College is a favorite topic for Hollywood. They love to dramatize massive parties, sleeping in late, co-ed dorm rooms, and social hierarchies. Though that drama is great for boosting views, is that what college is actually like?
Not in the slightest. When you get to college, you’ll soon realize that most of what you’ve been watching on television for the last several years is an exaggeration. Here are six common lies you may have bought into before stepping foot on campus.
1. All College Professors Are Unfeeling Robots
How many times did you hear your high school teachers say “Your professors won’t remind you of any deadlines,” “Missing a single class will drop you a full letter grade,” or “You can’t be late to college classes”?
In reality, that’s not even close to the truth, as this expose from the Huffington Post points out. In fact, college professors tend to be far more relaxed and forgiving than high school teachers – it must be the higher pay grade.
2. The Dean Is Enemy No. 1
Starting as far back as Animal House in 1978, public college opinion has been that the dean of every college is a pompous jerk and the antithesis of all fun.
In real life, deans don’t interact with their students much. They probably don’t care what students do in their own time or if they even go to class. In fact, the only thing the dean really cares about is if you’re paying your tuition on time and if enough students are getting good grades to keep the school’s accreditation.
3. It’s All About Frats, Sororities, and Lots of Partying
In most movies and television shows, everyone is in a fraternity or a sorority. They are always experiencing competition across campus, having lots of sex, and partying.
In reality, frats and sororities are a joke for most students. Most people would rather join clubs and sports, and sex and parties aren’t constantly present – though they are popular.
4. One Little Competition Can Change The Tides Forever
Huge competitions that change the lives of their participants forever are a huge clichéd theme in movies. From singing competitions like Pitch Perfect to silly scaring competitions in Monsters University the movies tell students young and old that everything can change if you just win something.
In reality, most people will never join a competition, and those who do will only win a trophy. It probably won’t change their life and they probably won’t be revered by the world for it.
5. If a Roommate Dies, Everyone in the Dorm Gets an A
We’ve all heard the rumor that if your roommate commits suicide or dies in a freak accident, everyone in the dorm room will get an A because of the resulting trauma. This was made famous by films like Dead Man on Campus. However, it’s yet another lie. Though your teachers will probably be understanding and extend your deadlines, you still have to do the work.
6. Going to Class and Studying Takes a Back Burner
Hollywood has somehow convinced the younger generation that those who attend college don’t actually have to go to class or study – but this is the biggest lie of them all. The main purpose of college is to focus on academics; it’s not about partying. That’s a lie to cover up the fact that college involves a lot of reading, studying, mental breakdowns, stress, and toned down fun with roommates and friends.
Too bad.
