So, if you are anything like me, you probably had a ton of preconceived ideas of how your first year of college was going to pan out. And again, if you are anything like me, you were proven to be miserably wrong.
Here are a few things I feel like I may have been wrong about before beginning my freshman year:
1. Food.
Misconception:
You are going to eat pizza every day and it’s going to be great.
Reality:
The dining hall options are going to be absolute garbage. You are going to have pizza delivered to your apartment/dorm every day for a week, get sick off of it and call home demanding a home cooked meal when you return for the weekend.
2. Friends.
Misconception:
You are going to become life-long best friends with your roommate or someone from one of your classes.
Reality:
You are going to become homesick for your best friend from high school, despite the fact that the entirety of your last month being home was spent with them.
3. Relationships.
Misconception:
You are going to meet the love of your life your first month away at school. You’re going to spend every second together, and it’s going to be super romantic, like the movies.
Reality:
You are going to go out on dates with numerous people, who aren’t looking for the kind of relationship that you are. You will get irritated, call it quits and decide that you are going to become ridiculously rich and have lots of cats to fill that void.
4. Showering.
Misconception:
Having one or two siblings attempting to rush into the same bathroom as you to get ready in the mornings is the absolute worst. Getting into the bathrooms at college might be a little similar.
Reality:
Not only is showering in a dorm disgusting, it’s also inconvenient. In general, most dorms are going to have a very large shared bathroom with the showers, sinks and mirrors for everyone to use. This means that several other girls are going to be attempting to do their hair and makeup in the same mirror you are as you’re rushing to get ready for class. Oh, and your elbows are going to hit off of the shower walls every time you shampoo.
5. Classes.
Misconception:
You are going to feel like you’ve found your calling in life your first semester of school.
Reality:
You wonder to yourself at least 3 times a day if you’ve chosen the right major. You also begin to consider Facebook friending the person voted “Most Ambitious” in your high school yearbook because they probably are going to get their life together sooner than you will.
6. Money.
Misconception:
I have all of this money from my graduation party. There is no possible way that I’m going to be poor.
Reality:
Mid-semester all of the money you brought to school with you is going to be long-gone. You probably will have blown it on food and alcohol.
7. Exercising.
Misconception:
College is going to be a fantastic new start. I’m going to eat better, become more motivated and take full advantage of the rec center by beginning each day with an hour long work out!
Reality:
*End of first semester* “Uh.. so where is the rec center again?”
8. Studying.
Misconception:
I am going to be more motivated in college to study. I will go to the library, or to Starbucks with my laptop and be productive!
Reality:
You will carry on with the same study habits that you never had, and instead will spend the time that you should be studying binge-watching Netflix and eating unhealthy snacks.
9. Books.
Misconception:
They say books are expensive. I’ll probably just spend $100 on all four of them. But at least I can sell them back at the end of the semester and get my money back!
Reality:
Your books end up putting you out over $400. They are the reason you are living off of Ramen Noodles and whenever you attempt to sell them back at the bookstore you are offered $2.10 without a tissue to wipe your tears.
10. Going home.
Misconception:
I probably will only go home like once every month.
Reality:
“Hey mom.. I know it’s 2 a.m. on a Wednesday, but if I come home right now, will you make me something to eat?”
11. Drinking.
Misconception:
Drinking and partying is going to be a regular thing on the weekends and it’s going to be great.
Reality:
I went out a couple months ago. Alcohol is expensive. Maybe I will just watch Netflix tonight instead.
12. Professors.
Misconception:
RateMyProfessor.Com makes this guy seem like a real ass. But he is the only one offering this class this semester. This is going to be awful.
Reality:
A lazy student was the one that gave him the bad rating, the professor ends up being one of the coolest guys you’ve ever met and you get an A in the class because you actually show up and do your work.
