Many students are heading back to school, whether it’s their last year, first-year, or something in between. For first-year college students, the adjustment can be tough. Just like transitioning from grade school to high school, your teachers told you things that might have scared you about moving to a new phase in life. They do the same thing in high school when you are ready to go to college. Here are the top 5 lies teachers might have told you about college in no particular order.
Lies About College – “They won’t tolerate cell phones, eating in class, etc in college”
There were instances where students ate full-fledged meals in class and the professors DID NOT CARE. Half of the time, the professor brought in food for the class or for themselves and ate it during the lecture.
Some professors had strict rules on cell phones, especially if you were taking a test or presenting, but most of the time they were cool if it was out on your desk. A lot of times, professors encouraged you to look up or take notes on your phone if you didn’t have a laptop or notebook.
As far as behavior goes, as long as you weren’t causing fights with anyone, arguing with the professor, or cheating, you are pretty much ok. Raising your hand wasn’t necessary, you could sit how you wanted to, and have an adult conversation and workspace.
You’re an adult when you go to college, so there’s not demerits, pink slips, detention, etc. If you violate any major rules, you will be kicked out, but it doesn’t happen often.
Lies About College – “Your SAT scores determine if you will get into college”
This is one of the biggest lies of all. If you go to community college they don’t even care about your SAT scores, just your transcripts. Other colleges and universities have the option of opting out of submitting your SAT scores and you can take their placement tests.
Lies About College – “You won’t have any multiple-choice tests in college”
More than 90% of the tests I took in college were multiple choice. High school teachers made it out to be that all of your tests would be long essays and hard questions. I was done tests in college quicker than half the test I took in high school.
“Extracurricular activities are a must to get into a good college”
I was in like two clubs in high school and they fell apart. It might be important for students who are trying to get sports scholarships or mathletes or something of that accord. But if you think you need to be involved in something because colleges care that you were in the video game club, you don’t. Colleges care more about your grades, behavior record, and classes.
“Your professors won’t care about you”
I had a professor that emailed the class almost once a month the semester after he had us just to check-in and see if we were doing ok. DO NOT tell me professors do not care about you. Sometimes they care more about you than your high school teachers. EVERY professor always told us about office hours and that we could stop by even if it wasn’t about the class.
In conclusion, if you are worried about anything your high school teachers told you about college, don’t take it all so seriously. Experience college for yourself.
To everyone going back to college and starting college this semester, good luck and you’ve got this!