College is a major change in life. We spend so much time preparing for it and worrying about it that we build up these ideas… college misconceptions. Some of these ideas end up being totally true (like you’ll meet life long friends!), but others are totally whack! I asked friends and classmates about the misconceptions they had about college, and compiled them into this list for you!
1. You’ll spend all your time studying.
Of course you’ll have to study, but it’s not what it’s made out to be in the movies! Think about this: Most college students take 15 hours of classes. In high school, you went to school for 35 hours a week! Even if you spend the recommended “one hour of studying for every hour in class,” you still have more free time than you did in high school. If you take notes the way I do, you’ll spend even less time studying!
2. Your professors will be crazy.
Maybe a few of mine are a little eccentric, but the majority are normal, smart people! They’re really knowledgable and they want to see me succeed. When I put in work, they put in work back to help me with whatever I need! They’re truly kind people. All of my professors are passionate about what they’re doing and eager to help me.
3. Community bathrooms are disgusting.
We can all agree that there is nothing worse than hair in the drain. Good thing community bathrooms are cleaned daily! At my school, we have a lovely cleanly crew who does a spectacular job. Even though my dorm is coed, no boys are ever ever ever in the girls’ bathroom. The bathrooms actually stay clean, and the best part is that I don’t have to clean them!
4. You’ll gain weight.
You very well could! However, there are healthy options everywhere if you look for them! Most colleges also have a recreation center where you can work out. In fact, I don’t keep very much food in my dorm out of practicality and budget, so I’ve drastically cut down on snacking! Who knew! Looking for some motivation to workout? Check out this post: How to Motivate Yourself to Workout
5. Everyone parties.
And you have to party to fit in and be cool, right? Wrong! Sure, there are people who like to drink and go to parties, but it’s not even the majority that do. If you’re looking for them, you’ll find friends who aren’t interested in partying or making bad choices. And if you are looking party, you can find friends who are into that, too. If you’re looking to drink in college, check out this post: Why You Should Drink in College
6. You won’t (and shouldn’t) miss high school.
High school was four long years of your life where you got involved in activities and made friends. It was your whole world. And while we all like(d) complaining about it, there were good things that are worth missing! It’s totally okay to miss high school or the friends you had there. That doesn’t mean you’re not enjoying college. You can be happy where you’re at and miss where you came from!
7. You will totally change.
At the end of the day, I’m still me. I’m still learning new things, hanging out with friends, and working hard! College is a huge adjustment, but I haven’t “found myself” or changed drastically. However, it is a good opportunity to adjust your lifestyle if you want to! Like for me, I’ve gone vegan! Read about my first month being vegan here: 6 Lessons I Learned From a Month of Vegan Eating.
Don’t forget to check out my other posts about college and sign up for my mailing list to join an awesome community of other college students! Whether they’ve been proven right or wrong, what are some ideas you’ve had about college?
