Rather than in high school and the real world after college?
At my college, people seem to be more accepting of one another in general. Now, I understand that every college is different, but what makes people act like this when they go to college?
What makes you think people aren’t friendly in the real world after college? I find that most people I encounter are friendly.
I enjoy the enthusiasm of college students, and their desire to try new things, make mistakes, break out of past “molds” that they found themselves in. I think college is a time of intellectual and personal freedom, where people feel more open to explore different sides of themselves. That goes hand in hand with being open to new friendships. I don’t think people are mean out of college, but perhaps more absorbed in their own day to day realities. That’s a major generalization, of course, but I do think there’s something special about the period of your life when you’re in college. Make the most of it!
For many people, they have known the same kids in their town/schools for 13 years. You have an impression of everyone. There is a “culture” at your school…deviate and you will know it. For example, if you wore sweatpants to school everyone might talk. There are cliques at school and you need to choose where you fit in. There is more of a variety of students and their academic goals.
At college, it is like starting over. Nobody knows anyone at first, so you have to be friendly to make friends. There is a lesss strict culture…want to wear lounge pants to class? Nobody bats an eyelash.
One reason is that college makes you a member of a community, even if it’s a really large one. Everyone shares at least one element of identity - you’re a “whatever they call students at your school” and so is the other person, which eliminates one potential barrier to conversation. And of course, there are all those built-in opportunities to socialize with people like dorms, clubs, classes etc.
My middle D worked for a couple of years before going back to school for her masters degree and she has remarked at how much easier it is to build a social circle at school. It’s more work out in the world, but still possible.
For some of these students, they become mature since they were admitted into the college. This is the most vigorous time in their life; this is the first they get in touch to the society. They take a full-time job as a university students. This is the first time they get a full time job. What they need to do is studying the knowledge with their passions.
Why is most students friendly in the college? The reason might be some students were influenced by other enthusiasm students. If other people always talk to you with smile on their face, you will talk to others with smile too.
I agree with you, and in college, students make new friends and expand their social circle, which will be very good for college life and social life in the future.
High School: In high school, you’re stuck with a set social hierarchy.
College: In college, you get to choose who you spend time around.