Not having an amazing experience at university? You're not alone.
Robert Medhurst passed the majority of his freshers' week scrolling through digital networks, seeing content about peers enjoying evenings out.
"I remained in my room," Robert remembers, describing the week as the most isolated period of his life.
Robert's flatmates seldom socialized, and his studies didn't appear very sociable.
Although he tried by participating in sample activities for various societies, he didn't discover like-minded individuals.
"I started to lose my self-esteem," he says. "I believed people didn't want to become my friends, or they didn't like me."
Online Network Judgments
At first, Robert had no intention of studying at university and had a job offer for following college.
However he saw his friends having great fun as university attendees on social media.
"When you need to wake up for your job during the week at the morning hour and you notice others went out on the previous evening, you do start thinking the grass is greener," Robert says.
University Expectations
Television programs and social media can glorify the idea of college existence.
Numerous students begin university with high expectations for what they believe could be the best years of their lives.
Certain attendees come to university with "optimistic perspectives," explains a support services coordinator.
Research Results
- According to research of new students initially, the main anxiety was belonging and being accepted
- In another survey through polling organizations, 17% of students said they were without companions at university
- A substantial portion mentioned they experienced concern frequently about making friends
Personal Journeys
A different attendee's online videos was filled with content of girls having fun while cohabitating in university housing.
Yet when Alisha moved from her previous location to campus to study journalism, she found orientation period "overwhelming" because of the drinking culture it involved.
She avoids drinking and had not experienced nightlife before.
"I actually passed much of orientation in my room," she says. "I just felt slightly disconnected."
Psychological Aspects
According to recent research of over ten thousand undergraduate students, nearly one-third reported they contemplated withdrawing from studies.
The main cause was emotional state, succeeded by economic considerations.
"Concern over all of these different things is extremely prevalent, and expected," notes a counselling expert.
Finding Solutions
Over periods, Robert, Alisha and Christina all found their feet and built connections.
Alisha made friends via her studies and using online platforms, while the individual experienced improvement after being able to move in with friends.
Helpful Recommendations
In his case, now 24 and in his last year, it was participating in theater activities and getting a part-time job that helped him make friends.
His recommendation to new attendees struggling to socialize is to venture outside your living space and go to club and society taster events.
"Following several weeks of continuous participation, others notice your presence," he mentions, "you become familiar with them, and relationships start developing."
