What Happened When College Didn’t Meet My Expectations

When I was growing up, I knew that going to college would be one of my proudest accomplishments. As early as middle school, I noticed that countless vlogs depicted college life as “glamorous,” fun, and aspirational, which made me excited for those four years. 

I watched various vloggers sharing content about decorating their dorms, having roommates who became their best friends, and finding sisterhood in sororities. Seeing these girls made me think that when I reached college, I’d also have fun with a big group of friends, go to parties with them, and show school spirit at football games together.

I thought that these vloggers had cracked the code for balancing school and their social lives. I wanted the same college experience, thriving and social with a core friend group. 

However, my college experience didn’t meet my high expectations for my collegiate social life.

I didn’t end up attending a big out-of-state school; instead, I opted for a small liberal arts school with only a couple thousand students in total. The school that I attended didn’t have a big focus on sports or Greek life. The stark contrast between what I had imagined my college experience would be and what it actually was seemed clear. I needed to adjust my expectations. 

Although my experience wasn’t what I initially expected, I realized that my time in college was still great.

I had impactful professors who genuinely cared about their students, and with smaller class sizes, I could truly get to know my classmates. I grew as an individual in college, both academically and spiritually, especially because I attended a religious school. And I gained confidence in my ability to welcome change and adapt to the best of my ability.  

Back when I found those college vloggers, I couldn’t imagine how much I’d grow in college.

But when my experience deviated from the image that I built up in my head, I learned what I truly value and developed valuable skills that I’ll use for the rest of my life. 

Having an “aesthetic” college experience seems fun, but the real growth that you’ll experience will develop no matter where you attend school. You may not end up where you originally wanted to go, but your time in undergrad can still be rewarding. When you make the most of this special time in your life, you’ll become someone you love and make memories that you’ll treasure forever. 

Featured Photo by Shantanu Kumar on Unsplash.