FRESHMAN FEARS DEBUNKING COMMON MYTHS ABOUT STARTING COLLEGE



With the end of summer vacation around the corner, college looms over students' heads like an impending doom. While the prospect of returning to university might be exciting for sophomores and seniors, first-year students who are yet to begin their journey are bound to be a scared and confused bundle of nerves. To make things easier, we list some common college myths that are just that -myths!

I WON'T MAKE ANY NEW FRIENDS

A universal fear that plagues all freshers set for college is the anxiety of not meeting any like-minded people and forming new connections. It mostly stems from the reluctance to step away from childhood friends and into a whole new world. But it's all unfounded, says Sneha V , senior at a city college. “Although the first couple of weeks may be dull and daunting, you will eventually find good companions at college -some of who may become your lifelong friends,“ she assures.

THE FRESHER 5

An idea that originated in the West and quickly spread like wildfire, the `Fresher 5' is a term that refers to the apparent weight gain at first year of university. Although this belief is founded in actual logic -a freshman is more likely to exhibit weight-gaining behaviour (like drinking and over-eating) because of hisher initial excitement or stress -statistics have shown that this five-kilo gain is nothing more than a paranoid myth.

SHIRKING RESPONSIBILITIES IS SUPER EASY

With hectic schedules and discipline of high school firmly in the past, it is easy to assume that college means skipping classes and leaving assignments undone, with no consequences at all, especially in the first couple of semesters. But with most universities imposing strict attendance policies and periodic evaluations, college is definitely not the place to play hooky .

COLLEGE WILL CRAMP MY STYLE

Based on what's shown on the big screen, one might quickly presume that Thinkstock college entails a whole load of sacrifices. From putting up with ragging seniors to living only on cereal and instant noodles, movies make it seem like college life is just one disaster after another.

“But it really isn't like that,“ says Jai Krishna, sophomore at a university .“All institutions have strict anti-ragging rules and discipline is taken very seriously in the campus. Also, most seniors actually care for you; from helping you with notes and projects to aiding you in finding a job, they have your back. Handle your finances well, stay true to yourself, and it'll be no different from school.“

`ADULTING' IS CHILD'S PLAY

Considering the additional baggage that often pairs with starting out at college -such as living by oneself or making time for a long commute -it's no surprise that college is synonymous with additional responsibilities. However, no matter how simple it all seems in theory, rest assured that everything (from budgeting to scheduling) is going to need honest, hard work.

OLD FRIENDS FOREVER

This belief goes two ways -students not only believe that school friendships last forever, but also that whoever they meet first in college is who they're going to be friends with all through. Old relationships will undoubtedly undergo some amount of strain once college begins, and it's equally true that bonds constantly change even during the graduate years. Rarely does it hap pen that who you start your freshman year with is who will be at your side while graduating.

EVERYBODY IS EQUAL

This one, actually , is no myth. Every single person that enrolls into an university is automatically put on one platform, with the same degree of opportunities made available. “I used to think that my credentials from school would give me an edge in college, but I was wrong. If you were once a topper or a star student, be prepared to have all that nullified, because everybody else has tons of achievements in their roster, too. Nobody has an upper hand,“ says Gokul V , a second-year student.

Riya Somaiya, second-year commerce student, adds, “My friend and I had topped the exams in school and were confident of being everyone's favourite in college as well. But we found that almost every other student had some great quality or ability. My classmates are from across the city and some are even from other states. So, I got to learn a lot from their experiences.“

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