I was in a similar spot. Studied Math/Stats, and my friends were not in tech. I've made some now, but still don't have many really good friends in tech. It seems studying CS can be a real group activity, where you work together on assignments/apps/job prep. I missed out on that - just finished a job search & prep that was completely solo after working on apps completely solo.
Going to local meetups helps but it's probably leaving you unsatisfied due to the low frequency. Some suggestions that worked for me:
- Keep an eye out for local tech companies you want to work for or just like: some might host open houses, or sponsor hackathons. You may hear about this through Meetup.com but not always
- I'm betting Chicago has a Slack dev group. I'm in the Slack dev group for where I am now and where I'm going to move, and it's a good way to stay connected, ask questions, and absorb discussion that you want but aren't getting in your day-to-day
- If you have any interest in volunteering, look for things like Ladies Learning Code and the like going on in your area. Usually the mentors there who want to help young kids are established in the industry. You can go, help younger generations with what you know, with an added benefit of getting to know other mentors, who may help you down the line.
This is a phase in your life that will pass once you start working in the field. I know it may feel hard right now, but hopefully this piece of advice helps (which I found true for me, and I hear from others in the industry): your "outsider"-ness can be spun into a benefit. You see the tech world through different eyes, you come unhinged without biases. And, being fresh and without experience, you will be hungrier, more persistent, and more willing to learn something new than somebody who has roots and comfort zones.
Once you pass through this phase and "make it", don't forget to give back when called upon; you will now be "that" person in this network comprised of non-tech people, in a world that is ubiquitous with tech.