Going to college is nothing if not a transition. You’ll cry saying goodbye to your hometown friends. You’ll get a pit in your stomach pulling up for orientation. You’ll complete move-in day absolutely dripping in sweat, wondering how on Earth you’re going to survive with only a fraction of your wardrobe. Despite these nerves, you’ll soon realize that no matter how far away your friends or how small your closet, college is automatically and undeniably better than high school. Here’s a few reasons why.
1. You get to choose your classes
Goodbye Calculus. Goodbye Roman History. Goodbye boring, irrelevant, inapplicable classes. You finally get to study what you’re actually interested in—a refreshing change from a decade’s worth of what could almost be considered a form of forced labor.
2. But better yet: your class times
Whether it’s sleeping ‘till noon or having your school day finished by 11 a.m., your schedule is completely up to your discretion.
3. Food is always available
Seriously, like always.
4. Which is good because it’s socially acceptable to eat at all points of the day
An added bonus of choosing your class schedule is that there’s no designated time for meals, so the breakfast hours span anywhere from when you wake up to when the last bagel is sold.
5. Free stuff (woot woot!)
There’s absolutely no shame in pocketing all of the free t-shirts, draw-string bags, and water bottles you can get your hands on (I would know, I now have about a dozen of each).
6. No more dress code
Yes, you heard correctly. This freedom, which has been stripped from you your entire life but truthfully should be a birthright, is finally a reality.
7. Which means you can mask a bad hair day with a hat
If you think you won’t utilize this new secret weapon, think again.
8. Also thanks to the convenience of class scheduling, you can wear the same thing two days in a row without anyone knowing.
Another secret weapon you’ll soon be utilizing on a weekly basis.
9. The concept of “Parent or Guardian Signature” no longer exists
Whether it’s to transfer classes or on a permission slip for a field trip, having a parent’s signature required at the age of 18 is a serious blow to the ego.
10. It only exists on the checks your parents send you.
“It’s for textbooks,” they said.
11. They also send you back to school with a literal truckload of food
Which seems immature and inconvenient, until you stumble home at 3 a.m. and suddenly Mom’s homemade pizza is nothing short of a gift from above
12. Curfew? What’s a curfew?
13. Spring Break
Otherwise known as what will be the best, most unmemorable week of your life.
14. You have a new place to live
Your choice in continued education is also your choice of location. Whether you choose a thriving city atmosphere or a quaint suburban town, a change of scenery is nothing if not refreshing.
15. Having high school friends at other colleges is just another excuse to travel
Because really, who doesn't love a road trip?
16. You’ll never be forced into another gym class again
Although mandatory gym classes may have come in handy prior to spring break bathing suit season, I’ll pass on the aggressive co-ed floor hockey games.
17. You no longer have a locker (and all of the inconveniences that come along with it)
You’ll realize what a luxury this is when you’re not struggling with a jammed locker in the three minutes you have between classes.
18. No more homeroom
Still confused as to what the point of this “class” ever was.
19. Now that you’re not spending 7 hours a day in the same building, you can actually do something with your life
Whether it’s picking up a new hobby or choosing which show to binge watch on Netflix, you now actually have a life that isn’t consumed by sitting in the same building all. day. long.
20. You can have lunch whenever you want, wherever you want
You’ll appreciate this underrated slice of freedom when you’re sitting on the lawn with a smoothie, enjoying a laugh with your friends and not giving a damn when “lunch period” ends.
21. Your winter and summer breaks aren’t burdened with school work
Time to replace that Shakespeare with some Cosmo.
22. Which wouldn't have even been that bad since your winter break is now a month long and summer vacation is now a third of the year.
But hey, I’m not complaining.
23. Being a blatantly rude is no longer tolerated, so brats get put in their place
Something that should have happened long, long ago, but better late than never.
24. Which is fine because there’s a place for everyone
Seriously, everyone.
25. Because cliques no longer exist
(Hallelujah!)
