College can be terrifying, overwhelming, and exhausting but also freeing, nourishing, and welcoming. Everyone’s college experiences read differently; however, as said by a 4th-year college student, Leah, most college students share many similarities and are all “trying to get through their days just like you are.”
The first step before you can jump into campus life is to pick where you want to spend these exciting years of your life! My brother, Isak, advises seniors to “apply everywhere. [He] didn’t think [he] was going to go to Kent,” but after visiting multiple schools and not loving any, he walked around Kent, applied right before the deadline, and ultimately decided to be a Flash.
Isak and our parents on his high school graduation day, May 20, 2021. (Willa Sabelko)
Annabelle, Isak, and I (left to right) are pictured in Cedar Point this past August during Annabelle's annual summer break visit to Ohio. (Willa Sabelko)
Moreover, choosing a college can seem like a make or break, but according to “Best Colleges,” a website dedicated to helping people on their college or career journey, around “one-third of college students transfer schools before earning their degree.” Of the collegiates I interviewed, one out of four transferred schools. My lifelong friend, Annabelle, began her first semester of her first year at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, but moved back home and finished up year one at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois. Currently, she is attending Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Annabelle said this about transferring: “I decided that Baylor was not a fit for me because of the campus culture and the location…Now, after transferring twice…I feel that I belong at [Marquette], which is very important because if you feel like you don’t belong, it will be very challenging to get through those four years.”
Baylor University (Waco, TX)
Waubonsee Community College (Sugar Grove, IL)
Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI)
Furthermore, transitioning into college life may seem intimidating, but my interviewees provided helpful advice and shared positive experiences. Cindy, who is a 1st-year college student, provided this advice about establishing yourself in your new home: “If you’re worried about making friends, just sit next to anyone in class if you see they’re alone! Starting small talk is a great way to eventually become friends with someone.”
Additionally, Leah, who attends Dayton, started in 2020 when COVID was at a high but still had reassuring things to share about dorm and college life. She explained that she had a great “roommate, so [she] got to meet her friends,” and “As time went on, [they] started in-person classes, which made it a lot easier to meet new people.”
Likewise, Isak, who is in his 3rd year at Kent State for computer science, described the transition into college as “easy” and expressed that “[he] had a good roommate.” Though he lives close to home, he doesn’t come back often as he thoroughly enjoys campus life and the group of friends he has gathered.
University of Dayton's campus.
Of course, living with someone else 24/7 doesn’t come without its challenges. Annabelle, who is now in her 2nd year of college, emphasized, “Whether you know them or not, learning to live with someone is not the easiest thing in the world, but I have found it really important just to be respectful of each other’s time and sleep schedule.”
Rooming with someone you haven’t previously been friends with can be scary, but of all my interviewees, only Annabelle lived with a friend, and only for a semester. Also, a study from “Apartment Guide” found that “nearly 47% of people surveyed were friends with their roommates before moving in together, but only 32% were satisfied with the current living arrangement.” Therefore, if you are going to attend a college that none of your friends are attending, or you want a fresh start, or you want to meet some new people, know that it’s normal to room with someone new, and you could even meet your new best friend.
An example of a dorm at Marquette University.
Isak moving into his dorm at Kent State University on August 19, 2021. (Willa Sabelko)
A corner of Isak's room in the apartment he now shares with a friend he met in college. (Isak Sabelko)
When it comes to majors, classes, and professors, my interviewees had some positive feedback to share as well. Though the students I interviewed have all stuck with their majors, “75 percent of American college students…either start their college career as undecided or change their major at least once.”
Furthermore, Annabelle had some input on this, advising incoming first-year college students not to “get too stressed out…[she knows] a lot of people who had their whole life planned out, even [herself]. They knew where they were going to go to school, what their major was, what sports teams they were going to be on, and then six months later, it was not at all like they had planned.”
Deciding or changing your major may seem intimidating, but according to the college students I interviewed, if you love your major, you will love learning.
Henceforth, Annabelle explained that “most of [her] professors have some professional experience in their fields, which is really cool” and “when they teach, they always implement their past experiences into the lectures.” Moreover, Isak, Cindy, and Leah all expressed that professors are helpful with questions, and their major-specific classes are incredibly intriguing and engaging.
Overall, the insights of Annabelle, Cindy, Isak, and Leah have made the daunting nature of college seem much less looming and much more approachable. Before you know it, you will be looking back wishing you could do it all over again.
Feature page photo credits to Annabelle Parolek.
All photos are from Google unless indicated otherwise.