Calling all freshmen and upperclassmen who are still a little lost: do you ever get confused by all of the horror stories about colleges? Do you ever find yourself second-guessing a decision that could possibly change your life? Fear not my friends and classmates because your very own college myth buster is here to help. College can be both a fun and scary time for people. Maybe it’s being away from home for the first time, not knowing what you want to do with your future. Maybe it’s simply having more difficult classes to deal with. Either way, everyone comes to college with some prior “knowledge” about it. What are the common myths that everyone has heard? More importantly, which ones are true and which are false?
One of the most common myths is that you have to graduate in four years. College doesn’t take the same amount of time for everyone. Some people take six years while others only take three. Despite how long it takes you, you’re still getting the education and that’s the important part.
Another widespread misconception is that declaring a major determines your entire future. Many people believe that once you decide on an academic track, you’ll be stuck with a career in that field forever. That’s not true. Sometimes life can throw you in for a loop. Even though you majored in biology, you might end up being a lawyer. Majors are meant to guide you, not decide life for you.
Some professors still take attendance just like high school teachers do. Even ones who don’t will generally take notice of absentees. So yes, you do have to go to class. But look at it this way: you’re learning things that you’re interested in, you get to decide what and when your classes are and you’re paying a lot of money to take them so you might as well attend. College classes are a lot more fun than high school, anyway; they’re engaging, interesting and exciting.
One last myth is that the website RateMyProfessor.com is a reliable source of information. It’s great to get a few opinions on a professor before you take a class with them, but don’t allow the opinions to be too influential when you make schedule. Yes, hearing terrible things about a professor can be daunting, but every student learns differently. Perhaps this professor could become your favorite. As trite as it sounds, don’t judge a book by its cover.
Don’t let some silly college myths prevent you from having an incredible college experience. Listen to what people say, but take everything with a grain of salt and learn from your own observations and experiences.