Transitioning into college seems to be on a lot of people’s minds, even parents and friends around this time of year. Why is it one of student’s biggest fears? Why does it seem like an overwhelming and stressful task? College indeed is a major step to take in life and you have to decide if it is right for you or not. It takes you to a brand new place with so many new and exciting things to try that sometimes you just do not know where to begin. It takes you out of your daily routine, tradition, and comfort zone. You have the ability to start fresh and be who you want to be and not worry about what happened in the past. You no longer have anyone telling you what to do and your parents are not watching your every move. It is a time to make new friendships and discover who you truly are.
College is a totally different atmosphere and is not like high school at all. I believe the whole transition just takes time. It is not impossible you just have to live and learn. You have to get use to being self-motivated, independent, and organized. Organization is the key to being successful in your first couple of weeks especially. Professors and teaching assistants all give you information that you must retain and certain dates and times when everything is due. I would suggest keeping a planner or schedule so you can write everything down because it would be impossible to remember everything. Another adjustment would be your classroom settings and having huge lectures that are filled with 400 people. This is very overwhelming at first and you have to adjust. Some of my classes I will never even meet my professor and receive one on one attention.
Some words of advice would be to not give up and take things step by step. Everything at first may seem overwhelming but when you break everything down you will realize it is not that hard. Make sure you do not procrastinate and get all your assignments and papers done as soon as possible. You will then end up having more time to relax, kick back, and hang out with your new friends. Also, do not live in your dorm room, get out and introduce yourself to new people; everyone is in the same position that you are. You can also join extracurricular activities such as clubs and teams to socialize and stay active. The only way to conquer this transition is through experience and not giving up.
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While i do agree with your statements that college is nothing to fear and the advice you give to go out and meet new people and do your work on time, one thing that i must disagree with is that college is from my perspective not really that different from high school. After 2.5 years at Purdue I have come to realize that nothing really has changed at all and the following are examples of such.
- Back in High School I had friends and we hung out, saw movies, and of course drank and partied at peoples houses and out in the woods.
- Then i came to college from across the country, made a bounch of new friends and now we do exactly what i did with my old friends in high school, hang out, see movies, and drink and party at frat parties and peoples appartments. Not much has changed.
- Back in high school i went to classes and did work and had average grades.
- Now in college i go to classes, do work and so far i have yet to gain much from any of it. Most of these classes are some proffesor rambling up front and then making up an exam that quizes you on the bold words that he pulled from a text book he found in his spare time. Talk about a great way to flush a bunch of money.
- In high school i kept busy with extra curricular clubs and organizations.
- Now in college i keep busy with a start up business.
All in all not much has changed this was not the big new grand experience where i learn what i need to know for future that i expected in high school. The parties are the same as before just with new people and my free time is still filled with a group of sorts. All in all unless you are becoming an engineer or doctor college is just a great way to reinforce common sense that you should already know. The only reason to stay is to get a peice of paper called a degree that can get you a job. If you didnt get that it would be a better time saver just to burn 30 grand a year.
So I am from Lafayette and you would think that I would have had a little more experience of the college life since I live in a college town...but I guess I live a sheltered life!! I took classes here as a senior in high school, and I could definitely see huge differences between college and high school. Try going from rules rules rules to hello freedom!! It was great. But since I still live at home(ugg) I feel like I am still in high school. I still have a curfew, someone checking up on me alll the time, see my mom everyday, and don't feel as much a part of the campus life as I should. It basically sucks.
I wasn't a big partier in high school, so the party seen is quite different for me.
I personally think that college is new chapter in my life. A time to continue creating myself into who I want to be. To have the freedom to do whatever I please. To become an adult. And everyone else is getting to do this, while I'm still being restricted by the parentals.
It's time to live my own life, right?
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