You know how it’s said that college is one big party? It’s a myth. Or how you’ve been told that your roommate will be a total creep, you’ll need to maintain a 4.0 GPA, and that crashing parties and getting drunk are the norm? Myth, myth, myth.
There are so many widely circulated myths about college that it’s typical for students to reach college and find out that it’s absolutely nothing like what they expected!
To make sure that there aren’t any unwelcome surprises, we’ve decided to debunk some of the common myths for you. How many of these have you bought into?
Myth: Without a good SAT score, no college will accept you
Truth: No amount of good SAT scores are going to cover up for the fact that you slacked off in high school. That doesn’t mean that your SAT or ACT scores don’t count. But it does mean that your test scores will be used in combination with your curriculum, grades and rank—not as the only factor.
According to Patricia Maben, director of enrollment management at Hartwick College, some schools will emphasize SAT/ACT scores as heavily as they do your GPA and rank. Others use them as a general guidepost to gauge your potential to succeed in college. And others don’t use test scores at all.
“The most important component of your high school academic record is the strength of the coursework (Did you take the required classes, and did you challenge yourself when appropriate?) and the grades you receive,” Maben says.
Myth: You need to search for the perfect college
Truth: The fact is, there is no such thing as the “perfect”
college.
“That’s like saying there is only one person in this world who is the right mate,” says Lisa Jacobson, founder and CEO of Inspirica. “It is just too narrow a view.”
What you have to find is the college that is right for you. “The right school is the place where you feel comfortable and confident enough to explore your interests,” says Maben. “College is a time to learn what engages and excites you academically. What better place to have that experience than at the school that feels the best to you?”
Myth: You need to decide your major before you begin college
Truth: Um, no. With approximately 70 percent of college students changing their majors before graduating, we say it’s no big deal if you haven’t decided on one before you head to college.
It is wise to have a general direction of where you’re headed, but you probably won’t need to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year. So why pin down the specifics until you’ve actually attended a few classes and found what really interests you?
“I think students should focus on one day at a time,” says Jacobson. “You may find that, once you’re there, a particular course given in your junior year or a professor you meet at some point just pushes you in a completely different direction.”
Myth: Your college friendships will last a lifetime
Truth: Some do, some don’t. But if you’re headed to college thinking that you’ll either make no friends or that everyone will be your friend, listen up. That’s not going to happen.
Friendships will happen. But there’s no guarantee on how great they’ll be or how long they’ll last.
That said, you’re going to be more popular if you take the time to say “hi” to someone you don’t know or pass on a smile to a random stranger than if you stay standoffish and stick to a corner of the room. If you’re looking for like-minded people to hang out with, seek out an activity or club and get involved.
Myth: Homesickness is for babies
Truth: “That’s ridiculous,” say Kent and Kyle Healy, students at Saddle Back College and Golden West College, respectively, and authors of the book Cool Stuff They Should Teach in School.
“There’s nothing wrong with missing Mom’s cooking or working on the car with your dad.” In fact, they say that a lot of their friends have said that being away from home for the first time really helped them appreciate how good they had it for the first 18 years.
Instead of fighting homesickness, try to overcome it by interacting with your new friends, calling home once in a while, getting involved in other activities and talking to your RA when you need help.
“Look at it this way—now you’ve got the best of both worlds,” say the Healys. “You’ve got the independence and the support of your family. You also have the opportunity to go home, share your new set of experiences with good old Mom and Dad (and little brothers or sisters if you’ve got ‘em), and then get the heck out of there before they drive you nuts again!”
Myth: You will hate your roommate
Truth: Not necessarily. You never know, you might end up
being the best of friends.
“In general, there are more great friendships made than anything else,” says Maben. “The bottom line is that students need to be prepared to get along with their roommate; be open to different perspectives, cultures and personalities. People with open minds and a good dose of patience are likely to have the best college roommate experiences.”
And while we’re on the topic, ever been told you should live alone rather than with a roommate?
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
According to Harlan Cohen, author of The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College, assuming that you don’t go to prison, college is the only time in your life when you get to live with a total stranger. To live with someone of a different culture, religion or lifestyle is invaluable. Sharing a space with a roommate opens you up to making new friends, dealing with conflict, appreciating differences and learning about yourself. Cohen says that even the nightmare roommate offers something of value—once the nightmare ends.
Myth: Once you’re in college, it’s too late to apply for scholarships
Truth: You can always apply for scholarships. In fact, some scholarships aren’t even available to high school students and are only available to you once you’ve picked your major.
“Seek out your financial aid counselors,” advises Maben. “They are there to help you at all stages of your college experience—from prospective students to seniors.” In addition, she suggests searching Web sites for scholarships for college students.
Myth: It’s better to get good grades than to take challenging courses
Truth: “You need to take the courses that provide the skills,” says Dr. Neal Prochnow, an education consultant and author of Get Out of College and Get On With Your Career.
As an example, he says that many students avoid Speech 101.
“This is the worst thing you can do. It should be taken early on, and significant time (should) be spent to do well,” he says.
Prochnow says that taking courses that teach you critical skills will help you once you’re out of college and in the real world.
Jean Branan, director of career services at The Art Institute of California-San Diego, agrees. “Every academic program has its grade requirements. However, the challenging courses will put you a step ahead in a competitive career market. A student should think in terms of, ‘What will strengthen my résumé?’”
Myth: If you don’t get good grades, no one’s ever going to employ you
Truth: Sure, grades are important, but don’t go believing that they’re the only things that count. Real-world experience, your personality and your aptitude for the job count much more than any number of A’s you earned in college.
“More important are the contributions you’ll be bringing to your new employer,” says Branan. “Professionalism, competency to perform job skills, a great attitude and even a sense of humor have topped the ‘wish lists’ of employers when hiring.”
Branan says that it all boils down to one important question: “Would I want to work with this person on a daily basis?”
Article reprinted with permission from Next Step Magazine.
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