Is college supposed to be the best four years of your life?

Student Lounge College Life
61

<p>In honesty, it has so far been the most exciting years of my life…but it’s also been the hardest EVER. And I don’t see it getting easier. What makes college so great for me is how much freedom I am given to explore my area of both my academic and professional interests. Not only is the there a vast scope of academics, but the social environment is a fit for me. In high school, I wasn’t considered a “loner,” but I definitely kept my distance from a lot of the typical high school scene because I always wanted to do things on my own (or with those very close friends I made). I left to go to the city often, while most of my peers would go to homecoming or football games. It just wasn’t for me.</p>

<p>The mentors at my college are actually helpful. I feel like I’m actually a good friend of theirs. I can walk into my advisor’s office anytime and just strike up a normal mature conversation. I tried this at my high school and many of the teachers thought I was being too uptight and did not take me seriously. In all, because of this “freedom,” I’m also able to do things on my own around the city. I can intern and find social life beyond at the university or just do all sorts of different things. But, of course, the workload in school and job/intern can be so difficult at times.</p>

<p>Don’t get me wrong, I love college…but I’ve been pushing myself beyond my limits lately.</p>

62

<p>It certainly was for me. I wish I could go back in time especially since the ex-wife thing didn’t work out.</p>

63

<p>it definitely is the best four years, if you make it so! get involved and find the things you love.</p>

64

<p>I had a great time in college. Lots of personal growth. Lots of fun. But, there was a lot of uncertainty and exploration. I was trying to figure out what kind of life I would lead. Overall, it was pretty intense: very serious academics (STEM major), research assistant jobs with famous folks so I had to deliver, serious senior thesis (published in the best journal in the field and widely cited for a while), varsity athlete in a minor sport, intramural sports with my roommates, girlfriends the last two years, a great group of friends. Looking back, I wonder if I slept. My friends/roommates and I go back to reunions every 5 years and some go every year. Most, including me, remember it as a great time.</p>

<p>However, studies on happiness suggest that people tend to become happier later in life. Consistent with the studies, I’d say I’m happier now. In my current life, I’ve become an expert in the thing that I do, run my own company, have an executive assistant to take care of lots of the details of life, have two wonderful kids (both in college), a great wife, travel all over the world, love my work including some occasional very satisfying pro bono work, a fair degree of autonomy/control over my life … . I get around 6 hours a night of sleep, which is probably more than in college.</p>

<p>As Classof2015 points out, neither condition was unremittingly positive. Lots of stress to perform in college, get in to grad school, figure out how to ask girls on dates (we actually did that back then), getting rejected when I asked, … . Then again, there are stresses now. Losing a client, complex employees, firing people, the stresses of bringing up kids with LDs or medical issues in a two-career marriage, the difficulty of having time to maintain a relationship with one’s spouse in a demanding world, etc. But, generally, life feels pretty good.</p>

65

<p>Everything is relative man. I believe that life gets better with each and every year. Until your 50 something, my grandma said the years from 21 to 61 where the best years of your life. I didnt really enjoy my HS all that much, tons of cliquey people, lotta drama, etc. Only thing i really miss is sports. College has been pretty good, the first year was definately the most like time when you could go out and rage non stop without too much consequences, and people messed that up. Drama doesnt stop in HS either. But people are usually a lot more open and friendlier, I would give it an 8.5 out of 10 so far, its been pretty good but as with every stage in life, it has its own issues.</p>

66

<p>^ Surprisingly Accurate.</p>

67

<p>Surely you’re joking.</p>

68

<p>Well, I’ve just been to community colleges, thus far, and not a four-year university.</p>

<p>Regards,
BettyfromCA</p>

69

<p>Wait, who’s joking? I’m just calling it like I see it. </p>

<p>College has kind of sucked for me so far. I’ve been made to feel pretty worthless. I’m sure others could have a better experience, but it’s a combination of my personality, the classes I’m taking, the school and a ton of other things that have easily made among the worst 4-ish months of my relatively short existence.</p>

70

<p>Hey, High School senior here.</p>

<p>Lifelearner asked about what exactly we expect, and while I can’t speak for every HS senior on here (and there’s so many), I can speak for myself and why I’m looking forward to University like it’s nirvana.</p>

<p>I’ve grown up in a small Texas town without much to do but drive around and visit the local mall, then eat lunch, then drive around some more. Being a film lover, I yearn for a city. For somewhere with diverse people and attitudes, foods and shops, skylines and culture, all of it. University offers me a chance to move into a new environment, one I’ve been dreaming of for years. </p>

<p>Not to mention the people I expect to me. People who I can argue and agree with. Who aren’t ignorant but aren’t perfect, characters in their own right. Someone other then this class of 200 students whom I’ve known for the past 12 years. Professors with experience and bravado. Not that my teachers here haven’t been great, but they grew up in this town, and the farthest they’ve gone is Austin.</p>

<p>Idk, typing it out it seems far-fetched and idealistic. But it seems like a vast unknown of potential, where I can finally become who I’ve wanted to be and do all the things I’ve wanted to do for years on end. </p>

