3 “College Is Not High School” with Ben

This semester I have learned/grown a lot and hope the same for you.

Something I wish I had known before starting the fall semester is that college is overall much harder and very different from high school. In high school, there is a fixed time you’re at school. If you go to your first class, you will most likely make all your classes as you stay in school. However, in college it is not like that. Here you have to drag yourself out of bed and make every class of the day as they are separated throughout the day. I say you have to drag yourself to class everyday because you really have to. In high school, if you miss a class it wasn’t a big deal because it was most likely just one lesson. But here in college if you miss one class, you might be missing an entire chapter. Getting to class is essentially half the battle.

Apart from attending classes, you need to study for these college exams days before the actual exam. These exams don’t compare to high school tests. They are much more difficult with way more content being covered so studying well in advance is key.

Furthermore, time management is essential. It is very easy to get sidetracked to go do what you want to do rather than doing what you have to do. Time management is key to ensure you get all your academics done while also having a good social life.

Additionally, value your sleep. I have realized the importance of sleep over the past months here at IU. We are all busy taking a multitude of classes and participating in other things not related to academics. If you don’t have a solid sleep schedule, the effects will hit you and affect your entire day making you less productive.

Lastly, something I wish I knew before starting this past semester is the fact that it is not that serious. Yes, college is important and you should value your academics highly. However, you dont need to kill yourself over it. You will most likely fail a test your first semester here but it’s all part of the process. You’re in a new environment away from family so failing a test or doing bad on a paper is expected. Enjoy your time here as it is only 4 years. Make friends, have a good social life and have fun. 

Now to making friends. Making friends in college can be super difficult. Being you’re in a new environment away from your high school friends it can be hard and overwhelming. What I realized is that making friends starts on move-in day. When moving in, it is essential to keep your dorm door open and introduce yourself to anyone walking by while setting up your dorm. At the end of the day you will be neighbors with these guys/girls so it won’t hurt getting to know them on day one. After day one it’s all about introducing yourself to nearby people. From there you will hang out with maybe one person you met and that person may introduce you to other people he/she met. Meeting one person often leads to meeting many people which is nice. As the semester continues, keep meeting new people and be socially open. Walking past someone with a smile on your face does a lot more than we think. At the end of the day, friends will come and you will form your group. It may take a little time but it’s part of the process.

If you don’t know what you want to major in, all I have to say is do not worry. Plenty of kids don’t have an idea what they want to do and that’s ok. Use your first two semesters to explore classes that relate to your interests and find your true passion. Even if you think you have found your passion but realize you don’t like your new major it’s okay because it can always be switched. Having a set major coming into college is rare so use some time to explore your interests.

As some final words, all I have to say is don’t stress yourself out. Everything will get done and things will get figured out. Apply yourself to your academics and have fun.

Name: Benjamin Berger

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Grad Date: 2027

Current Major: Pre-Business (Kelley)