My two are going into their sophomore year. We've been talking about what a different feeling it is now, as opposed to last year at this time. They're so much more confident - already knowing people, their routines, classmates, professors, etc. They agree it's totally different. Such a relief!
Both of mine are kind of quiet and shy, too. DD joined a group related to her major before school started last year. They had a kick off party and she was debating not going. I told her to go, and to try to be confident, make eye contact, smile, be open, and try to talk to people, etc. To her credit, even though it was hard for her, she did. When she came home that day she told me a couple of girls had come up to her and asked if they could sit with her. So they were shy and kind of worried, too, but gravitated toward DD because she seemed confident (!) and more importantly, open. They turned out to all become good friends. As a matter of fact, she just had some of them over the other night and it was so nice, no worries about school, just talking and laughing about other things.
DS plays a college sport so he became part of a pretty tight group right away, but, as a freshman, was still sort of on the outskirts of that group at the same time. It was really nice over the course of the year watching how he found his place in the group. They had a lot of team building activities, and, later, four different road trips where they had to room together in various groups. He also lived out of state most of the summer, in a dorm with different roommates, in another team atmosphere, so he grew a lot that way this year. He's looking forward to starting all over again in a couple of weeks, this time with a different mindset.
I think those girls should've asked your daughter if she wanted to come with them, especially where everyone's so new. But my guess is that they were wrapped up in their own sense of settling in and it probably just didn't occur to them to ask her. Ugh. I agree with others, she will most likely meet people over the course of the coming year. But I'd feel the way you're feeling, too. I'll be the bad guy to say that sometimes it doesn't work, isn't a good fit, etc. A few years back the daughter of one of my friends changed schools because she said she never really felt like she fit in at the first school she went to; not the case at the second school, thankfully. But the only way you'll know is to see how the year goes. I agree to keep encouraging her. It is difficult, though, for people who are shy or introverted. (Sometimes it can even pass that and move into social anxiety disorder.) Just hang in there, see how it goes and how she does, and hopefully you'll be hearing soon, especially once classes actually start, that she's made some friends.
for you, Sebeking. 
