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14 Truths About College Life Students Need to Know
College life is full of surprises, both positive and negative. The college journey is an exciting one and unique to each individual. It can be filled with joy and fun experiences, but it’s also a time to face difficult challenges and learn valuable lessons.
There are a few universal truths about college life that everyone can relate to, from dealing with the stress of academics to trying to maintain a social life. If you’re a new student about to start your first semester, being aware of these 14 truths will help prepare you for what life in college is really like.
1. You'll Likely Feel Homesick
Feeling homesick is very common amongst new students who move away from home for the first time. The separation from family, friends, and familiar places usually causes symptoms of depression and lack of focus.
While you’ll likely feel homesick during the first few weeks on campus, those feelings will eventually subside overtime as you adjust to the new living conditions. Plus, the nice thing about college is the amount of opportunities you’ll have to get involved and step out of your comfort zone, which is one of the best ways to relieve homesickness.
2. More Freedom Means More Responsibility
The freedom that comes with being in college will be a breath of fresh air for students right out of high school, but with more freedom comes more responsibility. In college, you’ll get a real taste of what it’s like to be an adult.
There’s not going to be anyone there to wake you up in morning for class or make you breakfast — it’s all on you. You’re responsible for all aspects of your life in college. From managing your time wisely and staying organized to applying for financial aid and buying food for your dorm.
This also involves staying on track with your academics, including being aware of deadlines, taking good notes in class, meeting with your advisor, and having a good understanding of the curriculum being taught.
Additionally, there’s more basic things like maintaining a balanced diet and getting the proper amount sleep every night, which are contributing factors to achieving success in college.
3. College Isn't Like High School
High school provides students with the basic skills and knowledge to prepare for college life, while college provides them with the opportunity to explore their interests, develop life skills, and pursue their passions.
Students in college have the freedom to choose their courses, decide when to study, and how they spend their free time. That’s why staying disciplined and having a good work ethic is crucial in a college environment.
Along with more freedom, the academic workload in college is more rigorous and demanding. Your professors will expect a lot from you, and they won’t go out of their way to help you if you start to struggle. College courses require in-depth study and analysis, and students must be able to think critically in order to succeed.
In high school, you’re surrounded by the same people for four years and follow a structured schedule with teachers constantly telling you what to do. College involves meeting new people from all walks of life and having the flexibility to do what you want.
4. Your Morals Will Be Tested
College life is a time of self-discovery, personal growth, and learning. There’s going to be many valuable lessons you learn in college, and some of those lessons will come from making poor decisions. In a college environment, where the temptation to engage in questionable behavior is high, it’s important to have self-control.
Many students constantly deal with pressure from their peers to do things against their better judgment. While engaging in these activities might seem fun in the moment, you’ll likely regret them in the future — and depending on the severity, they might have serious repercussions.
In these situations, just use your conscience, and think things through before you decide to do something risky that could endanger you or someone else.
5. You'll Feel Overwhelmed
Getting used to a larger work load is hard enough as it is. When you throw in living in a new environment and trying to balance other responsibilities, it makes college life pretty stressful.
Finals week and midterms week tend to be when students are the most overwhelmed because they have so many exams to study for, projects to finish, and papers to write. Unfortunately, being stressed out is just part of being a college student, but there are many ways to effectively overcome these challenges.
6. Help Will Be There If You Ask for It
From learning centers and libraries to mental health counselors and academic advisors, every campus offers a variety of resources to help students overcome the difficulties of college life. Most colleges offer counseling services and wellness programs. For academic support, there’s also tutoring services and study groups available.
Just remember, you can only benefits from these resources if you make it a priority to utilize them throughout your college journey. If you ever feel like you’re struggling in college, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
7. Dating Can Be Difficult
Being in a serious relationship always has its complexities that are challenging for busy college students to work through. It’s hard to find the time to date in college when you have so many other responsibilities that require your attention.
Plus, there’s a possibility that dating can hinder your ability to focus on your education, so it’s important to determine if it’s really worth it or not.
There’s nothing wrong with putting yourself out there and talking to new people you’re interested in, but if you start a committed relationship, you need to make sure it doesn’t take up of all your time — good time management is an essential skill to have in college.
