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A student named Robert spent most of his first week at university looking at online platforms, reading posts about fellow students partying.

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

Robert's flatmates didn't go out much, and his studies didn't appear especially friendly.

Despite putting himself out there by attending trial events for multiple organizations, he couldn't find people he connected with.

"I gradually lost my confidence," he says. "It seemed that others weren't interested to become my friends, or they didn't appreciate me."

Online Network Judgments

At first, Robert had no intention of going to university and received employment offers for post-secondary education.

Yet he saw his friends living it up as university attendees on social media.

"When you've got to get up for employment on weekdays at the morning hour and you notice others went out on midweek, you start feeling the grass is greener," Robert mentions.

College Anticipations

Television programs and online platforms can romanticize the concept of student life.

Numerous students come to university with great anticipations for what they think could be the best years of their lives.

Some students arrive at college with "rose-tinted glasses," explains a counselling manager.

Research Results

• In a poll of first-year attendees early on, the primary worry was finding their place and feeling included
• Further studies conducted by analysts, 17% of students said they had no friends at university
• 37% said they felt anxious regularly about forming friendships

Personal Journeys

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

But when Alisha moved from her hometown to university to learn reporting, she found orientation period "intense" because of how much alcohol it involved.

She abstains from alcohol and had avoided party scenes before.

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

Psychological Aspects

Through current studies of more than 10,000 university attendees, a significant portion mentioned they had considered leaving university.

The main cause was psychological wellbeing, succeeded by monetary worries.

"Concern over all of these different things is extremely prevalent, and expected," explains a counselling expert.

Identifying Resolutions

With time, the students all found their feet and developed friendships.

Alisha made friends through her course and using online platforms, while Christina felt happier once she was able to share accommodation with peers.

Practical Advice

For Robert, currently in his mid-twenties and in his last year, it was participating in theater activities and getting a part-time job that supported social connection.

His recommendation to first-year students finding social interaction difficult is to simply leave your accommodation and go to club and society taster events.

"Subsequent to periods of regular attendance, people recognise your face," he explains, "you become familiar with them, and friendships begin forming."