The Side of College Nobody Preps You For

If college is in your future, there’s a good chance you’ve already realised that there’s way more to it than picking a major and hoping you get a decent roommate. You’ve probably had tons of advice over the years like study hard, don’t spend too much money and don’t overdo it on the packing. While that stuff matters, it barely scratches the surface, and there’s a whole side of college that nobody ever preps you for, so let’s explore those now.

Time management

When you think about college you probably think about what grades you’ll get, but quite often, the time management side of things is overlooked. If you’re not careful, poor time management will hit you harder than any assignment ever will. If you’re heading to college straight from school, you’ll be going from having everything scheduled for you to having to decide when to study, sleep, eat and even clean. And, if you wait until you’re living on campus to get things in motion, you’ll quickly descend into chaos. Start doing things for yourself now like getting out of bed without a wake up call from your parents and learning how to cook quick meals. You’ll thank yourself later.

Safety

Another aspect which is often forgotten is keeping yourself safe. You’ll be somewhere unfamiliar, and there’s a good chance you’ll have to walk across campus in the dark and want to attend events with your new peers. Take some time to prepare yourself so you always feel safe. Carry a small alarm and a light on your keychain so you can always see where you’re going. It’s also a good idea to consider carrying a campus safety kit to give you some extra peace of mind. While the world isn’t out to get you, it’s better to be safe rather than sorry.

Essentials

Lots of students pack the aesthetic things you’d usually see in a dorm room on TV, but the reality is those fairy lights and scatter cushions aren’t needed. What most people forget are simple things that can help make your life easier like a small sewing kit if your favorite jeans rip or pain killers if you come down with the flu. Even small things like packing snacks you enjoy will come in handy more than a neon sign or fake plants.

Life skills

College is the place where you’ll learn a lot of life skills, but it doesn’t hurt to go unprepared. If you continue to let people do everything for you, college will hit you like a bucket of cold water. Start doing basic things for yourself like learning how to wash your clothes (without shrinking them) and doing your own grocery shopping. It might sound simple in theory, but when you’ve got to do everything by yourself, it can get overwhelming. And, make sure you ask questions when you don’t know how to do something. It’s not always easy to ask for help, but it’ll help you out in the long run.

People

You might be used to the people at school and think you can deal with any kind of social situation. College will knock that thought right out of you. It’s going to be an environment full of personalities and traits you’ve never dealt with before. You’ll meet people who think differently, speak differently and live differently to you. You’ll meet some people that utterly baffle you. Now is the time to learn how to stay patient and communicate clearly no matter who you’re talking to. It’s also a good time to learn how to set boundaries and how to compromise because you’ll find yourself needing those skills while you’re at college. It might sound a little overwhelming, but taking the time to learn those skills now will make being in a room full of strangers a lot easier.

Asking for help

One of the biggest mistakes students make is trying to handle everything without asking for help. It’s understandable that it can feel embarrassing to admit when you don’t know something, but struggling in silence isn’t going to help either. Ask teachers if you don’t understand something, and lean on your family for emotional support. While you might be excited to venture out into the world alone, it doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help when you need it.

Confidence 

Finally, college isn’t just about getting a degree. Now is the time to find out who you are and who you want to be. Build your confidence by joining clubs and trying new things. It doesn’t have to be all at once, but you’ll get a much more fulfilling experience from it.