Over the next couple of weeks I am going to be writing a series centering around college. Throughout the different posts, feel free to leave any comments or questions regarding things you specifically want me to touch on, or different series ideas for the future! This post is the first of this series as a way to announce the pieces and to give an understanding of what exactly I will cover. To begin, know I am obviously not an expert, but I have experienced enough college to give a pretty decent opinion of it in all it’s glory. The idea of college is one that is forced on children by society from as early as possible. We all have heard that college is a necessary part of life, and that without a degree in hand we will amount to nothing. Every single teacher you’ve ever had has probably given you that speech, but they leave out a lot of important details. Of course, education is great, and you should always strive to continue learning and expanding your knowledge so that you can grow as a person, but with that being said, there is a lot about the system of college that is not so straight forward and understandable, meaning you may have a perception of college that is -with lack of better words- just plain wrong. These misunderstandings lend themselves to being essentially college myths. Throughout this series, I’ll debunk these college myths with my personal experiences in order to potentially help others (either applying to college, or currently in college) better understand what they are getting themselves into.
For those who are currently applying for college or contemplating whether or not they should, there are a lot of things you need to consider. Do you know what you want to study in college? Do you know your options? From there you have to decide on the best schools to apply to for that major. Again, do you know you have the options of community college, university, or even trade school? Then there is the debate of cost, and understanding what exactly you (or your parents…or scholarships) are paying for. And finally, do you know the difference between private and public colleges? Did you know those specifications even existed? I didn’t, and I really wish someone would have covered all of this with me. High school teachers, guidance counselors, and parents just tell you to apply apply apply, but no one breaks down the drastic differences in your options.
Once at college, the reality hits harder if you weren’t fully informed from the beginning of the application process. You begin to fear the “Freshman 15”, and party every weekend because you honestly just think its what you’re supposed to do for the next 4 years. Does it matter if you go to class…especially if you’re too hung-over? Should you get involved on campus? Do you even have time to cover all of this along with the overload of homework and studying? And remember if everything crashes and burns, anxiety consumes your life, and everything seems like an existential crisis, don’t fret. Not everyone graduates in 4 years. Take a breath.
College is a large change in your life. If you choose to take on the challenge of college or go another route, you’re still entering a new stage in life; adulthood. You’ve leveled up. Everything becomes a little more stressful. The boss becomes harder to defeat. My hope is that any information I can provide you in this series lessens the burden of change and helps you collect all the items you need to unlock the next level.