It seems as if all I did in high school was fantasize about what college would be like. College in the movies looks like a dream full of fun, partying, and freedom. Let me be the first to tell you, college is not what it seems to be. Many future college students have a false idea of what college is like due to untrustworthy sources, such as movies like Pitch Perfect or Legally Blonde, TV shows such as Zoey 101, and public narratives that make students feel obligated to attend college. The extravagant lifestyles of college students that is portrayed creates unrealistic expectations, which oncoming college students fall victim to. First generation college students have no exterior references to the college environment, so they ultimately rely on the media to create an idea. The movie industry has played one of the biggest roles in creating a stereotype for college students. Almost every year a new movie is released that revolves around college students living an extravagant lifestyle. For example, in Pitch Perfect (2012) the main character Beca Mitchell is forced to attend Barden University by her father, who is a professor at the University. Beca is soon forced to join a school club in return of being able to withdraw from school after a year. Beca reluctantly chose an all-female a Capella group named the Barden Bella’s. To begin, there is not one scene shot in the movie that actually takes place in a classroom. The cast is constantly partying, traveling to competitions, and practicing. In reality, a vast majority of time outside the classroom is spent studying or catching up on homework that has been procrastinated. A rule of thumb is for every hour you spend in class, spend two hours a week studying for it. I guess in the case of Pitch Perfect, if you don’t go to class, you don’t need to study for it. An example of a TV show would be Zoey 101. Main character, Zoey, attends college at P.C.A. along with her group of best friends. The cast in this show spends their time riding scooters around campus, hanging out in their luxurious dorm rooms, and anything not involving school work. From the large flat screen TVs, to the mini fridges, and abundant space in the dorm rooms, there are many false
During their highschool years, students often look forward to college. Not necessarily as a step towards a career, but as an experience. Over the years, the media sells teenagers the idea of the ‘’college experience’’. They promote it through movies, tv shows and ads. It’s made out to be this amazing transcendental and essential part of life. Miss out on it, and you’ll have missed out on your youth. It’s not only media though, older relatives and peers, influenced by the media, further influence teens. They talk of their own cool college stories and how much fun it’ll be once you’re there. Is your main reason for going to college to live this experience? Then let’s see if it’s worth it.
There are many preconceptions on college, such as; heavy workloads, huge amounts of stress, partying, drugs, this list has infinite possibilities but these
College gives students endless opportunities. During this time, students are able to grow and develop academically and individually. It also provides students with
Colombo explains that “Beginning college can be disconcerting experience” (Colombo, p.1). That there will be more peer pressure from your peers and an increase expectations that you have never faced during your high
Starting college as a Freshman is exciting; it is also unnerving. The comfort of everything I know is going to disappear and it will be time to grow up and face reality. However, reality isn’t doomed to be negative if I prepare for my future and
Unlike high school, people don’t normally get one try to get it right the first time! College, for most is a critical development into adulthood. College teaches beyond the classroom and sheds light on certain attainable humanly characteristics. Such as: perseverance, hard work, integrity, love, admiration, and respect which allows one to find oneself using knowledge.
“In fall 2016, some 20.5 million students are expected to attend American colleges and universities, constituting an increase of about 5.2 million since fall 2000” (National Center for Education Statistics). That number seems to be rising each and ever year, and it almost seems as students feel like they have to go to college directly after high school. Maybe it is because they feel that they have to fit in, even if college is not for them. Although some students attend college for academics, sports, and other reasons, some students attend college for no apparent reason; with that in mind, students should take into consideration the time and money that is put into going to college.
College is like a steeping stone to becoming a responsible adult because for the first time most people are practically on their own. It is completely different from high school in that not only that school has to be dealt with, but you have to juggle your personal time and financial state as well. They go away to college and face circumstances that they would most likely come across when they finally do go on their own. Bills have to be paid, time has to be managed efficiently, and deadlines have to be met, just like in the "real world."
At some point, someone has said that high school will be the best four years of their lives and college gets even better. So with that idea in people’s heads, they come up with their ideal image of the college. They start planning the perfect scenario of what college they will go to and what their roommate will be like. They often try to compare an unrealistic image and turn it into a realistic image, but they are unlike in many ways. Once students step onto the college campus, they will soon face what it is actually like to be in college.When people understand that college is not the perfect movie scene, then they will take advantage of expanding and furthering their education seriously. Going to college is a whole different experience and there is a lot more to it such as the rigorous classes and overwhelming school work, being more independent, and forming new bonds with others.
Going to college allows for many opportunities to open up in life. Society is changing at a very rapid rate. College is a very difficult time for nearly everyone, as Charles Murray who published an article on should the Obama Generation Drop out also states that “A large majority of young people do not have the intellectual ability to do genuine college-level work” (95). Attending college is not for everyone, but It can teach you to learn how to become independent, develop discipline, evolve new life skills, and learn how to balance a social life versus student life. The experiences you obtain and gain from attending college can lead you to learn how to live your life within the college environment in a way that creates harmony with who you are. It is a time of trial and error until you find what works for you. Eventually harmony is found by choosing a major that coincides in a positive way with the person you are. Once this is found, you will be able to establish a system of studying and learning that works for how your mind works. It is natural that your life will be in disharmony when the circumstances in your life change dramatically, such as when you go to college, but your life should eventually return to being less stressful. During your college journey, you will make many friends. Many friendships that you make in college
After graduating high school, no one prepares you for college. Most kids when they are finished with high school don’t even fantasize about going back to school. I have always wanted to go to college ever since I was a young kid. I also had dreams of myself going to college, but in my dreams, everything was picture perfect. In reality, college has been very challenging for me. No one tells you about the adjustments and complications that you would have to face to become a successful college student.
In addition to the social aspects, college teaches how to develop independent thinking. It also “exposes future citizens to material that enlightens and empowers them, whatever careers they end up choosing” (Menand, 3). However, most students today perceive college fundamentally as a party scene and various forms of entertainment instead of focusing on school work. They have forgotten about the academic freedom provided by receiving a proper college education.
College is a chance to be free and is a bridge between the real world and school. I’m an adult and expected to behave as such; I make my own choices where I have to decide what is important to me. I have an opportunity to learn how the world works, to explore the limitless possibilities and a chance to admire how vast knowledge can be. College will change my life in the way that I can develop life skills outside academics, to be fully
Throughout my lifetime I have listened to people reflect back on their college experiences and explain how college is supposed to be “the best experience of your life.” The summer after my senior year I use to try and imagine what my first semester was going to be like based on what I had heard people talk about in the past. After my first semester at NC State I realized that I couldn’t fully understand what college was like until I experienced it for myself. My first couple of weeks at Ohio State was rough and really tested my strength (mental and physical). I faced challenges and obstacles that I had never heard about in those past college experience conversations. All of a sudden there was no one to get me out of
As I graduated high school, I thought college would just be yet another four years of high school, and I was wrong. College opens many new doors in a young man or woman’s life. There are new responsibilities and pressures that you will have to deal with, and with more freedom these responsibilities and pressures can be difficult to handle. College has changed a great deal over the years and these changes, such as more freedoms, make college a much more challenging experience. You need to start preparing for college now by making yourself more responsible and having more self-control. Although you think college is merely partying with easy classes on the side, I have experienced pressures and work loads that make the experience challenging