Feeling lonely at university in London

Thinedivine

12

NO

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 1

lowtestbeta

11

Original post by Thinedivine

I'm a first year student at KCL in London.

There are so many things I love about my course, I find it really interesting and do actually enjoy uni when in lectures and seminars... but the social side has been pretty unfulfilling.

My course is pretty much all International and people seem to stick to their own people without mixing so much. Additionally, I missed out on halls and am in a flatshare, which is one off the major problems because it means you lack community.

It's such a shame because it feels like everyone who has come to uni here either lives a home, or they have existing networks of friends and are not willing to be very open. I really have tried to forge stronger friendships by trying various societies and things but it's not easy by any means.

I'm even considering commuting from home at the moment because I just need a stronger support network and am really struggling!!

Things are made far harder by the fact I see my friends all having so much fun with their groups at campus uni and in halls; I know I shouldn't compare but I do. Part of me just wants the community they do...and I can't help but feel I may get it by transferring unis... I just don't know if I can take the isolation much longer.

I would love to hear if anyone else has experienced this.. or has any advice.. and please more than just joining societies because I have tried.

Thank you so much,

Thinedivine

take up a sport; if you don't make friends whilst training with people then its a you problem

Reply 2

ThePricklyOne

18

Original post by Thinedivine

I'm a first year student at KCL in London.

There are so many things I love about my course, I find it really interesting and do actually enjoy uni when in lectures and seminars... but the social side has been pretty unfulfilling.

My course is pretty much all International and people seem to stick to their own people without mixing so much. Additionally, I missed out on halls and am in a flatshare, which is one off the major problems because it means you lack community.

It's such a shame because it feels like everyone who has come to uni here either lives a home, or they have existing networks of friends and are not willing to be very open. I really have tried to forge stronger friendships by trying various societies and things but it's not easy by any means.

I'm even considering commuting from home at the moment because I just need a stronger support network and am really struggling!!

Things are made far harder by the fact I see my friends all having so much fun with their groups at campus uni and in halls; I know I shouldn't compare but I do. Part of me just wants the community they do...and I can't help but feel I may get it by transferring unis... I just don't know if I can take the isolation much longer.

I would love to hear if anyone else has experienced this.. or has any advice.. and please more than just joining societies because I have tried.

Thank you so much,

Thinedivine

I don't think only international guys 'stick with their own people'. Many UK students only hang out with others similar to them and ignore the one chinese/asian student on their course.

To get a social life, you need to be more social and more outgoing then when you're at school. School give you a ready made group of people from similar backgrounds / local area to hang out with. Uni gets students from all over the UK and the rest of the world, so it's harder to find instant friends, where you'd have lots in common.

Flatshare doesn't mean you miss community. You can make an effort to socialise with your flat mates then meet their mates and increase your social circle. You can introduce yourself to other students at the start of your course and exchange emails. Start a study group email with other students on each of your modules so you can share ideas to ace the exams /assignment and get help when your stuck. No reason why you can't set up pizza nites with your fellow students, or invite people to do a cook-in in your flat.

So be brave and go & make friends instead of waiting for them to come to you. I've made friends with a couple of lecturers as well as a load of students. Someone I've met at uni got me free tickets to a concert, and I'm off with him to go there this weekend. I've also been invited by one tutor to do talks to promote STEM, which I got paid.

Good luck!

Reply 3

ebraico

6

Sign up to do a study abroad programme in your second year. If you don't make friends in first year then you DEFINITELY will whilst studying abroad!