Going to college is one milestone that teenagers are excited and terrified of crossing. After all, it's a combination of independence and responsibility, less schooling but more learning, and finding and reinventing yourself to become the person you want to be.
For freshmen, the most overwhelming part of college is when you find yourself in an unexpected situation, and guess what? You can't sing your way to the heart of the person of your dreams, and you can't party without figuring out how to get to class and take an exam while hungover.
As much as you want it to be perfect, college life, according to books and movies, is not the one you'll have, but It's still going to be fun. Here are some reality checks about college from Seventeen and BuzzFeed:
WARDROBE
What you think: Without your parents nagging on you playing fashion police and checking your skirt with a ruler (six inches above the knee at most, young lady, or stay home!) you can wear what you want, when you want.
What really happens: You'd be lucky if you wake up in time for class, so it's comfort all the way - that means sweatpants. All day, every single day. It's not easy being a fashion icon when everyone else will be in their sweats, after all.
DORMS
What you think: You will have the perfect dorm room that you can furnish to look like something from a magazine (or Pinterest, if that's your thing)
What really happens: Your dorm room will be small and cramped and if you are issued standard beds and furniture, you cannot expect a walk-in closet. You'd be lucky if you get one that could at least store half the clothes you brought with you.
ROOMMATES
What you think: Your Roommate is going to be your ultimate bestie
What really happens: Unless you have the same classes and the same interests, it is highly unlikely that you will end up being bffs with your roomie after the first few weeks. She will be the safest person to eat with at the cafeteria at first, but you will end up drifting apart at some point, and you're lucky if you don't act like strangers by the time the entire college thing ends.
CLASSES
What you think: Unlike the years before, you have significantly less school hours, so you can study, take naps, and have a social life... it's all in the scheduling, right?
What really happens: You may have fewer classes, but they will be significantly more difficult than they were in high school, that you will get drained nonetheless. So all those extra time? If you're not cramming for your readings and projects, you're going to spend most of them sleeping. Because sleep is important when you're a college student.
SOCIAL LIFE
What you think: Parties and kegs, because YOLO baby.
What really happens: Not much, really. Sure there will be some parties at the beginning of the semester, at the end, and some in between, but mostly, "parties" will consist of crowded rooms much like high school, except it will be the RA who will break it up, not someone's parents.