College experiences

[Number 9 Dream]

For those of you who have went or are currently going to college...did/do you like it? What was/is your major? Did you dorm there or live at home? Did you get involved in clubs/sports?

Some say that college is the best time of one's life, so I'm curious to hear if your experience has been a positive one or not

Well, for me, I've had some pretty damned good times at both colleges I've gone to. I went to Suffolk Community College a year after high school and was there until spring of 2007 (yes, it took me a long time to get a 2 year degree...Math sucks, ok?!) Suffolk was a pretty decent school--very cheap and most of the professors were very nice. It honestly felt like an extension of high school, with a little more freedom and responsibilities Since it is a commuter school, I didn't really get too involved with clubs. I was in the Phi Theta Kappa society, but only attended the meetings for a semester (just got too busy with actual school work to put any energy in to it). I think the first 2 years I went to Suffolk were the best--that's when my best friend was still living in NY and we had classes together (not to mention going out to eat on our breaks). It helps to have a few friends around, you know? After my friends graduated early, I was sort of left floating around and it put a damper on my community college experience. Still, I had some VERY awesome teachers that I still miss to this day.

Now I am going to Dowling College, which is about a 40 minute commute for me. They do have dorms there, but I don't know if I should really bother with them or not. I live too close to the school to pay an extra $15,000 a year to dorm.

This is my first semester there and I'm already in love with the school and my professors. It's such a different atmosphere than Suffolk and I'm doing things I love (focusing on creative writing and psychology, whereas at Suffolk I was pretty much forced to take courses I hated). There seems to be a more personal interaction between students and their professors (which I like). I don't feel lost at all and I know the teachers really care about my well-being. The classes I am in are interesting and FUN (I get to watch awesome movies in my Psychology in Film class and write an analysis paper on it...how cool is that?! /nerd).

I'm not involved with a club yet, but I was asked to join as an editor to my school's literary magazine, so I'll start that next semester Soooo excited about that one. I also plan on going to a few psychology club meetings. I really want to get more involved so that I can take advantage of all my college has to offer--there's a few trips coming up, so I want to go on at least one of them (New Orleans sounds awesome). I did go on one trip to Six Flags Fright Fest when I went to Suffolk and that was sooo fun. So, yeah, definitely taking some trips at Dowling

So, overall, I would say my college experience has been very exciting. I still have about 3 years left at Dowling, so things may change But, for now, things are great.

How about you?

[junecleaver]

all i know is that college is wayyyyy better than high school

[catlover79]

I went to the local community college, lived at home, and worked my way through. I never wanted to move away from home. The thought of dorm living and being away from my family scared me to death. The college is a good school, nice people, and I was involved with the campus Bible study and some fundraisers. I earned my associate of arts degree in 2002 and have a good job today. So it all turned out OK.

[Brieannas21]

My first year at college was ok, not really fun because it was a new experience and I was so far away from home. But from my second year until I graduated I had a blast. I stayed in a dorm for my first year, it was ok, but my second year I got an apartment off campus, I just needed my privacy and bathroom

My first year at college was ok, not really fun because it was a new experience and I was so far away from home. But from my second year until I graduated I had a blast. I stayed in a dorm for my first year, it was ok, but my second year I got an apartment off campus, I just needed my privacy and my own bathroom

[mc_light1202]

Im a senior in college and it's nothing like high school. I lived in the dorms for the first year and a half, but I only lived about an hour away so I went home on the weekends. I'm a nursing/psychology major and my advice is for you is to get involved in as much as possible. You'll only get this opportunity once, plus it only helps if your interested in grad school. In my first quarter I joined a sorority and a few other organizations and I love it, the only problem was I went a little wild. Not a good idea. Just have fun, get involved, and keep your grades up.

[Kristen]

I went to a small Catholic college in my neighborhood. I started out majoring in Education (I thought I wanted to teach), but then switched to English. A MUCH better fit for me. I lived at home, still do, actually, which is/was really convenient. The best part about the whole thing is that I had a full scholarship, so I never had to worry about tuition, but books and stuff were killer. I would def. recommend selling back any books you can, to at least get back some of what you paid. Or go elsewhere to buy them in the first place, I'm sure there are cheaper places to get them than the school bookstore.

- Kristen

[junecleaver]

Originally Posted by Kristen

I went to a small Catholic college in my neighborhood. I started out majoring in Education (I thought I wanted to teach), but then switched to English. A MUCH better fit for me. I lived at home, still do, actually, which is/was really convenient. The best part about the whole thing is that I had a full scholarship, so I never had to worry about tuition, but books and stuff were killer. I would def. recommend selling back any books you can, to at least get back some of what you paid. Or go elsewhere to buy them in the first place, I'm sure there are cheaper places to get them than the school bookstore.

