College Myths

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College is for Planners

Of course, college is for planners. How else would you know what to major in, unless you planned four years ahead? Then again, you could plan two years ahead by taking your core classes first. Check out this time management for nontraditional students essay.

If you go to Class, You’ll Automatically Pass

With going to class, surely you’ll get some of the best information possible to maximize your learning experience. You can ask your professor to clarify lectures with questions if you don’t understand the material. You can also group up with other students to pool your resources. But by no means will you automatically pass a class, simply because you’re sitting in your teacher’s presence.

You definitely get out of college what you put into it. If you’ve managed to get an “F” out of a class, most likely, you’ve put in an “F’s” worth of work. But you might get brownie points for your attendance. Some professors take away a percentage of your grade if you are absent a specified number of times.

The Faculty is There to Help You

For the most part, the college faculty is there to help you, though it depends on what your needs are. If you need to know where the student center is, no problem. If you need to know how many more credits you need in order to graduate, you’re on your own!–or–you can seek your college advisor, so you can actually get the specific classes that you need in order to graduate.

The Last Year of College is the Hardest

The last year of college can be the hardest because most students put off having to take chemistry, language studies, math and whatever their weak points are in their final years. Students can minimize this phenomenon by spreading those horror shows over the course of a few semesters. This method can also keep up your GPA, without having it dip from 3.2 to 2.0 or worse.

You Need a 4.0 GPA to Get a Great Job After College

Not! Many CEOs wouldn’t have become CEOs if that were the case. The truth is, a GPA doesn’t measure your command of a subject, specifically within your major. Have you ever heard of a “gentlemen’s C?”

Many college students tend to juggle four classes, heading the swim team, secretarial duties of the student government, and in your case, managing a family. A 4.0 GPA? In your dreams!

Pledging a Sorority or Fraternity is the Best Thing. Ever.

Joining a sorority or fraternity organization is certainly good for your resume because it shows brother or sisterhood, willingness to work as a team. Not only that, you can make after-college connections, which could help you find a job. But joining any type of organization in college takes up a lot of time, which could throw a pitchfork into your study time and family life. The obligations are massive. You must attend weekly meetings; you must also attend other events that may be outside of your schedule like holding down the door at frat parties. Still interested?
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* Finder, Alan. “College Ratings Race Roars on Despite Concerns.” The New York Times. 17 Aug. 2007.

** Arenson, Karen W. “Manhattan: Noose Found at Columbia.” New York Times. 10 October 2007: Education.

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