Not having an amazing experience at college? You are not the only one.
A student named Robert used up much of his orientation week browsing through online platforms, viewing updates about fellow students partying.
"I stayed indoors," Robert recalls, describing the week as the most isolated period of his life.
The people he lived with didn't go out much, and his program didn't seem very sociable.
Although he tried by going to taster sessions for multiple organizations, he didn't discover people he connected with.
"I began losing my self-assurance," he says. "It seemed that people didn't want to be friends with me, or they didn't appreciate me."
Digital Platform Contrasts
Originally, Robert had no intention of going to university and had a job offer for post-secondary education.
However he saw his friends having great fun as students on Instagram.
"When you must rise for employment on weekdays at 9:00 and you observe peers partied on midweek, you begin believing others have it better," Robert explains.
Higher Education Assumptions
Television programs and social media can romanticize the concept of student life.
Lots of people arrive at college with high expectations for what they think could be the most wonderful time of their lives.
Some students come to university with "optimistic perspectives," says a support services coordinator.
Survey Findings
- Through surveys of freshers in their first week, the main anxiety was finding their place and finding acceptance
- Additional research by market research agencies, a significant minority said they had no friends at university
- Over one-third reported they experienced concern frequently about building relationships
Individual Stories
Alisha Miah's TikTok feed was populated with clips of students enjoying themselves while sharing accommodation in college residences.
Yet when she relocated from London to Sheffield to study journalism, she found freshers' week "overwhelming" because of the drinking culture it involved.
She avoids drinking and had never been clubbing before.
"I did spend considerable time initially inside my accommodation," she says. "I simply experienced slightly disconnected."
Emotional Wellbeing Factors
In a 2025 survey of numerous college learners, a significant portion mentioned they contemplated leaving university.
The main cause was emotional state, accompanied by economic considerations.
"Concern over all of these different things is massively common, and expected," notes a support specialist.
Discovering Answers
Over periods, the students all found their feet and formed relationships.
She formed relationships via her studies and using online platforms, while another student became more content when she could to move in with friends.
Helpful Recommendations
Regarding his experience, presently older and in his concluding studies, it was engaging in performance groups and working occasionally that supported social connection.
The suggested approach to first-year students experiencing connection challenges is to venture outside your living space and attend organization sample activities.
"Following several weeks of regular attendance, others notice your presence," he explains, "you notice their presence, and you start making friends."