🔗 Share this article Failing to find an amazing experience at college? Many share your feelings. A pair of university attendees share their experiences of life at university. One university attendee passed the majority of his freshers' week scrolling through online platforms, viewing updates about fellow students partying. "I was just in bed," Robert recalls, characterizing that period as the loneliest time of his life. The people he lived with rarely went out, and his course didn't feel especially friendly. Although he tried by participating in sample activities for various societies, he didn't discover people he connected with. "I gradually lost my self-esteem," he says. "I believed individuals didn't desire to be friends with me, or they didn't appreciate me." Social Media Comparisons At first, Robert had no intention of attending college and received employment offers for after sixth form. But then he watched his acquaintances having great fun as students on Instagram. "When you need to wake up for your job during the week at 9:00 and you notice others went out on midweek, you start feeling situations appear superior," Robert says. Higher Education Assumptions Media content and digital networks can romanticize the concept of student life. Lots of people arrive at college with high expectations for what they imagine could be the greatest period of their lives. Certain attendees come to university with "idealistic views," notes a mental health professional. Research Results Through surveys of first-year attendees early on, the primary worry was finding their place and being accepted Further studies by market research agencies, 17% of students said they were without companions at university Over one-third reported they experienced concern frequently about building relationships Personal Experiences A different attendee's online videos was filled with content of girls having fun while sharing accommodation in college residences. But when Alisha moved from London to Sheffield to study journalism, she found initial days "intense" because of the substance involvement it involved. She abstains from alcohol and had avoided party scenes before. "I actually passed a lot of freshers' week inside my accommodation," she says. "I merely sensed a bit alienated." Emotional Wellbeing Factors In a 2025 survey of more than 10,000 undergraduate students, 29% said they thought about dropping out. The main cause was emotional state, accompanied by monetary worries. "Anxiety about these various aspects is extremely prevalent, and expected," adds a support specialist. Identifying Resolutions Over periods, all three individuals gradually adjusted and formed relationships. Alisha made friends during classes and through TikTok, while the individual experienced improvement when she could to move in with friends. Practical Advice For Robert, presently older and in his last year, it was participating in theater activities and getting a part-time job that assisted in relationship building. His recommendation to new attendees experiencing connection challenges is to simply leave your accommodation and participate in group trial sessions. "Following several weeks of regular attendance, people recognise your face," he mentions, "you become familiar with them, and you start making friends."