I'm sure you hear very often the phrase, "College is so different from high school." From my point-of-view, I don't agree, however, here are a few things that really change once you get to college.
1. Relationships
Relationships and dating are SOOOO much different in college. I say this because in high school it seemed like everyone knew everyone, and everyone knew who everyone was dating. But in college, there are SO many people on campus and it is honestly hard to meet everyone. 4 years seems like not enough time to meet the thousands of people on campus. You have a lot of free time on your hands (or at least I do), and sometimes you just want to spend it alone because you are constantly around people who do weird things, or talk loudly. But in high school, having someone by your side makes things better and the boring times more enjoyable. (College is never boring. Trust me).
Guys and girls who want someone are always there. Always. Remember in high school when you loved having the attention of your crush (es). YOU WILL HARDLY FEEL THAT IN COLLEGE. In high school, boys and girls did a good job of controlling their feelings toward each other, but in college, everywhere you look there's someone trying to "get lucky." It's honestly annoying. Especially if you find someone who WON'T LEAVE YOU ALONE. Dating in college is basically just to score some the same night you go out. You might find some people that don't have this mindset though, I have found some. College is just so much more independent, and defiantly so much more partying (a lot more mistakes).
Sorry not sorry, it is the truth.
2. Classes
If your high school teachers were anything like mine, they told you that college professors won't work with you on assignments. My professors will literally stay after class to make sure I understand something or they will literally email you back at 2 a.m. if you have a question to help you. I got lucky with my professors. My high school teachers also told me that professors won't accept late assignments. WRONG. My professors don't even count your papers or anything as late unless you haven't taken an online quiz that had the time and date on it. Professors also give you almost a week to complete ONE assignment. You're good. Some professors don't care whether you come to class or if you do. But in high school, teachers would count your papers late even if you came into class a minute late. College will bless you, and break you. High school was basically planned out and set out for you compared to college. I am in my freshmen year of college and I am already realizing that not everything I was taught in high school is the same in college. When I say this, I mean that the MLA format was pressed into my brain so much that I could literally do it in my sleep, but I got to college and I have to do lab reports (was never taught that in high school), I have to use APA format for citations (never once been taught that). So yeah, college is just great.
3. Personal Space/Living Space
Many times high school students have their own rooms, or they at least share a room with someone they know. In college, you are deemed lucky to have a single room or have your own apartment. If you aren't lucky, you get to live with a complete and utter stranger! Yay! Although sometimes having a roommate can be a great thing in college, it's sometimes hard to find time to yourself and find a quiet place. Sure, the first few weeks of college can be a great time to get to know your roommate and have someone when you miss home, but sometimes you'll be so swamped with homework and so stressed out that you won't want to be around people at all. And that my friend is hard when you have thousands of other students around campus trying to find the same amount of privacy. Better get used to living with someone! You are going to have to do it sometime!
4. Culture
In high school, you tend to know everyone (as I've said in the past numbers), and you may have known what everyone went by because usually you assumed or they told you. In college, asking someone "What are your pronouns?" is actual something you should do. At college, you are surrounded by thousands of strangers. Thousands of people who come from across the world to come and study in the same place ad you. These people may not have the same mindset or goals you do like people your friends in high school might have. You quickly learn that “normal” simply doesn’t exist. College can be one of the best opportunities to interact with a wide variety of cultures, races, and sexual orientated people. Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to meet people who could have awesome traditions and beliefs that you could totally miss out on because you never talked to them. Find your forever friend. Find your person (Yes, I did use a "Grey's Anatomy" reference). I am not ashamed.
5. Independence
In high school, you had curfews and groundings. In college, you have checking-in at whatever time you decide to come back from wherever you were. They don't care what you were doing, as long as it was legal. You don't have a time you have to be back from an event. And it isn't frowned upon to party on a weekday, again, no one cares what you do. You are an adult. That doesn't mean party all the time and let your grades fall so you have to drop out of college, NO. That means, use your time wisely. Make the most of the no supervision, make good choices, so you don't have to live with the consequences that come after.
Succeed. Excel. Become Better. You have wings, let them take you to where you can become a better you.
