First Week of Uni and I Hate It: What to Do Next
First week of uni and I hate it? That is one of the most common feelings in freshers' week, and it usually doesn't mean you picked the wrong place. Week one throws new people, a new home and zero routine at you all at once. For a lot of students the feeling eases noticeably once lectures, routines and a few regular faces settle in over the first month.
If you're shrinking every time you walk into a kitchen, seminar or flat party, Aura pinpoints where your presence leaks and gives you one small move a day to fix it: Find my aura leak.
You are not the only one
Search "first week of uni reddit" and you'll find thread after thread saying the same thing you're feeling: lonely, overwhelmed, homesick, wondering if everyone else got the memo.
Here's the thing those threads show. The people posting aren't weird outliers. They're the ones honest enough to say it. Meanwhile, the people in your flat who seem to be having the best week ever? Some of them are crying on the phone to their parents too. They just do it with the door shut.
What "I hate it" usually means
When people say "I hate uni" in week one, they usually mean one of these:
- I'm lonely.
- I'm homesick.
- I'm exhausted.
- I don't like the party scene.
- I don't know where anything is and I feel stupid.
- My course feels nothing like I expected.
Each of those has a different fix. Figuring out which one is yours is step one.
Why the first week feels this bad
Everything changes at once
New bed, new food, new city, new people, new money stress. Even good change is tiring, and week one is all of it stacked.
Freshers' week is built for one type of person
Freshers' (UK) / orientation week (US, Canada) leans hard on nights out, loud events and constant socializing. If you're more introverted, or you don't drink, it can feel like a week-long audition you didn't sign up for. And if you never had a big friend group at school either, that's fine: read is it normal to not have a friend group for why small circles work.
No routine yet
Routine is what makes a place feel like home. In week one you have none: no regular classes, no usual coffee spot, no "see you Thursday."
Comparison overload
Everyone's stories are full of flat parties and new best friends. Your camera roll is a photo of your plain pasta. The comparison is brutal and also fake.
What usually changes by week 4
Most people find that things look different a few weeks in. Not perfect, but different. Here's how it tends to go:
| Week | What it often feels like |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Chaos, loneliness, "what have I done" |
| Week 2 | Classes start, a bit more structure, still lonely |
| Week 3 | You recognize faces in lectures, someone saves you a seat |
| Week 4 | You have a routine, a couple of people to text, a favorite spot |
This isn't a promise, and some people take longer. But "I hate it" on day four isn't the same as "this is wrong for me."
5 things to do this week
Small, practical, doable even if you feel rubbish.
1. Leave your door open
In halls or dorms, an open door is an invitation. Sit at your desk with it open for an hour. People wander past and say hi.
2. Go to one thing, not ten
Pick one society taster, one welcome event or one sports session that actually interests you. One good event beats five you hate.
3. Use the same three lines
You don't need to be witty. You need a script:
- "What are you studying?"
- "Where are you from?"
- "Have you found anywhere decent to eat yet?"
Ask, listen, then follow up on one detail. That's genuinely all most people are doing. If you keep getting talked over in loud flat kitchens, why does nobody listen to me when I talk has fixes for volume and timing.
4. Build a tiny routine
Same breakfast, same walk, same library seat. Routine is what turns a strange building into "mine."
5. Call home, but cap it
Talking to family helps. Talking to them for three hours every night can keep you stuck between two places. Try a set time, like one call every couple of days.
Week one is when you're most likely to replay every awkward intro and decide you're "bad at people." Judging yourself like that is hard to do fairly. Aura asks 16 questions, pins down which leak is really holding you back (like shrinking when you walk in or eye contact slipping), and gives you one small move a day with a one-tap check-in each night. Find my aura leak
If you're thinking of dropping out
It's normal to wonder. Before you decide anything, give it some time and talk to people who know your options.
- Wait a few weeks if you can. Week one feelings are loud and unreliable.
- Talk to your personal tutor or academic advisor. Changing course or module is often more possible than people assume.
- Use student support. Most universities and colleges have wellbeing or counseling services. Using them is normal.
- Check the money side. Funding and fees can depend on when you leave, so ask before deciding.
If you're feeling low most days, not sleeping or eating properly, or having thoughts of hurting yourself, please reach out to student support, a doctor or a crisis line right away. That's more important than any course.
First week of college and I hate it (US)
If you're in the US or Canada, the vibe is the same with different words: freshman year, dorms, roommates, orientation, RAs.
- Your RA is there for this. "I'm having a hard time settling in" is a completely normal thing to tell them.
- Roommate not your vibe? You don't need to be best friends. Being polite and getting your social life elsewhere is fine.
- Dining hall alone? Bring a book or sit at the end of a busy table and ask if a seat's free. Nobody's tracking who sat with who.
- Clubs fair is your best shot. Sign up for more than you'll attend, then go to the first meeting of two.
Is the first year of uni the hardest? For many people, yes, especially the first term or semester. That's exactly why feeling this way now makes sense.
Make the next intro go better than the last one
First week of uni and you hate it: that's a moment, not a verdict. What you can control is how you show up in the next kitchen, seminar or club meeting. Aura's 16 questions give you your aura tier, your biggest leak and a 14-move plan you can start today, right in your browser.
FAQ
Is it normal to hate the first week of uni?
Yes, very. Week one stacks loneliness, homesickness, tiredness and zero routine. Many students feel much more settled a few weeks in once classes and routines start.
First day of college and I hate it, what should I do?
Don't make big decisions yet. Do one small thing: go to one event, talk to one person, find one spot you like. Give it a few weeks before judging the whole experience.
What are the best first week of uni tips for making friends?
Leave your door open, go to one or two events that genuinely interest you, and use simple questions like "what are you studying?" Then follow up with the same people again later in the week. Repetition builds friendships, not one perfect night.
Is the first year of uni the hardest?
For lots of people, the first term is the hardest part, because everything is new at once. It tends to get easier as routines and friendships form.
Should I drop out of uni after the first week?
Usually it's worth waiting a few weeks and talking to your tutor or student support first. Week one feelings are intense and often change. If you're really struggling with your mental health, reach out for support straight away.