With the 2020-2021 school year coming to a close, a lot of high school students are probably very disappointed that much of their time in high school has been spent virtually rather than at football games, high school dances, pep rallies, and other fun events that many teenagers look forward to. Even though the past year has been far from normal, remember that the best is yet to come.
Although it may seem very disappointing to have to do school online, there is so much to look forward to in the future. Many college students enjoy their time in college even more than their time in high school.
Here’s why college is even better than high school
1. There is so much more freedom in college than in high school
In college, you have the ability to make your own decisions on many things. For example, no one is going to ask you why you are leaving your dorm or apartment to get food in the middle of the night. Or you can head out Saturday morning to explore new places without needing an explanation as to why you aren’t working on that big homework project! This freedom of being able to do whatever you want whenever you want truly makes college and the transition into adulthood so much fun.
2. There is usually a wider range of people, so you are more likely to find real friends
In high school, making friends can be tough, as cliques can develop throughout middle and high school. Sometimes the friendships you make can feel forced. In college, making friends is so much easier and typically, people are more genuine.
In college, there are so many students on campus that finding friends is easy because there are so many options. And most schools have a club for just about any activity you can think of, and if your favorite activity isn’t represented, you can start your own club with like-minded students who may also become your friends.
Another great thing about college is that if for some reason you and someone stop being friends, nobody makes a big deal about it and you just move on and find new friends. There is rarely any drama in college and most students are not interested in gossiping or starting drama, which can often happen in high school. There is generally no social hierarchy in college and no popular group; everyone just does their own thing.
3. People are usually much more open-minded
In college, everyone is in a transitional period of life, trying to figure out who they are. Most people in college are very open-minded and accepting of others. In high school, a lot of people feel like they have to act or look a certain way, but in college, this is not the case. You can wear anything you want, and no one judges you. Keep in mind that this is typically the case, especially at public schools but it can vary from university to university.
4. You get to make your own schedule
Another reason why college is more enjoyable than high school is that you get to make your own schedule, choosing the classes, times, and professors you want. The result is that you can have a very flexible schedule, depending on whether you are a morning or night person. One of the things I did was only scheduling classes Tuesdays and Thursdays, which gave me a four-day weekend every week. Class flexibility also depends on what college you go to, but generally, there will be several options for classes, especially at the freshman level. When selecting which professor to take a class with you can search ratemyprofessor.com to see which ones have higher ratings.
5. You are surrounded by highly motivated peers
Being surrounded by people who are also eager to learn is another benefit of college. In high school, sometimes students are only there because they have to be and are not actually interested in learning, but in college, this is not the case. Everyone at your college worked hard to be accepted and will continue to work hard in their classes.
Also, because everyone chooses which classes to take, most of the time people are genuinely interested in the classes they are in. While in high school, everyone was required to be there, in college, students really want to be there.
6. There are lots of great campus amenities
In college, your campus will probably have a gym, library, pool, dining halls, and coffee shops all within walking distance. This allows you to get out of the dorm or house and socialize and meet new people. Everyone in college is eager to make friends and network and having all of these amenities near you is a great way to enjoy yourself and socialize.
7. You will have more free time
Because in college you are typically only taking between three and five classes at a time, you will likely have much more free time than you did in high school. Most students in high school go to class from 8 am to 3 pm and then have sports practice or other activities after school and on top of that have homework.
In college, you typically only have each class two to three times a week. You will have homework, but professors usually do not assign busywork, and instead, it will be larger projects such as essays. Time management is a key part of college and if you manage your time properly you will have plenty of time to spend with your friends and pursue other activities.
8. You can be whoever you want to be
In college, you can truly decide who you want to be. Because almost no one knows you, you get to have a completely fresh start and can even reinvent yourself if you want to. No one is paying attention to the little things you do in college, and you really learn to not care what others think of you. It is a time of self-development and becoming the person you are meant to be.
9. Professors truly care about what they are teaching and want to help you
For the most part, college professors are excellent at what they are teaching and have been researching the subject for many years. Professors are experts at their subject and most of them have written textbooks or numerous research papers on the topic. And because they are so passionate about the subject, this usually will show when they teach their lectures, which in most cases are engaging and entertaining to hold your attention.
10. You get to live with your best friends
After your first year of college, you will likely leave the dorms and move into an apartment or house nearby. You will get to choose who you live with and most people live with friends they have made during their first year. This is definitely one of the highlights of college life because you and your housemates will get to cook together and grocery shop together, and you always have a friend nearby if you are ever feeling sad or lonely.
There are so many reasons to look forward to college. Even though the pandemic has cut out a period of your high school experience, remember that college will be even better! No matter what school you end up at, you are going to have an amazing experience in college. Get excited because some of the best days of your life are just around the corner!
