🔗 Share this article Failing to find an amazing experience at uni? You are not the only one. Two students share their experiences of college living. One university attendee spent most of his first week at university browsing through social media, seeing content about fellow students partying. "I stayed indoors," Robert explains, describing the week as the loneliest time of his life. The people he lived with didn't go out much, and his studies didn't appear very sociable. Despite putting himself out there by participating in sample activities for multiple organizations, he didn't discover like-minded individuals. "I started to lose my self-assurance," he says. "It seemed that others weren't interested to form friendships with me, or they didn't appreciate me." Social Media Comparisons Originally, Robert didn't plan of attending college and had a job offer for following college. However he saw his friends living it up as university attendees on social media. "When you must rise for employment on weekdays at 9:00 and you see someone's been out on midweek, you do start thinking situations appear superior," Robert explains. Higher Education Assumptions TV shows and online platforms can glorify the idea of university living. Lots of people come to university with high expectations for what they think could be the most wonderful time of their lives. Certain attendees arrive at college with "rose-tinted glasses," notes a mental health professional. Research Results In a poll of freshers in their first week, students' biggest concern was belonging and being accepted In another survey by market research agencies, 17% of students said they had no friends at university 37% said they worried daily or weekly about making friends Personal Journeys Alisha Miah's social media content was populated with clips of students enjoying themselves while living together in college residences. But when she transferred from her hometown to university to learn reporting, she found freshers' week "overwhelming" because of how much alcohol it involved. She avoids drinking and had never been clubbing before. "I actually passed much of orientation in my room," she says. "I just felt slightly disconnected." Psychological Aspects Through current studies of more than 10,000 college learners, a significant portion mentioned they thought about leaving university. The main cause was emotional state, followed by monetary worries. "Anxiety about all of these different things is massively common, and expected," explains a counselling expert. Finding Solutions Eventually, all three individuals all found their feet and developed friendships. She formed relationships through her course and using online platforms, while another student became more content after being able to share accommodation with peers. Useful Suggestions In his case, now 24 and in his last year, it was joining his university's drama society and getting a part-time job that helped him make friends. The suggested approach to first-year students struggling to socialize is to venture outside your living space and participate in group trial sessions. "Following several weeks of regular attendance, people recognise your face," he mentions, "you become familiar with them, and you start making friends."