As the school year comes to an end, seniors in high school eagerly anticipate the transition to college. Most students imagine it as a time filled with newfound freedom, exciting opportunities, and personal growth. However, the reality of college life can differ significantly from these expectations, either presenting new challenges or unexpected thrills. Every student has a different college experience, whether that be because of Greek life, varsity sports, or other extracurriculars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Managing a college workload and a varsity sport can be very difficult. Haydin Froehlich, a freshman at the University of North Florida, is experiencing her first year on the Division 1 women\u2019s volleyball team. She shares that her college expectations are very similar to reality. She says, \u201cBalancing sports and school is hard for any college athlete, but once I got adjusted and found a system, it\u2019s been easy.\u201d Froehlich explains that both college work and sports teams demand a lot of time and energy. However, by prioritizing tasks, staying organized, and communicating with professors and coaches about commitments, students will do great in college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chelsea Sutton, a junior at the University of Tennessee, has experienced similar scenarios as she is also a Division 1 women\u2019s volleyball player. She initially did not expect college to be more challenging than high school, believing the extra free time would allow her to stay organized. However, Sutton explains that playing volleyball in college is different from high school, \u201cin a way that you really have no free time, and what you do in your free time is monitored.\u201d She has now concluded that the college workload is much higher than in high school. However, Sutton ultimately loves what she does and shares that she feels \u201cextremely blessed to be a collegiate student-athlete and wouldn\u2019t want it any other way.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aside from college sports, studying abroad looks very tempting to many students. MC Jenkins, a student who studied abroad in Italy, also shared that her experience was different from what she expected. She assumed the class sizes would be much larger, but it turned out to be small rooms with only about 12-15 students. She shared how, \u201cthe connection between students and teachers was so genuine,\u201d because the teachers really tried to get to know the students. Jenkins also shares that, in Italy, she was truly able to learn and retain information, while in high school, she felt school was more test-focused. She concludes her experience by stating that \u201cit was so apparent how much our education was truly valued, which wasn\u2019t something I was expecting out of a study abroad experience!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201ccollege is so fun and has so many amazing opportunities, but you have to be wise about the changes and responsibilities that come with it.\u201d<\/p>Railey Player (Sophomore at Auburn University)<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Greek life is another aspect of the college experience that many students want to become a part of. This includes fraternities and sororities. Shea Ivy, a senior at the University of Arizona, has been in the Delta Gamma sorority all four years of college. At first, she believed joining a sorority would be scary, and she would be judged during the recruitment process. She shared, \u201cI thought the older girls were ‘cooler’ than me as a new freshman.\u201d However, this was far from the case as Ivy quickly found out that all the girls were looking to help and provide sisterhood, as they were in the same spot she was shortly before. Overall, Ivy loves her sorority and feels like she always has friends to hang out with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Railey Player, a sophomore at Auburn University, experienced a different reality than what she had expected going into college. She originally believed that it would be an easy transition, but that was not the case. She states, \u201cEverything is new and different.\u201d In high school, everyone knows each other, while in college, everyone is practically strangers. Player shares how, \u201cyou will find friends and people you mesh with, but they won’t be your best friends instantly.\u201d Everything takes time. On the academic side of things, the rigorous courses and loads of free time are new realities Player is experiencing. However, with hard work, good grades are more than achievable. Overall, Player believes \u201ccollege is so fun and has so many amazing opportunities, but you have to be wise about the changes and responsibilities that come with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leighton Knarr, a freshman at the University of Alabama, expected the teachers to be much stricter than they really are. She shares, \u201cIn reality, college is way more laid back than high school in a lot of ways.\u201d She also expected freshman year to be a difficult adjustment, but stated that college became her home right away. However, like many college students, Knarr experiences homesickness at times. Lastly, she shared that she expected the food to be healthy, when in reality, there is a low number of healthy food options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, the expectations of college often paint a picture of excitement and independence, but the reality includes both rewarding experiences and unexpected challenges. Understanding that college life requires balancing academics, social life, and personal responsibilities helps students prepare better and adapt more effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Graphic by: Phillip Berkwit<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By: Cami Felsing and Lily Keeley As the school year comes to an end, seniors in high school eagerly anticipate the transition to college. 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