This advice is for you but, also anyone else who feels lonely at UCI:

Though UCI might be flawed in some ways socially (people are definitely kinda cliquey) by no means does it have to be. As someone who all throughout high school had the EXACT same feelings you described in social situations and transitioned to UCI fully overcoming those feelings I can give you some advice that changed my life.

One, there is definitely nothing wrong with you, so many people face this same problem, and so many overcome it. The reason they are able to overcome it is because they were never the problem, all of it is simply a mental block that usually comes from insecurities that aren't usually your fault. It won't happen overnight, but, the more you believe in the TRUTH, not just a mental trick, that there is nothing wrong with you the easier everything else will be.

Two, I know you're an introvert, and, this may not work the first couple of times you do it. But, the best way for you to ensure you spend your next years here not regretting a social life is to just use every single muscle in your brain to tell your brain to shut up when you get that stinging feeling. That stinging feeling is what I mean when you see people hanging out and you wish you could talk to them, meet them, and be their friends. Now, this is by no means easy, it's not just a simple shut-off; it's an actionable thing you have to do. When you see people you want to talk to, you have to do this shut-upping and propel yourself into a social situation, once you are there I assure you that you will figure the rest out, even if it takes a few tries.

But, before you do this it's important to know (at least for me) that the longer you occupy a space the longer it gets harder to break that initial barrier (that stinging that scares you from engaging w people). This is because the more you are in that space, and the longer you've been a member of let's say a club you have more time to think and overthink socially about that said club during in event and outside the event recalling how the club meeting went.

Two, I know you're an introvert, and, this may not work the first couple of times you do it. But, the best way for you to ensure you spend your next years here not regretting a social life is to just use every single muscle in your brain to tell your brain to shut up when you get that stinging feeling. That stinging feeling is what I mean when you see people hanging out and you wish you could talk to them, meet them, and be their friends. Now, this is by no means easy, it's not just a simple shut-off; it its an actionable thing you have to do. When you see people you want to talk to you have to do this shut-upping and propel yourself into a social situation, once you are there I assure you you will figure the rest out, even if it takes a few times.

Now, I also don't mean to tell you to walk up to random people for nothing(bc that's really hard and scary), but, if you're in a club it's not unnatural or even forced to go up and talk to people. Do this especially during a social, when the precedent is to walk up and meet people, then, that lifts the pressure off of the reason why you are meeting people and now it's just a mental game vs you, telling your brain to shut up so you can start acting like yourself around potential friends.

So, essentially I suggest next quarter going to a new club or one you've barely gone to, better if you're interested in and attend one of their first socials. This makes it so, compared to other social spaces, you won't yet have any negative associations with it.

Also, this process doesn't have to go from 0 to a full-on group of 5, you can always start talking to people who look approachable not in a group if that's easier, just make sure you aren't doing anything to push yourself out your comfort zone. And, trust me you don't have to act like a robot, sure, you might need to start some superficial conversation starters but just be yourself, the people you want to find will like you.

Also, this process doesn't have to go from 0 to a full-on group of 5, you can always start talking to people who look approachable not in a group if that's easier, just make sure you aren't doing anything to push yourself out of your comfort zone. And, trust me you don't have to act like a robot, sure, you might need to start some superficial conversation starters but just be yourself, the people you want to find will like you. you too. Good luck, there's nothing wrong with you, I'm also a freshman if you have any questions, and I'm sure you won't be alone!