So, you've watched all the college movies. "Legally Blonde," "Accepted," even "Monsters University," and you have come to the same conclusion after the end of each: "COLLEGE ROCKS!" and for the most part it does. These are the best four years, and in Van Wilder's case, seven years, of your life. But in these movies, they don't really address real life college situations. Sure, there is a party every weekend and some do get a little reckless, but what are the things they aren't telling us?
1. It is OK if you and your roommate are not BF4L.
You have the assumption that the person you will be sleeping across from for the next year will end up becoming your best friend. It happens, but it also doesn't. Don't get discouraged if y'all don't have anything in common besides four walls and a mini fridge.
2. The bathrooms are gross.
People will act as if the bathroom is THEIRS, not OURS. Girls, we are all guilty of this, do not make hair murals on the wall of the showers, and if you must, make sure you wash them off after you are finished. No one wants to see your masterpiece, and plus we need the room for ours. And please, wear your shower shoes; you'll thank your non-fungus feet later.
3. You do not have to drink from Thursday to Saturday.
It's OK to take the night off and give your liver a break. It will thank you later on. Plus, binge watching Netflix is much more enjoyable than being stuck in a drunken-mosh pit getting beer spilled on you.
4. Actually care about your classes.
I cannot stress this one enough. Majority of incoming freshman will be taking General Education courses and these can be seen as a GPA booster. If you take these seriously and do well, you can accept that C in Biology or Statistics in later semesters and not stress about how that one grade will completely destroy your GPA. People will joke that C's get degrees. Well, yeah they do, but that A will feel better.
5. The Freshman 15 is a real thing.
Even though the cafeteria is a buffet, that doesn't mean you should treat it as such.
6. The laundry room is a dog-eat-dog world.
There will be people in your dorm who monopolize a washer or dryer for the whole day, probably because they had class or forgot they even started their load. If you are one of these people, be aware that college kids will assert themselves and move your stuff out if they need to. Put an alarm on your phone if you easily forget, or even do some homework down by the machines so you can keep checking on how much time is left.
7. Do not choose a major because you feel obligated to.
Over the course of three years, I switched my major four times, not because I was doing poorly in that particular major's courses, but because I looked at what I was doing and realized I would be miserable pursuing this as a potential career. Pick something you really enjoy and do some research on the possible career options it has. You might be surprised what you can do with an English or a philosophy degree.
8. Be your own person.
There will be so many pressures of college and you are going to think you need to fit the mold of each, but you don't. Stay true to what you believe in and who you are and you'll find some friends who feel the same way.
9. Join all the clubs.
OK, not all of them, but join some. This not only looks good on a resume, but you also meet some great people.
10. You thought high school went fast?
Just wait and see how fast college flies by.
