College: a wonderful place where people play frisbee in the courtyard, the guys are more mature, and all of your worries from high school just seem to disappear like they were from another lifetime. Yeah right! Every time you envisioned college before beginning freshman year, your expectations built up so much of a hype that you might have been left with disappointment at its reality. What they don’t tell you before you came to college (but you wish they did) is what I will:
1. Don’t buy books before the semester begins. What teachers often forget to tell you is that you will basically never ever use a book. The professors who lecture for an hour and a half just use their notes on the test, and there’s maybe one a semester who assigns readings often. Basically, just wait until you really need the book for homework or studying before spending the money.
2. Nobody cares how you dress. In high school, to make it to the top of the food chain you were always expected to dress your best. In college, if you wear anything but athletic wear, you often get looked at as a try-hard. Stocking up on comfy clothes from Victoria’s Secret and athletic brands is actually the way to go!
3. Always have a breakfast foods in your dorm. For some reason, getting up in college is so much more difficult than high school. Most times, college students forget to eat breakfast, and then that will affect their ability to learn in class. Make sure that you have plenty of cereal, granola bars, yogurt, and anything else you can eat on-the-go!
4. Alcohol is expensive. Let’s face it… girl or guy, pitching in for a bottle or case is expensive at times. Before you decide to go out that weekend, make sure you can afford it! Plus, learning to like the cheap stuff isn’t such a bad idea. You have your entire post-grad life to down Patron.
5. You can’t always rely on Mom or Dad. Being far away from home is a blessing and curse at the same time. In high school, you were used to home-cooked meals and other comforts that you might have taken for granted. Now, you’d probably give anything to have someone do your laundry or cook your favorite foods!
6. Bring shower shoes. Community bathrooms being unsanitary is not something they include in college admission brochures! What more to say than make sure your feet are always covered while you shower.
7. Get a Netflix subscription. What would college really be without Gossip Girl marathons and British movies we’ve never heard of? For $7.99 a month, you can’t beat all of the great things. Plus, there’s an app for smartphones if you get bored in class.
8. Pick your professors wisely. Either go on ratemyprofessor.com or ask around, but do not commit to signing up for a class until you know a little bit about the professor’s background or teaching skills. I’m sure we’ve all made the mistake of picking someone who can’t communicate well or barely speaks English!
9. Don’t be “that girl.” The era of prom queens is finally over, and yet the girls in college that try too hard are the easiest to spot. Unfortunately, these types don’t fully disappear after high school graduation, but avoid being one and you’re sure to make more genuine friendships.
10. Be yourself. This goes without saying, but if you don’t have at least some of the quirks and traits you did in high school, then you probably aren’t being true to yourself. Who cares if you were a nerd in high school because you loved Star Wars? Embrace your individuality- it will be appreciated in college.
Lastly, the golden rule: liquor before beer, you’re in the clear, but beer before liquor, and you’ve never been sicker.