Top Six College Myths

The Bottom LIne: Surviving college is all about putting things in perspective 

This is not so much a how to guide as it is just a few things that you should keep reminding yourself of when you remember that you have no idea what you are doing. College serves different purposes for different people.

1. You want to go to a good college so you can get a good job and make lots of money. College is not about getting a job. I had a little bit of difficulty coming to terms with this, and yes, I regretted my "interesting" majors when it came time to hit the pavement in search of my first real job. But I soon realized that the analytical skills and broader worldview that I gained in my Latin class were much more valuable than I ever imagined. When you look over the course catalog for the first time, or the fiftieth time, think not about what is going to give you practical skills that will make you more marketable, but about what courses are going to challenge you and force you to grow as a person. If you are only taking management and finance classes because you want to be rich, or because your parents want you to, you are going to leave college a very boring person. Granted, you will probably have a fat wallet, but you will also have an empty head.

2. Colleges are microcosms of the rest of the world. College campuses are not microcosms of the real world, far from it. They are mystical places where theory is more powerful than practice, and idealism is everyone's mantra. But seriously, college is where practical matters are put aside for four years and you can think and explore and figure out the world and your place in it. Take advantage of it while you can; the real world is a little less forgiving. College is for the elite, and even though college is becoming the national norm in this country, the vast majority of the world can't even imagine the luxury of spending four years just thinking.

3. College students can change the world. Although you may be filled with enthusiasm and horrified at the injustice in the world, be realistic about it. Take part in a few sit-ins or non-violent protests. Don't just go along with the crowd, though. It is very easy to get swept off your feet by causes and injustices. Take time to ponder the issues and figure out if the cause is worthy or if the rest of the kids are just getting their post pubescent panties in a bunch just so they have something to complain about. Also keep things in perspective. Don't be fooled into thinking that any protests or actions that you take on campus are going to affect the outside world. If you really want to effect change, you need to make you voice heard outside of your ivory tower.

4. Talking about school after hours makes you a big nerd. Schoolwork is no longer for geeks. Talk about what you are learning outside of class. Really read Camus and consider whether you agree with him. If you aren't sure, ask a roommate or a friend what they think, then discuss it with them. Get into it. In high school you were rewarded for memorizing and spitting back facts. In college you will be rewarded for challenging your professors and the material they present. If you disagree or you don't quite get it, speak up. Question what you are being fed. College is all about getting that star-struck feeling when you actually meet a great mind on the written page, or in person. Go ahead and revel in it for a while. Granted it gets old a little quick when you realize that, although Plato had some interesting ideas, he was really just another drunk Greek.

5. There is something wrong with you if you have problems adjusting. You are not supposed to know what you are doing. A lot of kids get to school all enthused, only to find out that they are in way over their heads. Don't worry. In most schools there are a lot of safeguards and resources for the students who find themselves without a clue. Take a deep breath, don't panic. Screwing up royally your freshman year is all part of the college experience. Your RA is there for you if you need to talk about anything from classes to homesickness to issues with friends. Everything you tell them is confidential (except if you tell them you are going to hurt yourself or someone else). If you feel you nee d m ore professional help, you can go to the school counselors. These people are used to helping people with problems adjusting. Don't be afraid to go to your professors either.

Especially if you go to a small school or you are in a small class, you can always talk to your professors about the difficulties you are having. I wouldn't recommend you tell your physics professor all about how you and your roommate both like the same guy and it's just tearing you apart. Stick to the class stuff, but it really is ok to tell your professor you are having a hard time adjusting to the schedule/workload/assignment structure etc. They will listen and tell you that you aren’t the only one; they will offer to meet with you to discuss the reading or lecture material outside of class. There are also tutoring centers where you can go to get help from fellow students who may be able to understand your situation a little better. Feeling overwhelmed is entirely normal. Take advantage of your resources and try to ride it out. Next year will be a lot smoother.

6. These will be the best years of your life. How many times have you heard that one. Most people who are over the age of 35 look back on their college years as ones of freedom from responsibility and general laziness. The have an idealized vision of what they had before and compared to what they have now, they get very nostalgic. Don't hold it against them; they're right to a degree. But give yourself credit, you have a lot of things to worry about and take care of and you are only just starting to figure out how to manage your time. It can be tough. Treat your college years neither as a four year long party, nor as a training ground for your future life, but as time to focus on yourself. Learn about what makes you tick. Figure out your habits and likes and dislikes. Learn to trust yourself and the decisions you make. Don't forget that you have your whole life ahead of you, you will have many more opportunities to mess up and learn and make friends and do exciting things. Don't think you have to do everything right this minute.