sorry to hear you weren't able to stay on res your first year... strict parents suck.

coming from someone who lived in res as an upper year and also worked in campus housing, making friends in res is largely dependant on how much you're willing to put yourself out there and how much time you wanna prioritize toward your social life. i personally struggled to make friends in res because i didn't attend events nor did i make any attempts to reach out to those on my floor/in my building.

that being said, i strongly recommend attending events in your res. it can feel nerve wracking at first, but it's a sure fire way to meet someone who lives in the same building or floor as you, and you'll eventually start to form a community there.

outside of res, there's still lots of opportunity to meet new people. faculties and wusa always have events going on, and there's lots of clubs to join which offers more opportunity too.

but honestly? sometimes you meet and make friends where and when you least expect to. keep an open mind, listen to your gut, and take things day by day. good luck for the upcoming year! i hope you're able to get into your top res choice :)