Not having a fantastic time at uni? You're not alone.
A student named Robert passed the majority of his orientation week browsing through social media, viewing updates about peers enjoying evenings out.
"I remained in my room," Robert remembers, describing the week as the most isolated period of his life.
His housemates rarely went out, and his program didn't seem especially friendly.
Despite putting himself out there by going to taster sessions for various societies, he was unable to locate like-minded individuals.
"I started to lose my confidence," he says. "I felt like people didn't want to be friends with me, or they didn't like me."
Social Media Comparisons
Initially, Robert wasn't considering of going to university and had a job offer for post-secondary education.
However he saw his friends having great fun as university attendees on social media.
"When you must rise for employment on weekdays at nine in the morning and you see someone's been out on Wednesday night, you do start thinking others have it better," Robert explains.
Higher Education Assumptions
Media content and online platforms can glorify the idea of student life.
Lots of people begin university with high expectations for what they believe could be the greatest period of their lives.
Some students arrive at college with "rose-tinted glasses," says a support services coordinator.
Survey Findings
- According to research of freshers in their first week, students' biggest concern was fitting in and finding acceptance
- Further studies by market research agencies, 17% of students said they lacked friendships at university
- A substantial portion mentioned they experienced concern frequently about building relationships
Individual Stories
A different attendee's social media content was full of videos of students enjoying themselves while sharing accommodation in college residences.
But when she relocated from her hometown to university to learn reporting, she found initial days "overwhelming" because of the substance involvement it involved.
She abstains from alcohol and had not experienced nightlife before.
"I actually passed considerable time initially inside my accommodation," she says. "I simply experienced a bit alienated."
Emotional Wellbeing Factors
In a 2025 survey of more than 10,000 college learners, a significant portion mentioned they thought about withdrawing from studies.
The most common reason was psychological wellbeing, succeeded by economic considerations.
"Worry regarding all of these different things is massively common, and normal," notes a support specialist.
Identifying Resolutions
Over periods, all three individuals all found their feet and formed relationships.
Alisha made friends through her course and via social media, while Christina felt happier when she could to relocate with companions.
Helpful Recommendations
In his case, now 24 and in his last year, it was engaging in performance groups and getting a part-time job that assisted in relationship building.
His recommendation to new attendees experiencing connection challenges is to just "get out of your room" and participate in group trial sessions.
"Subsequent to periods of regular attendance, people recognise your face," Robert says, "you notice their presence, and friendships begin forming."
