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A student named Robert passed the majority of his first week at university looking at social media, seeing content about peers enjoying evenings out.

"I was just in bed," Robert recalls, describing the week as the loneliest time of his life.

His housemates rarely went out, and his studies didn't appear particularly social.

Even though he made efforts by attending trial events for various societies, he was unable to locate his people.

"I started to lose my self-assurance," he says. "I felt like people didn't want to be friends with me, or they weren't fond of me."

Social Media Comparisons

Initially, Robert didn't plan of attending college and had a job offer for following college.

But then he observed his peers enjoying themselves as college students online.

"When you've got to get up for work on Thursday at nine in the morning and you notice others went out on midweek, you begin believing others have it better," Robert says.

University Expectations

Media content and social media can idealize the notion of student life.

Many individuals come to university with strong assumptions for what they think could be the best years of their lives.

Some students come to university with "rose-tinted glasses," says a support services coordinator.

Survey Findings

• Through surveys of first-year attendees early on, the main anxiety was fitting in and finding acceptance
• In another survey by market research agencies, a significant minority said they had no friends at university
• Over one-third reported they experienced concern frequently about forming friendships

Individual Stories

Another student's TikTok feed was filled with content of students enjoying themselves while sharing accommodation in university housing.

But when she transferred from her hometown to university to study journalism, she found initial days "daunting" because of how much alcohol it involved.

Alisha doesn't drink and had not experienced nightlife before.

"I did spend considerable time initially in my room," she says. "I just felt a bit alienated."

Psychological Aspects

In a 2025 survey of more than 10,000 university attendees, nearly one-third reported they contemplated withdrawing from studies.

The primary factor was emotional state, succeeded by financial concerns.

"Anxiety about these various aspects is very widespread, and expected," adds a counselling expert.

Discovering Answers

Over periods, Robert, Alisha and Christina all found their feet and built connections.

She built connections during classes and through TikTok, while another student became more content after being able to move in with friends.

Useful Suggestions

In his case, presently older and in his last year, it was joining his university's drama society and working occasionally that supported social connection.

His recommendation to new attendees finding social interaction difficult is to just "get out of your room" and participate in group trial sessions.

"After a few weeks of regular attendance, others notice your presence," he mentions, "you recognise theirs, and you start making friends."