If you recently graduated high school or are just heading off to school, you're in for a time of your life. While at first it may seem weird and you may be lonely, you'll soon make friends and find your place. Leaving your hometown behind and starting over may be scary but you will navigate college just fine. Here are eight things I wish someone told me before I moved in to college.
1. Your roommate may not end up being your best friend or even your friend at all.
Your first ever roommate may not even end up being friends with you, or you could end up being inseparable, you never know how it will go. I went to college thinking that my roommate and I would end up best friends and hang out all the time. We became friends, it just took a lot longer than I had hoped. One of my friends from college got stuck with a roommate that was rude to her, called her nasty names and played pranks on her all hours of the day. So when you meet your roommate, expect the best but be prepared for the worst.
2. Syllabus week isn't really a thing at small colleges.
As a freshman, you will hear upperclassman talking about "syllabus week" and how drunk they are the entirety of it. If you go to a small school, CalU as an example, it's a lie. You can make syllabus week a thing with your friends and party all week but class will happen the first week. If your class is longer than an hour, even on the first day, be prepared to take notes. Sorry, I was disappointed too.
3. Greeks do NOT hate non-Greeks.
In fact, you may never go Greek and have a Greek best friend. Of course there will be one or two Greeks that call non-Greeks "GDIs" but they're probably a douche anyway. Your choice to go Greek or to not go Greek is just that, YOUR choice. People will respect that. You do you.
4. The cafeteria is not good. They lied when you toured.
Don't get me wrong, the cereal is good. Unless it's stale. The food places try, but it just isn't like mom or grandma's cooking.
5. MLA format throughout high school was a joke.
My high school told me over and over that I HAD to know MLA format, because I would use it in college. Wanna know which format I never used in college? MLA. Want to know which format I had to use, but had never even heard of? APA. Thanks, high school.
6. It's Ok to not have it together and it's Ok to not be Ok.
"I wish I was told it's Ok to not have it all together sometimes. So much emphasis was put on school that I feel like I missed out on a lot of my freshman year." - Katie Irwin, CalU Senior
7. Do things that make you happy.
You do not, I repeat DO NOT, have to do something that makes you unhappy just because it's considered the "norm." You don't like to drink? Don't drink. Don't hang out with people that pressure you to drink if that makes you uncomfortable. You'd rather stay in during the weekend? You do you. You want to join a club your friends think is weird? Do it anyway. College is for you, don't forget that. It's a great time to find yourself.
8. Remember to have fun!
College is about school, but you'll go nuts if that's all you focus on. Relax and have some fun too! Freshman year only comes around once. (Sometimes twice when you're a senior and pretend to be a freshman again).
