I didn't have the "college experience"

[Anonymous]

The college experience is overrated. The parties were just a bunch of people drinking, you didn't miss anything. I did go to study abroad overseas for a semester, that was my best college experience. The other 3.5 years...they were ok. Trust me, you didn't miss anything.

[Anonymous]

No. I was outgoing but poor so I went to a commuter university and thus didn't have a college experience. Didn't matter. My best year was 29-30 because I had education, money, I looked good, had a great job, great friends, and had a lot of fun. Met my husband and then did all that other stuff. I think of that year as my college experience quite frankly. I had a LOT of fun.

[Anonymous]

Worked in the day and went to college and grad school at night. No college experience, and I have absolutely no regrets. I am shy and it is hard to make friends, but I have made a few good friends around common interests and pursuits. Met my DH at work.

By the time my kids are ready for college, I think the college experience will be a dim memory. Education will be done on line and with work/training type jobs in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a 28 year old woman who never had the "college experience". I went to community college my first two years and then joined a large state school where I had trouble making friends because I was extremely shy and awkward. 2 years later I graduate with hardly any real friends and never went to a college party or a frat party. I deeply regret it and wish I wasnt so awkward and socially inept then.

Did I really miss out on the best 4 years of my life?

You might have missed out on a rite of passage anyway.

[Anonymous]

You had the college experience, just not the one you wanted.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, you missed very little. For me and my friends, campus life was binge-drinking, hooking up, slut shaming, studying hard, gaining weight, working out, and more binge drinking. Oh, and more random hook-ups and slut shaming. I don't look back at those years with any sort of nostalgia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a 28 year old woman who never had the "college experience". I went to community college my first two years and then joined a large state school where I had trouble making friends because I was extremely shy and awkward. 2 years later I graduate with hardly any real friends and never went to a college party or a frat party. I deeply regret it and wish I wasnt so awkward and socially inept then.

Did I really miss out on the best 4 years of my life?

I had the same exact college experience. Sometimes I wish I had done more but it's probably for the best that I didnt.

[Anonymous]

Me too OP, very few people had that experience and, they are the only ones still talking about it! By 30 no one cares or talks about it anymore.

[Anonymous]

ONWARD. Focus on kicking ass in your life now. Nothing else matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, you missed very little. For me and my friends, campus life was binge-drinking, hooking up, slut shaming, studying hard, gaining weight, working out, and more binge drinking. Oh, and more random hook-ups and slut shaming. I don't look back at those years with any sort of nostalgia.

THIS.

[Anonymous]

I don't think I missed anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Now 15 years out it hasn't seemed to matter much. I don't relate to stories people tell about college but it was only 4 years. Not a huge deal in the scheme of things.

Yeah, I'm five years out now and I can't relate when people start talking about college stuff such as greek life. I totally have nothing to contribute except be envious of their magical time.

Whenever people tell me those stories I always think it was a miracle they didn't get alcohol poisoning or date raped. Scary stuff.

[Anonymous]

I don't know - while I don't think it was the best four years of my life - there was something magical about college. It helps that I went to one with a beautiful campus in a mid-size town that I loved. But, for me - being away from home and having the freedom to do what I wanted was just beyond words. I didn't always use that freedom wisely - my biggest regret is not studying enough in the beginning. But, it was in some respects a great carefree time of my life that I always look back fondly when I hear a certain song and I never miss a reunion. I made some great friends and even the friends I thought weren't so great are becoming better - its nice to catch up with people who knew you then. However, I think my best time in terms of "fun" was my 20's. Out of school, first job. Or maybe my grad school years. Or maybe finally meeting a man I wanted to marry. Or maybe finally getting the baby I was told wouldn't happen. My point is that there are good points and bad points through life. What I have found as I get older as the highs aren't so high but the lows aren't so low. And I'll take that. . But, some of my most magical moments were college. Even some in high school though on the whole that was not fun So - enjoy what you have and try to enjoy. Trite but true

[Anonymous]

Best years of my life were my thirties!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Now 15 years out it hasn't seemed to matter much. I don't relate to stories people tell about college but it was only 4 years. Not a huge deal in the scheme of things.

Yeah, I'm five years out now and I can't relate when people start talking about college stuff such as greek life. I totally have nothing to contribute except be envious of their magical time.

People who are incessantly talking about their college years five years out are stuck in a state of arrested development. What did you wish you could have had about the "college experience": friends? relatively carefree years? immersive experiences? Some of that you can find do as an adult. Pursue that and don't glamorize what was, as many have said, basically an illusion.