5 answers
Ava
Student
Hamburg, Pennsylvania
3
Questions
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What was your college experience like? Anything you would suggest for new college members?
I always been curious about what college life is like. I heard about all the parties, the roommates, and especially the work. How is it really though? Is it draining and stressful? I'm currently not close to going to college but I've looked into some and I'm very interested to hear from people who currently are in or was in college for a personal experience and for maybe some suggestions when starting off college.
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5 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1913
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Ava ! I am drawn to your question because you are seeking other's personal experience to get an idea of what college may be like. Although each person's experience is individual and different, getting a glimpse of various stories and advice is very important and could prove to be interesting.
I had a superb college experience. To begin with, I liked high school, liked being around academia and loved learning. That was probably the foundation for my adapting quickly and liking college immediately.
I didn't go to college where I went to high school - I relocated 3,000 miles away from where I was born and raised. So there was that element of new discovery, awe at how different my physical environment was and, for the first time, being the new kid in town. I enjoyed lectures and took copious notes in all of my classes. One thing I noticed straight away was that the peer pressure that is sometimes in public high schools seemed to vanish once I entered college. People accepted one another regardless of what you did or didn't do. I went to high school at a time when the peer pressure wasn't as challenging as it is today, though. Suddenly, I felt like an adult, very independent but did fly back to see my family every now and again.
I received good grades, A's and B's in my courses, so I pretty much had a set routine of effective study habits. There was a semester when the academic load started to get more demanding and I also recall having to sacrifice, mostly not being able to afford trips, buying new clothes, as I received grants and financial aid and lived modestly. It was well worth it, though.
Socially, there was always something to do and I had a lot of friends. One cannot forget to have some fun, even on a budget and yes, the house parties were great. I had roommates during my first two years and than had my own studio apartment for the last two years. I preferred no roommates. If you decide to have roommates, make sure they are your friends, are compatible, and really use your discretion in choosing them because you will have to live with them. For me, I was distanced from my roommates as they were not students and we didn't really have many interests in common, but we got along.
I was on campus from 8:00 A.M. till about 3 or 4:00 P.M. most of the time. I had a work study job every semester so I was always on campus for classes and work. Back in those days, there was no weekend classes nor was there the internet. For research, I went to the library or audio/visual department. We watched films, not videos. And when it came time to type term papers, we used a typewriter.
What I remember clearly is that the professors back than were very interested in the student's opinions and points of view about the subjects. They had a way of being supportive and allowed us to see things from two or three different perspectives, understand the points and make a decision about what made sense to us personally.
The particular college I went to had a multitude of activities on campus : fairs, live music, cultural dancers, theatre. There were also many workshops and all of the work study jobs I had were actually fun. It's a period of my life during which everything was positive.
For someone first entering college, the first thing I would suggest is to be yourself. You will be noticed for different things in college than you were in high school. Always stay true to your values, work ethics and study habits. There's no need to worry because there is always someone on campus to help you with whatever you may need. I would also suggest taking some of the required classes not in your major as soon as possible so you can immerse yourself in your major as much as possible. I'm not sure how this works today, but if it's not too bothersome, if you find that you don't like a class, drop it as soon as possible and see if you can be admitted to a different class with a different professor. I think I had to do that twice and it ended up being the right thing.
I didn't realize how fast my four years would actually go, but I look back on those days and think of all the personal ups and downs, and still consider that time priceless, very special and always puts a smile on my face when I think about it. Please feel free to ask more questions because the more stories of students and former students you read and hear, the more you will realize that having expectations never makes it turn out the way you think it will be. It's a different ride for everyone ! Wishing you all the best in all you do and I hope I was able to contribute some food for thought !
I had a superb college experience. To begin with, I liked high school, liked being around academia and loved learning. That was probably the foundation for my adapting quickly and liking college immediately.
