Not having an amazing experience at college? Many share your feelings.
Robert Medhurst used up much of his freshers' week looking at social media, reading posts about other students' fun nights out.
"I was just in bed," Robert remembers, depicting those days as the loneliest time of his life.
The people he lived with seldom socialized, and his studies didn't appear very sociable.
Although he tried by going to taster sessions for various societies, he couldn't find like-minded individuals.
"I began losing my self-assurance," he says. "I believed others weren't interested to be friends with me, or they didn't appreciate me."
Social Media Comparisons
At first, Robert had no intention of studying at university and had a job offer for following college.
But then he observed his peers living it up as students on Instagram.
"When you need to wake up for your job during the week at nine in the morning and you see someone's been out on midweek, you begin believing others have it better," Robert mentions.
Higher Education Assumptions
Television programs and online platforms can idealize the notion of college existence.
Many individuals begin university with strong assumptions for what they imagine could be the most wonderful time of their lives.
Some students come to university with "idealistic views," notes a support services coordinator.
Survey Findings
- Through surveys of first-year attendees early on, students' biggest concern was finding their place and feeling included
- In another survey by market research agencies, 17% of students said they were without companions at university
- 37% said they felt anxious regularly about making friends
Personal Experiences
Alisha Miah's TikTok feed was full of videos of girls having fun while cohabitating in university housing.
However when she transferred from London to Sheffield to learn reporting, she found freshers' week "intense" because of the drinking culture it involved.
Alisha doesn't drink and had avoided party scenes before.
"I actually passed much of orientation in my room," she says. "I simply experienced a bit alienated."
Emotional Wellbeing Factors
In a 2025 survey of more than 10,000 undergraduate students, a significant portion mentioned they contemplated withdrawing from studies.
The most common reason was their mental and emotional health, succeeded by economic considerations.
"Concern over these multiple factors is massively common, and expected," explains a support specialist.
Discovering Answers
Eventually, the students all found their feet and developed friendships.
She formed relationships through her course and using online platforms, while another student became more content once she was able to share accommodation with peers.
Helpful Recommendations
In his case, now 24 and in his final year, it was joining his university's drama society and working occasionally that helped him make friends.
Robert's advice to new attendees finding social interaction difficult is to simply leave your accommodation and attend organization sample activities.
"After a few weeks of regular attendance, others notice your presence," Robert says, "you recognise theirs, and relationships start developing."
