College...?

I am going into college for the first time and wanted to know what it is like. Some people tell me is worse then high school and others tell me it's soooo much fun. I am scared because its my first time and don't know what to expect. What is college like?





Thanks for all your help!!!

College...?
Honestly, depends which college you're going to.. community college is pretty fun, because it's such a laid back environment. You set your own expectations, and it's WAY way WAYyyy better than high school. My friend just got out of comm. college, and went to a university, and she says the stress level is much higher there, and there are just a TON more people, obviously, which automatically makes things like parking more difficult, and makes the campus much larger. I didn't like high school because everybody was such a kid (obviously).. any college is great because you get to make your own decisions about your own life. There are no real cliques and stuff like that, it's just people working towards their future. Relax, it'll be great! You can actually learn stuff that you want to learn, and that's so great. Having the freedom to choose is a wonderful, wonderful thing. Yes, it seems scary at first because it feels so strange to be out of high school, and your future is ahead of you and unknown. But that also makes it thrilling and exciting, knowing that your future lies ahead and you can make decisions about where you want to go. It'll be an adjustment for you, as it is for everyone, but it'll feel more natural for you in no time, and you'll be able to mature and grow there. Good luck! :o)
Reply:It is normal to feel the way you do. This is an exciting time in your life, full of new things to learn and discover about yourself. It is just the next step after high school, just like middle school prepared you for high school.





College is so much fun! The schedules are different in that you attend classes MWF (1 hr/day) or T/Th (1.5 hr/day) per 3 credit course. There is time to study, meet friends, attend games, concerts, and pursue your interests. Just remember you are in college to learn, so make learning/studying your first priority and do your best.





Congratulations!
Reply:It's both.





The work load is harder and you are expected to do it independetly and to the highest standards possible.





It will NOT be unusually for you to spend six hours at the library photocopying and researching til 11 pm closing on a Saturday night.





See, that's the hard part.





You're given an assignment on Friday in Poly Sci to turn in a research paper with 15 references that is at least 3,000 words not including table of authorities in Chicago Style format





You're friend don't have work that night and want to go party. And they they want to go to lake on Saturday, so you wake up groggy and make it to the library on Sunday at 11 am and work until 9 pm closings (it closes earlier on Sunday) and then you stay up til 2 am writing the paper and take it to class at 9 am half dead.





This is where you have to make choices in the world between fun and school





Teachers DON'T TAKE excluses in college. No cute high school excuses. No "we had relatives in town" no this no that.





You get an incomplete





Now there is lots of fun. You often have hours before the next class and you can study on the green, play frisbe, have a picnic, go see a school play, go see a school movie night, go see a football game.





Your friends in the dorms might have keg parties and beer bong





And if you have the money for it at spring or winter break you can get discount rate Cruises or everyone can buy a block of tickets to Cancun. One spring break some kids I knew circumnavitaged the US in two weeks by car.
Reply:Frankly, college is neither better nor worse than HS - its merely different. For the first time, you will be responsible for directing your education (okay, you may have an advisor, but in the end its up to you). You will be responsible for managing your time--all of your time, all day/week long. Your instructors will no longer spoon feed information to you; they'll expect you to pursue information on your own (sure, you have lectures/labs, but they expect you to actually seek out the information you need for your assignments--in your text, notes or at the library). It can be fun, if you keep control of the education part and make certain you allow time for personal activities. But college isn't meant to be a party, its a growth experience.





Best of luck!
Reply:I went to college in 1988 and have never left, as I became a graduate student, residence hall director, basketball coach, graduate student again, and currently a professor.





College will be a great experience. You will meet so many new people, who usually are more mature than your high school pals. You will be challenged academically, but this is a good thing.





College is not as much about cliques as most high schools are. You can be friends with who you want and no one cares.





It will be a great experience - the best four (or in my case now 19) years of your life.
Reply:it depends on your goals. you dont' have your parents watching your every move, so you must be responsible and mature. if you plan to make just a C average, yeah it's tons of fun because you can skip classes, drink, etc. But if you want that high paying job with an A or B average, you must learn discipline and study, keep on track.


you'll remember your experiences from college forever, people say that about high school, but for me I've learned more in college. I like it, I feel so much like an adult. There's nothing to be scared about if you work and study. But if you mess up and screw yourself, the consequences are worse than high school.