Help in forming real friendships in college.

I just moved into college last week, as an introvert with limited social and relationship skills. I’m also a few years older than the typical college freshman, so that makes me feel awkward sometimes.

I have been meeting people and everything, and I’m even part of a group chat of like a dozen people who hang out all the time. So that’s something.

However, I generally get the sense that nobody actually likes me, and I don’t really blame them. I’m pretty poor at making eye contact and keeping a conversation going. I never really learned how to form good relationships, and I feel like it’s now or never for finally learning that.

I want to form deeper friendships than just hanging out with my sometimes shallow group of people. My low opinion of myself really holds me back since I figure no one would actually want to be friends with me. It’s so hard to struggle with stuff that seems to come completely naturally to everyone else.

I’m asking for any practical tips but especially for advice on what mindset I need in order to figure this out.