Love/Hate Relationships…with college

I caught this “13 Things Students Love to Hate About College” article on the excellent Professors’ Guide page on USNews.com. They pick up on several common complaints that students have in college and I thought I’d offer my two cents on a few that resonated the most with me.

3. My professor is unbelievably boring. What you can do: Drop the course and find another one with a better professor. Every college has its duds, but there’s no reason why you have to get stuck with one. Even if the professor is the only person teaching a required course, there are always possibilities of getting the adviser or the department chair to authorize a substitution for a requirement. Or just wait until the course is next offered, ideally with an instructor who at least makes a minimal effort to keep you awake.

Okay, now this is a bit extreme…I didn’t necessarily click with every professor I had in college (or even like them all, let’s be honest) but to write a professor off as a “dud” before even trying to make it work would be a mistake. This is where I really see office hours being useful–stop by, ask a question or maybe additional feedback on an assignment. Office hours are a great way for professors to get to know you–and for you to get to them as well.

6. I hate writing papers. What you can do: Think about a paper as simple communication. Can you think up five reasons why the cop shouldn’t give you a ticket when you were going 77 mph in a 25 mph zone? If this were a paper, the claim that you don’t deserve a ticket would be your thesis statement, and your five reasons would be the ways you prove your thesis. Now apply this to your history paper assignment.

I agree that the art of a clear thesis is often overlooked. Also, I can’t emphasize enough how beneficial peer writing centers/advisories can be. Working with juniors and seniors on my own writing allowed me to communicate candidly and sharpen my writing skills. And honestly, these things are not remedial…even after I worked in my college’s writing center, I still exchanged drafts with other tutors! Different colleges may operate such services in distinct ways, but they are generally extremely useful, especially for students who aren’t too keen on writing.

13. This college is nothing like what I expected it to be. It can happen, especially when you’ve paid too much attention to the YouTube-style videos on the college website put out by the admissions office. What you can do: Seek out those places and activities at the college that attracted you in the first place. Going to a few fun activities—and meeting a few fun people—can change your perspective about the school 100 percent.

I feel like we spend so much time and energy on college admissions these days that we forget about what happens once that hurdle is passed and it’s time to, well, live life at college. I think my first year or two of college reflected some of the most intense highs and lows I’ve ever experienced–it’s normal. I agree that seeking out new activities is a good way to combat this issue, and it doesn’t even have to be a big commitment; colleges host tons of speakers and workshops that are worth checking out as well.