“I’M JUST NOT COLLEGE MATERIAL”
A former college professor breaks down the myths about college -- from “I’m a C student, so I can’t succeed” to “I don’t do well with authority and rules; college is too Type A for me.”
In a perfect world the image of college depicts quiet students sitting at their desks, taking careful notes, and hanging on every word their professor says. However, reality is that students are becoming more involved.
These days, there really is no stereotypical college student or experience, as you’ll soon find out…
Myth 1: I’m Just Not the “Typical” College Student
The typical college student who lives on campus, studies full-time without working, and gets money from their parents to pay for school is a rarity.
Most college students live off campus.
In fact, only about 20 percent of the 14.5 million college students in the U.S. are campus residents (American Council on Education).
Myth 2: My GPA Is Only 2.0; I’ll Never Get In
A 2.0 GPA doesn’t mean you can’t have a great college experience. Many community colleges and some four-year state-funded universities are happy to have you, C’s and all.
Indiana University (South Bend) ,
Upper Iowa University , and the
University of Toledo are just a handful of universities that accept applications from students with only a 2.0 GPA.
Myth 3: You Can Make Plenty of Money Without a College Degree and Have a Great Lifestyle
This is rarely true these days. Still, many of your friends, and maybe even your parents, may have told you this. The truth is that the average income of a worker with a high school education is $30,665, and can be much less.
Students with a two-year degree earn at least $37,493 and those with a four-year degree can earn up to $40-60,000.
Myth 4: You Can’t Maintain a High GPA in College Which Means You Won’t Get a Great Job, so Why Bother?
The top traits employers are looking for are verbal and written communication skills, followed by honesty, integrity, teamwork, and interpersonal skills..
Number one is an internship, so make sure you get as many internships as possible while in college.
Myth 5: If You Don’t Deal Well with Authority and Rules (the Kind in High School) You Won’t Like College
In fact, college is one of the most liberating experiences in the world. Even if you choose to live at home and commute, you’ll be exposed to some of the most diverse people -- from international students to professors from all around the world.
Also, you have more control over your own schedule. You get to choose what you major in, and you often get to choose the classes you want to take. Choose well; choose something fun as well as challenging.
There are also few authority figures who will tell you what to do in college. Professors will often treat you like equals. Don’t let all the college myths get you down -- you can go to college, and succeed. You have more control over your future than you might think.