Growing up watching Zoey 101, which was set in a boarding school in California, I used to think that college was going to be as fun as it looked on T.V., however this show set both unreasonable and reasonable expectations for its viewers.
1. Your parents will drive you to campus for your first year in a convertible, you will have only one suitcase, and you won't be nervous at all
It is not possible to not even be a little nervous when moving onto campus for your first time. Nor is it possible, whether or not if you are a boy or a girl, to only bring a backpack and one suitcase to college. It is more likely that you will be brought to campus in a mini van or even a rented moving truck than a convertible.
2. You will meet your best friend as soon as you arrive on to campus
As soon as Zoey walked out of her father's car and stepped onto campus, she met her soon to be best friend Chase, after he fell off his bike, practically into her hands. It is highly unlikely, that you will become best friends with the first person you meet.
3. You will meet strange people
Zoey 101 did do well with teaching its viewers how to treat people different from you. If someone looks or acts differently, than what you consider to be "normal," don't automatically decide that you don't want to be friends with them. Get to know everyone, you may make a great friendship with someone you don't expect. After all, it's what's on the inside that matters the most.
4. You will have a huge dorm room and will you be living in the same one for all four years of college
Zoey's dorm room was huge. She was living with two other people and they always had a lot of space. Most dorms, at least for first year students, are very small, so you should not expect to be living in an awesome room like Zoey. Zoey also lived in the same room throughout the show's entire run, that is not possible. Once she unpacked, she never packed her belongings, except for that one two-part episode, when she transferred to a boarding school. It is common that you will be living in a different dorm room every year.
5. You and your roommate will become best friends immediately
It is often that you and your roommate/s do not become best friends, but Zoey was always best friends with her roommates. As long as you live well with your roommate, that's all that matters. It's okay if you guys are not best friends.
6. Your roommate will be able to get away with bullying you
During the first season, when Dana attended PCA, she would be mean to Nicole. Most people in Nicole's situation would talk to their RA and have her talk to her roommate, and try to get their problems solved, and if that doesn't work she could have moved into another dorm. If you have any roommate problems, talk to your RA and if that doesn't work, see if you can switch rooms, because living in a bad environment is not good for your health.
7. Your RA will be a full time paid employee, who is not a student
Usually RAs are paid students. People don't become an RA for a living. Also, your RA will not come to your dorm and complain about their problems. I mean they're the ones being paid to help you.
8. Your school will provide you with expensive things, like a scooter, free of charge
All PCA students received a free scooter for free. As soon as you arrive to campus you learn that nothing is free. Not even paper towels are free, in the bathroom on the floor, in the hall outside my dorm. Also, if everyone owned a scooter, shouldn't there have been an endless amount of traffic? Where did they even park them?
9. You will have the same friend group all four years of college
Zoey basically had the same friend group, all four seasons of the show. You and your friends also will not be the only students that participate in class as well. You will probably try many friend groups, before you meet the people that you enjoy spending time with the most. The people you are friends with now, might not be your friend next semester or for all four years of college. Also, you have to remember that there are hundreds of students on campus and that this is not high school, so you don't have to spend time with just one group of friends. You see these people day and night; there are so many opportunities to make friends, so get to know as many people as possible!
10. You hang out with your friends all the time, rarely study and still get good grades
Zoey and her friends are rarely seen studying, they are usually socializing with each other. It is impossible to do everything you want and still earn passing grades. You have to decide what is important to you the most and balance out your schedule. You have to remember your in college for four years and you don't have to do everything you want all at once. College is a time for both learning and having fun!
11. If you attend the same school as your sibling, they will always be there for you
Zoey was always there for her brother, and she let him hang out with her and her friends all the time. If your like me, my older sister did not want me to attend the same college as her. The irony is that it sometimes seems that she needs me more than I need her. Remember to be there for each other, because they know you the best out of everyone else on campus and they also know things about you that you don't want anyone else to know, so its better to get along to insure your embarrassing secrets will be kept safe. Even if they don't always show it, your sibling loves you and wants what's best for you.
12. You don't know how to spend your money wisely
After being in college for a few weeks, you realize that your not going to have money every time you need it. Use the money that you have on things you need and don't waste it on unnecessary things like five pounds of gummy worms.
13. You will have bad days
Nobody's life is perfect. Everyday won't be bad, like it is for Stacy, but there will be times where things don't go your way and days when you question your existence. It's okay to cry; there is a lot of pressure and stress that comes with going to college.
14. You will make mistakes
This one is a reasonable expectation because everyone makes mistakes, but the good thing is you will learn from them! College is all about learning both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. This is your first time living on your own, away from your parents, no one expects you to never make a mistake. You are young, and what you have to remember is you are not alone, every student is going through the same transition. But if you're struggling, don't be afraid to ask for help.
