🔗 Share this article Not having a fantastic time at college? You are not the only one. A pair of university attendees share their experiences of student life. One university attendee spent most of his orientation week scrolling through online platforms, reading posts about other students' fun nights out. "I remained in my room," Robert remembers, describing the week as the most isolated period of his life. The people he lived with seldom socialized, and his studies didn't appear especially friendly. Even though he made efforts by participating in sample activities for different clubs, he was unable to locate his people. "I started to lose my self-assurance," he says. "I felt like others weren't interested to be friends with me, or they weren't fond of me." Digital Platform Contrasts At first, Robert wasn't considering of attending college and was offered positions for post-secondary education. But then he watched his acquaintances having great fun as students on Instagram. "When you've got to get up for work on Thursday at 9:00 and you observe peers partied on midweek, you start feeling situations appear superior," Robert says. College Anticipations Media content and social media can idealize the notion of university living. Many individuals begin university with strong assumptions for what they believe could be the best years of their lives. Certain attendees arrive at college with "optimistic perspectives," says a support services coordinator. Research Results In a poll of new students initially, students' biggest concern was fitting in and finding acceptance Further studies through polling organizations, a significant minority said they were without companions at university A substantial portion mentioned they worried daily or weekly about forming friendships Personal Journeys Another student's TikTok feed was populated with clips of girls having fun while cohabitating in student houses. Yet when she relocated from her previous location to campus to learn reporting, she found freshers' week "daunting" because of the substance involvement it involved. She abstains from alcohol and had never been clubbing before. "I utilized a lot of freshers' week within my living space," she says. "I simply experienced slightly disconnected." Psychological Aspects In a 2025 survey of more than 10,000 undergraduate students, 29% said they contemplated withdrawing from studies. The most common reason was psychological wellbeing, followed by economic considerations. "Anxiety about these multiple factors is extremely prevalent, and expected," adds a support specialist. Identifying Resolutions With time, all three individuals all found their feet and formed relationships. She built connections through her course and through TikTok, while another student became more content when she could to move in with friends. Practical Advice Regarding his experience, currently in his mid-twenties and in his concluding studies, it was participating in theater activities and working occasionally that supported social connection. Robert's advice to new attendees experiencing connection challenges is to venture outside your living space and go to club and society taster events. "Subsequent to periods of consistently showing up, individuals become familiar with you," he explains, "you recognise theirs, and relationships start developing."