Leah of the Pack

Of  course high school and college are on complete different levels. While high school was a good time, nothing compares to what awaits you at college. Here's a quick break down of some of the reasons you won't find yourself wishing to go back in time to high school.


Classes
In high school class was mandatory. You couldn't take a personal day or just flat out skip it when you overslept. I mean, you could but if you missed class too often there could be dire consequences. The beauty of college is if you don't want to go then you don't go. Although the professors do care about you, if you skip one... or 10 classes they probably won't do anything about it. Also, you're never stuck with that mundane  everyday schedule. Not having a science class five days a week rocks.

Second, for the most part no one cares if you're on your laptop or phone. If you're gonna be a huge distraction be polite and sit in the back row . But otherwise if you want to waste your time and money by sitting on Pinterest during the entire lecture then you may! In HS it seemed like the second a teacher saw a phone you got a warning or worse- your phone was held hostage by the teacher for the rest of the day. Guess what, you're in college now so suddenly you're an adult able to make capable decisions such as when it is the correct time to bust out the technology.

Class selection in college is the bomb.com. While there are certain Gen Eds you are required to take you are offered a multitude of classes to fulfill the requirements. After that all your classes pertain to your interests and your degrees. Honestly, I look forward to going to classes that are for my degree. Mainly because Communications/Public Relations/Journalism is the greatest major in the world but also because there are classes such as Social Media Strategies- school and twitter? Count me in.

Clothes
*Before I say anything, let me make it known that I will almost always dress to impress because it makes me feel good. With that being said, in college no one really cares what you wear. Sweats and yogas are the norm so you don't need to spend hours planning out an outfit. Sweatpants and a tee are fantastic because chances are once class is over you're gonna roll back into bed and take a much deserved nap and now you don't even have to change your clothes. If you want to dress up (which for some reason in college means jeans...) go for it. People will probably assume you have a presentation.

Food
College cafeteria food is better than high school food, easily. Is it as good as home cooking? Of course not but you do have a much wider variety. Most people that I know did not have the option of off campus lunch in HS. In college you can leave campus whenever. If you're campus is located around some amazing restaurants.. erhm.. Chipotle... then you are so very lucky.

Rumors
In high school, rumors can spread like wildfire. Of course rumors might get out in college but no one really care because chances are you won't even know the person the rumor is about.

The Past
The kids you went to high school with have known you for awhile. They might remember all the stupid mistakes of your past and won't let you forget. The best part of college is that no one knows about that embarrassing time when you fell down the stairs in front of the whole sophomore class or whatever dumb things you have done previously. Embrace this new start. If you want to redefine yourself then now is the time.

From loathing your 8 am, to late nights with some of the greatest people you'll ever meet, enjoy every second of college.

College is one of the best times to meet new people, the social game is going strong. You're used to going to school with familiar faces and suddenly you're thrown into the chaos have having to meet new people and make new friends, how fun! Regardless of where you go to school, there are a few characters that you're likely to meet that first year of the greatest years of your life.

The Awkward Hello
Maybe you met them drunkenly at a party or they are the sister of your best friend's roommate's cousin, either way you are aware that you're acquainted but you're not sure how. Could you recognize them immediately in a crowded hallway? Probs not but as they walk closer you suddenly begin to identify some kind of connection with the face. The end result is that awkward hello in passing. You know, where you stare at each other for about a half second too long to decided if you know them and barely manage to squeak out "hi!" because you don't want to seem rude if you don't acknowledge their presence. Ahh, the awkward hello, there will be plenty of these the next four years.

The I-Know You-From-The-Facebook-Group
The University of XYZ Class of  20whocares Facebook Page: the perfect way to get to know your future classmates. Looking for a roommate or not sure how big of a futon you can bring? Go to the Class Of page and ask away. But there's always that one kid who over steps his boundaries on this glorious form of social media. He (or She) posts about once a week, perhaps it's a question or it's whatever YouTube video he finds funniest that week. Your own posts aren't safe - he'll comment on them all. Somehow this kid seems to know all the answers or so he thinks. He'll most likely go through the page and add you all as a friend. And the fun doesn't stop when school starts! You can find him commenting on all the posts on the confessions page or posting weird things on the Class Of page. When you see him around campus you and your friends will refer to him as "so and so, from the Facebook page" Be Aware.

"Does anyone want to come hangout with my boyfriend and I? He is in town visiting me and we're bored." No joke, this or something similar was posted on my own Class Of page.

The Gets-Me-Alcohol
So many underage, thirsty freshman dying to make Welcome Week live up to Project X party standards. What do they do? Befriend someone to get them alcohol. Maybe it's a older sibling or friend, or you got lucky being group mates with a senior that takes pity on you. Either way you're indebted to them because without them your wine nights, thirsty Thursdays and all those night you'll never remember couldn't be made possible. You should really write them a thank you card.

The Teammate
The greatest thing about teammates is that they are built in friends. Even if you don't like them suddenly you have someone to sit with in the cafeteria to save you from looking like a loner. Teammates can make the best of friends. Not only do they know the struggles of a regular day of classes and exams but they understand why you need a 10 hour nap after that seemingly endless practice. They'll let you vent for hours about your coach without complaining because chances are they feel the same way. What's that you say? You don't play a sport therefore don't have any teammates. Join an intramural sport. It's the same concept with the added bonus of not having to compete for that number one spot. Go team!

The Orientation Friend
Not going to lie, orientation can be painful without a friend. Most of the time you're divided into small groups to maximize the idea that you need to make friends with all these new strangers - play nice! If you're lucky you'll find that one stranger that doesn't seem as strange as everyone else and befriend them for the duration of orientation. You'll get that awkward introduction out of the way and bond over how bored you are. Friends forever? Maybe. Even if the friendship only withstands orientation you'll be glad to have made that connection for the time. Maybe it will turn into that awkward hello.

The Neighbor
Ahh neighbors. They're the ones who will be pounding on your door at 3 am in effort to have you turn down your music or the ones you'll be pre-gaming with before a night of too much fun. Neighbors can become fast friends. You'll see each other every day in passing and during the awful mandatory hall meetings. Befriend your neighbors. If they're as cool as you it's guaranteed to be a good time.

The Lone Classmate
Stuck in a boring Gen Ed class without any of your friends can really suck. There's no one to laugh at Pinterest with, no one to fill you in with what happened when you dozed off and no one to form a small group with. Pick your seat wisely if you're alone in a class. Whoever is sitting next to you (because most of the times we all return to our "usual seat") is now your new best friend for the class! Will you hangout outside of class? It's unlikely but for the next hour and twenty minutes they are all you've got.

Mr. Know It All
There is always one person in class who just knows every answer. In fact, they might not even know every answer but they deeply believe that they do. They are always willing to share an irrelevant, personal story to the class even though no one gives a shit. They are also the same one that tries to tell a stupid joke... such as in biology freshman year when a girl raised her hand and asked if we could all sing the bone dance from Hannah Montana. No we cannot, shhhh. Part of you will be grateful. Their constant raising of the hand saves your ass from answering a question that you zoned out on. But the constant chatter of their voice will drive you insane. It's even worse if they're in your major because then you're bound to have at least one class a semester with them. Make the best of it. Take a tally every time they speak for each class and at the end of the semester find out their average amount of time spoken in class. Then laugh about it.

Friends, acquaintances, foes, whatever these people end up as you are pretty much guaranteed to meet all these people at college, enjoy it.