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If money isn't an issue for you or your family, then move into residence. It forces you to meet people who live on campus. But keep in mind that if you don't want to participate and meet people, then you won't. Just because you're shy here doesn't mean you won't be shy there.
But if money is tight, and you don't mind making changes, then stay at home. You don't have to worry about cooking or the cost of accommodations. Join clubs, and make that extra effort. I know what it's like being shy, and I know how hard it is to make campus friends. But you can't meet people if you don't go to areas where people with common interests gather. If you like knitting, join the knitting club. If you like sports, join a rec team. If you like to sing, audition for choir.
Does your campus have a lot of clubs? Are there many events you hear about? Do you read the posterboards and the ads? Do you read the campus newspaper?
I think it'd be easier for me to open up to someone if I was living with a bunch of them for eight months out of the year.
It does have a lot of clubs but I have to say not a lot of them interest me. : Most of them are societies for certain areas of study, a lot of volunteer stuff too. I can't say I want to spend my night talking to a group of students about how The Prince influenced Renaissance Italy. Most of the events I hear about are club events, and the friends that I do have aren't into clubs and stuff and I'm sure as hell not going alone. Never bothered with the campus newspaper (it's more of a college newspaper because we're divided into seperate colleges but whatever that's not really relevant now is it?) I guess I'll pick one up next time I pass by a stand.