26. You have roommates
Also known as automatic friends who feel obligated to be nice to you no matter what (shout out to my roommates, thanks for putting up with me—xo).
27. Who can also serve as human alarm clocks
If, God forbid, you sleep through your alarm for your 10 a.m. Philosophy exam, more often than not your roommate will be around to help you out and jolt you awake.
28. Communal bathrooms may suck, but there’s something very empowering about being a part of a line of five girls all washing their makeup off together after a long night out
29. Your closet just expanded to pretty much the entire dorm, since everyone now shares clothes
Brace yourself for the massive culture shock your style is about to endure.
30. Sticking to the monthly data usage allowance is longer a source of stress, since you’re always hooked up to the free campus WiFi
31. When you’re sick, you have a whole army behind you
Yes, you’ll miss Mom’s chicken soup, but having a literal cult of friends stealing dining hall goodies and running them back to your dorm for you isn’t too bad, either.
32. You won’t even mind studying because college libraries are absolutely gorgeous
Nothing like ornate wooden desks and shelves lined with classic literature to motivate you to succeed in life
33. And after your library study session you can swing by your friends’ dorms, since no one lives farther than 15 minutes' walking distance away
Especially for those coming from private high schools, this newfound convenience when meeting with friends is life-changing.
34.
You’ll never want to come home on breaks—until
you realize that you’re treated like royalty for those glorious 48 hour home visits
35. Y
ou start an intense collection of video-streaming accounts
Whether it’s a Hulu Plus, HBO Go, or Netflix, everyone shares their accounts with each other, so you’ll never have a shortage of media outlets to kill time on.
36. And even if you don’t have the accounts, since you live with your best friends, walking to each other’s rooms for television viewing parties is very much a reality
Monday night "Bachelorette" dates were no doubt the highlight of my week.
37. Did I mention you LIVE WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS?
38. So you now have a personal makeup artist
39. And hairdresser
40. And personal stylist
41. And tutor
42. So pretty much anything you ever wanted or lacked, someone you live with can make up for your lack thereof
43. Which may sound intimidating, but people in college feed off of each other’s talents and support one another in their achievements, making it an empowering and feel good place to live
44. Gym buddies are easier to find (since everyone is suffering from the dreaded-yet-very-real Freshman 15)
45. Which in turn motivates you to go to the gym
(This sense of camaraderie also transfers to 3 a.m. pizza-eating camaraderie, so it ends up balancing out.)
46. You no longer have to succumb to the humiliating practice of drinking alcohol out of water bottles
(This refreshing change is a bigger ego boost than you think.)
47. Having to ask permission to use the restroom during class is no longer a thing
48. Odds are if you’re living on campus, you’re not driving a car, which is a nice $40 in your pocket every week that would have gone towards gas money
49. But that $40 doesn’t make a huge dent in your debt since you’re more than likely part of our united front of Broke College Students
But there is an upside! If nothing else, this phase of frugality teaches you the valuable life lesson of budgeting your money (while still having your parents to fall back on).
50. Yet no matter how broke you are, you somehow can afford a $5 slice of pizza to drunkenly scarf down on the walk home from a party, so at the end of the day you’re still good
51. Since each and every college is unique, people of similar interests usually choose similar colleges, so you’re surrounded by people of similar interests and values
52. Yet you’re meeting people from all across the world
You’re exposed to different cultures, people, and ideas that may otherwise be outside of your comfort zone. This exposure will make you a more informed, cultured, seasoned individual.
53. You have a fresh start.
Whether you’re knowingly trying to reinvent your old self or subconsciously finding your true self, you have every opportunity for a clean slate.
High school has a reputation as being a watering hole of teenage confusion. It’s either a peak or a pit of someone’s existence. To those who didn’t enjoy high school: Your time is coming. College is a community designed to challenge your strengths and empower your ambitions. Living in a new place with new people is the most opportunistic experience; don’t let this blessing go to waste. To those who enjoyed high school: If you think that tiptoeing around authority and drinking out of unmarked water bottles was fun, you’re in for a treat in college.