8. It's Okay to Change Your Major
In fact, you might have to change it two or three times — there’s nothing wrong with that. A high percentage of undergrad students end up changing their major at least once, so if you’ve taken a few core courses and decided that your current major isn’t for you, it’s perfectly normal to select a new one.
Before you do, I recommend meeting with your academic advisor so they can assist you with picking a major that suit your interests better. The main role of an academic advisor is to provide students with the resources and knowledge needed to maximize their college experience, so be sure to meet with yours on a regular basis.
9. Dorm Life Has Its Ups and Downs
Some of the most memorable college experiences can take place in the dorms, but they do have their downsides. The freedom of living on your own is nice; however, there’s still residence hall policies to follow and roommates to get used to. And the roommates you get can sometimes make or break the dorm experience.
Luckily, you’ll have an RA who can help mediate any conflicts you might have with your roommates. If problems persist, you can talk to your RA about requesting a room change. RAs also help new students adjust to the difficulties of dorm life and strive to create a fun and safe living envirnmenont for all students to enjoy.
Additionally, a lack of privacy is big negative that comes with dorm life. Every college is slightly different, but most first-year students have to use communal bathrooms and showrooms, along with sharing a room with one or multiple people.
It’s not all bad though. There’s lots of advantages to living in a residence hall that you wouldn’t get living at home or somewhere off campus, including all the helpful amenities and a sense of community.
10. Having Good Friends Makes a Difference
Good friends in college can help you navigate the challenges of academic life, provide a social outlet to help you have fun, and can be there for you as emotional support when you’re feeling down.
With the right group of friends, you can explore new interests and make your college jounrey more rewarding. You can also learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives.
What’s more, having good friends in college can have a positive impact on your academic performance. Students who have strong social connections tend to do better in school, as they have a support system that helps them stay motivated and focused.
Of course, building strong friendships takes some effort, but the rewards are worth it. Whether you meet your friends in class, through extracurricular activities, or just walking around campus, the bonds you form in college can last a lifetime.
11. Attendance Isn't Required
While attending classes is recommended, it’s not required — at least in most colleges. For instance, you won’t have to sit through every single lecture for some of your general education courses. Many professors upload videos or PowerPoints of the lectures online for students to view on their own time.
But you should try your best to attend the classes for your core courses. If you picked a major you’re actually interested in learning about, then this shouldn’t be a big deal.
However, there will be times when you have no desire to get out of bed for an early morning class. If you know that class is important, you need to have the discipline to get yourself up even if you’re tired and have no energy.
12. Course Materials Aren't Always Required
Not all professors actually use the textbook or textbooks that are on the course syllabus. It really depends on the subject matter and what the professor’s teaching methods are, but you’ll probably have a few courses where you won’t need the reading materials in class or to complete assignments.
It’s a smart idea to wait a couple of classes to see if the professor uses the textbook for lectures and assignments. Better yet, you can email the professor before the start of the semester to find out what they’ll be using so you’re more prepared.
This is useful information to know considering how expensive textbooks are, especially if you buy them new, which I strongly recommend against. You’re better off buying used or renting. You can also use Redshelf — a website that offers online course materials and digital textbooks at affordable prices.
13. College Can Get Expensive
It’s no secret how expensive attending college is, but you might not know the specific things that cause so may students to go broke every year. Between tuition, room and board, a meal plan, and course materials, the total cost of going to college can be pretty staggering.
That’s not even counting all the other miscellaneous expenses for dorm room essentials, personal items, and entertainment. Students who participate in Greek life or live off campus will have their fair share of additional expenses as well.
14. You Don't Need to Have Your Life Figured Out
It doesn’t matter if you’re in your first semester or your last, you don’t need to have your whole life figured out before you graduate. Of course, there’s going to be people that constantly ask what you plan on doing with your major after college and have certain expectations for you.
Trying to live up to other people’s expectations can be stressful and draining, especially when living a hectic college lifestyle. As a former student myself, the best advice I can give you is to live in the moment and don’t overthink about the future.
And do what you think is best for yourself, not what others think you should do. Just continue to put the work in today and focus on tomorrow when it comes.
