How do I make some gal pals?

So I am currently in a long distance relationship after heading down to college. I love my girlfriend very much and plan on being with her. I want to make it clear that my intentions are simply to JUST BE FRIENDS with other girls. So, onto the rest.

Something I've noticed to be quite peculiar about college is that no one has friends. I struggle to find people I get along with as well as I did back with my high school buddies. I also have no gal pals. For me, having a girl to talk to face to face is almost mandatory. I've talked to girls since elementary and they have usually been my best of friends. It's not romance that I'm looking for, I'm just trying to find someone to hang out with who has that female perspective on things.

I had run into one girl in the beginning of orientation who I got along with pretty well, and figured her to be a friend, but I tried to contact her since and she kind of seemed scared away. I figured this was because of a confusion that maybe she thought I was attempting to flirt with her.

My question is how do I make gal pals without seeming like I am interested in the romantically? I don't want to scare away any more people that I get along with, and I also don't want to break any hearts. Advice?