I really regret not taking full advantage of the American college experience

[Anonymous]

The American college experience of living in dorms, eating in the cafeteria, dating, hanging out with different people with different interests and skills in close proximity, and have so many student organizations and opportunities on campus is a really unique thing. No other country has it, which is why so many try to study in America. Within America, only a small fraction of the population who are lucky enough to get admitted, are at the right age, and can afford university get to see this lifestyle. Out of the 8 billion people on this planet, only like 2 million people get to experience this lifestyle.

It’s frustrating how so many people dismiss this experience and truly miss out on a unique time. If you are lucky enough to get this experience, please make the most out of it. I didn’t, and I regret it so much

[Anonymous]

What did you instead do?

[Anonymous]

Not op. I did not either, but I am sure my kids born here would experience all these (just finger crossed no exposure to drugs, alcohol, bullying and violence in their public school years). I lived with parents when I attended UMCP and I took a bus to campus. I worked a bit on campus and off campus once I learned to drive. I came to America too late at age 18, and I was swarmed with all these cultural & languages differences. No one guided me or introduced me around. I was a bookworm girl back in Asian home country, so I was probably too well behaved and too boring to be hang out with. I did not know how to have fun.

[Anonymous]

I don't ever regret not rushing, but yea, I regret that I could not experience the rest of the typical college experience. I went to a commuter school and worked my way through college due to finances.

My kids, oth, are/will get the typical college experience. Older DC is in college now, and they told me that they are having their best life (3rd year senior currently). My youngest one is about to go to oos, and they are so looking forward to it. They are so done with HS and this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not op. I did not either, but I am sure my kids born here would experience all these (just finger crossed no exposure to drugs, alcohol, bullying and violence in their public school years). I lived with parents when I attended UMCP and I took a bus to campus. I worked a bit on campus and off campus once I learned to drive. I came to America too late at age 18, and I was swarmed with all these cultural & languages differences. No one guided me or introduced me around. I was a bookworm girl back in Asian home country, so I was probably too well behaved and too boring to be hang out with. I did not know how to have fun.

Pp here. To add, my company paid for me to study MBA as a part time student. I declined because I did not want to take leadership role (not my personality) and felt too tough to work ful time and do MBA part time. I took some art and music classes before I had kids, and it was kind of fun. Now my kids are doing everything from sports to scouts that I have never done or experienced, and I feel like I re-live my childhood in a fun way. Once I retire, I may go back to college to take random classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not op. I did not either, but I am sure my kids born here would experience all these (just finger crossed no exposure to drugs, alcohol, bullying and violence in their public school years). I lived with parents when I attended UMCP and I took a bus to campus. I worked a bit on campus and off campus once I learned to drive. I came to America too late at age 18, and I was swarmed with all these cultural & languages differences. No one guided me or introduced me around. I was a bookworm girl back in Asian home country, so I was probably too well behaved and too boring to be hang out with. I did not know how to have fun.

Pp here. To add, my company paid for me to study MBA as a part time student. I declined because I did not want to take leadership role (not my personality) and felt too tough to work ful time and do MBA part time. I took some art and music classes before I had kids, and it was kind of fun. Now my kids are doing everything from sports to scouts that I have never done or experienced, and I feel like I re-live my childhood in a fun way. Once I retire, I may go back to college to take random classes.

I have been thinking about this. I'm going to retire at 56. I don't have much of a hobby so I was thinking about what I should do when I retire (kids gone to college/working).

I was thinking of taking piano lessons (I can play a bit but never formally trained) and language classes at the local community college. Unfortunately, while I can appreciate art, I don't enjoy making art.

[Anonymous]

I'm a foreigner and NO, this is not why so many foreigners try to get into undergrad or graduate school here in the US.

Universities are generally considerably cheaper in their own countries than here - no sane family is going to pay extra for social purposes or dorm living. Most students in the world do not need to share a bedroom with someone when they attend universities in their hometown or elsewhere (they live at home and commute, or they rent a room somewhere), and that lifestyle is quite shocking to most foreigners when they learn that a lot of college students here have no choice but to live in close intimacy with a stranger.

