Struggling to have a fantastic time at college? You're not alone.
A student named Robert used up much of his freshers' week browsing through digital networks, reading posts about other students' fun nights out.
"I was just in bed," Robert recalls, describing the week as the most isolated period of his life.
Robert's flatmates rarely went out, and his studies didn't appear particularly social.
Even though he made efforts by attending trial events for various societies, he couldn't find like-minded individuals.
"I started to lose my confidence," he says. "I believed people didn't want to be friends with me, or they weren't fond of me."
Online Network Judgments
At first, Robert wasn't considering of attending college and was offered positions for following college.
However he observed his peers having great fun as students on Instagram.
"When you've got to get up for your job during the week at the morning hour and you observe peers partied on midweek, you begin believing others have it better," Robert mentions.
College Anticipations
TV shows and online platforms can idealize the notion of university living.
Lots of people begin university with high expectations for what they believe could be the greatest period of their lives.
Some students come to university with "idealistic views," notes a counselling manager.
Study Outcomes
- Through surveys of new students initially, the main anxiety was fitting in and being accepted
- In another survey by market research agencies, 17% of students said they had no friends at university
- A substantial portion mentioned they worried daily or weekly about building relationships
Personal Journeys
Alisha Miah's TikTok feed was filled with content of students enjoying themselves while cohabitating in college residences.
However when she relocated from London to Sheffield to pursue media studies, she found orientation period "daunting" because of the substance involvement it involved.
Alisha doesn't drink and had never been clubbing before.
"I did spend a lot of freshers' week in my room," she says. "I merely sensed a bit alienated."
Emotional Wellbeing Factors
In a 2025 survey of over ten thousand university attendees, a significant portion mentioned they thought about dropping out.
The main cause was psychological wellbeing, accompanied by economic considerations.
"Worry regarding these various aspects is very widespread, and normal," notes a mental health professional.
Identifying Resolutions
With time, Robert, Alisha and Christina all found their feet and developed friendships.
She formed relationships during classes and through TikTok, while another student became more content when she could to move in with friends.
Practical Advice
For Robert, presently older and in his concluding studies, it was joining his university's drama society and employment during studies that assisted in relationship building.
Robert's advice to new attendees experiencing connection challenges is to just "get out of your room" and participate in group trial sessions.
"Subsequent to periods of continuous participation, individuals become familiar with you," he mentions, "you recognise theirs, and you start making friends."
