While I was in high school, my head was filled with assumptions about college. When I enrolled, I was nervous, and not in a good way; I was afraid college would merely be four years of high school again based on what I’d been told, but this was definitely not the case. Most of these issues vary from professor to professor, but that’s typically not discussed. These were all ideas I’d believed on the first day of Freshman year:
1. "All doors are locked once classes start."
Trust me, you will walk into the wrong classroom on the first day, and it will be embarrassing, but don’t worry about it. I’ve walked out of a class during roll call before; the key is to not look down and to avoid all eye contact. I would say the general rule is that you’re allowed to enter a classroom probably for the first ten minutes of class. Once again, it’s all about being respectful and not drawing attention to yourself. If you wake up late for class, sometimes it’s worth sprinting across campus. Most professors are understanding.
2. “College professors won’t slow down for you. You’ll have to learn to take notes quickly.”
This is a big one. Proper note-taking is an essential skill for every college student, but professors are more than willing to slow down if you ask them to. Questions are encouraged to increase understanding. Even more so, I’ve had professors that willingly upload their lectures or notes online so students can better prepare for exams. Despite this, never rely on this completely. Always take notes, and if all else fails, ask a classmate. They’re likely to have what you missed, or can offer you a proper solution.
3. “You won’t be able to leave during a lecture.”
This, I think, is relative from professor to professor, but for the most part, all of my past professors have been relatively lenient on this issue. We’ve been allowed to leave the room to use the restroom, to answer an important call, or for any other unforeseen emergency. As long as you remain attentive and respectful, professors will hopefully respond the same.
4. “Your professors will have assigned seats.”
Nah. Well, I’ve had one professor who tried to enforce this merely to make it easier on him while taking role, but that’s unusual in a college setting.
5. “You won’t be able to exempt exams in college.”
For the most part, this one is true, but I’ve heard of students being able to miss exams due to high averages before; however, don’t expect to walk into college and pass with flying colors. Expect to work hard and be rewarded in return.
College is, at times, difficult. Although teachers say this with your best interest in mind, do not let their opinions discourage you. College is, to most people, the greatest experience of their lives, and I would agree. Sometimes this optimism isn’t spread in high school settings; teachers feel this sense of urgency to prepare students for college, so they feel like they have to create a higher standard in the classroom, which is certainly not to harm you. When teachers discuss college, they typically don’t include how much freedom you’re given, or the unbelievable friends you’ll make. Of course, you should be in college primarily to seek an education, but fooling yourself with the details won’t matter in the long run. Instead, enjoy college for what it is. Study hard, but allow yourself to relax; college is not a life sentence.
