🔗 Share this article Not having the time of your life at uni? You are not the only one. Two students share their experiences of college living. A student named Robert passed the majority of his orientation week looking at online platforms, viewing updates about peers enjoying evenings out. "I remained in my room," Robert explains, characterizing that period as the loneliest time of his life. His housemates rarely went out, and his studies didn't appear particularly social. Despite putting himself out there by participating in sample activities for various societies, he was unable to locate like-minded individuals. "I began losing my confidence," he says. "It seemed that others weren't interested to be friends with me, or they didn't appreciate me." Online Network Judgments Originally, Robert had no intention of going to university and had a job offer for after sixth form. But then he observed his peers living it up as college students online. "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 the previous evening, you begin believing others have it better," Robert explains. College Anticipations Television programs and online platforms can romanticize the concept of college existence. Many individuals arrive at college with high expectations for what they imagine could be the best years of their lives. Some students begin their studies with "rose-tinted glasses," explains a support services coordinator. Research Results According to research of freshers in their first week, students' biggest concern was fitting in and finding acceptance Further studies conducted by analysts, a significant minority said they had no friends at university 37% said they worried daily or weekly about forming friendships Personal Journeys Alisha Miah's online videos was full of videos of girls having fun while cohabitating in college residences. However when she relocated from her hometown to university to study journalism, she found initial days "overwhelming" because of the substance involvement it involved. She abstains from alcohol and had not experienced nightlife before. "I actually passed a lot of freshers' week inside my accommodation," she says. "I merely sensed slightly disconnected." Psychological Aspects In a 2025 survey of more than 10,000 college learners, a significant portion mentioned they thought about leaving university. The main cause was emotional state, succeeded by monetary worries. "Worry regarding all of these different things is massively common, and typical," explains a mental health professional. Identifying Resolutions Over periods, all three individuals all found their feet and built connections. She formed relationships during classes and through TikTok, while another student became more content once she was able to relocate with companions. Helpful Recommendations In his case, currently in his mid-twenties and in his final year, it was participating in theater activities and getting a part-time job that supported social connection. The suggested approach to new attendees finding social interaction difficult is to just "get out of your room" and go to club and society taster events. "After a few weeks of consistently showing up, people recognise your face," he explains, "you become familiar with them, and relationships start developing."