Not enjoying my Uni experience so far and feel lost

this is my first time posting something like this but I just had to get it off my chest. I'm currently studying something niche to do with art that I was interested in for a while but I feel like my university environment is so poor.. the classes are tiny so there are not a lot of people to meet, the campus itself is super small like only about 400 students! I am also studying abroad. It is a commuter-only school so no dorms either, and there are virtually no school clubs and events and it just feels so dull and boring. I go to class, do homework, and take part of some extracurriculars in sports (thankfully) that I am signed up for, but other than that there is not much going on :/, some of my friends there say they feel the same. The tough thing is that this is one of the top schools for what I am interested in and if I were to transfer the quality of the education would not be as good. But I just feel so stuck and lost and empty and experienced a strong sense of lost interest in things and I've never felt depressed or a sense of hopelessness and lost spark in my life up until now. It feels like it's killing me in some way. And it feels like this is not entirely what I signed up for/not really loving the studies that much. But I will say I did learn quite a bit of new skills and see improvements in my art but I haven't been able to fully dive back into my passion for it.

Is this normal? any advice?

(I did see the school therapist but she did not provide much help but she did agree that many students here feel the same about the grim and lonely environment)

any feedback is appreciated

this is my first time posting something like this but I just had to get it off my chest. I'm currently studying something niche to do with art that I was interested in for a while but I feel like my university environment is so poor.. the classes are tiny so there are not a lot of people to meet, the campus itself is super small like only about 400 students! I am also studying abroad. It is a commuter-only school so no dorms either, and there are virtually no school clubs and events and it just feels so dull and boring. I go to class, do homework, and take part of some extracurriculars in sports (thankfully) that I am signed up for, but other than that there is not much going on :/, some of my friends there say they feel the same. The tough thing is that this is one of the top schools for what I am interested in and if I were to transfer the quality of the education would not be as good. But I just feel so stuck and lost and empty and experienced a strong sense of lost interest in things and I've never felt depressed or a sense of hopelessness and lost spark in my life up until now. It feels like it's killing me in some way. And it feels like this is not entirely what I signed up for/not really loving the studies that much. But I will say I did learn quite a bit of new skills and see improvements in my art but I haven't been able to fully dive back into my passion for it.
Is this normal? any advice?
(I did see the school therapist but she did not provide much help but she did agree that many students here feel the same about the grim and lonely environment)
any feedback is appreciated

Hi OP! I'm really sorry to hear about your experience so far. It can be really lonely when you feel like you're a bit trapped in a place. Where/what are you studying (if you feel comfortable saying)?
I went to university during Covid and i can really relate to a lot of what you're saying. It was hard to meet anyone and there wasn't any events or societies running so I felt super isolated at times. I really had to power through and focus on my passion for my work to make it through especially that first (2020-21) year. I think my main advice is focus on the things you can control - pour your energy and focus into the things you are enjoying and feel good about - whether that's your work or your sports clubs or your friends. In the times when you feel frustrated find outlets for that energy in a way that feels productive or meaningful to you - go for a run (or even just do some stretches at home), organise to meet up with friends, grind out a couple hours on a project you're feeling good about. I used to sometimes put my rollerblades on and skate out in the evenings on the roads when they were empty with my headphones in - or walk down by the canal with a huge bag of birdseed and feed the swans. It often tempered a lot of my frustration and anger at my situation into something that at least felt somewhat meaningful.
I also just focused a lot on my work, building my portfolio, writing cover letters.... I think wanting to escape my current situation is often my biggest motivator for focusing on my future...!
Have you looked into what's available in your local community, not just organised by your university? Your town/city may have clubs or social events that are just organised by local people. Sure, there might be a wider age range in the attendees, but don't let that hold you back - sometimes you can make unlikely friends. I did a bit of this when I went on placement in a town away from my university - started going to a craft club hosted in a local cafe and was able to make some friends
It's worth continuing to see your school therapist. If you feel particularly low and like you're struggling to meet basic needs (not able to eat/sleep/complete basic hygiene tasks) and/or any kind of hopelessness with life as a whole, it is worth seeing your GP too and expressing these concerns.

Hi OP! I'm really sorry to hear about your experience so far. It can be really lonely when you feel like you're a bit trapped in a place. Where/what are you studying (if you feel comfortable saying)?
I went to university during Covid and i can really relate to a lot of what you're saying. It was hard to meet anyone and there wasn't any events or societies running so I felt super isolated at times. I really had to power through and focus on my passion for my work to make it through especially that first (2020-21) year. I think my main advice is focus on the things you can control - pour your energy and focus into the things you are enjoying and feel good about - whether that's your work or your sports clubs or your friends. In the times when you feel frustrated find outlets for that energy in a way that feels productive or meaningful to you - go for a run (or even just do some stretches at home), organise to meet up with friends, grind out a couple hours on a project you're feeling good about. I used to sometimes put my rollerblades on and skate out in the evenings on the roads when they were empty with my headphones in - or walk down by the canal with a huge bag of birdseed and feed the swans. It often tempered a lot of my frustration and anger at my situation into something that at least felt somewhat meaningful.
I also just focused a lot on my work, building my portfolio, writing cover letters.... I think wanting to escape my current situation is often my biggest motivator for focusing on my future...!
Have you looked into what's available in your local community, not just organised by your university? Your town/city may have clubs or social events that are just organised by local people. Sure, there might be a wider age range in the attendees, but don't let that hold you back - sometimes you can make unlikely friends. I did a bit of this when I went on placement in a town away from my university - started going to a craft club hosted in a local cafe and was able to make some friends
It's worth continuing to see your school therapist. If you feel particularly low and like you're struggling to meet basic needs (not able to eat/sleep/complete basic hygiene tasks) and/or any kind of hopelessness with life as a whole, it is worth seeing your GP too and expressing these concerns.

Hello, thank you for your reply by the way! Well id prefer not to mention the school but I'm studying digital arts and animation in an international school in Spain. I think yeah as you said, the one thing that is motivating me is knowing I do not want to be stuck in this rut for the rest of my life. I will say I'll def try to focus on pouring my energy on things that I like to do and that help future me instead of only dumping it on schoolwork and my worries for the future. I am looking for next year to move into a communal dorm with some girls and look for some local clubs yeah! Just a little intimidated but I know it'll help in the long run. Thank you, your support means a lot to me.

this is my first time posting something like this but I just had to get it off my chest. I'm currently studying something niche to do with art that I was interested in for a while but I feel like my university environment is so poor.. the classes are tiny so there are not a lot of people to meet, the campus itself is super small like only about 400 students! I am also studying abroad. It is a commuter-only school so no dorms either, and there are virtually no school clubs and events and it just feels so dull and boring. I go to class, do homework, and take part of some extracurriculars in sports (thankfully) that I am signed up for, but other than that there is not much going on :/, some of my friends there say they feel the same. The tough thing is that this is one of the top schools for what I am interested in and if I were to transfer the quality of the education would not be as good. But I just feel so stuck and lost and empty and experienced a strong sense of lost interest in things and I've never felt depressed or a sense of hopelessness and lost spark in my life up until now. It feels like it's killing me in some way. And it feels like this is not entirely what I signed up for/not really loving the studies that much. But I will say I did learn quite a bit of new skills and see improvements in my art but I haven't been able to fully dive back into my passion for it.
Is this normal? any advice?
(I did see the school therapist but she did not provide much help but she did agree that many students here feel the same about the grim and lonely environment)
any feedback is appreciated