We hear it all the time, "College life is all about the parties, staying up late, and getting into as much trouble as you can without getting caught." Thanks to lines like that, we grow up expecting college to be full of parties, full of mischief, and full of drama. Well, to tell you the truth, that is nothing like what college really is.
When I first got to college, I thought that I knew what college was going to be like. I thought I was going to be invited to parties every week, that I would stay up past midnight ever night, and that I would be surrounded by people I thought were extremely attractive. Boy was I wrong.
Here's why I was wrong:
1. I spend more time studying than at a party.
Actually, I spend most of my time studying. So far, during my entire time away at college, I have only been to one college party. It was the Kappa Sigma beginning of the year toga party. To be completely honest, it was not that great of a party. As was to be expected, there were lots of guys that I thought were attractive, there was alcohol, and there were a lot of people.
I have never been a party-er. I would rather spend my night with Netflix and a cup of tea, instead of going to a party. After walking into the Kappa Sigma party, I immediately wished that I was back in my dorm, wrapped up in my blanket. The party was crammed into the first floor of the fraternity's house, and there were way too many people. There were so many people, there was hardly any room to. It was hot, and it was stuffy, and I left after about two hours. I only knew one person there, and was way too shy to talk to anyone else.
Anyway, when you go off to college, you will spend most of your time studying. You should start studying the moment you get home with new material from class, because professors will give out pop quizzes. Also, midterms and finals are usually something you want to start studying for early. Granted, no one ever does. People usually start studying the week before the exam, and while some people may do pretty well, others will not do as well.
2. Staying up past midnight is a rare occasion.
Between working two jobs, and being a full-time college student, I usually cannot get myself to stay up much past 11:30 p.m. I get up for class around 8:00 a.m, get out of my last class around 3:50 p.m, and then I go to work around 5:00 p.m. By the end of the day, I am usually absolutely exhausted. However, I do make time to eat, and make time to at least let my floor mates in my dormitory know that I have survived yet another crazy and exhausting day.
If I do end up staying much past midnight, it is usually because I have had at least six cups of coffee, and am studying for an exam. It is a rare occasion. My roommate, however, is usually up until 4:00 a.m, but then again, she does not have class until much later in the day.
3. When you have to make your own food, you won't eat as healthily as you think you will.
I am absolutely serious. When I moved into my dormitory, and I saw I had a kitchen, I vowed to cook as much, and as healthily, as I could. However, when your kitchen has only a three burner stove, an oven that cooks unevenly, and a dish drain for your counter top, you will quickly decide that you have given up on cooking. So, what do you do when you give up on cooking in a barely one-holder kitchen? You decide to use your meal plan and suffer through all-you-can-eat campus cafeteria food.
The campus cafeteria food is extremely greasy and flavorless. The last time I ate food from the campus cafeteria was a ham and cheese wrap, and two grilled cheese sandwiches. Okay, yes, I really like cheese. However, the point is that there is not much food that has actually been deemed "edible" by the students. If there is something that has been deemed "edible," then you will learn to eat a lot of it, and you will learn to like it - even when you want something else to eat.
4. As for the drama, there is not a lot of it.
The amount of drama that you experience will vary with the people you choose to hang out with in college. My floor mates and I are very good friends. My entire floor in my dormitory has become one big family since day one - since move in day. If you choose to hang out with people that are constantly involved with drama, then you will constantly be involved in drama.
Choose not to be involved with people that are involved in drama, and you will not be involved in drama.
Are any common conceptions about college true?
Why, YES! Thank you for asking! Here are some common conceptions that are absolutely, 100 percent true about college.
1. You will sleep. A lot.
With all of the running around, the assignments, the work shifts, and the errands you will be doing, you will become absolutely exhausted. Even if you do not mean to take a nap, the moment you sit down on your bed, you will most likely fall asleep and take a nap. You will need these naps to help you get through college - especially on nights where you need to stay up late to study.
2. You will make friends pretty easily.
This is true, especially if you choose to live in on-campus housing. Your floor's Residence Assistant (RA) will basically force you to be involved in these things called "programs." Programs are designed to make you have some sort of a social life, and as a consequence, you will get to know the people on your floor. Who knows, you might actually like the people on your floor. I know I do.
3. You will gain the "Freshman 15."
You will unless you actually use the gym membership that your university makes you pay for, whether or not you actually use it. You will want to use that gym membership. With all the greasy food you will eat during college, you will easily gain at least fifteen pounds - hence the name, "Freshman 15." If you live on campus, you will live within walking distance of the campus recreation center (the campus gym). Take advantage of the cheap membership.
Did I miss any conceptions or misconceptions about college that you think need to be discussed? Feel free to put them in the comments!
