College isn’t exactly what you see depicted in the movies. It isn’t really Legally Blonde and it isn’t really like Pitch Perfect, but come on, how amazing would it be to be Anna Kendricks’s or Rebel Wilson’s BFF? Acca-amazing! Unfortunately, for the majority of us out there, college life isn’t completely glamorous. Just because it isn’t 100% like your favorite Hollywood movies, doesn’t mean it isn’t a lot (I mean a lot) of fun and full of life changing circumstances. Here's an inside scoop of what you should definitely learn ASAP about university.
1. It's okay to not join a sorority.
When you start university, there’s a lot of pressure to join a fraternity or sorority to help you fit in and find your place. Joining these groups consist of a lot of group building activities and learning more about your peers at your college but it also can mean things like hazing and having to conform to others' standards. What was the best advice my older friends from high school gave me? Don’t join a sorority. Join something fun and unique where you can be free to express your inner-weirdness. Love reading anime and watching Japanese TV shows? Why not join the Anime club? Or if you love to write, why not join your college’s newspaper or magazine? Chances are your school has some pretty cool clubs where you’ll meet even cooler people!
2. It’s okay to stay in and not party.
My first college roommates consisted of two insane partiers. Monday to Saturday they would go to various clubs throughout the city, carrying with them their flasks and fake IDs and winding up many nights in older men’s apartments. A lot of the time they pressured me to go clubbing with them, but with a heavy course load and numerous clubs I had joined, it was tough to continue that rigorous regimen. It’s all right to have fun, as long as you're taking care of yourself and balancing the world of academics with fun.
3. It’s okay to not make Dean’s List.
I lived my four years in high school getting straight A’s after straight A’s while simultaneously balancing a part time job and extracurriculars. I thought college would be no different. Piece of cake, right? Boy was I wrong. My first semester was a shock. Taking enriched classes like Russian and Soviet Film and Theory of Light was a lot tougher than I thought and I admit I spent quite a bit of time at the library having study dates with my friends. For the first time ever I was so proud of my B minus’s. It’s important to realize that a silly little grade doesn’t define you. Start a study group with your friends to help boost your grades-- and confidence.
4. It’s okay to get homesick.
College isn’t like that weird summer camp your parents made you go to when you were younger. Two weeks is a lot shorter than six or seven months. It can seem daunting at first especially if you are moving out of state or even across the country. The best ways to combat the waves of homesickness? Call your parents. FaceTime your younger sister. Allow yourself to miss your family. Homesickness is totally normal and will lessen as time goes on and you find yourself making friends and becoming busier
5. It’s okay to switch majors.
Looking back at my 18-year-old self, I would have made a ton of different changes. I definitely wouldn't have bought that ridiculously expensive shirt that I only wore once, or chopped all my hair off (RIP long hair) or expecting to know exactly what I wanted to be for the rest of my life. That last one is a really hard choice, in case you didn’t know. Unless you’re the 1% that actually has known what they wanted to be since they were in the fifth grade, don’t beat yourself up about changing majors. If you find yourself changing your major every semester, maybe you should rethink a few things. However, a lot of students change their major within college, and are not only still able to graduate early but also graduate with a job. Even Elle Woods had a change of heart, right?
College has its ups and downs, but for the most part, it’s a pretty rad time in your life that you’ll come to treasure years down the road (or so my parents tell me). The best advice to live by during these years is just to have fun. Regardless of whether you are a party animal or a studious college student, remember that college is a journey. It’s full of surprises, amazing people and experiencing things on a whole new level, so live it up and have a blast because the next four years will fly by!
