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Robert Medhurst passed the majority of his orientation week scrolling through online platforms, seeing content about fellow students partying.

"I was just in bed," Robert explains, depicting those days as the most solitary phase of his life.

Robert's flatmates rarely went out, and his program didn't seem especially friendly.

Despite putting himself out there by going to taster sessions for multiple organizations, he was unable to locate like-minded individuals.

"I gradually lost my self-assurance," he says. "I felt like individuals didn't desire to form friendships with me, or they didn't like me."

Social Media Comparisons

At first, Robert didn't plan of going to university 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 the morning hour and you see someone's been out on the previous evening, you do start thinking the grass is greener," Robert mentions.

Higher Education Assumptions

TV shows and social media can glorify the idea of college existence.

Many individuals arrive at college with great anticipations for what they think could be the greatest period of their lives.

Various learners come to university with "idealistic views," notes a mental health professional.

Research Results

• According to research of freshers in their first week, the main anxiety was fitting in and feeling included
• Further studies conducted by analysts, nearly one-fifth of attendees said they lacked friendships at university
• Over one-third reported they felt anxious regularly about building relationships

Personal Journeys

Another student's online videos was full of videos of girls having fun while living together in student houses.

But when she relocated from her previous location to campus to pursue media studies, she found orientation period "intense" because of how much alcohol it involved.

She abstains from alcohol and had never been clubbing before.

"I utilized considerable time initially within my living space," she says. "I just felt slightly disconnected."

Psychological Aspects

In a 2025 survey of over ten thousand undergraduate students, a significant portion mentioned they had considered withdrawing from studies.

The main cause was their mental and emotional health, accompanied by financial concerns.

"Worry regarding all of these different things is extremely prevalent, and expected," adds a support specialist.

Finding Solutions

With time, the students eventually adapted and built connections.

She built connections during classes and through TikTok, while another student became more content after being able to share accommodation with peers.

Helpful Recommendations

For Robert, presently older and in his final year, it was participating in theater activities and employment during studies 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.

"After a few weeks of consistently showing up, individuals become familiar with you," Robert says, "you become familiar with them, and relationships start developing."