THINGS NOBODY TELLS YOU ABOUT COLLEGE
- One year of college has the potential to change you more than four years of high school. Be prepared for that.
- Your first year of college probably won’t be your best year- not because college sucks, but because it’s a HUGE change. You’re going to be making new friends, getting adjusted to new class types, missing home, and everything else that comes with adopting a new life. It can be overwhelming, but each year after that will probably be SO much better!
- College is super fun but it can also really harden you. Having a support system and people to talk to is crucial.
- You do not need to pull an all-nighter. EVER. I don’t care what your degree is. If you delegate your priorities and manage your time, you won’t need to make yourself miserable by losing that much sleep.
- You don’t magically make friends. You have to put in the work to build connections. Putting yourself out there, taking risks, making the first move, and being friendly aren’t always the easiest things but people don’t just become your friend instantly. If you want meaningful friendships, you have to work hard at it and step outside of your comfort zone.
- You can have a social life, AND get enough sleep, AND get good grades- all at the same time. No, that venn diagram is not true, so don’t fall for it.

- You don’t have to party if you don’t want to. I know it seems like everyone in college does, but believe me, there’s so many who don’t. Different people like different things, and college is full of all different types.
- Your roommate does not have to be your bestie. If you end up getting close, that’s really great! But it’s not necessary to have a good roommate. Having someone who respects you, follows boundaries, and doesn’t bother you is nothing to be taken for granted. The biggest thing with roommates is just having someone you can get along with consistently. You can find bff’s in other places if you don’t find it in your roommate!
- You can have a good time without drugs and alcohol. I know people on all sides of the drinking/drugs spectrum, and I’ve really realized that it’s not the chemicals that make you a fun person- it’s your personality. If you’re thinking, “but I have a shy personality! I could never have fun sober!” that is NOT true. Your personality is not set in stone. Being shy is not a genetic trait, and you can lose some of the shyness if you work at it.
- It can take a while for your new college to feel like home, and for some people, it takes longer than others. There’s nothing wrong with you, and your feelings are valid if you don’t feel at home for a while. Wait it out and trust that you’ll get there eventually- it’s the best feeling when it finally happens.
- You will meet awful people in college. Learn to avoid them whenever you can, and if you can’t, learn to have the least amount of communication with them as possible. There are so many great people on every college campus, but there’s also going to be a lot of people who were raised wrong, or who haven’t grown up yet. Remember how they treat people is a reflection of who they are, not a reflection of who you are.
- You should really try to make friends with your professors. They can support you academically, give great advice, help you network, and open so many doors for you in college. I can’t count the number of times my professors have helped me out with huge favors, simply because I cared to have relationships with them. I can’t say this enough- your professors can help you in ways that nobody else can. And bonus- they’re such great people to get to know!
- The freshman fifteen is real, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s not a guarantee that you’ll gain your first year, and some people even end up losing weight- I did. You don’t have to worry about something that you do have control over- exercising and eating healthy are personal choices only you can make for yourself.
And that’s all I got! Until next time!
Sincerely,
Solen xxx