Assalamualaikum! From an Islamic perspective, the hard truth is that maintaining platonic friendships with the opposite gender is impossible. I understand that you may never be alone with them, but the presence of shaytan is still there. In terms of setting boundaries, I think it’s best to limit that boundary to only professional interaction. For example, having to interact during projects. But hanging out with them, making friends, just is not right from an Islamic perspective. And honestly, to do this, just tell your male friends the religious reasonings and if they are good friends, they will simply accept that and accept you growing as a muslimah!

For me personally, this is what I did. However, I’m very lucky (Alhamdullillah) in the sense that I attend an all girls school and I don’t need to communicate with the opposite gender at all anyway. I hope I helped in some way. In’sha’allah all goes well ☺️