Struggling to have the time of your life at university? You are not the only one.
One university attendee spent most of his first week at university scrolling through social media, seeing content about fellow students partying.
"I was just in bed," Robert remembers, describing the week as the most isolated period of his life.
The people he lived with rarely went out, and his program didn't seem particularly social.
Although he tried by participating in sample activities for different clubs, he was unable to locate people he connected with.
"I started to lose my confidence," he says. "I believed individuals didn't desire to become my friends, or they didn't like me."
Digital Platform Contrasts
Originally, Robert wasn't considering of studying at university and received employment offers for after sixth form.
However he saw his friends living it up as university attendees on social media.
"When you need to wake up for work on Thursday at nine in the morning and you observe peers partied on midweek, you start feeling situations appear superior," Robert explains.
University Expectations
Media content and social media can glorify the idea of student life.
Numerous students arrive at college with strong assumptions for what they think could be the greatest period of their lives.
Some students come to university with "idealistic views," notes a mental health professional.
Study Outcomes
- Through surveys of first-year attendees early on, the primary worry was fitting in and finding acceptance
- In another survey conducted by analysts, a significant minority said they lacked friendships at university
- Over one-third reported they worried daily or weekly about building relationships
Individual Stories
Alisha Miah's TikTok feed was full of videos of peers socializing while living together in student houses.
But when she relocated from London to Sheffield to study journalism, she found initial days "daunting" because of how much alcohol it involved.
Alisha doesn't drink and had not experienced nightlife before.
"I actually passed considerable time initially within my living space," she says. "I just felt slightly disconnected."
Psychological Aspects
In a 2025 survey of over ten thousand undergraduate students, a significant portion mentioned they had considered leaving university.
The primary factor was psychological wellbeing, succeeded by monetary worries.
"Worry regarding all of these different things is extremely prevalent, and normal," explains a support specialist.
Identifying Resolutions
With time, the students all found their feet and developed friendships.
She formed relationships during classes and using online platforms, while another student became more content after being able to share accommodation with peers.
Practical Advice
In his case, presently older and in his concluding studies, it was participating in theater activities and working occasionally that helped him make friends.
His recommendation to first-year students experiencing connection challenges is to venture outside your living space and attend organization sample activities.
"Subsequent to periods of continuous participation, others notice your presence," Robert says, "you become familiar with them, and you start making friends."
