The first semester of college can be many different things to certain people. It can be a wake-up call, it can be challenging, it can be disappointing, and quite frankly, it can be hell.
Coming into my first semester of college, I was expecting a fun-filled, easy-going experience with challenging, but not overwhelming classes. People had always told me that college was fun, but my first semester was a huge wake-up call that I wasn't prepared for. In hopes that nobody following my footsteps has to endure the shock that I did, here are a few things that nobody really wants to tell you about college:
1. Class Sign-Ups Are Actually World War II
Unless you're one of the lucky few who get to choose classes early, don't plan on getting your favorite professor or every class that you wanted. In fact, you might not even get some of the classes you need, which really sucks, but there's always next semester. Essentially there are 20,000 students all on the server at one time, causing a huge server crash and disappointed students who don't get the class that is required.
2.You'll Wear The Same Three Pairs Of Shoes Every Week
It never fails, honestly. You pack 10-15 pairs of shoes and then you only really wear the ones that are easy enough to slip on and leave. I also highly recommend slip-on shoes, even Crocs. College students thrive on Crocs.
3. Regardless Of How Smart You Were In High School, You Will NOT Be Able To Skip Studying
It's the age-old freshman mistake. People who thrived in high school expect college to be a breeze, just as high school was. Newsflash, it isn't. I made this mistake as well, and my first-semester grades will probably be the lowest in my college career. Don't worry too much about it though, just make sure that you take some time to study the material outside of the lecture.
4.Quizzes? Tests? What Are Those?
In college, although there are a few professors that are an exception, you don't have quizzes or tests. Your grade relies solely and heavily on exams. While you might have 4-6 exams in a semester, they are still exams. So don't just forget about the topics you talked about a few weeks ago, because they WILL be on the exam.
5. You Might Change Who You Are, But Not In A Bad Way
While in high school you were the superstar soccer player or the virtuoso of the band, your "label" might completely turn around. You might've come from a school where everybody knows everybody, and that's cool, however it is absolutely not this way in college. This oftentimes causes extremely popular people to die down to a select few friends, and vice versa. College can change who you are and how your social life revolves.
6. You Will More Than Likely Miss Your Family
Whether you choose to admit it or not, you will probably end up missing your family. You will miss the comfort of your bedroom or the home-cooked meals. Even if your family wasn't the best, you'll probably miss the familiarity of the faces and situations. And if you find yourself missing them too much, don't be afraid to go home on the weekends. It's totally normal to need help adjusting into your new lifestyle.
7. The Cafeteria Isn't Actually That Bad
Regardless of what some posts online say or what your older friends say, it's not really that bad. Repetitive, yes, tasteless, sometimes, but manageable, absolutely. The food at the cafeteria can sometimes be phenomenal too, so don't avoid the cafeteria just because of what some people tell you.
8. Get Used To Having Very Little Privacy, At Least Your First Semester
Living in a dorm and sharing a room with another person might seem fun to some and dreadful to others, however regardless of your viewpoint on it, privacy is basically lost. You go from being friends or acquaintances with that person to being siblings with that person, and sharing everything. It can be hard to adapt to their tastes and preferences, just keep in mind that it's probably hard for them as well.
9. College Might Not Be For You, And That's Okay
While I'm not speaking from experience, I have friends that have dropped out of college. While it's not advised, it is perfectly acceptable to need a break from life and a break from stressful work. So if you do choose to drop out, that's okay, because you have an entire lifetime ahead of you to try again later.
