Did anyone else watch countless YouTube videos about starting college? For me, it was all I did the summer before I headed into my first year. Going into college was one of those things I had romanticized ever since I was a little girl.
I saw an idealized version of the college experience through movies like “Pitch Perfect” and “Good Will Hunting”, which made me excited for my late teens. But now that these years have actually arrived, my once hopeful dream had turned into a dreadful fear of the unknown. I had to pick a stranger to share a room with for nine months, walk to a dining hall for basic meals and walk 20+ minutes to each class rather than just walk across the hall.Â
Now that I am almost done with my first semester (crazy, I know), I have rewritten my thoughts on what the college experience is like. There have been many incredible highs, some considerable lows, some met expectations but also some things that no one told me about that I had to learn through my own experience.
No matter how many TikTok story times and YouTube videos you watch, there will be things you are not expecting when you start college. Here are some things I have faced this semester that I was not expecting, and some extra advice from a girl who is starting to figure out her own routine.
Yes, you need to put in extra effort outside of class hours.
I specifically remember from our new student orientation that current students and administrative staff advised that for every hour we are in class, we should dedicate the same amount of time, or even more, to studying outside the classroom. At first, I thought this was ridiculous. Throughout high school, I barely studied for my exams. Occasionally, I would make a quick quizlet to memorize words, but that was about it.
In college, there are no quizzes every week; there’s just one big exam. I was surprised at how little homework I would actually receive, thinking I barely had to do any work to get a good grade. But as soon as my first exam arrived, I felt extremely nervous and underprepared. I had to remember weeks of material for a single exam, not knowing what might or might not come up.
Safe to say, I did not get the score that I was hoping for. After that disappointing experience, I learned just how true it is that studying and doing additional work outside the classroom is essential. Sparing one or two hours to put in some extra work in a comfy spot in the library will not go to waste. Your grades and future self will definitely thank you.
High school involvement vs college involvement are not the same.
In high school, having a ton of extracurriculars was necessary to put yourself out there to prove that you are a well-rounded student for college. I remember being part of all kinds of clubs: newspaper, student council, debate team, varsity sports —you name it. I tried doing the same thing once I got onto campus.
I actually ​​ended up with eight clubs that I had found at the involvement fair. In the next few days, my GroupMe messages were blowing up with notifications, and I didn’t know which clubs to prioritize. I barely had any time for personal enjoyment, studying or spending time with my friends. You do not need to be in a million clubs to prove yourself in college. Having three or four clubs you genuinely enjoy and are dedicated to is way more valuable and impactful than being in clubs you aren’t fully immersing yourself in. Pick a few, make the most of them and put your all into them.
Your bed is your reset place, but also your worst enemy.
For my own personal journey, I had to figure out what worked for me. I have to study and put in effort outside the classroom, be involved in meaningful clubs and figure out what makes me successful during while also enjoying what are supposed to be the best years of my life. If I had to give the most meaningful piece of advice I have picked up this semester, it would be: do not go back to your dorm.
For me, at least, I can’t be productive when I am back in my room. My soft, comfy bed is the perfect place to fall asleep after a long day of learning. Go to a cute coffee spot. Go to the library. Even going for a walk, but going back to your room will make you not want to do the activities you told yourself you had to do. You’ll most likely want to go to bed and take a nap. When you’re out, you get to see new faces, accomplish tasks and even brighten your mood.Â
“You have to laugh about yourself and take it with a grain of salt”
Khloe Kardashian
Any advice you see on social media or hear from others can be helpful. Some of the advice was useful, such as putting in extra effort outside of class hours. However, not all of it can be true for your own personal path, which can lead you to have wrong ideas or stress yourself out even more. At the end of the day, college is a new experience, and learning is part of the process that helps you grow into the person you’ve always aspired to be.
Take risks, take advice with a grain of salt, and take the opportunity to learn more about who you are as a person!