Making Friends At Student Apartments

The college environment is a natural place to make friends. Every day, you’re among thousands of peers, most of whom are relatively new to the area and looking to expand their social circles. But certain aspects of college life provide better opportunities for making friends. While on campus, for example, students are often preoccupied with classes, whereas in off campus housing, students have personal time and opportunities for socializing, which leads to more friendships between roommates, neighbors, and even strangers who meet serendipitously. Of course, making friends in student housing still requires some effort. That’s why Athens Ridge, a UGA off campus housing community, offers the following tips on making friends.

USE AMENITIES THAT WORK FOR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Sometimes, students become friends after they participate together in an activity they both enjoy. This often happens with workout partners. Other times, an activity is the icebreaker, which allows students to learn about each other and discover common ground. But in either case, the catalyst for an adult friendship is usually a social activity. Therefore, by utilizing the amenities at UGA off campus housing, you can meet like-minded people. Each of the amenities at Athens Ridge offers unique opportunities for you to socialize.

SWIMMING POOL

Swimming is an activity that reduces stress levels while exercising the body with a low-impact workout. But those are just the individual benefits. From a group perspective, pools are hubs of social activity among residents of UGA apartments. In Athens, outdoor pools are desirable places for students to socialize and cool off. But even if you head to the pool by yourself, chances are many people are there already. Meanwhile, Athens Ridge has a 20-foot jumbotron that overlooks the pool and broadcasts UGA athletics, turning the pool area into a tailgating hot-spot.

LAZY RIVER

Like the pool, the lazy river is usually in-use. But while the pool environment is conducive to group activities, the lazy river is more ideal for intimate conversations between people. Thus, you can relax as well as converse while floating leisurely along the river on an inflatable inner tube.

SPORTS COURTS

Sports are one of the biggest catalysts for new friendships — after all, it’s called “friendly competition” for a reason. Whether you play one-on-one or team matches, athletics naturally promote the sorts of engaging social interactions that foster lasting friendships. Two of the world’s most popular sports are basketball and soccer, and Athens Ridge provides game areas for each.

STUDY ROOMS

In addition to amenities for leisure time activities, residents can also utilize on-site study rooms to support their academic pursuits. Whether you prefer to study in groups or by yourself, study rooms are great venues for making friends. Your chances of meeting people in the same classes with whom you can study are high, and two people who are learning about different subjects still can offer each other moral support.

INVITE PEOPLE TO YOUR APARTMENT

If you’ve lived in a dormitory on campus, then you know there are rules for guests and noise levels that can limit your ability to host. Also, if you were to throw a party on campus, a resident assistant (RA) might take disciplinary action against you. But in off campus apartments allow students significantly more freedoms. In an apartment, as long as you respect the law, your roommates and your neighbors, you’re free to host parties and other social gatherings. Not to mention, your apartment is spacious enough to do so with becoming crowded.

 

If you’re not sure who to invite to a gathering, start by asking your roommates to invite their friends. Next, ask your neighbors to join. And once you’ve built rapport with your neighbors, ask them to invite the people they know.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT OFF CAMPUS HOUSING NEAR UGA

As a member of Athens Ridge, you have many opportunities to make friends. First, our community is designed for UGA students, which means you’re surrounded by peers while living here. Second, we offer roommate-matching services for our four- and five-bedroom apartments. Whether you preselect your roommates or have us choose them, you have a high probability of living with people whose lifestyles, interests, and goals are similar to yours. Third, our amenities-driven community offers many venues for social interactions, whether they be the pool, gym, lazy river, basketball court, or study rooms. Finally, given our location near UGA campus and the free shuttles we offer, Athens Ridge helps you stay plugged into on campus events while also enjoying the freedoms of living off campus. To apply for a student apartment, contact Athens Ridge today!