1) ROOMATE ISSUES: The dorms are like a lucky draw; even if your roomate and you were best buds in high school, you really don’t know someone until you live with them. They may have a minor psychotic side where leaving crumbs on the counter results in a full-fledged war. They may be the type that gets so drunk they pee on your desk (true story). Or maybe they’re the type with a long term boyfriend back at home and serious trust issues. You know the story. Getting woken up at 4 AM by a Skype argument followed with creepy babytalk is not how I want to spend my school nights. But have faith; there are plenty of places on campus to avoid the dorm room, and you only have to deal with them for a year at most. Part of college is having those stories to tell!
2) Going to Class by Myself: In high school, you have a group you go to lunch with. I would drop classes because I didn’t have any friends in them and I know I’m not the only one. No one wanted to be the loser who sits by themselves, and trying to MAKE friends or engage in conversation was way too much to ask for. The thing that’s cool about college is none of that stuff matters. Go to class and sit by yourself. Who cares? Everyone is in there to learn, each paying hundreds of dollars to sit in that room and get a good grade, not chat it up.
3) Casual Sex: “Like omg, we slept together but I don’t really like him….” Um, what? Did I miss something? Is this normal? Does being somewhat adult mean the first kiss always leads to, well, home base? Am I a complete loser because I think that’s weird? The answer is no, not at all. Whether you’re a virgin or not, don’t feel like you have to get down just because it seems like the “norm.” Do it because YOU want to do it, not because HE wants to, or all your friends want you to. That way, you’ll feel better about the relationships (or hook-ups) you make in college. Don’t let guys expect home runs every time! Because trust me, many will.
4) Being My Own Personal Motivator: You could skip class, not do homework, not study, and basically slack off or party any day of the week and there’s no Mom or Dad to nag you or get mad. This amount of freedom can be a bit too much for some people, and the wake up call doesn’t hit them until they’re earning C’s or worse. This isn’t high school. A lot of teachers and professors don’t care if you’re late, failing, or not showing up at all; they’re still getting paid and it’s your loss. You’re the one who’s paying money to be lazy. It’s important early on to find a certain schedule and system of prioritizing that works for you. Grades are important; whether you like it or not, they’re your future. Save your absences for when you’re actually sick, because unless you’re facing some serious illness, they will still be unexcused. If you can’t get up for class, take that as a hint to not take early classes!
5) Drinking… a lot: I’ve probably puked this year more than my entire life combined. That’s okay! A lot of students overwhelm themselves with the easy accessibility to alcohol on a college campus. Experimentation is okay, but it’s good to assess as soon as possible how much your body can handle and not push that limit too often. According to the Daily Emerald, about 37% of students could be considered alcoholics, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. That means more than 1 in 3 students. What! Most collegiettes™ don’t need to be reminded about the hazards of excessive alcohol consumption (we’ve been told since we were in elementary school), but it is important to learn how to balance your buzz and wake up without a hangover. Hot messes are….well, not so hot.