<p>I don’t know, it sounds silly now, haha.</p>

71

<p>@zimfan I don’t think it’s silly. </p>

<p>Answering the same question, I come from one of the most active towns in Mississippi, and yet I still was excited to leave to go to a residential high school. It’s pretty much advanced high school classes, following a college schedule with college-like living (and eating, the food sucks, but that’s relative to where you are). Although I had to leave all of the people I knew behind, I lvoed the change. However, last year wasn’t as great as this one. The only thing that really changed was how I conducted myself.</p>

<p>I’ve kind of gotten to the point where I think college is mostly having no expectations, so that when you get there anything beats it, and striving to make it a good time. Things aren’t just going to fall into your lap, but it’s not like college is going to be utterly terrible, unless you make it that way.</p>

<p>Also, the person who said if you’re ugly it would be terrible: I know plenty of people in college not remotely attractive who don’t encounter any of that.
And a local gorgeous girl tried to commit suicide because she had to keep the image of being perfect, and that meant people faked their love for her and she had to stay on top of her studies harder than anyone else. So. That’s just as relative, depends on the person.</p>

72

<p>It’s finals week right now. It’s been a rough semester here for the first time at a four-year university as an incoming transfer student.</p>

<p>Community college wasn’t that hard, so I never tried too hard. I did enough to get by with OK grades so that I could transfer to a decent school if I wanted to be an engineering, physics, or math major. One thing that really hit me hard this semester is time management. </p>

<p>I’ve had terrible time management skills my whole life. I brought the bad habit of procrastination with me from community college to a four-year university. Naturally though I put in the time as the semester went on and this finals week I managed to master an entire course in one night, acing one of my finals and thus saving me from failing a course (80% of the class is failing). I diligently studied for my other courses over the past few weeks for my finals, but I spent a lot of days saying “I’ll study this” and wind up watching TV all day. I just haven’t been very good at balancing each class. I will study for two classes and get behind in two others. Or get caught up in 3 and be really behind in 1. So I definitely learned that I need to make studying a day by day activity not a weekend activity so I’m not making coffee at 2 AM in the morning. That I also shouldn’t study all in one go but break it up into parts throughout the day. For instance, take a 30 minute break after an intense period of studying. </p>

<p>As far as any college experience goes, I have tried joining clubs, participating in events, but it never took. I don’t think I’ve had any fun these past few months and I’m usually just hanging around engineering majors that don’t have time for anything else but work and school. I think that if I had gone to a four year when I was a bit younger (not at 22) then I probably would’ve enjoyed the freedom more. There’s not really a feeling of freedom right now since I have to pay bills and don’t have enough money to do anything fun. I know that plenty of easier majors aren’t sweating their college years at all. I was doing homework a week ago and spent an entire hour listening to these bros talk smack about other frat guys and chicks they were chasing after, parties, blah blah. I’m like…really now. I kind of envy that I don’t have as much freedom. I just hope I can reap the benefits of my major and hopefully kick butt these next few semesters to get recommendation letters for graduate school. </p>

<p>One thing for sure is that if you are not meant for your major they will beat you to death with that fact until you quit. So, at least you’re sort of guided through college by knowing what to avoid if you lack talent or willpower. Talent is not enough, though. Unless you’re a genius, I guess. Several of my teachers pretty much pointed out that people were being weeded out of the harder courses and that they were not smart or willing to work hard enough to keep them in the program. So I feel like you definitely know your place relative to others and I think a lot of people have self-esteem issues when they take a first look at their first round of midterms. If they got a failing grade…a lot of people quit. I think that’s the wrong attitude, it encouraged me to work somewhat harder, and then really hard. When the average is a 21% and there’s no curve, I guess it’ll just show who really wants to be whatever major and how much time you’re willing to put aside instead of having fun. But I don’t regret not having as much fun as I thought I would have coming here. It was a wakeup call.</p>

73

<p>I certainly hope not. I’ve had a little bit of fun in my first semester so far, but nothing that blows HS out of the water.</p>

74

<p>Meh. For some people. It’s been good, and I certainly don’t want to go back to hs, but I think the real world is where some people belong. And college isn’t really the real world.</p>

75

<p>If you think it could be, then it will be.</p>

<p>And if it is, that might be sad, because it is likely that you will have another 1/2 century of life after that.</p>

<p>I say, that if you do it right, it will be the best years of your life so far, and you will recall those times fondly.</p>

<p>I loved college. Also loved dating my wife. Then having kids. Then dragging them off to practice. Then watching them play. Then the long road trips and discoveries. Then taking them to college for the “best four years of their life”. Geez.</p>

<p>Be a do-er, not just a spectator, in college. Get involved. Work hard, play hard, and enjoy it.</p>

<p>But I hope it won’t be the “best four years” of your life, just memories that make you smile for a long. long time.</p>

76

<p>I’m just finishing up my first semester as a freshman in college, and it’s been lonely. that’s not to say that I haven’t made a few good friends–I have. But I loved my last few years of high school because I had a super close knit group, and I haven’t found that yet here. I’m hoping next semester will be better, but I don’t want to spend the next four years feeling lonely and sad.</p>