- Kristen

Where i go to college, there are a few book rental stores. I went to 2 book stores (where you can buy new/used books) and the prices, even for used books, were still pretty high, but when i went to the rental store, all of the books were nearly half the price. I saved a lot of money renting them, so if there are rental stores around then i highly recommend looking at their prices.

[Hollow]

i've been here for two months. i hate all my classes. i live with three roommates and i'm a total outsider. i mean we get along but they're so different from me and similar among each other. i got so pissed off when i found out that we have homecoming and formal dances...i'm sick of these ****ty high school events that just **** me over every time. i might just drop out after next semester. it's nothing but a pain and a waste of time. i have no career i'm after anyway.

[YoliUSA]

Im currently in my 2nd year of college. So far it's been good. I've never dropped out or failed a class, and I have made tons of new friends. I live at home because I have no necessity or the money to pay for an apartment (the college I'm attending is only 25 minutes away). I've learned a lot about the entertainment industry (I'm studying Advertising and Telecommunications) and so far I think I've made a good career choice.

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by Number 9 Dream

Some say that college is the best time of one's life, so I'm curious to hear if your experience has been a positive one or not

I suppose, if you're not a homesick introvert who doesn't drink.

College wasn't the worst time of my life, but it certainly wasn't the best. Freshman year I went to a school 2 hours from home. I may as well have been out of the country. I hated being in a "foreign" part of the state and I hated living in a dorm. I actually begged my dad on the first day of school to let me drop out and come home. He made me stay a semester, but I stayed the whole year. It becasme livable and I wasn't as homesick. Instead, my roommate became a total psycho and I wanted to throw her out the window. I drove home every weekend, which was no short trip, but I didn't really give a crap. I needed the normalcy at least one day a week.

The next four years were at a school 30 mins away, so I lived at home and drove back and forth. I wasn't very social, but then I'm not a social person. I liked the campus, the area wasn't so foreign to me, and I met some nice people. Took me 4 years there because I changed majors twice (Journalism to Teaching Drama to English). I think the main reason I picked English was because it didn't require an internship. But I really liked the creative writing classes I took.

Worst part of college for me was the fact that my anxiety disorder kicked in to high gear my sophomore year and I didn't get it treated until the end of my 1st senior year. I skipped class like no other. I dropped classes to avoid failing them and scrapped through with Cs, which for a 4.0 high school student was really odd. I became very good at hiding in the library. So really, out of 5, I had 1 good year and it was the last one.

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

I just needed my privacy and bathroom

I hear that! The bathroom on my dorm floor was clear in another hallway. Walking that far in a robe to take a shower was hideous. Ugh.

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by catlover79

I went to the local community college, lived at home, and worked my way through. I never wanted to move away from home. The thought of dorm living and being away from my family scared me to death.

It did me too...unfortunately, I thought it would look bad for me to just go to a CC. Not sure who I was trying to impress... My mom told me I'd hate it and she was right. I lived 5 minutes from a CC too! I was so much happier when I went back home.

[tdf4077]

I went to Bowling Green State University for undergrad. I majored in secondary social studies education. I lived at home the first 2 years, then moved in with my fiance/(now ex-) husband for the last 2. I was active with the marching band, pep band, Tau Beta Sigma (band sorority), and various other clubs while still working 40-50 hours a week. I also wanted to make sure I graduated in 4 years, so I took 19-20 hours ever semester. I graduated with a 4.0. I LOVED college. It was so much easier than high school for me, but I do regret having not lived on campus.

Now, I'm in grad school (getting my masters in criminal justice). It's not as fun. Too much reading and theoretical discussions. But, I'm only going 2 nights a week, so maybe that's why I'm not super, super loving it.

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by mc_light1202

Im a senior in college and it's nothing like high school. I lived in the dorms for the first year and a half, but I only lived about an hour away so I went home on the weekends. I'm a nursing/psychology major and my advice is for you is to get involved in as much as possible. You'll only get this opportunity once, plus it only helps if your interested in grad school. In my first quarter I joined a sorority and a few other organizations and I love it, the only problem was I went a little wild. Not a good idea. Just have fun, get involved, and keep your grades up.

I joined a sorority also, I think that helped me out A LOT. It got your mind off of being homesick because you were so busy with school and the sorority. And plus that really made College fun for me. Plus you make a lot of new friends who will help you out when you really need it.

[Number 9 Dream]

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

I suppose, if you're not a homesick introvert who doesn't drink.

I think that is why I've never really pushed myself to get in to the dorms--I'm such a homebody and I know I wouldn't fit in with the crowd. I mean, some part of me does want to 'get away', but I know I'd be miserable. So I can't say I really regret being a commuter.