Not having a fantastic time at uni? Many share your feelings.
A student named Robert spent most of his orientation week browsing through online platforms, reading posts about peers enjoying evenings out.
"I remained in my room," Robert remembers, depicting those days as the most solitary phase of his life.
His housemates rarely went out, and his course didn't feel very sociable.
Even though he made efforts by attending trial events for multiple organizations, he was unable to locate his people.
"I gradually lost my self-esteem," he says. "It seemed that people didn't want to form friendships with me, or they didn't appreciate me."
Digital Platform Contrasts
At first, Robert didn't plan of studying at university and was offered positions for following college.
Yet he observed his peers living it up as university attendees on social media.
"When you must rise for your job during the week at nine in the morning and you see someone's been out on Wednesday night, you start feeling situations appear superior," Robert explains.
University Expectations
Television programs and digital networks can romanticize the concept of college existence.
Numerous students arrive at college with strong assumptions for what they imagine could be the most wonderful time of their lives.
Certain attendees come to university with "idealistic views," says a mental health professional.
Research Results
- According to research of freshers in their first week, students' biggest concern was belonging and feeling included
- In another survey through polling organizations, nearly one-fifth of attendees said they had no friends at university
- Over one-third reported they worried daily or weekly about building relationships
Personal Journeys
A different attendee's TikTok feed was populated with clips of girls having fun while sharing accommodation in student houses.
However when she transferred from her hometown to university to study journalism, she found freshers' week "overwhelming" because of the substance involvement it involved.
She abstains from alcohol and had avoided party scenes before.
"I utilized a lot of freshers' week within my living space," she says. "I just felt slightly disconnected."
Emotional Wellbeing Factors
In a 2025 survey of more than 10,000 undergraduate students, 29% said they contemplated withdrawing from studies.
The primary factor was psychological wellbeing, followed by economic considerations.
"Anxiety about these various aspects is massively common, and typical," notes a counselling expert.
Finding Solutions
Over periods, all three individuals gradually adjusted and developed friendships.
She formed relationships through her course and via social media, while the individual experienced improvement when she could to relocate with companions.
Practical Advice
For Robert, now 24 and in his last year, it was participating in theater activities and getting a part-time job that assisted in relationship building.
Robert's advice to new attendees experiencing connection challenges is to just "get out of your room" and go to club and society taster events.
"After a few weeks of regular attendance, people recognise your face," he mentions, "you notice their presence, and friendships begin forming."
