The summer before each of us began our freshman year of college was both an exciting and terrifying time. While we all couldn’t wait to start a new journey with new friends and new boys, there’s no denying that we had fears stemming from the myths we’d heard about college from friends and family. It wasn’t until we’d experienced college for ourselves that we were able to uncover which of these myths were completely fake, and which of these myths actually weren’t so far off.
1. “The Freshman 15”: SO TRUE
If you didn’t gain the dreaded 15 pounds yourself, you saw it happen to at least one of your friends (probably more than one, to be honest). College allows for some of the worst eating and drinking habits. Combined, the two lead to calorie counts that help you kiss goodbye that physique you spent all of high school working on. The good news is that the “Freshman 15” is far from permanent. By sophomore year you learn to just say no to that slice of Canyon Pizza… sometimes.
2. An Amazing School Schedule: SO TRUE (most of the time)
Coming from high school, where you woke up somewhere between 6 and 8 a.m. and spent the entire day in school, college is paradise. You choose your schedule, and find ways to work naps between the two 50 minute classes you have on Mondays. Unfortunately, no one warns you in high school that you have the opportunity to have an 8 a.m. or a night class in college, or even worse, both in one day.
3. You Have To Know What You Want To Do With Your Life: SO FALSE
Although a lot of schools ask for your intended major upon admission, I think it’s safe to say that by the end of sophomore year everyone has gone through at least one “what am I doing with my life- I have no purpose or direction- someone please help me” crisis. One of the greatest things about coming to college was realizing that most people were just as confused and undecided as you were.
4. Academics Are So Much Harder Than In High School: SO FALSE
Now, some college classes are, without a doubt, more difficult than your high school ones. If you’re an engineering major, you have to assume you’ll be taking a few courses that are more challenging than the basic geometry you took in high school. But what a relief it was to realize that a good portion of your college courses are general education classes or electives. Ballroom Dancing, here I come!
5. Finals Week Is Miserable: SO TRUE
How upset were you when you realized that your older sibling wasn’t exaggerating when she’d call home from college and say, “I’m living in the library this week”? Based on your schedule, finals week can range anywhere from moderately tough to a week of academic torture. I would advise all younger readers to be smart and study ahead of time, but let’s be honest, none of us are that productive.
6. College Is One Big Party: SO FALSE (most of the time)
Okay, there are a lot of parties, but realizing that you have to balance those parties and academics in college was a big shock to most people. Freshman year is a whirlwind of frat parties and late nights, but as time passes, everyone comes to learn that you need to take academics seriously if you want to succeed in real life. Depressing, I know.
7. It’s the Best Four Years of Your Life: SO TRUE
It’s the cliché that every aunt, uncle, mother, father, brother, sister, cousin and friend has told you. And while college, like any other four years, has its ups and downs, there’s no denying that it really will be some of the best four years of your life.