Solving Common College Complaints

February 19th, 2009

Colleges can change a lot over the years, but one thing that doesn’t seem to change is the complaints college students make. Every day I go through dozens of college blogs and articles that ring out with the same moans and groans that I and my peers made back in the day. So here, in no particular order, are five common college complaints you’ll have and how you can solve them.

1. I’m so exhausted! Why do colleges have to schedule classes at nine in the morning?

Most workdays and offices open at 9 am so if there’s a time to get used to it, college is your best bet. Make an effort to ditch the weekday partying and get to bed early. And try not to pull out the (lame) excuses if your professor notices your consistent tardiness.

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2. I’m never leaving my dorm again. The Freshman 15 is the worst thing ever!

Yes, it pretty much is — but there’s plenty you can do to ward it off or beat the pounds you already gained. Forgo the fast food, cheap eats, and Cup ‘o’ Noodles, and make time to eat healthy. Try walking around campus more too.

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3. I have so much reading to do. There’s no way I’ll have time for all of this!

I’ve been guilty of this complaint too, but here’s a secret: practically no one reads all of the assigned reading materials in college. The key is to become a master of scanning, using your class notes as a guide to what to read and what to skip. If you do have the time, go back and read everything thoroughly and whatever you do, don’t procrastinate!

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4. My college is a bureaucracy. I hate it. Nobody ever helps me.

Colleges are gigantic institutions and, while they care for you as student, they don’t imbue any one administrator with the power to solve all your problems. You’ll have to go through a chain of command, be shuffled between multiple people, and repeat your story ad nauseum, but it will help you build your self-confidence, communication skills, and independence.

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5. I had friends in high school but I can’t seem to make any here.

While it’s not your fault, on a big college campus you’ll have to do some legwork if you ever expect to have a social life. Join clubs that you’re actually interested in, chat up classmates before and after class, and take a chance and sit down at someone else’s table during lunch. Your new best friend could be around the corner.

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– Genevieve M. Blaber

Entry Filed under: Advice, College Craziness, General