21 Things People Should Know Before Going To College
1.Your freshman roommates probably won’t be your best friends for life, and that’s OK.
2.It might be tempting, but don’t skip class.
“When you skip class in college, not only are you wasting your money, but more importantly, you’re wasting this amazing opportunity to LEARN.” Submitted by Chase Dunagan (Facebook).
3. “Sleep, study, party. Pick two.”
4.Get to know your professors outside of class.
“These people want you to grow and learn; capitalize on it.” Submitted by Sam Wagner (Facebook).
5.Eating alone in the dining hall is totally acceptable. You’ll miss that hot, delicious food when you live off campus.
“Save instant food for when you aren’t paying for a meal plan. No one judges you for eating by yourself!” Submitted byalyssaj43346c303.
6.“You will take naps. Lots of naps.”
7.Don’t feel bad about changing your major a million times.
“… that doesn’t mean you’re giving up on your dreams, it just means you’re growing up and finding new dreams.” Submitted bymckennaf2
8.Wait until after your first class to buy your textbooks.
“You’ll save yourself money and the headache of bookstore lineups on the first two days.” Submitted bykmericks.
9.Learn how to manage your money.
“I burned through my savings within the first month of the semester and had to ask my parents to wire me money for food.” Submitted bytcolli24.
10.Breaking up with your high school sweetheart isn’t the end of the world.
“You’ll end up learning a lot about yourself when you’re single in college.” Submitted by Matt Abbott (Facebook).
11.Avoid hooking up with people who live on your floor.
“… it just gets awkward when you break it off and everyone knows what you did. Broaden your horizons!” Submitted by Chelsea Boulrisse (Facebook).
12.Make sure you understand exactly what your major entails.
“I chose one that needed a master’s. I just assumed I’d get in somewhere, and didn’t worry. Then, I graduated and applied and found out how difficult it was to get into the program. So I’ve now given up going to grad school, and I am trying to find something with my bachelor’s.” Submitted byWilso859.
13.You can now eat whatever you want, so make sure it’s tasty AND healthy.
“… you WILL GAIN WEIGHT! Freshman 15, sophomore 15, junior 15, senior 15, graduate with a degree and a muffin top.”Submitted bybridgetmaeg.
14.“Study abroad, study abroad, study abroad. Then travel traveltravel while you’re there.”
15.Live on your own far away from home.
“… being away from my family and on my own for the first time was a huge factor in my personal growth, and it taught me how to be more independent and self-sufficient in ways that I wouldn’t have accomplished otherwise.” Submitted byHapaxLegomenon.
16.There’s no shame in transferring schools. Go where you’ll be happy.
“If you gave it a go and you’re just not happy, switch schools. So many people love learning and school but made the wrong choice about where to go, and that winds up keeping them from getting a degree.” Submitted byjaqjoan.
17.Make sure you’re taking care of your mental health as well as your physical health.
“Mental health issues can compound quickly in college. You gotta jump on it, especially if it’s a chronic condition and you’ve got access to low-cost university counseling/healthcare.” Submitted bybisonbisonbison.
“Finding somewhere that will allow you even five minutes of quiet a day will keep you sane.” Submitted by Caroline Boll (Facebook).
18.Keep up with the reading. An all-nighter isn’t the time to realize you shouldn’t procrastinate.
“I’m a senior bio major and I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve reached the exams and had to stay up for 20+ hours at a time studying because I didn’t read the textbook and kept saying, ‘I’ll just do it later, it’ll be fine!’ It’s never fine…” Submitted byjazzberryxjam.
19.If you go to college with people from high school, make an effort to meet new people.
“You need to branch out and figure out who you are as an adult and not a kid.”
Submitted bysusanrebeccah.
20.Learn what kind of studying habits work best for you.
“I wish I’d known how to study. High school never taught me how, so I got to a huge university and didn’t know how to study, so I failed a few classes despite being smart because I didn’t know what to do. ” Submitted bylydiam4c816e1f0.
21.And most importantly, it’s absolutely fine to be undecided about your major.
“If you don’t know what you want to do with your life, don’t just pick a major because you think it might get you a job. Spend some time freshman year figuring out what you are really passionate about. Do what you love, love what you do.” Submitted byemjohnson389.