I didn't go to college where I went to high school - I relocated 3,000 miles away from where I was born and raised. So there was that element of new discovery, awe at how different my physical environment was and, for the first time, being the new kid in town. I enjoyed lectures and took copious notes in all of my classes. One thing I noticed straight away was that the peer pressure that is sometimes in public high schools seemed to vanish once I entered college. People accepted one another regardless of what you did or didn't do. I went to high school at a time when the peer pressure wasn't as challenging as it is today, though. Suddenly, I felt like an adult, very independent but did fly back to see my family every now and again.
I received good grades, A's and B's in my courses, so I pretty much had a set routine of effective study habits. There was a semester when the academic load started to get more demanding and I also recall having to sacrifice, mostly not being able to afford trips, buying new clothes, as I received grants and financial aid and lived modestly. It was well worth it, though.
Socially, there was always something to do and I had a lot of friends. One cannot forget to have some fun, even on a budget and yes, the house parties were great. I had roommates during my first two years and than had my own studio apartment for the last two years. I preferred no roommates. If you decide to have roommates, make sure they are your friends, are compatible, and really use your discretion in choosing them because you will have to live with them. For me, I was distanced from my roommates as they were not students and we didn't really have many interests in common, but we got along.
I was on campus from 8:00 A.M. till about 3 or 4:00 P.M. most of the time. I had a work study job every semester so I was always on campus for classes and work. Back in those days, there was no weekend classes nor was there the internet. For research, I went to the library or audio/visual department. We watched films, not videos. And when it came time to type term papers, we used a typewriter.
What I remember clearly is that the professors back than were very interested in the student's opinions and points of view about the subjects. They had a way of being supportive and allowed us to see things from two or three different perspectives, understand the points and make a decision about what made sense to us personally.
The particular college I went to had a multitude of activities on campus : fairs, live music, cultural dancers, theatre. There were also many workshops and all of the work study jobs I had were actually fun. It's a period of my life during which everything was positive.
For someone first entering college, the first thing I would suggest is to be yourself. You will be noticed for different things in college than you were in high school. Always stay true to your values, work ethics and study habits. There's no need to worry because there is always someone on campus to help you with whatever you may need. I would also suggest taking some of the required classes not in your major as soon as possible so you can immerse yourself in your major as much as possible. I'm not sure how this works today, but if it's not too bothersome, if you find that you don't like a class, drop it as soon as possible and see if you can be admitted to a different class with a different professor. I think I had to do that twice and it ended up being the right thing.
I didn't realize how fast my four years would actually go, but I look back on those days and think of all the personal ups and downs, and still consider that time priceless, very special and always puts a smile on my face when I think about it. Please feel free to ask more questions because the more stories of students and former students you read and hear, the more you will realize that having expectations never makes it turn out the way you think it will be. It's a different ride for everyone ! Wishing you all the best in all you do and I hope I was able to contribute some food for thought !
Paul Malhotra
Student
23
Answers
Glendale, California
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Hello Ava,
Your journey through college is going to be as as you envision it. You will be making countless new friends and diving into a myriad of engaging assignments. The key will be finding the perfect equilibrium between your academic responsibilities and social engagements.
There's a whole universe of clubs waiting for you to explore, and it's highly likely you'll find one that catches your interest. Yes, there will be challenging moments, like exams and midterms, but these are just stepping stones on your path to success.
Remember, the overall college experience is not just about studying, it's also about having fun and making lifelong memories. I'm hopeful that this insight will prove useful to you!
Your journey through college is going to be as as you envision it. You will be making countless new friends and diving into a myriad of engaging assignments. The key will be finding the perfect equilibrium between your academic responsibilities and social engagements.
There's a whole universe of clubs waiting for you to explore, and it's highly likely you'll find one that catches your interest. Yes, there will be challenging moments, like exams and midterms, but these are just stepping stones on your path to success.
Remember, the overall college experience is not just about studying, it's also about having fun and making lifelong memories. I'm hopeful that this insight will prove useful to you!
