5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before College
Start writing a post
Student Life

5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before College

College can be a hard and confusing time, but you should always do what feels right to you.

49
5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before College
Pexels

College. There are a lot of mixed emotions when it comes to that simple seven letter word, I know personally I find myself already stressed when i hear it. But college isn't all bad, being for a year and a half already I've learned so much. Not only about being a good student but learning to be an independent person. Aka, an adult. Now I know what your thinking, "Ugh, not another on of those articles." Where I list off a bunch of pretty basic things. But in all seriousness I wish I knew these things before I came to college.

1. Know What You're Paying For.

Of course this one is kind of being a no brainer, college is expensive. You're fresh faced and just graduated high school, you're not really all that concerned about how you're going to be paying for it all. Let me tell you this I was one of those people... Sort of. Though I was getting financial aid and I am lucky enough to VA benefits I really didn't realize how tight money was going to be. My advice is know what you're paying for, look at your tuition and question, "Do I really need this all campus meal plan?" or "Why am I being charged this?" There are quite a few things that I have learned that I don't exactly need to be paying for. After going through all those decide whether it's appropriate to get a job. Having a little extra money never hurt anyone, especially if you have time for one. There are a lot of job opportunities on and off campus, plus it helps build up your resume with experience.

2. Finding Your Tribe Can Be Hard.

Know this, you are more than likely not going to keep the same friends you had in high school. People change and sometimes for better or for worse and as young adults we tend to go through the most change at this time in our lives. We move to a new city, get a different job, meet someone, hell some of us have already started a family. Whatever it may be just know that it's okay if you don't have many friends when you first get to college. I know my freshman year was kind of a lonely time, at first I didn't have any friends and it was hard. But even when I did make a few friends I still didn't feel like a belonged but I was scared to venture out because why would I? I already had a group, it seemed like everyone around me found who they belonged with and that I was the only one who wasn't happy with where she was at.

Don't be afraid to venture out and meet new people. People in your life will come and go and it doesn't have to be a bad thing. Once you get out of the comfort zone everything else seems to fade away, never surround yourself with people who are negative and make you feel like you don't belong. Always strive to find your tribe and find people who have things in common with you. Get involved with floor activities or if you don't live on campus, get involved with activities that happen on campus! There's always something going on so when you see a flyer stop and read it. It may be something your interested in.

4. It’s easy to get caught up in the party life.

When most people think of college they think of football games, tailgates, and frat parties. They’re not wrong: there's a lot of parties and it's so easy to get into the routine of going out everyone weekend. Drugs and alcohol are so easy to get ahold of and it's easy to get addicted to some of those things. College is hard and some people go to a party to look for an escape, but for some people they look for that escape all the time and it becomes a problem.

5. You may not know what you want to do right away.

Going into college I was so sure as to what I wanted to do even though I had people constantly questioning me about if I was going to get a job and be successful. I wanted to do something that I love but I soon learned that maybe it wasn’t something that I truly loved. I began to look into other majors and talk to people who have graduated and most of them said that they graduated with one degree and ended up in a field completely different. It took a lot of figuring out who I was as a person and how I was going to get my voice out in this daunting world we live in.

When first starting out in college you may not know what you want and that's okay. Take the time to take some generals, make friends, have fun, and just figure yourself out. When people tell you to “enjoy the college experience,” take their advice and do what feels right for you, not what other people think you should do.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

40395
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

25008
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

950704
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

131866
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments