Does life get better after college?

Question

Everyone's a binge drinker and an alcoholic, the girls are all totally anorexic superficial valley girls, or annoyingly religious, everyone's a pothead, school isn't very important for anyone, people laugh at stupid **** and have no appreciation for people who are actually honest, the classes are hard, you have no money, you're away from your family, and it's FOUR YEARS LONG.

Is college just an introduction to the asininity of life, or is it just especially banal? Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

Answer 1

Ya, I know the feeling. I graduated Oklahoma State University. And boy was I glad to finally get out of there.

Life is better, but now I have to put up with morons at work on a daily basis.

Answer 2

While I do happen to think that being out in the real world is better in a lot of ways, you can't escape stupid people.  More importantly, "not a total party school" or not, it doesn't sound like you're in the right place for you.  I know financial considerations are an issue, but if you're that miserable, you really should look into your options for transferring.

Answer 3

Life is good if you make it good. I partied for a long time and stuffed up so many jobs when I was young! I guess you kind of click at a stage and take life more serious!!

Just live it!

Answer 4

That wasn't my experience.  To tell you the truth if I could do those four years over and over again I would.

Answer 5

Does life get better after high school?

Many people I ran into/ know are more excited since attending college. Mainly due to their independence, and you get to learn/ study in the field you want. Its a jump to your future, its also part of the college life.  

Answer 6

College is the first time many students ever have a taste of freedom and they tend to go overboard.  It is particularly bad at that point because the high school hasn't rubbed off and the real world hasn't kicked in totally for most.  They are still living off their parents and not yet taking responsibility for their own actions.  If you already know the classes are hard and that drunk sorority girls don't fit in your world view you are ahead of the game.  Ignore the people you find inane, work on what makes you happy.  The truth about honesty is that most people don't appreciate it because the truth is often hard to hear and can seem hurtful.  Find the few people who do appreciate honesty and hold on to them as friends because they will stick with you and work through arguments with you in the future.  They are the ones who are going to realize that people and friendships are not disposable when you have a disagreement and that friendships have value the way marriages do and they take just about as much work.  Get a cell phone plan with lots of free minutes available to talk with your family if you miss them.  When you feel that you can't take any more of the drunk potheads you can call your family for support.  Just don't forget to call them and tell them when you ace that Japanese midterm exam so they can share in your joys as well, or when you get an A on a project or when you get invited to join the honor society.  It doesn't have to take four years if you are willing to work extra hard you can take an extra class each semester and summer classes and be done in two-three years.  In some ways college is an introduction to life, in some ways it is especially banal, but the light at the end of the tunnel is the better paying career you will get when you have learned exactly what you want and know exactly what you will and won't put up with.  College is a time for learning in more ways than just classes and so far I think you have a pretty good grade in life.  Good luck, and patience be with you.

Answer 7

I THINK SO ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE NO DEBT.

Answer 8

Everything you said makes me know you have a lot to learn about life.

Answer 9

I FELT THE SAME EXACT WAY WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE!

I graduated in May, and to be honest, it gets a little harder. Once you're out of college, you need a job immediately. It'll be hard to get a job at McDonald's and places like that because they'll think, "Well you went to college...so you don't really need this job."

And the job you REALLY want won't hire you because you lack experience. It's maddening!

The solution is to go to graduate school. Nowadays, college isn't so impressive, but an advanced degree (Master's, Doctorate, PhD,) always impresses people. I'll be going to grad school in January and was one of the few people in my graduating class with that opportunity.

The summer before your senior year, start looking for grad schools. Before that, start building a good resume. High GPA, leadership roles, community service, etc.

By the way: Try to get at least a part-time job while in college. It helps!

Answer 10

Wow. . . that wasn't really my experience of college at all.  

I went to an engineering school (as in quite overwhelmingly engineering majors, not a normal school like AZ) so there *was* a fair amount of drinking -- however, that didn't mean you couldn't find friends who weren't "binge drinkers and alcoholics" just among the ~30 people who were in 99% of your classes by the 2nd or 3rd year.  Even the people who'd go out drinking a lot on the weekends were normal, frustrated students who couldn't figure out how to do the homework either during the week.

We did laugh at stupid **** a lot, though.  It comes with no sleep, too many professors who are impossible to deal with, and not quite being able to convince yourself to just quit and pick an easier major.

Learn to look on the brighter side of life and quit paying any attention at all to the people who are annoying you.  Perhaps you need another year or two of classes in your field before you learn you really don't have time to care about things like that?

P.S.  Are you saying you're chemical/environmental engineering?  I know that fits together well from personal experience.

Answer 11

After graduation you've got to get a job, take responsibility, the whole nine yards. While in college you're still "relatively" sheltered from the harsh facts of adult life. I graduated a long time ago and started working. A couple years down the work line you do feel like the school / college years were some of the best years. Of course, that's just my perspective.

Answer 12

Life at any point is only as good as you make it. Turn your back on the time-wasters. Get your class assignments done, and if you have extra time, get a part-time job. (You'll need the money when you want to buy your own car.)