There are two reasons why foreigners come here to study:
1. Greater professional opportunities, either here or elsewhere in the world, because American degrees are recognized.
2. Too much competition for seats in their own country's universities - this is true for Asian countries in particular.

Don't be absurd, OP. Most people only spend money to get more money down the road. No one cares about "campus lifestyle". It's not attractive to a lot of students, and even if it were, they're not paying an arm and a leg just for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:when you strip from that 80% the nontraditional students, commuters, shut-ins, antisocial weirdos, and straight-up dorks, you're left with almost no one to socialize with and certainly no high-quality dating prospects.

Your writing reveals so much about you and how you look at the world. Congrats!

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed every minute of my 4 years! Grad school was not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The American college experience of living in dorms, eating in the cafeteria, dating, hanging out with different people with different interests and skills in close proximity, and have so many student organizations and opportunities on campus is a really unique thing. No other country has it, which is why so many try to study in America. Within America, only a small fraction of the population who are lucky enough to get admitted, are at the right age, and can afford university get to see this lifestyle. Out of the 8 billion people on this planet, only like 2 million people get to experience this lifestyle.

It’s frustrating how so many people dismiss this experience and truly miss out on a unique time. If you are lucky enough to get this experience, please make the most out of it. I didn’t, and I regret it so much

From experience, this also exists in Canada (U of T, McGill, Queen's, Western, UBC, etc.) and probably in UK/Scottland/Ireland (Oxford, Cambridge, St. Andrews, Trinity Dublin etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The American college experience of living in dorms, eating in the cafeteria, dating, hanging out with different people with different interests and skills in close proximity, and have so many student organizations and opportunities on campus is a really unique thing. No other country has it, which is why so many try to study in America. Within America, only a small fraction of the population who are lucky enough to get admitted, are at the right age, and can afford university get to see this lifestyle. Out of the 8 billion people on this planet, only like 2 million people get to experience this lifestyle.

It’s frustrating how so many people dismiss this experience and truly miss out on a unique time. If you are lucky enough to get this experience, please make the most out of it. I didn’t, and I regret it so much

From experience, this also exists in Canada (U of T, McGill, Queen's, Western, UBC, etc.) and probably in UK/Scottland/Ireland (Oxford, Cambridge, St. Andrews, Trinity Dublin etc.).

+1 Agree!

[Anonymous]

Agree about college experience. Careful about recommending Greek system, though; lot of uniformity, exclusion vs inclusion, eating disorders, hazing, calling women fat by both genders, and socioeconomic means dictating whether one can belong. Not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:when you strip from that 80% the nontraditional students, commuters, shut-ins, antisocial weirdos, and straight-up dorks, you're left with almost no one to socialize with and certainly no high-quality dating prospects.

Your writing reveals so much about you and how you look at the world. Congrats!

This is the pro-Greek troll. Ignore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:when you strip from that 80% the nontraditional students, commuters, shut-ins, antisocial weirdos, and straight-up dorks, you're left with almost no one to socialize with and certainly no high-quality dating prospects.

Your writing reveals so much about you and how you look at the world. Congrats!

I thought the same thing. Any adult who references college students as "dorks" is not someone you want to be around, lol. Yes there are social benefits of greek life, but there are also risks of drinking, hazing, etc., especially with boys who aren't yet fully developed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:when you strip from that 80% the nontraditional students, commuters, shut-ins, antisocial weirdos, and straight-up dorks, you're left with almost no one to socialize with and certainly no high-quality dating prospects.

Your writing reveals so much about you and how you look at the world. Congrats!

I thought the same thing. Any adult who references college students as "dorks" is not someone you want to be around, lol. Yes there are social benefits of greek life, but there are also risks of drinking, hazing, etc., especially with boys who aren't yet fully developed.

I'm secretly glad DS is going to a school without a Greek system.