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Amidst the overload of information on class schedules, cafeteria food, and dorm rooms, the first week of freshman year is also filled with a sea of new faces and awkward introductions. Everyone is anxious to settle into the new environment, and finding  

new friends

  is one of the easiest ways to become more comfortable in college.

Though not everyone will become your best pal, there are some ways to turn amiable greetings into lifelong friendships.

In the Dorm
For starters, it is important to be--at the very least--polite to everyone. College campuses house a variety of individuals from all over the world and from different backgrounds. Remember, variety is the spice of life. Tolerance is not simply encouraged, it's mandatory.

Meeting new friends can occur even before you set foot on campus. Most schools provide the phone number, address, and e-mail of college roommates as soon as they are assigned. Calling or writing to your dorm partner is often suggested as a good way to discuss who will be bringing what to school. And, it's also the perfect icebreaker for getting to know the person you'll be living with for the next nine months.

Susan Page, a sophomore Spanish major at Susquehanna University (SU), Selinsgrove, PA, made an effort to get to know her college roommate before school started. "I asked her questions about what she had done over the summer and what she was looking forward to at school," she says.

The dorm or residence hall is a great place to find others you can get along with. Your college roommate and neighbors will be the people you see most often, so it helps to be on gracious terms with them.

According to Brian Steinmann, a sophomore photographic illustration major at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, getting to know his dormmates was a very casual and natural progression.

"We did social stuff together," says Brian. "We went to dinner, played card games, and did Mad Libs."

Extracurricular Friendships
Often, the simple act of living with others will encourage friendship, but be sure to broaden your horizons beyond your college roommate as well.

Most schools hold information fairs as part of freshman orientation or during the first weeks of school. extracurricular activities are showcased at fairs in an attempt to convince new students to become active. Take advantage of these events--they're a great way to meet new friends who share your interests.

Megan Carey, a sophomore majoring in psychology and woman's studies at Penn State University, State College, PA, became involved with Lion Support, a student-run volunteer organization that provides student counseling. It appealed to Megan because of her previous experience with peer counseling.

"It sounded like what I did in high school, and I really liked that," she says. "Plus, since I'm a psych major, I knew it'd be good for me."

Joining athletic teams, whether they are varsity competition or intramural fun, are also excellent ways to meet new friends.

Tyson Clark, a sophomore elementary education major at SU, played football during his freshman and sophomore years. "It helped me meet a lot of people," says Tyson. "I met football players and the friends of football players."

In the Classroom
Of course, it's not just extracurriculars that'll put you in touch with new faces--class is a great medium for making friends. Sharing gripes about too much assigned reading or triumphs over a pop quiz are bang-up conversation starters. During class, be active, answer questions, and offer your opinions. This will not only attract the attention of the prof, but it'll also help classmates learn your name and personality.

Another idea is to combine your classroom studies with your social life by arranging impromptu study groups. Student-organized groups are a great outlet to brainstorm ideas, stay ahead in class, and copy missed notes. And, they're a great excuse to get together outside of class and order a pizza!

"Take class with someone you know," says Megan. "That way, you can ask each other questions and study together."

Even if there are no familiar faces in class, attending study sessions can help your grades and help you get to know your classmates.

Knowing What to Say
Finding friendly people on a college campus should be no problem, however, finding something to gab about is another story. Yes, you may feel shy, and no, you don't want to appear desperate for new friends, but you're never going to build a friendship without having a conversation beyond "hello." Expand your horizons and ask questions to get things started. Hometowns can be a popular topic of discussion. "Whenever I tell people I'm from Allentown, they start to sing Billy Joel lyrics to me," says Megan.

However, you should make sure you're sensitive to people's backgrounds. In the beginning of the year, most people are homesick, and insulting where they're from is certainly not a way to make new friends. Of course, having a sense of humor can help.

"Everyone makes fun of Jersey," says Susan, an SU student who's a resident of Haddonfield, NJ. "I learned to laugh about it. I'm proud to be a 'Jersey Girl.'"

If all else fails, talk about music and movies. Try to avoid controversial topics like religion and politics until you get to know people better. Save that all-night talk about the meaning of life until you're sure you're talking with people who will respect your opinion, and you can do the same for theirs.

The most important thing to remember is to always be yourself. Relax. This is your first time in college; the same goes for everyone else. Early relationships may not always blossom into lifelong friendships. But if you look around, you'll find people with whom you'll connect.

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