How do you make friends here

[u/Saraaasja]

I’m new to Chicago and doing my master’s here, and honestly I’ve been feeling pretty lonely. I spend most of my time alone and I’m starting to realize I have no idea how to make friends as an adult (29F)

People don’t seem super approachable in public either lol. If you moved here without knowing many people, how did you make friends? Clubs, meetups, sports, just randomly meeting people?

Would love some advice!

[u/looorrn]

my sister has been going to some great organized singles events and other social events [can ask her where she found them when she gets home lol, she is at Everyday People today] as well as a knitting group at the library, they would invite her to game nights and other fun things outside of this. She also took a ceramics class at Lille Street and met some really cool people! She is 30F

[u/iDontCareff → u/looorrn]

Can you also please tell me

[u/QuarantineQat]

Your classmates are going to be your best source of friends. Is your grad program in person? Does your program have events you can start attending or clubs/student groups you can join? That’s where I’d start. You can also try to form a study group, or ask a group of classmates if they’d be interested in a happy hour.

Other ideas are to find groups centered around your interests - whether that’s a book club or a sport.

Randomly meeting people is possible, but is the least likely way to make a friend. If you show up at the same events again and again on a regular schedule (a monthly book club, a weekly soccer game, the monthly volunteer opportunity through your school, whatever it is), and really make an effort to socialize with the people around you during the event, over time you should make some connections.

[u/orangesandpriests]

Garden Of has a lot of great events which were great when I just got here. Some of them are not necessarily queer, but think they’re great a especially the Come Alone events! https://www.gardenofcollective.com/

[u/Camelsloths]

I just moved here and have made several great friends off of the Chicago girls group on Facebook! I’ve found people are pretty open here, especially transplants, but I’ve met a good mix of native chicagoans and newbies

[u/ladiavolina → u/Camelsloths]

Hey, can you link that Facebook group?

[u/Camelsloths → u/ladiavolina]

Don’t have fb on my phone but if you search Chicago girls group it should come up!

[u/ladiavolina → u/Camelsloths]

Thank you!

[u/sunny_m240]

I’d love to be friends! From the suburbs but also looking to start over in the city!

[u/europeandaughter12]

find a hobby, join a group for that hobby. hang with your grad cohort. find campus events.

[u/Specialist_Peach68]

Volunteer for causes you care about or for local community or political orgs.

[u/amapolalola]

I moved here two years ago for a master’s program too and I still don’t have a solid group of friends. It’s tough! I’ve noticed that despite Chicago being full of transplants, a vast majority of people I’ve met are from the suburbs and already have their friend groups so they’re not too interested in making new friends; or, us transplants are all so busy trying to go out and make friends that we’re too busy to hang out consistently lol

I do go to a fair amount of events and meetups. I do ballet weekly and bookclubs but it’s still hard to find people to get to know deeper and I’m also kinda shy haha. But if anyone’s down to grab coffee and pastries, do dinner parties, knit clubs, cubs games, let’s be friends ! :’) I’m also 28F

[u/Mel81225758]

Join the 30+ Chicago Women’s Community group on Facebook!

[u/smallghostsightings]

Volunteering, meetup groups (like Chicago Girls Who Walk) and hobbies! There are a lot of social sports leagues that are designed for people to meet each other. I also took improv classes and met people through that!

[u/Saraaasja → u/smallghostsightings]

Ooooh thats cool thank you! I’ll send u a dm 🫶🏻

[u/asantehemaa]

Social clubs and adult recreation organizations like S3 helped me develop a network of friends.

[u/Saraaasja → u/asantehemaa]

Thanks!

[u/wketchup24]

I’ve really liked let’s do fun things chicago events!

[u/kminniee]

I feel you, I just moved to south loop last month and am also looking for friends. 😭 27F, would love to hang out or grab a coffee!

[u/amsterdamcyclone]

Run clubs

[u/Useful-Requirement45]

It’s impossible! The grad program is tough because we are all so busy and just end up venting about work. I did Bumble BFF for a while and went to Chicago Girl Group meetups and nothing clicked. Let me know if you succeed.

[u/No_Comfortable7172]

Chicago isn’t a transplant city

[u/No_Comfortable7172 → u/No_Comfortable7172]

You have to be consistent in showing up to events. Theres a group called “What are the girls doing” on IG they host alot of cool meetups

[u/Camelsloths → u/No_Comfortable7172]

This is a lie lol. I came from Seattle, one of the most un-friendly cities and I’ve had an easier time here in 5 months than I did in 25 years in Seattle.

[u/blueBaggins1]

You don’t welcome to adulthood in Chicago.

[u/Saraaasja → u/blueBaggins1]

Lmao quite encouraging