College is a unique experience, with diverse campuses, courses, and programs. But despite this fact, there are certain things every college student understands. From 8:00 a.m. classes to the finals-week crush, here are our top nine:
1. Every college student understands that icebreakers will happen
You may believe that once you graduate from high school, icebreakers are firmly in your past. This isn’t the case. In many college classes—including upper-level courses—the first day of the semester begins with professors prompting students to list:
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Their name
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Year in college
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Major
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An interesting personal fact.
The real challenge begins when you have multiple major-specific classes on a single day with many of the same students, and you have to grasp for interesting facts about yourself that you haven’t already shared.
2. Every college student understands classes being canceled without warning
You wake up, get dressed, and travel across campus, only to frustratingly discover a note on the door that says class is canceled.
3. Every college student understands the struggle of an 8:00 a.m. class
For some college students, an 8:00 a.m. class might as well start at 5:00 a.m. Those M/W/F or T/Th sessions make you wonder how you ever attended high school from 8:00-3:00 five days a week.
[RELATED: How to Create Your First College Schedule]
4. Every college student understands when procrastination reaches an all-time high
Putting off reading assignments or waiting too long to start studying is all too easy, but it never ends well. Sooner or later, it’s time to buy a planner.
5. Every college student understands group projects
Depending on your field of study and the individual courses you’re taking, you expect to have at least one or two group projects per semester.
6. Every college student understands the terrible mistake that is skipping class
In college, you may have classes that don’t have attendance requirements. These courses can quickly become a slippery slope if you’re tempted to forego that lecture or seminar and socialize instead. You tell yourself you will surely go to the next class period, but even one skip can have consequences.
[RELATED: 3 Reasons Not to Skip That College Class]
7. Every college student understands participation assignments
You receive a homework assignment and spend hours working on it so you can keep your good grade in the course. When you go to turn it in, however, the professor informs the class that it was simply a participation assignment and won’t be collected for a grade. Irritating, right? Just remember that participation assignments still have benefits.
8. Every college student understands library chaos during midterms and finals
As a college freshman, nothing can prepare you for the number of people in libraries and study lounges during midterms and finals. Perhaps you always study in the library and come midterms, your coveted study spot is taken by others. Time to find another.
[RELATED: The Finals Week Survival Guide]
9. Every college student understands that it all goes by way too fast
College flies by. One minute you’re complaining about classes and homework, and the next minute you’re picking up your graduation regalia. This is where you take all you learned about socialization, waking up early, and doing projects simply for participation into the real world. No matter if you’re continuing on to graduate school or headed into the workforce, you get to begin the icebreakers and 7:00 a.m. wake up calls all over again.
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