I’m confused. I’ve just been in the forum for how many minutes but I’ve already encountered some saddening threads about college. Is it really that bad? Am I missing too much that I rarely feel that much thinking about getting into college and the future of it. How exactly do you guys face college? to those who are already in.
I love college so far. There can be many reasons why people have a hard time adjusting to college, and some people just don’t like it altogether. It’s hard to give you a concrete answer because everyone is different.
People don’t start threads about how awesome their lives are. I’m in a major I love. I have a great boyfriend, excellent friends, a living situation that works well for me, and solid job prospects. Why would I ask for advice when my life is going well?
I’d say chances are pretty slim that college will be “bad.” A big part of it is your mindset going into it. First, try to have realistic expectations. Things aren’t going to be perfect, it won’t be super easy making friends, and you won’t always receive what you feel are “fair” grades.
Second, don’t expect good things to just come to you. In the “real world” you have to put forth some effort to get what you want. College is a great place to figure that out.
And lastly, don’t be discouraged by what you read online. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, people are more likely to run to the internet to complain about thing than to praise them. You might see lots of complaints on here but that’s because everyone that’s having a great time is too busy doing other things.
You’ll be fine!!!
My first kid thought college was a little boring for the first couple of months. She was a super busy high school student, and it took her a little while to find “her” clubs and activities. That was the only complaint I remember from her, except some roommate issues (resolved with a room change at winter break). All in all she loved her first year once it really got going.
D2 was dumped into the deep end at a very rigorous school, and worked crazy hard her first year. But it is also a supportive environment, and she developed very strong bonds with her classmates and her school. It was hard but she would not trade it, and is doing great as a junior.
The kids who are busy and enjoying their experience aren’t out here posting!
It’s not the college that’s bad, it’s the changing nature of the material in the front door. It would appear that more than a few of these kids are wasting their time and money going to a 4-year college.
If I really thought about it, the list of things I’d be willing to give up to be able to go back in time and start college again would probably be pretty disturbing.
@ready100 College is an amazing opportunity that is still a privilege in our fine country. If you take it on for the opportunity that it is, primarily a place to learn, build a foundational level for a career if you want one, a transitional time to adulthood in a semi structured environment, and you have realistic expectations, you will do well. I agree, the large marjority of college students are doing fine and aren’t posting on CC with any frequency. Those that are doing well who post here are offering help to those who are struggling.
Also, there are millions of college students in the US. CC posters are a teeny teeny fraction of those students.
It’s not all bad, and I think the way someone reacts really depends on that persons individual personality. I have been in college for just under a month, and going into It I did not think I would enjoy myself. I had the mindset that I’m here to learn and that’s it. I still do think that way, but I’m cautiously optomistic as I continue to enjoy my studies. For me, I found a program that I love, and it helps keep me going because it is fun for me to go to class every day.
I think I’m that guy known for hating college lol and my opinions haven’t changed that much. For me most of the classes beyond my major are completely bogus and a waste of my time and money. My college makes us take certain amount of electives so I had to take a fine arts. So pretty much I’m forced into art class where I draw and glue stuff to paper. I hate that they force stuff on you thats not even remotely important to your life at all. Everything else I’ve already said in other threads.
@RedThunder welcome to real life. There will always be **** that you have to do that isn’t remotely related to what you want to do. My message here is that if you know that going in and don’t fight it, you get through it and move on.
Whew! Thanks for all the thoughts and comments I truly appreciate it. I’m starting to understand why they’re being that way. But it still freaks me out about entering college.
@intparent Seems like your kids has a smooth-sailing college life. That sounds great! I hope I could be the same with my parents when I enter college. Have your kids ever considered studying abroad?
@sashabee That’s a good way to think of things. That’s actually how I want to think of how I’ll face college. Take everytime I could to spend in studies, extra curricular and all the other fun stuff
@ready100 it is normal and healthy to be a bit nervous about the transition, that nervousness helps you to take care of things, rather than being so layed back you don’t care, or so stressed you can’t cope. You are thinking ahead about how it might be, and that is a good thing.
@RedThunder I’m not actually pertaining to anyone with my thread. Though I feel like you can still look at other perspectives as to why your school makes you do these electives. I mean education is pretty much growing as technologies does, they might just want you to realize something from what you’re actually doing right now.
@iwannabe_Brown lol! sounds like you with the ones who had so much fun in college 
@ready100, one of my kids studied off campus both semesters junior year (one semester abroad, one on a DC internship program). The other doesn’t want to leave her campus for college breaks even; she thought she would study abroad when she went off to college, but doesn’t want to miss a minute on campus now.
@ready100, yes, and also it’s the contrast between being a college student and being a graduate student.
Certainly the first couple weeks weren’t the happiest point in my time there - that’s about how long it took for me to start connecting with people in my dorm and my classes etc so that they weren’t just random people I saw every day but actually people I had some sort of relationship with (even if it wasn’t always a particularly deep one).