<p>I picked a college in a city because I didn't want to feel like I was in a boarding school. I wanted to be able to go out and do my own thing, live my own life. Be an adult. </p>
<p>But as the big day is coming closer, I'm starting to question whether that's really possible. I'm looking at the facebook group for my dorm, and the girls seem to be "SO EXCITED TO SPEND ALL OF OUR TIME TOGETHER, OMG!". That, plus looking at my pre-planned orientation events...I'm starting to feel like college will be nothing more than a 2 year long summer camp (we're required to live on campus for 2 years). </p>
<p>Ughh..I just feel like the next 2 to 4 years will be a bubble. A bubble in which I'm completely smothered by my school, until graduation when all the people I'm forced to get attached to move either back to their home cities or to other cities that have more job opportunities than this one. </p>
<p>Yes, I'm ranting and raving. And probably exaggerating. But give me a break, I'm a scared 18 year old.</p>
<p>So I'm turning to you, current college students: is college really like a never-ending summer camp where you're forced to live in a bubble? Or do you actually feel like you're living your own life outside of school?</p>
<p>i’m scared for you if you think college is going to be like “real life”. you’re still in school, nobody really expects anything of you but to get good grades.</p>
<p>I’m not talking about working full time or anything like that. </p>
<p>I just mean having a LIFE outside of school.</p>
<p>Also: I’m sorry if my first post seems really obnoxious…I’m just worried.</p>
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<p>… isn’t that kind of what college is? You’re on your own and you can go out when you want and do whatever you want.</p>
<p>The pre-planned orientation events are supposed to make us feel like it is an easier transition from high school into college 
But pretty much after that, you can do whatever the heck you want. It’s college!!! Especially since your college is in a city, there’s bound to be loads of other classmates who want o explore around instead of just staying in the “bubble” of a campus. Don’t worry about it</p>
<p>It’s like summer camp until classes start. after that, don’t let college confine you. college should be the time you’re out in the world exploring, you can do WHAT YOU WANT</p>
<p>It’s really what you make it to be. You can party off campus or join clubs/volunteer/work or shut yourself in your dorm and watch Gossip Girl all day while painting your toe nails bright pink. I think you’ll be fine in finding a balance. I personally find college to be a transition from the sheltered world to reality. You still have meals cooked for you on campus, but you have to do your own laundry.</p>
<p>Summer camps don’t let you study abroad, do research, work internships, study eccentric subjects, and all that…</p>
<p>There will only be a bubble if you create one. Stay positive!</p>
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<p>Excuse me? For some of us college is “real life”… many people are living on a budget they saved up over the summer and are paying for college in loans and working while in school to pay for groceries while living 2000 miles from their house. Maybe you are the sheltered one?</p>
<p>To the OP, if you want to be smothered by school and allow yourself to be, you will be. If that isn’t what you want then you won’t be. Experience the city life, meet people outside of your school.. do what you want to do, because you can do whatever you want. Nothing is spelled out for you in college and you’ll be making your own decisions.</p>
<p>Since you’re going to a city school, it sounds like you will have the opportunity to do your own thing as often as you like. I transferred from a rural “bubble” college to a city school and once I hit the city I rarely did anything at school except go to classes. It’s up to you how involved in school events you want to be.</p>
<p>Good luck and have fun!</p>