<p>So this has probably been asked a number of times, but I don't feel like searching around to find responses.</p>
<p>Many people vow to change an aspect of themselves, usually one related to their social skills, when they go to college ("I want to be more outgoing in college" or "I want to go to more parties" or that kind of thing). I was wondering how many college students have actually followed through with their goals. </p>
<p>What did you want to change about yourself when you started college, and were you able to? How different is your college experience compared to your high school experience, because of this change?</p>
<p>College is not a place where you can just change over night. It is a place where you can learn and practice different skills; academically and socially.</p>
<p>You do change a lot, but as for me, I didn't go into college necessarily wanting to change one aspect of myself (except for maybe working harder and getting better grades). The changes just come to you over time, and you will definitely noticed how much you have matured after one semester! College is a great experience, not necessarily better than H.S., but is waaaay better for maturing as an individual</p>
<p>^ I think for many students it's that they no longer have all the comforts of home and their parents. They have to do their own laundry, manage their time, learn how to balance social life with academics. I'm a freshman and that's one of the biggest things i've learned in college, how to balance social life with work and classes/studying. As for cooking, well most people here have meal plans, but those who live off-campus probably learn how to cook since eating out constantly in expensive. I've actually learned to cook some basic meals in college myself and i don't live on my own.</p>
<p>Thank smcb52, I loves summer music like Shwayze!</p>
<p>sysop, what stargazerlilies said is correct. You are presented with SOO many choices with no one to prevent you from making a bad one BUT yourself. You'll find out how to balance everything relatively quickly and find your niche. Being on your own will mature you the most though.</p>
<p>Well my goals coming into college weren't necessarily to "change myself." But I definitely wanted to make more friends and be a lot more outgoing to people. In high school I had a good small group of friends, but I felt that from the beginning that I was stuck into this nitsche of the same-old-routine, same-old classmates with set social circles, and just never could get out of the mold of what I was in elementary/middle school-always more of an outsider, independent and did my own thing but was not very self-assured. It wasn't that I didn't have the social skills to begin with-in social settings outside of high school, I was always good at making friends. But coming from high school to college I realized for the most part many of the friends I made were more out of necesity, and not necessarily because we had a lot in common or a lot to talk about (and honestly, I had a complete inability to befriend guys, never went to parties, involved in a lot of stuff but definitely seen as a quiet nerd). </p>
<p>Going into college 3000 miles away from home I knew absolutely no one, and I obviously wanted to make a good first impression. I roomed blind, and from the very start I tried to be friendly with everyone (saying hi to people in the halls, in my classes, introducing myself to random people at meals, etc). I still have the same personality that I did in high school-except a bit more self-assured, assertive, and more willing to try new things, and have made numerous good friendships with people I feel I can relate to a lot more. I still am a big nerd, but can be social at the same time. And I definitely have the inability to shut up (not quiet anymore, ever...to the dismay of some :D). I have friends who are crazy partiers, and friends who are very religious non-drinker-studiers, but most of them are somewhere in-between. I am not stuck in this goody-two-shoes mold that is easy to get lost in during high school, and I am really happy. I'd like to reiterate-I didn't change myself, nor did I ever want to. But with the change in surroundings, and I'd like to say I have better learned how to express myself as a person. College is not necessarily a do-over like people assume...radically trying to change yourself here is rather dumb. It is more about finding your place, and being more comfortable in that place (and trying new things while you're at it!)</p>
<p>I changed myself overnight when I got to college. I went to a school where I didn't know anybody and I didn't really like who I was in highschool that much so I decided that in college I'd go out a lot more and what not. If anything I go out even more now than I did when I first got here, so yes, I've followed through. That's not to say if you're 100% introvert you can change into 100% extrovert, but if you've got a little extro in you and you want to grow that it's only a bottle away, generally.</p>
<p>sometimes people reinforce their identity in college. if you're from california and go to school on the east coast, for example, all of the sudden in your hall you are "the guy/girl from california." you talk about your experiences in california more, notice you may use a different word or two, and you actually grow into an identity which you didn't know you really had. kind of the opposite direction of changing.</p>
<p>I disagree with one of the above posts - unless you are going to college with a number of people you know very well, I believe you can completely change your image/behaviors seemingly overnight. </p>
<p>Of course, some aspects are easier than others - going to more parties, not difficult - seriously studying for the first time since 4th grade, significantly more tedious. From experience, setting goals (when possible) and intentionally over-doing it can help you to live up to your new found expectations in college regarding academia. </p>
<p>Coming in, I wanted to be the student I never was in high school, and forced myself to study/read on weekends before going out rather than just chilling out and playing video games. It helped me to establish a sense of urgency (even when tests/assignments were up to two weeks in advance), which is something I severely lacked in high school.</p>
<p>I honestly cannot remember any particular goal I set before I came to college besides wanting to generally do well, participate in activities and meet people. I don't know that the majority of college students do.</p>
<p>It my first post, i never knew this site existed!
But its kinda funny, cause I too wanted to change myself in college; but in completely different way then what everyone else posted. In high school I was the football captain, I was very outgoing, I was at every party, i was the homecoming king, I had my rights read to me a few times, and it seemed as though every single person knew who I was and what was going on in my personal life...honestly it never bothered me, in fact i really enjoyed it until the end of my senior year, when it kinda got annoying,. So when I came to college I decided that I wanted to be off on my own and have a few selected friends, and not party too much. This has actually been a very good decision on my part cause since I started college I have not gotten into any legal trouble! Also as far as maturity, for me, not being concerned with what others think of me is has been the biggest difference.</p>
<p>My college experience and my high school one are the same. I'm still hanging out with the same people from high school and since I'm living at home couldn't really get involve with campus activities. I used to think that if I had gone to an out of state college I would be different probably more outgoing but I realized it's not so much the environment as it's myself. If I wanted to change I could have made an effort to go to parties and introduce myself to people however since I choose not to do it I'm still the same. Well it's only my second year so who knows.</p>