🔗 Share this article Not having a fantastic time at university? Many share your feelings. Two students describe their stories of life at university. A student named Robert used up much of his orientation week looking at online platforms, reading posts about fellow students partying. "I was just in bed," Robert recalls, characterizing that period as the most isolated period of his life. Robert's flatmates seldom socialized, and his course didn't feel especially friendly. Even though he made efforts by participating in sample activities for multiple organizations, he was unable to locate his people. "I gradually lost my confidence," he says. "I believed others weren't interested to become my friends, or they weren't fond of me." Online Network Judgments At first, Robert had no intention of studying at university and was offered positions for post-secondary education. But then he saw his friends living it up as college students online. "When you must rise for work on Thursday at 9:00 and you see someone's been out on midweek, you do start thinking situations appear superior," Robert says. University Expectations TV shows and digital networks can glorify the idea of student life. Lots of people arrive at college with great anticipations for what they think could be the greatest period of their lives. Various learners begin their studies with "rose-tinted glasses," says a support services coordinator. Research Results Through surveys of new students initially, the main anxiety was fitting in and finding acceptance Further studies through polling organizations, a significant minority said they lacked friendships at university 37% said they experienced concern frequently about building relationships Personal Journeys A different attendee's online videos was populated with clips of students enjoying themselves while sharing accommodation in college residences. Yet when she transferred from her hometown to university to pursue media studies, she found freshers' week "overwhelming" because of how much alcohol it involved. She avoids drinking and had not experienced nightlife before. "I actually passed a lot of freshers' week inside my accommodation," she says. "I just felt somewhat isolated." Mental Health Considerations In a 2025 survey of more than 10,000 university attendees, a significant portion mentioned they thought about withdrawing from studies. The most common reason was their mental and emotional health, followed by monetary worries. "Worry regarding these multiple factors is extremely prevalent, and normal," adds a support specialist. Identifying Resolutions With time, all three individuals eventually adapted and built connections. Alisha made friends via her studies and using online platforms, while Christina felt happier when she could to share accommodation with peers. Helpful Recommendations Regarding his experience, now 24 and in his final year, it was participating in theater activities and working occasionally that helped him make friends. Robert's advice to first-year students struggling to socialize is to simply leave your accommodation and participate in group trial sessions. "Following several weeks of regular attendance, people recognise your face," Robert says, "you recognise theirs, and relationships start developing."