Who here is in college, and why do you love (or hate) it?

[RapidNadion]

I've been having some nostalgia for college this week, and a few recent random posts from some users got me wondering about this. Who among you are in college? Who posts from a dorm room (or laptop, in class)? Where?

And why do you love or hate it? What're your lives like? Endless parties or quiet-study halls? Have you dropped a pumpkin out your window recently? Ever set your roommate's socks on fire?

It's college talk, people. Let's do it.

 

[ThankQ]

Why do you have to be in college today to answer this?

I'm offended that you exclude me because I went to college in the (late --LATE, got that people??? LATE) 90s.

 

[Vulcan Princess]

I'm in law school, and I love college so much that I want to be a professor when I'm done. There's something exciting about the life of the mind and the pursuit of knowledge. Libraries feel like holy places to me.

 

[RapidNadion]

Why do you have to be in college today to answer this?

I'm offended that you exclude me because I went to college in the (late --LATE, got that people??? LATE) 90s.

Haha.

Well, you don't have to be. I think a "these are my memories from college and they're awesome because" thread would be fun to read, too. Maybe you should make one!

I just think it would be nice to hear from people who are currently in college, and what it's like for them. I'm in a contemporary, topical mood, is all.

 

[Finn]

I'm well into my second round of college. I'm loving it. But I'm not really living the "college life" even though I still live in the dorms.

My first time around was between 1998 and 2002. It was...different. I was still a teenager when I started, and it was my first time living outside of New England, and away from a school I had attended for 12 years, and experiencing my first big city (Yes I visited our major cities, including my beloved DC, growing up but it wasn't the same). I miss these days in some ways.

In these days, I had no woman, no car and had no clue where I was going (I was going for my degree in Biology but like most with a degree in Biology, I didn't know what I was going to do with it). I got my first car when I graduated the first time around.

Six years later, after living in Phoenix, Cincinnati and Suburban Maryland, on my second car and having just lost my job, I decided to return to my alma mater for a second degree. This time around, college was no mystery. DC was very familiar to me. My high school had by this time become a distant memory (to the point where the current students were little when I finished high school) and I got myself a woman. I found it a challenge at times because it had become apparent that I've become atrophized in my old job. I have about three semesters left before I get my second degree, get married then start graduate school for a year. Whoo.

 

[Canadave]

I'm currently finishing up an undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa. I do enjoy it, especially when I'm taking classes\doing research in areas that really fascinate me (urban geography being my area of academic interest), but the tedious work of getting a degree, like all the extraneous electives, can get annoying. Outside of that, I enjoy it because of my extracurricular stuff—I'm an editor at our student newspaper, which is fun and takes up a lot of my time. Overall, it's a good experience.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I graduated with my Bachelor's in 2008 and I've been in graduate school since then, hoping to graduate with my Master's this spring.

So I've been living the "college life" for about 6 years now. I lived in the dorms my first two years and in apartments with roommates since then. Graduate school has definitely been a different experience, but in both undergraduate and graduate I never partied much. Or at all really. I spent a lot of time doing homework and reading for class. Any time that wasn't spent on schoolwork I spent relaxing in my room. I don't like to go out, I prefer to do solo activities at home like watching a movie or crocheting so that's what I did. I met my boyfriend halfway through college and we've been together since then. College was a fun time for me but I suppose not for the reasons that people usually give. I remember it as being stressful when it came to finals and papers but also as being the most relaxing and carefree time of my life.

But that was only a couple of years ago so perhaps my perspective will change over time.

As for graduate school, it is about five million times more stressful and I have learned so much more in the past year and a half than I did in the entire four years of college. I've been working two jobs and an internship and it's all been kind of crazy. Thank god it only lasts two years.

 

[Michael Chris]

I'm on a forced leave of absence for a couple semesters, but I love college! Getting to know people from all walks of life is thoroughly enjoyable. I love to meet and talk to people. Learning is also awesome.

