independence from them, as I’m sure they want too, but they also are my friends, and I want to still be friends with them and not lose each other. If anyone has tips on how to achieve this balance in college, I’m all ears.

UCSD has about 35,000 students? There will be plenty of space to branch out.

I went to college in my hometown, Austin. Quite a few of my friends and acquaintances also attended UT. I found I was so busy that I had to make a conscious effort to see any of them. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Judging happens a lot less in college, and I found I didn’t care as much what people thought of me, anyway.

At one of my high school reunions, several people came up to me who had teased me a lot in high school (I was one of the “brains”). They told me they had all admired me back then!! So don’t worry about other people.

@MaineLonghorn Thank you! That’s good to hear. :slight_smile:

I went to a college with a population of 2,300 just about 25 minutes from my hometown with a few people I knew from high school. I still managed to evolve into a completely different person.

With a college of 35,000 students, I’m sure you’ll be able to be whoever you want to be.

I went to college with my best friend and after a couple of months I never saw her unless it was back home. Don’t worry about it at all.

@Cocohorse My undergrad school had around 2000 students, and there were three other girls and one boy from my high school (a big public) who went with me. That’s a pretty significant amount for a small LAC! I literally only saw ONE of them regularly. The others I’d see in passing or maybe way across the cafeteria.

UCSD is a much bigger school than my college. Honestly, I wouldn’t worry. In fact, I’d be more concerned if you WANTED to stay close with all of them; that would be the challenge. :slight_smile:

Definitely do not room with them…other than that, I think making friends will take care of itself.