With having only one more semester to go, I decided it was time to get honest about college. Let’s get real about how college can just kind of be, uh, frustrating…to put it mildly. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful I have the opportunity to get a higher level of education, and most of the time, college is fantastic. That being said, there’s another side to college that I believe most can relate to. So this is everything that has been on the back burner since I was fresh on the scene four years ago.
1. Parking
Nothing like getting 2 tickets in one day in a lot that I pay 250.00 per semester to be legally parked in. The cause of said ticket? “Parking over the line.” I’m sorry, but go home ticket person. Go home. I pay 43,000 every 8 months to go here. I feel like maybe you should be a little more forgiving, no?
2. Housing
Which brings me to my next point, on campus housing. There’s nothing like putting in a maintenance request, and having them come about 2 weeks later. Or the struggle of trying to find housing for next year while trying to scramble with leases and who you want to live with and/or bad roomies.
3. That weird wiggle dance you do if your butt touches the shower wall
Everyone who has on campus shared dorm/co-ed bathrooms will get this. Which leads me to my next point:
4. Having to wear flip flops in the bathroom and shower
I don’t know what it feels like to go barefooted in the shower anymore. During winter break, I stepped into my shower at home with flip flops on, out of habit. It took me a good few moments to realize it too.
5. Scheduling classes
Especially if you’re first or second year, I feel for you. It’s like the Hunger Games at times. My major kept downsizing the upper level classes each year. It’s no wonder we couldn’t get into classes when the classes had a 12 person limit.
6. Walking everywhere
This is good and bad. Walking can be great, and great for going green. But when it’s late and you just want Ruffles All Dressed chips and the walk is going to take 15 min., that just sucks. You always take for granted the 30 second walk from your room at home to the fridge.
7. The Professors
I’ve had some absolutely horrible professors, and some really great ones. But from all of the horror stories I could complain about with professors, the one thing that bugs me the most is the e-mail game, or the lack of one.
8. Dining hall food
Now, UNH has some pretty great food here. For college dining hall food, we have it made. Nothing compares to mom’s homemade sauce and fresh meals though, or the option of saying what you want for dinner. Sometimes, the rotated meals can become a bit predictable. Or, looking down at your plate of food and having a weird variety of foods from the weird varieties that’s offered. My average plate of weird: Fish with some odd yellow-ish sauce, next to chicken chimmichurri salad next to mashed potatoes next to lasagna.
9. Running into people you don’t want to see
Won’t miss this at all. Whether it’s bullies, ex hookups or people from your high school, it’s just a hard no.
10. Getting called on…
…when you didn’t do the reading and/or assignment. Guilty. It makes you feel like you’re the dog who ate your master’s shoe. Although, it does make your on-the-spot BS game strong.
11. UNH Plague
It will destroy you and your life for a week or two. Usually everyone else around you has it too, so you’re in it together. You’ll also gather at Rite Aid and show your solidarity by raiding the shelves for cough drops and sleep medicine. Makes me kind of freaked out about the petree dish of germs that is college though.
12. Finals
Who would miss these?! Not gonna lie, I will miss those red bull and flavor shot drinks from Zekes to keep me going through finals.
Honorable Mention: Tour groups that look at you like you’re a rare zoo animal. Or the anxious parents who come up to you and ask what college here is really like and is UNH really a party school. Grant me 4 hours of additional sleep and coffee, and I’ll tell you.