The family of a missing third-year Mount Allison University student is in shock over his disappearance and praying for his safe return.

Christopher Metallic, 20, has been missing from Sackville since early Sunday morning.

He left a house party without his shoes and his cellphone.

His mother, Mandy Metallic, told CBC News the past three days have been like a nightmare.

She has no idea why her son would go missing and is very worried. She doesn't even want to think about what might have happened to him, she said.

Christopher Metallic, 20, went missing from Sackville on Nov. 25. (RCMP)

"Worst fears going through my head," said Metallic, who had a message for her son. "I just hope you're OK. I just want you home, I want you home."

Metallic says not hearing from Christopher for three days is unusual. He always checks in with family or friends, she said.

When his roommates hadn't heard from him by Sunday around dinner, they called her and she drove straight to Sackville from her home in Listuguj First Nation in Quebec, she said.

Search ongoing

Metallic, her husband Murray Isaac, and their other son, Spencer Isaac, who is a first-year student at Mount Allison University, have been helping the RCMP and members of the Tri-County Ground Search and Rescue look for Christopher.

The RCMP helicopter conducted an aerial search on Monday and volunteers continued to search within town limits on Tuesday.

"His roommates and myself are also going crazy around town, looking everywhere, asking anyone, or any place he's been," Christopher's brother said. "This whole situation is out of character for him."

Christopher's friend and fellow third-year student Candice Coombs agrees.

"It's not like him, he would definitely be back by now," she said.

Another friend, Alix Corey, who last saw Christopher at the party early Sunday morning, says she feels hopeless, not knowing where he is.

"Everyone in all my classes are talking about it. Which is good, getting the word out but yeah, it's a pretty hard, awful feeling."

RCMP have confirmed Christopher had been at a house party on Allison Street on Saturday night.

There are unconfirmed reports he was last seen on Sunday at about 3 a.m. at Home Alone Pizza, formerly known as A-1 Pizza, on Main Street, Cpl. Elise Côté stated in a release.

Investigators still need to review surveillance video, Côté said.

University officials are working with the RCMP and counsellors are working with Christopher's close friends, officials said. The vice-president of student and international affairs has also been in contact with his family.

Metallic is described as being aboriginal, six feet tall, 180 pounds, with short dark hair and glasses.

He was last seen wearing a shiny bright blue sweater, jeans and possibly flip flops.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call RCMP 1-888-506-7267 (RCMP).