We have all heard the same generic things about college. How these will be the “the greatest four years of your life” and how “you’re going to make some of your happiest memories in college”. In this article, I will go over all the things people don’t tell you about college.
Get ready to be sick!
The saying, “everyone is sick right now” is something that will be in your vocabulary all four years of college. One thing I was not prepared for when coming to college was the sickness that followed after a night out. The feeling of going to sleep feeling perfectly fine to then waking up with a sore throat, a clogged nose, and a cough is something I don’t wish on my worst enemy. The key ingredients to beating “frat flu” are Emergen-C (preferably the raspberry flavor), tea, cough drops, tissues (lots of them), and a nasal spray. And if all else fails, take a trip to the student health center or urgent care.
You are always going to be tired
If you’re anything like me you may be thinking “I used to get up at 6:30 AM, go to school for 8 hours, then go to practice, and then do homework, for seven days a week, and 180 days out of the year.” This is nothing like college. You may only have 2-3 classes a day, yet still want to get back into your bed right after. You’ll feel as though you just ran half a marathon.
You’re going to get homesick and that’s okay
The feeling of your parents dropping you off can be one of the saddest, and I would even say, most overwhelming experiences of your life. And let me tell you, any emotion that you feel is completely okay AND TOTALLY NORMAL. The way one person handles homesickness is completely different from the way another person handles it. Everyone’s homesickness hits them differently. Some people may cry right after their parents leave, and then be fine the next day. Some may not even think about it till week 2 hits, and then they’ll be itching to get home as soon as possible.
College is not all about the parties, and classes are hard
We’ve all seen the movies where the main characters go out to parties, never seem to go to class, and somehow ease right by with no care in the world. That, however, is not the reality of college. Even if you think you went to a very difficult high school, it is nothing compared to college. College is hard work, and it is important to establish a routine with yourself to not fall behind. If you’re planning on going out, make sure to get all your work done beforehand.
You are going to have so much free time
Having a lot of free time is one of the many perks of college, but what you do with that free time is so important.