You attend a mandatory orientation, take a tour of the school, & ask numerous questions. Yet there are still SO MANY things you'll experience in college that no one bothered to tell you about. Whether you move away for school, or you stay home and commute to a nearby college, it takes a lot of adjusting and a lot of phone calls home. Emotions + stress are at an all time high and sometimes you’ll find yourself sinking into an all time low. Knowing things going into college is good, but there's also a lot of things people don't tell you..
1. Get use to not having much personal space
Community bathrooms and having a roommate make it almost impossible to have much personal space.
2. It's okay to stay in on the weekends
College isn't a party 24/7 and staying in on the weekends is okay. It's okay to not go out, it's okay to go home, and it's okay to spend your weekends studying. Don't feel the need to go party every weekend just because of peer pressure.
3. Don't be afraid to seek opportunities and find new hobbies
Once you get to college, there will be a wide variety of opportunities right in front of your face. Don't be afraid to go for it.
4. Homesickness is a thing
Whether you're a homebody or a townie, homesickness gets the best of us, and that's okay.
5. Naps will be your best friend
Whether it's a 10 minute cat nap in-between classes or a long 2 hour nap, they will be your best friend. Take advantage of naps.
6. Freshman 15 is real
Yes, freshman 15 is a thing. Whether people joke about it or not, it's there, and it's real. Find time to workout and engage in activities to not only keep yourself busy, but keep all those donuts and late night pizza trips under control.
7. Be okay with meeting new people and finding new friends
You may be lucky to attend the same college with people you already know but some of us end up going to a college where we know absolutely nobody. Don't be afraid to meet new people and seek new friendships. Be okay with being social and reaching out to new people.
8. It's okay to change your major
Heck, it's even okay to go into college undecided. Not everyone knows exactly what they want to do with the rest of their life. Be open to majors and exploring new options.
9. Friends become family
Friends will be one of the most important parts of college. These people will be the ones to get you through heartbreaks, mental breakdowns, homesickness, and much more.
10. You actually have to study
This isn't high school anymore. Although you can decide whether you go to class or not, you actually have to study and prepare for exams. You can't just bs your way through.
