College life is glamorized on television, but there are plenty of unexpected things that no one likes to tell you. It might be the best four years of your life, but it's also probably the most stressful.
1. You will be broke 24/7.
If you have an estimate for how much money you're going to spend, go ahead and add a couple hundred more dollars to that list. No matter how well you budget, there are always unexpected fees that pop up. It can be something school-related like an additional textbook or something silly like needing to get a new phone charger. And, of course, there are always times when you're going to splurge by going out to eat, buying that cute dress you see at the mall, or getting tickets to a cheap concert on campus. I promise you, you'll be spending more money during the semester than you expected to.
2. You will meet a ton of people, but not all of them will be your friend for all four years.
During your freshman year, you'll add plenty of people to your friends list on social media. But you'll probably only interact with them for a semester at the most. Maintaining friendships in college takes a whole lot of effort. You have different schedules and a lot of different things going on, so you won't have time to hang out as much as you'd like. Therefore, you're probably not going to stay friends with the girl who sat across the room from you once in your English class.
3. You don't have to be best friends with your roommate(s).
If you're lucky, you'll have a roommate that you click with instantly, but this isn't always the case. Sometimes, it's just not going to happen. Learn to tolerate each other until the end of the year and you'll make it through.
4. The "freshmen 15" is not a myth.
And to be honest, it's more like the "freshman 50." Campus food is NOT healthy, and you're constantly tempted to cheat and eat a bunch of junk food because it's cheap and convenient. You have to make a conscious effort to eat healthy and go to the gym, or you're going to put on weight, no matter how fast your metabolism works.
5. Pre-Reqs and Gen Eds are your number one enemy.
You'll be taking classes that you absolutely do not care about and they will more than likely be at a really awful time. But you have to do it, otherwise, you can't take the classes that you actually need. It's going to suck and you're going to hate it, but you'll get through it eventually. Besides, if you pay attention and put in a little effort, they'll help boost your GPA.
6. Skipping class isn't always worth it.
You're already paying tons of money for the class, you paid a couple hundred for the book, and if you fail, you'll have to pay some more to re-take it. So go to class, take notes, pay attention. Might as well get your money's worth.
7. A one-night stand with someone on your floor is a bad idea.
You're going to run into them, and it's going to be awkward. I don't care how cute he is, It's not worth it.
8. Procrastinating will not help you.
College is busy and professors like to schedule everything at the same time, because they fail to realize that you're taking multiple classes. Don't wait until the last minute to write your paper or study for that test. You'll regret it.
9. Prioritizing is a major key to success.
Class is important. Studying is important. Sleep is important. Doing your laundry is important. Eating a meal is important. YOU are important. That television show can wait. Your social media doesn't have to be updated every second. Do the things that you need to do first, and then you'll have plenty of time to do the things that you want to do.
10. Staying in a dorm isn't as bad as you think.
There are plenty of downfalls. The heating/cooling systems never work. The shower water is always cold. The mattress is hard. There are bugs. Everything is small and cramped. But you also get the chance to make a ton of friends and you're all experiencing the same things together. You're not going to miss the dorm when you finally get your own apartment, but you'll miss the memories that you made.
11. Dating in college is just as complicated as dating in high school.
Because boys never grow up.
12. You won't always get the classes that you want.
"The best part of college is that you get to pick your classes." This is true, but sometimes classes fill up quickly, especially if it's at a good time or the professor has good reviews on RateMyProfessor. You're not guaranteed a spot in the class. And if you have to change one class, you might have to completely change your schedule, and then you won't end up with any of the classes that you want.
13. You CAN maintain friendships with people from back home.
Modern technology is wonderful because you can keep in touch with people even when they are hundreds of miles away. I constantly hear that it's impossible to stay friends with the people that you leave at home, but this is 100 percent false. It takes a little effort, and you won't talk as much as you used to, but if you want to keep your old friends, you can.
14. It's okay to cry.
College is stressful and it takes a huge toll on you mentally. I find myself crying for the dumbest reasons nowadays, and that is 100 percent okay. It'll make you feel better. I promise.
15. You WILL get homesick.
No matter how independent you are, you'll miss your family and your hometown. You might not want to go back permanently, but you'll definitely appreciate it and you'll find yourself looking for excuses to call or visit.