 

[Nomad V]

I've got one credit left on my thesis, which I have to defend in March. My advisor said there was enough there for a PhD, but I'm done. An MS at 51 is as far as I want or need to go.

 

[Kibbin]

I feel a bit left out, due to money and what not I'm doing my B.A from home, college is just around the corner, however as I'm an antisocial shy type of person I would have probably spent most of it in my room by myself anyway so no real loss.
It's not too bad but I don't think it will be something I will look back on in later years and remember that fondly. Most of the students moan too much and sip most of their lessons (many of these are adults mind, not just typical college age students). Some of the teachers are a bit useless but I've got a year and a half to go.

 

[NickInABox]

Why do you have to be in college today to answer this?

I'm offended that you exclude me because I went to college in the (late --LATE, got that people??? LATE) 90s.

God, go back to the retirement home.


No but seriously, I love college because I get to be as far away from my parents as possible. and because I'm the type of person who need to constantly be doing something. I get a 4 month long summer, which will be excruciating three weeks in because I'll get anxious to advance. I love learning. I love assimilating.
Resistance.
Is futile.

 

[ThankQ]

I'm still strong enough to smack you upside the head with my Hoveround, sonny!

 

[SVD]

been in community college for 4.5 years, part of it spinning my wheels between majors taking exploratory courses and getting pesky GE out of the way.

I live at home to minimize expenses and because that steriotypical dorm/frat/drinkathon scene just doesn't appeal to me.

Gonna transfer to a university in the fall in continuance of my from-scratch computer science degree

 

[NickInABox]

I'm still strong enough to smack you upside the head with my Hoveround, sonny!

Oh ouch.

 

[Tom Riley]

I'm halfway through my second year of college, and I really don't like it... I have a part time job, and I hate going to work and then coming home and having more work to do... I really want to actually start living my life. I enjoy going to work and stuff, and then getting to leave that work there when I come home. The only thing about college I like is that I am living in the dorms which is as close to living out on my own as I've ever been. At this point I don't even know what I want to do with my life. I started out majoring in Biology, but after Bio I & II, Chem I, and Genetics, it just really isn't holding up as being as interesting and cool to me as my A&P I & II classes from high school. Eh. Idk, I just don't feel like I'm where I want to be or doing what I want to with my life right now, but I don't know what else exactly that should be either.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I live at home to minimize expenses and because that steriotypical dorm/frat/drinkathon scene just doesn't appeal to me.

That stereotype isn't nearly as true as people make it out to be. It depends so much on the people you hang out with and the school you go to. And who happens to be your roommates. I lived in the dorms for two years in college and it was a very quiet place, I never saw any parties or drinking going on. All of that stuff went on in apartments off campus. I'm sure at some schools the opposite can be said. I am someone who doesn't like to party or drink at all, I prefer to be by myself, and I loved the dorms, it was a very nice experience.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

I'm halfway through my second year of college, and I really don't like it... I have a part time job, and I hate going to work and then coming home and having more work to do... I really want to actually start living my life. I enjoy going to work and stuff, and then getting to leave that work there when I come home. The only thing about college I like is that I am living in the dorms which is as close to living out on my own as I've ever been. At this point I don't even know what I want to do with my life. I started out majoring in Biology, but after Bio I & II, Chem I, and Genetics, it just really isn't holding up as being as interesting and cool to me as my A&P I & II classes from high school. Eh. Idk, I just don't feel like I'm where I want to be or doing what I want to with my life right now, but I don't know what else exactly that should be either.

Sweet boy, maybe you need to take a year off. It wouldn't be so terrible to give yourself some time to think about what you want to do. It might be a little harder getting yourselfl back into school (i know, it took me 20 years to go back, heh) but that might not be a bad thing for you.

Whatever you ultimately decide to go for, make sure it is something you LOVE. There is nothing worse than having to drag yourself to work everyday (no matter what kind of money you make) if you hate your job or career.

BUT, if you find you do hate it....it really is NEVER too late to go back to school to find another career. NOTHING is ever written in stone....so don't stress about making the career choices now.