36% selected how lonely it can feel. 32% selected how important networking is; 28% selected how expensive everything is; and 4% selected how hard the workload is.
How all 250 respondents answered
Respondents selected one answer from four options.
Percentages are based on the published response counts. Where whole-number percentages are shown, totals may differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
The less visible social side of starting university stands out
Loneliness led
Thirty-six per cent selected how lonely university can feel.
Networking followed closely
Thirty-two per cent chose how important networking is.
Cost is also prominent
Twenty-eight per cent selected how expensive everything is, while 4% chose workload.
Social connection is a major part of the transition into university
Loneliness leading the poll may reflect the gap between the highly social image of university and the reality of arriving in a new place, meeting unfamiliar people and building a support network from scratch.
Networking being close behind is notable too. Two of the three biggest responses relate to relationships or social connection, while cost remains a substantial part of the picture.
How to report this poll accurately
Keep the response base and indicative audience label attached to the headline finding.
How this poll was recorded
- Question
- What's the biggest thing nobody tells you before starting uni?
- Responses
- 250 total responses
- Date recorded
- 23 July 2026
- Collection
- Instagram Stories
- Evidence label
- Indicative first-party Unifresher audience poll
This is an audience poll rather than a population survey. It is useful as a snapshot of the respondents who took part and should not be described as representative of every UK university student.
Questions readers ask next
What was the most common answer?
36% selected “How lonely it can feel”, making it the largest answer in this poll.
How many respondents chose the top answer?
90 of 250 respondents selected “How lonely it can feel”.
What was the second most selected answer?
32% selected “How important networking is”, equal to 80 responses.
Is this representative of all UK students?
No. This is an indicative Unifresher audience poll with 250 responses, not a nationally representative student survey.
How should this result be reported?
Keep the 250-response base, collection date and indicative-audience label attached to the finding.
Explore more student attitudes
Cite this poll
Unifresher poll, “What's the biggest thing nobody tells you before starting uni?”, 250 responses, recorded 23 July 2026. Unifresher Data Hub.
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