Expectation: College is one giant party.
Reality: Partying can definitely be a fun aspect of college, but it is by no means the main event. While you may go out to a house party or a bar once or twice a week, no college student has time to be drunk 24/7. There are papers due, tests to study for, money to make, and Netflix to be watched. While partying with your friends is a part of the college experience, there are much more important things to focus on. Besides, booze is too expensive and we’re all broke.
Expectation: You will get straight A’s.
Reality: You will get straight C’s. Don’t worry, you will have a few A’s and B’s (and occasionally D’s) thrown into the mix, but overall, college is tough. It is meant to challenge your mind and hard work is needed to do well. It is OK to be the person that doesn’t get an A on everything. As long as you try your best and seek out help when you need it, you will be perfectly fine. Like the saying goes, “C’s get degrees!”... but don’t let that stop you from striving for that 4.0.
Expectation: You will find the love of your life.
Reality: You may find that special someone while at school, but there’s a good chance you may not. College is about growing and finding yourself, and as you change, your relationships do as well. You grow apart from some people and grow closer to others. There is nothing wrong with trying to find yourself before finding a significant other. We are all young and have plenty of time to find “the one,” even after we graduate.
Expectation: College is the best time of your life.
Reality: College is the most stressful time of your life. Not to say that you won’t make some great memories during your years at college (you will), but it is also a time of major adjustment. You are transitioning into adulthood and with that comes major challenges. You have the demands of being a full-time student on top of the demands that being an adult in society brings (hello, rent and buying your own groceries). College isn’t just fun and games; it’s learning how to cope with all your new found responsibilities.
Expectation: You will have everything figured out by the time you graduate.
Reality: I’m sorry to break it to you, but you’ll never have everything figured out. Whether you’re a 5-year-old on a playground, a student graduating with a degree, or a middle-aged man with a stable job and family, your life is constantly evolving. Sometimes life will throw you curveballs and sometimes you’ll swing and miss. That’s just the way it is. Don’t feel bad if you don’t know what to major in or if you don’t know what will make you happy in the long run.
