How to ask someone to be your friend over text?

It can be a bit awkward, for sure. I would not ask directly, "will you be my friend?". That can be a bit too direct. It might put too much pressure on them.

A better way is to be casual. You should reference something you did together. For example, "Hey, it was fun talking in class today." Then, you can give a small compliment. Something like, "You seem really cool."

After that, suggest a simple plan. "Want to grab a coffee this week?" is good. Or maybe "We should study together sometime." This shows you want to hang out. It lets the friendship start in a more natural way. Good luck, eh?