<p>I personally don't buy it. The whole "it will change you and be the greatest thing to ever happen ever its so great I had the time of my life I hate high school now" shpeel is pretty transparent.</p>
<p>I don't want any sort of improved social life in college. I don't want anything from college besides some education, a degree, and a stepping stone to law school. I already have a great one here at home, in a city with more opportunities than 99% of other places on earth. I really still regret not getting into school here, I would have been overjoyed to stay in my own apartment, commute 5 miles to school, get my learning done, and come back home. I have no need to "escape" to get independence since I'm already all but financially independent, unlike most college students.</p>
<p>I will be going to college this fall, about 430 miles from home. I always hear people tell me that your going to have the time of your life in college etc… because of this, on top of persuing my degree, studying for examens I expect to have a memorable time of college as others tell me. Though as I’ve stated before on this forum, I wouldn’t want the best years of my life to no longer progress after college since there will be many years after and more goals to achieve.</p>
<p>it could be the best time of your life but not for 4 years. it’s exciting in the beginning because it’s new, you’re young, and you’re away from home and going to parties and whatever; but it’s really overhyped. I had a great time in first year (not all of first year, but many great isolated times) and after that it’s been pretty meh. Just looking forward to graduating and moving on now.</p>
<p>and yeah college doesn’t change you. getting old(er) changes you.</p>
<p>To me, I’m ecstatic about having “the college experience.” I hope to have the best 4 years I can possibly have, but hopefully not the best 4 years of my life, it seems like a shame to have those years so close to the beginning of my life! I’d like to have some good memories. I think a lot of people are dramatically changed by it, because they often come in contact with views/things that are really different from them. It’s also where a lot of people discover what they’re really passionate about. So, if you already know what you want to do, you may not think “OMG college was the best thing to ever happen to me it changed me forever.” You might, but you might not. And that’s perfectly fine.</p>
<p>To me, the college experience is about having more opportunity than you’ve had before. You’re able to choose all of your classes for the first time in your life, join a wider diversity of clubs and organizations, intern, work, and more. College usually tends to be when people turn 18 and are officially adults, further opening up opportunities. I don’t buy into partying all the time and having the four best years of my life. Really, “the college experience” goes along with “the workplace experience,” “the dream job experience,” and “the retirement experience” – they’re just stages of life.</p>
<p>But it really sounds like you’re miserable where you are.</p>
<p>I know its hard to be open to change sometimes. Its not about partying it up, its about doing what you want to do. Its also about being around people who have similar interest to yours and meeting new people. I look to enjoy everyday of my life. I had a great time in high school and i’m having a great time in college. Its not about being better its about being different.</p>
<p>Eh the whole “best 4 years of your life” is seriously misinterpreted by many people. Basically, that saying means that college will probably be the best 4 years of your life up to that point, but certainly not for your entire life. Otherwise people would just shoot themselves after they graduated. I’ve talked to adults, and they said life actually gets better after college. Your 20’s are better, and your 30’s are even better. It’s just different kind of fun (less drunken debauchery but more mature fun)</p>
<p>OP - If you don’t want anything from college but “some education, a degree, and a stepping stone to law school,” fine. Your college experiece is what you make it. But lots of other people want more, so don’t come on here raining on everyone’s parade just because you don’t.</p>
<p>In retrospect, College was a major delusion of time.</p>
<p>All you had to do was go to class and (maybe) study before exams.</p>
<p>You virtually have zero responsibility and young people enjoy not having to do anything.</p>
<p>This all changes when you enter the real world and have to do something called work(As in, a job). All of the sudden the protective bubble of the the fake reality disappears and you are forced to grow up.</p>
<p>I think the reason why many people enjoy College so much is because you are not really forced to do anything significant and human beings love to be lazy and do nothing.</p>
<p>College has been terrific. I finally found people passionate about the same things, which has afforded me many opportunities that will greatly aid my future job prospects and resume. I’m an officer in several clubs, went greek, played a sport. All have given me a lot of experience running and organizing groups and events. I met amazing people, honestly people I will always be in touch with and would want at my wedding. I love my friends from home, but at school people are more mature. It’s been a lot of fun. So much better than high school. And as much as I love my home town, it was nice to get away. I don’t want to live in a bubble and never see other places.</p>
<p>Maybe you’re just in a bad mood because you didn’t get in to your top school. </p>
<p>It’s kind of sad that you don’t want to take advantage of an amazing opportunity and just want to sulk around and just worry about academics. College is kind of the last time to be in a relatively consequence free environment and to do everything you want to do, because the rest of your life you’ll be tied down to a ball and chain. It’s not so much independence but freedom to do what you want to do, whenever you want to do it. Surrounded by a bunch of people your own age.</p>
<p>If all you want is to know things to get into law school go to the library and start reading, its cheaper and you’ll probably be done quicker. If you want a place where you express your interests, learn through discussion, meet new and interesting people, gain job and life skills, obtain letters of recommendation and much more go to college.</p>
<p>Going to college with the notion that its all about a paper with your name on it, defeats the purpose of college. College is about learning, not just reading a book or taking a class. You learn by making mistakes, trying new things, taking risks, discussing topics with others and gaining others insights, as well as many other ways.</p>
<p>I agree that the college experience gets overhyped but I think the point is to enjoy it. Be open to new things, make new friends, get your degree and try to have some fun while you’re at it.</p>
<p>I understand your argument and others defending the college experience as well. The only thing that irks me is when people say “Oh! College prepares you for the real world!” Since when is living in a bubble and still having your education payed for (whether it be by loans or STILL by your parents) the “real world”. Yeah college teaches you how to socialize, interact, self-growth and etc, but the real world is when you’re paying for rent and utilities, working tht at 9-5 job and etc. </p>
<p>But I’m excited for college but I know after year 1 it will get old. I fear that after the excitement and stuff rolls out the first year that I’ll be back to my extreme introverted ways. Oh wellz.</p>
<p>A lot engineer majors have said their real world jobs and co ops are actually a lot easier than college. Living on your own, paying your bills, working while in school, paying out of pocket for rent, food, auto insurance, gas activity fees and whatnot puts you closer to the real world than hs. Internships give you real world experience as well. Learning to network, share ideas in a respectful manner, learning to live and interact with people you do not like and learning how to organize you life does prepare you for the real world.</p>
<p>My friends who aren’t going to school and working FT have a very narrow perspective on life and still live in HS, and are in more of a bubble than those who went away for school. </p>
<p>I think going away to college forces you out of a bubble- you are forced to interact with a completely different group of people. You learn that there are arrogant authority figures, incompetent administration/red tape and you have to deal with things on your own. </p>
<p>Most kids don’t just walk around and have their parents pay for everything and take care of everything, like they do in HS. Your perceptions will change drastically once you get out of HS. Just because HS is a bubble, doesn’t mean that college is.</p>
<p>And, college is supposed to be hard work, but also fun. Working hard and not goofing off is called a career. Not college.</p>