Hey there CR. I’m a college student too, check out my journal sometime (Hbhall1's awesome new journal entries! - #2 by hbhall1). I’m still new to mones but not new to being social. Here’s the thing, I know exactly where you are coming from. I’ve been there and I believe I have a good understanding. Simply put bro, you can’t just give up your social life because of all the BS that seems to come along with it.
What I do is, I keep it simple. I hang out with my friends, make random plans and all that good stuff but I make it a point not to get involved to the extent that I’m being dragged into all their BS and drama. Sure I care for my friends and I do the best to help em out and everything, but that’s about it. I don’t lead them into believing I’ll do something for them that I don’t want to be a part of. It’s just that simple really, you can be dependable but you can’t have 'em being dependent on you. A lot of that also has to do with dealing with your own situations on your own as well, so don’t expect to be receiving benefits that you ain’t providing. Sure people may still be helpful, and most of them are and will help you out and be a part of your drama even if you’re not doing it for them. But I avoid getting others involved into my shit anyway.
As far as meeting new people is concerned, in college at least to me it feels like the easiest thing. It just comes naturally, college is a time when everyone wants to meet new people and no matter how experienced, alpha, beta or otherwise someone might seem, they are all open to meeting new people. If you feel your not getting enough of that, you simply have to be more open and instigate that stuff yourself because even though they are open to meeting new people, they still might need to feel comfortable around you. Usually all it takes is one or the other party being the first to break the ice.
Say “hello” , ask them if maybe you’ve seen them before, tell 'em they look familiar. Go on from there to asking them about what they are interested in. I’ve wound up in so many jam sessions with people I just met, simply because I open up and tell them I play the guitar and ask 'em if they play any instruments. You never know unless you ask.
As far as making plans and running low on cash and gas is concerned. I’m not the best guy with a solution for this problem, do a job on campus or something?!
If you feel you’re too easy to manipulate. I use to feel that way too, trust me many times I act out of social convention still, just to seem polite or feel accepted. We all do that to some extent I believe. Just work on sticking with your opinions, I don’t mean to say that you should be arrogant or headstrong. But let your presence be felt, don’t let anyone take you for granted. Say no if you don’t want to do something, speak up about things that you feel strongly for. Be yourself, don’t be someone they want you to be. If for that reason alone they can’t handle it or won’t be friends with you then you’re probably better off without them. Be independent, that’s what college is for, to learn to be independent. But I don’t mean to say that you should socially isolate yourself. Just find people that like you for who you are, be yourself around them and see how they react to it. It’s not hard to realize whose worth being friends with and who’s an asshole.
cheers mate, hope this helps.