The Lesser-Known Lessons of College Life
Jessica Ho
2005 National Scholar Award Recipient and NSHSS Student Council Member
The College of New Jersey
Right now, you are probably being bombarded with information about college, from how to get into a school to how
to live in the dorms. While the whole college application and admission process is stressful and sometimes
overwhelming, I do have some good news! College may be hard, but it is also a lot of fun. Going to college isn't
just about attending class and passing exams. Sure, I can discuss the philosophy of free will or explain how
muscles work, but I have also learned a lot of other random pieces of knowledge from living in a dorm for a
semester. Here are a few things my friends and I have discovered:
- Bring something with wheels or your entire extended family on Moving-In Day to transport your
belongings. If you're anything like the rest of my friends, you'll be bringing at least half of your wardrobe,
a TV or microwave or refrigerator (or all of them), a billion odds and ends, and your computer. Moving-In
Day is hectic, hot, and crowded-- the fewer trips back and forth, the happier you'll be. Be sure to find out
first what appliances are actually allowed in your dorm.
- Don't try to stuff two weeks of clothes into the washing machine and then think pouring extra detergent
will clean everything. The machine will overflow and release soapy suds all over the laundry room floor.
- If you are planning on going anywhere with a group of more than 2 people, start telling everyone at least
20 minutes in advance. You'd be surprised how long it takes for everyone to get ready.
- Don't jump in an old dorm elevator--especially when you're in a rush. It will stop.
- If you put lights up along your wall, avoid hanging them over your bed...unless you don't mind being
scared out of your wits when they fall on you in the middle of the night.
- It's okay to change majors. Once you get to college, classes you formerly think you might enjoy could be
boring or just not as great as you thought. The sooner you realize you don't like something, the more
time you will have to discover your true passions.
- If you like popcorn, plan on bringing extra packs. After a semester, some people still need to burn one
bag of popcorn before they can get it right each time.
- If dining hall food is disappointing one day, there's always Ramen noodles and Easy Mac!
Above all, I learned that grades and classes are important, but college is also a time to have fun -- a time to take
breaks from the stress that is school and sit back and relax with the new friends. College isn't only about learning
from books; it's also about learning about life and how to live it.
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