I am thinking about transferring to UCONN next year. However I’ve heard and was told that it is so hard to make friends as a transfer because everyone has already had/formed a group of friends and it won’t be easy to break into an existing group and hard to find any “left over” people. Is it generally the case? I consider myself outgoing, but I’ve rarely tried or had broken into any existing groups. When I was in high school, my friends had always been those I met from 9th grade and rarely any new members joined. This was also the case in my current school. I’ve never thought about this question but now when I do I can’t find any reasons.
You’ve made all the usual points, but in some ways I think that being a late-comer just makes more obvious what is often true anyway. When people are in a new situation they try to find fellow-travelers, and in college, that often means people on your hall or whatever sort of advisory or new-student groupings the school creates to help students settle in. Over the next few months, as people settle in, they very often move away from those first acquaintances. As they get to know people better - for example, through class or ECs- they develop more solid friendships. As you move into your major you get to know yet another group.
When you are a newcomer in an established setting, you are just at a different stage than most people and it takes a little time for you to catch up. It’s just more obvious b/c it’s one (or a few) people going through the early stages of acquaintanceship before friendship, rather than a whole lot of people doing it together.
It is harder, especially for people who are not joiners. But it is not impossible. There’s the usual, join clubs, blah blah blah - and definitely do it. Join the rally squad. But what I have noticed to be the biggest connector, bar none, is a Facebook transfer page. Hopefully a student sets one up at your new school. Otherwise, search out any FB page if you can find one. Having this connection helps mightily to get you through the transition.
Do a search of U of Conn on Facebook, putting words like transfer in and variations, and see what comes up.
I transferred in and it was very easy to make new friends. People on my floor, a few clubs, classes etc. Most people are very friendly and the people who aren’t friendly are the ones to avoid anyway. Building relationships is all about making other people feel good and finding a way to connect with them. Just find people with similar interests to you, compliment them on things, and ask them questions about themselves. Most people want to be around others that make them feel good. If you follow my advice, then people will want to be around you and all will be good in the world.