Making friends during (but not at) Orientation
Hey, Class of 2020! (*John Oliver voice*) Welcome welcome welcome!Seeing as I am just a sophomore, I remember the events of Orientation like they were yesterday. Or should I say, I remember avoiding the vast majority of said events because I thought I was too cool and too mature for events called the "Ice Cream Social" or the "First-Year Festival." If you, too, froshie, feel that you are totally over Orientation before it even starts, keep reading.Here are some ways to make friends during Orientation without actually going to Orientation:1.) Make a super fun move-in playlist, play it while you're unpacking, and leave your door open.I did this last year and it drew a lot of foot-traffic into my room. Everyone wanted to hear where the music was coming from and to say "hi" to the person playing it. Plus, you can scope out who in your Unit has a music taste similar to yours (hint hint: new friend alert).Personally, I played a lot of 90's rap, Kanye, Chance, Tame Impala, and Mac DeMarco when I did this last year, but to each their own.
You and your new friend bondin' and dancin'!
2.) Honestly just wander around campus after all of the required Orientation events are done. Sure, there is a cheesy-sounding Orientation event you could go to, but if you'd rather be at a party, Keeney and Andrews are usually poppin' and, as of Sunday, we sophomores, juniors, and seniors will be back on campus, too. Our return means there is a strong possibility of parties on Wriston Quad or on Waterman, Angell, Meeting, or Hope Streets.3.) Walk up to any groups of students who all have Brown University lanyards on.
Odds are these students are also freshmen (side note: why do so many freshmen own these lanyards?). And your fellow freshmen want to make friends just as badly as you do, so go right up to them! If you have fun talking to someone, GET THEIR PHONE NUMBER. This is the only time during your college career in which it is totally acceptable to just get digits on digits on digits. So take advantage of it!4.) Do attend the mandatory Unit meetings.I know, I know, I said this was a post about how to make friends without going to Orientation events, but I feel strongly about this. Why? It's awesome to make friends with kids you live with/near because in the long, cold, hard months of New England winter in which we all become hermits, who are you going to want to chill out with? Your Unit. Plus, the kids in your Unit are great to go out with, because you can all continue to hang out in your lounges after you return to your dorm at the end of the night.5.) Definitely say hi to and acknowledge any of the freshmen you talked to on Facebook/through your class's Facebook group (if you did indeed do that). 
If you connected over Facebook with someone, first of all it's just polite to say "hi" in real life, but second of all, maybe he or she is perfect new friend material! There's no harm in trying. And you probably already know your Facebook buddy's name, which, at the beginning of freshman year when you feel like you have about 500 names to learn, is a huge plus.
Good luck, froshies! You've got this.