The List of Posse-bilities: Ways to Meet People and Make Friends After College

“Finding your people” is not an easy task. In fact, it seems to be a lifelong one—as you evolve and change, it’s likely your friendships will too.

Something that might help along the way is putting yourself out there and trying different social activities and groups. You probably already know that’s often what’s required to expand your circle, but understandably, it’s not always the comfiest thing to do.

Maybe you’ve tried some groups and successfully developed friendships that way. Or maybe you went to an alumni chapter event and didn’t come away with fast friends—or worse, had a very awkward experience. I’m sorry. That’s less than fun and more than enough to make someone not want to try that again.

But try not to let those experiences stop you from exploring other opportunities. There might just be a community full of welcoming, fun-loving people that’s the perfect fit for you.

Have patience—going to one outing rarely guarantees instant friendship. But there’s still a lot of value in putting yourself out there and learning what brings you joy along the way. In my experience, it’s a process, and that’s okay. Making friends as an adult isn’t always straightforward. After moving a few times and reflecting on how tricky it can be to connect with people who feel like a good match, I started exploring different ways people build community after college—and that’s how The List of Posse-bilities began.

Below are some starting points you could try, organized by region and city. This list is by no means exhaustive and will absolutely need updating over time, but I hope it gives you a few ideas along the way. This is only a sampler—many fun, diverse communities and social groups are still out there to explore and will be added to this list. Please leave a comment if you have any recommendations!