Blog
Christina Fakhry

Nine Things People Don’t Tell You About College

We’re all in on debunking popular college myths here. Get rolling.

1. Easy-A courses are a myth.

It is not humanly possible to get away with a course when you haven’t studied a thing or paid attention all semester (no matter how hard your friends may try to convince you). And no, you cannot rely on the kindness of your professor in terms of grades if you’ve hardly exhibited any effort or shown significant interest in their class. No Hogwarts magic involved here.

2. Your university instructor is NOT the human version of your course book.

Do not expect your professor to explain every single detail in the chapter. It is your responsibility to do the reading (yes, buying the book is always a good idea) and to follow up on important concepts/notions through personal research. You can always refer to your instructor for questions or clarifications, but do not exhaust them with petty details that you could’ve easily figured out on your own.

3. Your friends are not the most reliable source of academic advice.

College is a personalized experience above all. The classes/instructors that worked brilliantly for your friend may turn out to be your worst nightmare. Therefore, do not solely rely on word-of-mouth when picking your courses. Take full advantage of drop-and-add period to try different classes and choose what best suits your interests and abilities.

4. Your college wardrobe matters.

College is a good time to experiment with different looks and styles, as long as this doesn’t get in the way of your academic goals. Do not wear (or buy) something just because everyone else is. Find your own style and be a trendsetter as opposed to a blind fashion victim.

5. ‘Easy’ majors are a universal misconception.

Majors you deem to be ‘easy’ often require extensive creative abilities that are hardly found in more esteemed majors (aka the engineering-medicine-law triad). So before you start making stereotyped comments about art and business students, try taking one of their classes. This should be enough to make you reconsider your views.

6. The more internships, the better.

Please do not wait for internship opportunities to come to you. Ask around, do some research, sign up for an online job portal. Jump at every relevant internship opening you come across as this will be the first step for you to gain firsthand professional experience, discover your preferences and ultimately build a solid CV.

7. Your exam questions will never come from Mars.

The questions on your exam have two possible origins: it’s either the material itself, or your professor’s lecture. Your instructor does not contemplate the stars every night for exam inspiration. Work that brain of yours.

8. Elective courses are no less important than major courses.

Do not neglect elective courses. Courses outside your major allow you to expand your knowledge spectrum and gradually become a well-rounded human being. You might be surprised at the end of the day find that you enjoyed some of the electives you first thought of as irrelevant more than your core courses.

9. You will eventually pay for all the binge-drinking.

Sorry, guys, but your liver won’t magically forget all the abuse just because you’re young. All your lousy habits will eventually catch up with you!

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