Starting college is a whirlwind of excitement and nervousness. The prospect of settling in, finding your place, and making friends can feel overwhelming, but breaking the ice is often the first step toward making life-long connections. 😨
Here are ten engaging, effective, and fun icebreakers that can help you meet and make new college friends! 💯
1. Two Truths and a Lie 🤔
Each person will share three statements about themselves — two are true and one is a lie — and the rest of the group will guess which statement is false. This tricky icebreaker reveals fascinating and surprising facts about you that can jumpstart conversations with new people who can soon become your college friends.
Participants must come up with deceptive statements that keep others guessing what the actual lie is. Adding the right amount of details can turn unconvincing information, like “I like pizza,” into tough contenders, like “I once ate pizza every day for a month.” 🤔
2. Human Bingo 🎱
Divide the players into small teams. Each group will get a bingo card with prompts related to the activity’s theme or discussion topic. For example, if it’s a student club about hiking, you can fill up the card with descriptions like “someone who enjoys hiking” or “someone who always brings snacks.”
The teams should work together to match the people to the right prompts. Chat with others, share experiences, and learn new things about one another, and soon you’ll find that your bingo card is filled with signatures! 🗣️
TIP: Consider customizing the bingo cards to reflect the group of participants. Prompts like “Lives on campus” or “Hasn’t declared a major yet” work better for freshmen, while traits related to the club activities will go well for student club orientations.
3. Would You Rather…? 🤷
Warning: This icebreaker will unleash a night of hilarious revelations (and potentially scandalous confessions) among your new college friends, so get ready to spark lively discussions!
To play, all you need to do is prepare a few spicy, funny, or downright diabolical questions, which will get the rest to come up with their own on the spot. Take turns asking someone a question that presents two equally appealing or unappealing choices, and the golden rule is that you have to pick one.
For example, you have unlimited access to a magical fridge for a month. Would you rather have the most decadent desserts you can imagine or go for a gourmet health food paradise? Then, let the laughter and lively debates flow. ❔
TIP: To maintain a friendly atmosphere, keep the questions light-hearted and noncontroversial. Avoid divisive topics like gender, race, and politics.
4. What’s in Your Bag? 🎒
Here’s a fun twist to the classic “show and tell:” Ask participants to pull out an interesting or unexpected item from their bag and share its story. This activity not only forces participants to be creative, but it can also unlock fun memories that the group might appreciate hearing.
To spice things up, encourage everyone to choose items that have a unique story or personal significance. For example, someone might pull out a ticket stub from a memorable concert or a quirky keychain with a special meaning. 👝
5. Scene It to Believe It 🎬
Playing this team-based activity, you can unleash your inner actor (or director) and build connections with new college friends. What you need to do is divide people into evenly-sized teams and have scene prompts on hand. Each team picks a scene, and team members act it out before freezing in position and describing their characters. ✍️
Once everyone’s in place, a volunteer or facilitator acting as the director will shout “action,” and everyone starts to act out their roles. This amusing and collaborative game puts your classmates in a fresh light, inspiring laughter and shared memories that lead to strong friendships.
TIP: Choose relatable and fun scenes for college students, such as “themed college party” or “first day of class,” so everyone can easily get into character.
6. 60 Seconds of Fun ⌛
Are you looking for a fast-paced activity perfect for sparking conversations among new college friends? Why not try a platonic form of speed dating? Give people some time to come up with conversation starters, like asking each other’s names and pronouns or a fun hobby. Each pair will get a minute with each other, and then one has to move and meet someone else once the timer runs out. ⏲️
The goal is to have brief conversations with as many people as possible. Keep it light, and don’t worry about packing tons of information each round. Focus on making initial connections.
TIP: Ask open-ended questions to make the most of your brief encounters. Instead of asking where they are from, try phrasing it: “What’s your favorite thing about your hometown?”
7. Paper Airplanes ✈
Simply asking someone else a question can get dull. Why not take this to greater heights, literally? Paper airplanes is an icebreaker that starts with people writing down their names and questions on paper. Everyone should then fold them into airplanes and fly them across the room. 🛩️
Each student picks up a paper airplane that is not their own, then they find the plane’s owner and ask them the question written on it. Remember to write open-ended questions like “What’s the best trip you’ve ever taken?” or “What’s your favorite book and why?” These questions are like golden tickets to more engaging and meaningful conversations.
TIP: For those who don’t know how to fold a paper airplane, provide simple, step-by-step instructions or have a quick demonstration.
8. Find Your Twin 👬
Your twin flame may be around the corner, and this icebreaker can lead you closer to them. To start, grab a piece of paper and fold it in half (lengthwise). Write 10 interesting things about yourself on the left side, such as your love for hiking, being a polyglot, or having a pet chinchilla.
Now, what’s the other side for? Your mission is to find new college friends who share those traits and have them sign next to the matching trivia. Remember, the more unique your traits, the more interesting conversations you’ll have. 💯
9. Human Knot 🪢
This energizing activity is a fantastic way to encourage teamwork. Stand in a tight circle and hold your left arm upwards before slowly putting it down in the center, where you will grasp the first hand you reach. Do this with your right hand as well, ensuring that you are holding on to a different person.
Now comes the fun part: untangling yourselves into a normal circle without letting go. To untie the knot, you and your new college friends will need to bend, twist, and maybe even crawl under an arm or two (don’t worry, it’s all part of the fun!). The more you talk to each other and listen to ideas, the faster you’ll untangle yourselves. 🥨
Plus, a little laughter and a positive attitude go a long way, and by the time you’re done, you’ll be surprised by how much easier it is to chat with everybody.
10. Sing-Off 🎤
It won’t matter if you’re with strangers, karaoke is a surefire way to create new college friends. 🎶 Divide your crew into teams. The leader will throw out a specific word, and each team needs to belt out a song with that word in the title.
Songs must not be repeated and there are no skipping turns. Players can sing anything from classic pop anthems to hidden indie gems, but it has to be a real song. This activity isn’t just about singing — it’s about working together, getting to know each other’s musical guilty pleasures, and having a blast. The last team standing takes all the bragging rights! 🏆
With these activities, students can find common ground, laugh together, and start their academic year with a supportive network of new college friends. So, give these icebreakers a try and watch as connections form and friendships blossom! 🌸
How to Make New Friends: Frequently Asked Questions
What are some effective icebreakers for college freshmen?
Activities like “Two Truths and a Lie,” “Human Bingo,” and “Would You Rather…?” are effective icebreakers for college freshmen because they are designed to be entertaining and engaging, allowing students to rapidly get to know one another.
How long should an icebreaker activity last?
Icebreaker exercises should last from 10 to 30 minutes. This timeframe is long enough to break the ice and get everyone involved, but short enough to keep the activity interesting and lively.
How can I make sure everyone feels included during icebreakers?
To ensure everyone feels included, consider activities fostering teamwork and cooperation over competition. Ensure the activities are enjoyable and harmless, and avoid discussing personal or sensitive topics. Promoting creativity and asking open-ended questions can also make everyone feel more involved.
How do I choose the right icebreaker for my group?
When selecting an icebreaker, keep in mind the size of your group, the setting, and the participants’ comfort level. Activities such as “Human Bingo” and “Scavenger Hunt” are ideal for larger parties.
For smaller or more intimate groups, try “Two Truths and a Lie” or “Paper Airplanes.” It’s also a good idea to know your group’s hobbies and preferences so you can choose an activity that everyone will enjoy.