Not having a fantastic time at uni? You're not alone.
Robert Medhurst spent most of his orientation week looking at social media, seeing content about fellow students partying.
"I remained in my room," Robert remembers, depicting those days as the most solitary phase of his life.
Robert's flatmates didn't go out much, and his studies didn't appear very sociable.
Although he tried by attending trial events for different clubs, he didn't discover his people.
"I started to lose my self-assurance," he says. "I believed others weren't interested to be friends with me, or they weren't fond of me."
Online Network Judgments
Initially, Robert didn't plan of going to university and received employment offers for after sixth form.
Yet he watched his acquaintances enjoying themselves as college students online.
"When you need to wake up for work on Thursday at 9:00 and you observe peers partied on midweek, you do start thinking situations appear superior," Robert explains.
Higher Education Assumptions
Television programs and social media can idealize the notion of university living.
Lots of people begin university with great anticipations for what they believe could be the best years of their lives.
Some students come to university with "optimistic perspectives," says a support services coordinator.
Survey Findings
- In a poll of freshers in their first week, the primary worry was fitting in and being accepted
- In another survey conducted by analysts, 17% of students said they were without companions at university
- Over one-third reported they felt anxious regularly about making friends
Personal Journeys
Another student's TikTok feed was full of videos of girls having fun while sharing accommodation in college residences.
Yet when she relocated from London to Sheffield to study journalism, she found orientation period "daunting" because of the drinking culture it involved.
She avoids drinking and had avoided party scenes before.
"I did spend a lot of freshers' week within my living space," she says. "I merely sensed slightly disconnected."
Emotional Wellbeing Factors
According to recent research of more than 10,000 undergraduate students, a significant portion mentioned they had considered leaving university.
The primary factor was psychological wellbeing, followed by financial concerns.
"Concern over these multiple factors is extremely prevalent, and typical," adds a counselling expert.
Identifying Resolutions
With time, the students all found their feet and built connections.
Alisha made friends through her course and using online platforms, while Christina felt happier once she was able to move in with friends.
Useful Suggestions
Regarding his experience, currently in his mid-twenties and in his final year, it was participating in theater activities and getting a part-time job that assisted in relationship building.
His recommendation to beginning learners struggling to socialize is to just "get out of your room" and go to club and society taster events.
"After a few weeks of regular attendance, individuals become familiar with you," he explains, "you recognise theirs, and you start making friends."
