University With Autism

I did my degree in the mid-90s and my MA in the late 90s. In those times, there was practically no help for Aspies or folks with social anxiety. I knew I had SA then, but certainly not the Aspergers! My understanding is that there is these days rather more help for students with social or learning difficulties. The first two years were hell for me, especially the first year. I was severely socially phobic, plus had major BDD. I was a recluse for the first year and almost suicidally depressed much of the time. The second year was a little better when I moved off campus into a house with a couple of students I had got to know a bit. For the entire 3 years, though, I socialised very little. The wild parties and sex etc. most of my peers seemed to be enjoying were off limits to me. It didn't help that I was never taken seriously because I looked about 12 at the time :) I missed out on so much, and I think I never once went to the Students Union unless it was with a friend and for a specific reason. In short, my degree was a rather miserable time, I just shut myself in and worked. For my Masters I commuted into London from a city about an hour's train ride away. I wasn't at the uni all that much and hardly got to know many people. I never went to the Students Union. Because I was hardly there and also was still very socially phobic, I gained a rep for being stuck up and aloof, which damaged me considerably. Again, I just studied, got my degree, and got out of there. I never participated in all the things the uni, and indeed London, had to offer.

But I missed out on SOOOO much! As another posted has already said, you can potentially learn to be social at uni. Don't make the mistakes I did – socialise. It might be difficult, but I recommend you do it,  as you're pretty likely gonna regret it later if you don't. And you may miss out on a whole world of fun, support of friends, networking, cultural experiences, and so on. 

This should be one of the best times of your life - do your best to enjoy it! Work hard, but make sure you have fun, too. I wish I had.

I did my degree in the mid-90s and my MA in the late 90s. In those times, there was practically no help for Aspies or folks with social anxiety. I knew I had SA then, but certainly not the Aspergers! My understanding is that there is these days rather more help for students with social or learning difficulties. The first two years were hell for me, especially the first year. I was severely socially phobic, plus had major BDD. I was a recluse for the first year and almost suicidally depressed much of the time. The second year was a little better when I moved off campus into a house with a couple of students I had got to know a bit. For the entire 3 years, though, I socialised very little. The wild parties and sex etc. most of my peers seemed to be enjoying were off limits to me. It didn't help that I was never taken seriously because I looked about 12 at the time :) I missed out on so much, and I think I never once went to the Students Union unless it was with a friend and for a specific reason. In short, my degree was a rather miserable time, I just shut myself in and worked. For my Masters I commuted into London from a city about an hour's train ride away. I wasn't at the uni all that much and hardly got to know many people. I never went to the Students Union. Because I was hardly there and also was still very socially phobic, I gained a rep for being stuck up and aloof, which damaged me considerably. Again, I just studied, got my degree, and got out of there. I never participated in all the things the uni, and indeed London, had to offer.

But I missed out on SOOOO much! As another posted has already said, you can potentially learn to be social at uni. Don't make the mistakes I did – socialise. It might be difficult, but I recommend you do it,  as you're pretty likely gonna regret it later if you don't. And you may miss out on a whole world of fun, support of friends, networking, cultural experiences, and so on. 

This should be one of the best times of your life - do your best to enjoy it! Work hard, but make sure you have fun, too. I wish I had.