Struggling to have an amazing experience at university? Many share your feelings.

Robert Medhurst spent most of his freshers' week scrolling through social media, reading posts about fellow students partying.

"I remained in my room," Robert remembers, describing the week as the loneliest time of his life.

His housemates seldom socialized, and his studies didn't appear very sociable.

Even though he made efforts by going to taster sessions for various societies, he didn't discover his people.

"I began losing my self-esteem," he says. "I felt like people didn't want to form friendships with me, or they didn't appreciate me."

Social Media Comparisons

At first, Robert had no intention of attending college and had a job offer for post-secondary education.

However he saw his friends enjoying themselves as college students online.

"When you must rise for work on Thursday at the morning hour and you observe peers partied on midweek, you do start thinking others have it better," Robert explains.

University Expectations

Television programs and online platforms can idealize the notion of student life.

Numerous students come to university with high expectations for what they believe could be the best years of their lives.

Various learners come to university with "optimistic perspectives," notes a support services coordinator.

Research Results

• Through surveys of freshers in their first week, the main anxiety was finding their place and being accepted
• Additional research through polling organizations, a significant minority said they lacked friendships at university
• Over one-third reported they experienced concern frequently about building relationships

Individual Stories

Alisha Miah's online videos was full of videos of peers socializing while cohabitating in university housing.

However when she transferred from London to Sheffield to pursue media studies, she found initial days "overwhelming" because of the substance involvement it involved.

She avoids drinking and had never been clubbing before.

"I utilized much of orientation inside my accommodation," she says. "I simply experienced a bit alienated."

Mental Health Considerations

In a 2025 survey of over ten thousand university attendees, nearly one-third reported they thought about dropping out.

The most common reason was their mental and emotional health, accompanied by financial concerns.

"Concern over these multiple factors is massively common, and typical," notes a support specialist.

Discovering Answers

With time, Robert, Alisha and Christina gradually adjusted and formed relationships.

Alisha made friends during classes and through TikTok, while another student became more content after being able to relocate with companions.

Helpful Recommendations

For Robert, currently in his mid-twenties and in his concluding studies, it was participating in theater activities and getting a part-time job that assisted in relationship building.

Robert's advice to beginning learners experiencing connection challenges is to just "get out of your room" and attend organization sample activities.

"After a few weeks of consistently showing up, others notice your presence," he explains, "you notice their presence, and friendships begin forming."