College isn't always what it's cracked up to be. The movies lie, and your expectations won't always be met. Your family might tell you one thing, while your friends might tell you another. Regardless, here are 10 things you wish you heard before going away to school that no one bothered to tell you.
1. You’re going to miss home. A lot.
There’s no point in denying it. Whether you’re two miles or two thousand miles away from home, you will get homesick. It doesn’t matter if you used to spend every summer at sleep-away camp or have traveled the world without your family. Regardless of how well you think you can handle life on your own, college will ultimately prove you wrong. And that’s okay.
2. The workload is an absolute b*tch.
You may only be taking four or five classes, but the homework is no joke. You’re not in high school anymore. You will pull all-nighters. There will be weeks where you average two or three hours of sleep per night, and you will begin to question your sanity. Welcome to college.
3. Your roommate will get on your nerves.
Living with someone isn’t easy. It takes some getting used to, especially if you’ve never shared a room with anyone before. And it doesn’t matter if you two become the best of friends or remain strangers the entire year—you will inevitably annoy each other and have petty fights. It’s all a part of the experience. Just be sure to address the issue(s) before it’s too late.
4. You’ll nap more now than you ever have before.
Who says nap time is only for kindergarteners? I can guarantee you’ll nap more in college than you ever thought possible. Those 20 minutes in between classes will probably be spent sleeping. Every minute counts. I can’t tell you how many 17-minute alarms I’ve already set this year.
5. Mental breakdowns are okay.
School is difficult. No one expects you to understand how everything works within the first week, or even the first month! Adjusting to something new takes time, and if you need to cry or scream a little—or a lot—to get you through those seemingly impossible days, then cry or scream. No one will think any lesser of you.
6. The training wheels need to come off.
No one is going to make you dinner every night or remind you to finish your homework. Your laundry isn’t going to fold itself, and your bed certainly won’t make itself. So buckle up, kid, because you’ve got responsibilities. You’re in the driver’s seat now.
7. Quality professors are needles in a haystack.
Not every professor is going to be your favorite. It’s impossible for a professor to appeal to every student, so you’re not going to connect with each one. While your Stats professor might be monotone and your English professor might have an irritating lisp, you’ll eventually find the professor that makes going to class a little less painful. And when you do, be sure to stay in contact with him or her even after the semester.
8. You’re no longer in high school.
Nobody cares what you scored on the SAT or ACT or how many AP classes you took your senior year. In the end, you all got into the same school, so just stop talking about it.
9. It’s okay to ask for help.
Whether you’re struggling in class or having difficulty adjusting to school, there’s always someone you can talk to. Don’t be afraid to talk to your professors or friends when things get stressful.
10. It gets better.
It may not seem like it now, but it’s true. It might take a month, or maybe even a year, but in the end, everything will work itself out. You were admitted for a reason. You chose this school for a reason. You belong here.
Ultimately, college is what you make of it. The experience is unlike any other, but it doesn't last forever; so take advantage of your years as an undergrad before you're pushed into the real world. But if you still can't figure it out after four years, don't worry, there's always grad school!