Cassidy Bunce
LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician)
2
Answers
New York, NY
Updated
Cassidy’s Answer
I feel as though this is a very hard question to answer because everyones college experience is different. Depending on your interests, your school work, if you play a sport etc. I for example was not a huge partier in the beginning of my college experience, I was also in a demanding degree and I played softball. Your college experience will be based on who you are as an individual :)
Liana Ho
Graphic Designer
38
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Liana’s Answer
Hi Ava,
It really depends on how you look at things. When I studied Psychology at a University in Los Angeles, I met a lot of good students. I started to talk to them when I was in class, form a study group, and sometimes get coffee with them. I also attended a fellowship when I was living on campus. When I was living in a dorm, I met a lot of cool, and unique students. I sometimes studied with different students who have different majors. During the semester, I always studied in the library. I usually eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at my school's diner. Therefore, I met a lot of interesting students. I would advise you, Ava, that you should meet new peers who have similar interests, goals, and dreams as you do. In addition, you can make new friends. Enjoy your college experience! I'm pretty sure you will do great things!
It really depends on how you look at things. When I studied Psychology at a University in Los Angeles, I met a lot of good students. I started to talk to them when I was in class, form a study group, and sometimes get coffee with them. I also attended a fellowship when I was living on campus. When I was living in a dorm, I met a lot of cool, and unique students. I sometimes studied with different students who have different majors. During the semester, I always studied in the library. I usually eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at my school's diner. Therefore, I met a lot of interesting students. I would advise you, Ava, that you should meet new peers who have similar interests, goals, and dreams as you do. In addition, you can make new friends. Enjoy your college experience! I'm pretty sure you will do great things!
Niha D
Physical Therapist
60
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Niha’s Answer
I finished my undergraduate schooling a year before COVID really hit, and it was great. I lived on campus 2 years and off campus 2 years. My first roommate was great, and I even roomed with her my second year again with one of her friends and one of mine. I was in a somewhat demanding track with a dual degree and a minor, but with the right schedule, I found myself with loads of time to participate in volunteering clubs and dance/show events every year. I also worked a research assistance job (10 -12 hours a week).
College is truly what you make of it. I'm not a big go-to-the-club kind of girl, so I made friends with a lot of people who didn't drink and were more up to going out to cheap diners and ice cream then a movie in one of our rooms. It was perfect for me. We had our fights (oh the drama of being a teenager on your own for the first time), but we learned from them.
What I would say is find the people you can see yourself actually, truly getting along with 10-15 years after your finish college. I got really lucky and we joined a lot of the same clubs so we could all hang out together at events, which truly worked in our favor. People are what make college the best time of our lives.
For advice:
1) Absolutely go to your club fair, meet club leaders and get free merch! Sign up for whatever clubs you want, and if you decide you don't like them, leave. If you do so in the first semester, you can really settle in by the second and have a good idea of where your time will be going.
2) Balance your class schedule. Don't overestimate yourself and take too many in one semester to load up. Be reasonable. (NOTE: if people in your group also need to take the class, maybe think about taking the class the same semester, in different sessions -- that way you can study together, but you won't be distracted in class by their presence)
3) Make time for yourself, however that is. If Friday nights are getting dressed up and going out night, then do that! Make sure you always make a little bit of time to make yourself happy.
College is truly what you make of it. I'm not a big go-to-the-club kind of girl, so I made friends with a lot of people who didn't drink and were more up to going out to cheap diners and ice cream then a movie in one of our rooms. It was perfect for me. We had our fights (oh the drama of being a teenager on your own for the first time), but we learned from them.
What I would say is find the people you can see yourself actually, truly getting along with 10-15 years after your finish college. I got really lucky and we joined a lot of the same clubs so we could all hang out together at events, which truly worked in our favor. People are what make college the best time of our lives.
For advice:
1) Absolutely go to your club fair, meet club leaders and get free merch! Sign up for whatever clubs you want, and if you decide you don't like them, leave. If you do so in the first semester, you can really settle in by the second and have a good idea of where your time will be going.
2) Balance your class schedule. Don't overestimate yourself and take too many in one semester to load up. Be reasonable. (NOTE: if people in your group also need to take the class, maybe think about taking the class the same semester, in different sessions -- that way you can study together, but you won't be distracted in class by their presence)
3) Make time for yourself, however that is. If Friday nights are getting dressed up and going out night, then do that! Make sure you always make a little bit of time to make yourself happy.