How can a recent graduate tell whether an apartment is truly social?

Look for evidence rather than marketing language. Grant watches for visible resident-event notices, an actual event calendar, residents talking in hallways, people using the gym, pool, coworking spaces, and other common areas, and a leasing team that can describe frequent programming. Weekly resident events are an especially strong signal. Building design matters too: shared entrances, elevators, lobbies, and concentrated amenities create more repeated encounters than a large property spread across many wings and entrances. No apartment can guarantee friendships, but a building that repeatedly brings residents into the same spaces creates far more opportunities for a newcomer to connect.