Struggling to have a fantastic time at university? You're not alone.
One university attendee spent most of his freshers' week browsing through digital networks, seeing content about fellow students partying.
"I was just in bed," Robert explains, depicting those days as the loneliest time of his life.
The people he lived with rarely went out, and his studies didn't appear very sociable.
Despite putting himself out there by participating in sample activities for various societies, he didn't discover like-minded individuals.
"I started to lose my self-esteem," he says. "It seemed that people didn't want to become my friends, or they weren't fond of me."
Online Network Judgments
Originally, Robert didn't plan of attending college and received employment offers for following college.
Yet he observed his peers enjoying themselves as university attendees on social media.
"When you must rise for employment on weekdays at the morning hour and you see someone's been out on midweek, you start feeling others have it better," Robert explains.
University Expectations
Media content and online platforms can glorify the idea of student life.
Numerous students arrive at college with great anticipations for what they imagine could be the most wonderful time of their lives.
Certain attendees begin their studies with "idealistic views," explains a support services coordinator.
Research Results
- In a poll of freshers in their first week, the primary worry was fitting in and feeling included
- Additional research through polling organizations, a significant minority said they lacked friendships at university
- 37% said they felt anxious regularly about forming friendships
Personal Experiences
Alisha Miah's TikTok feed was filled with content of students enjoying themselves while living together in university housing.
Yet when she transferred from London to Sheffield to learn reporting, she found initial days "intense" because of the substance involvement it involved.
She avoids drinking and had never been clubbing before.
"I actually passed considerable time initially inside my accommodation," she says. "I just felt somewhat isolated."
Emotional Wellbeing Factors
In a 2025 survey of more than 10,000 college learners, nearly one-third reported they thought about dropping out.
The main cause was psychological wellbeing, succeeded by monetary worries.
"Worry regarding these multiple factors is massively common, and typical," adds a mental health professional.
Discovering Answers
Over periods, the students all found their feet and built connections.
She built connections during classes and through TikTok, while the individual experienced improvement once she was able to share accommodation with peers.
Practical Advice
In his case, now 24 and in his final year, it was engaging in performance groups and working occasionally that assisted in relationship building.
His recommendation to new attendees experiencing connection challenges is to simply leave your accommodation and go to club and society taster events.
"Following several weeks of consistently showing up, people recognise your face," he explains, "you become familiar with them, and you start making friends."
