is college hard?

Question

everyone says its soooooo hard, but it can't be that hard cause a lot of people go to college

Answer 1

A lot of people go to college - but many do not graduate with a degree. Below are the top five things that make college hard.

1. Not being academically prepared. Some students do not study much in high school and although they may get passing grades they have very little knowledge. For example, they may not have actually read many of the books their english lit teacher assigned (just skimmed the cliff notes) or they memorized history facts the night before the test and forgot them the day after. Maybe they avoided taking difficult classes in HS or perhaps they plagarized papers from the Internet. These students will be in a world of trouble when they enter college.

Colleges will expect students to have a meaningful understanding of high school subject matter, plus be able to read fiction and non-fiction materials quickly and accurately and be able to express their views in essay form as well as out loud in discussion classes. Be prepared.

2. Not taking care of yourself physically - Many college students develop terrible eating habits (choosing to sleep through breakfast, eating cereal or pizza at every mean, late night pizza binges, snacking instead of having meals, no vegetables, etc.) Eating poorly can cause a person to be tired, have headaches, bloat, and not function optimally. This makes it tough to pay attention in class and focus on readings and assignments.

3. Distractions: drinking, video games, drugs, sex, socialization. Some students can barely find time to study or attend class because they are smoking pot or playing viseo games (or both) all day, going out drinking at night and crashing in the morning - skipping their classes. Then they try to make excuses to their professors and end up either failing or getting incompletes.

Worse yet, their professors get very negative opinions of them, which means they are less likely to serve as mentors and provide the one-on-one attention that helps many college students to thrive and succeed. Making close professional friendships with faculty is key to succeeding in college - it can lead to excellent letters of recommendation, internship opportunities and career counseling.

4. No direction. Many students dont know why they are in college. They cannot articulate what their academic interests are, what degree they hope to attain and how they want to put it to use. It is hard to get motivated when you dont really know why you are there in the first place. My advice - have your major selected by the end of your sophomore year and have a faculty advisor in your department and at least 2 older students in your field that you can talk with about classes, profs, etc.

5. No discipline. College profs assign readings, assignments, problem sets, projects and papers. The requirements are not unreasonable (in most cases) and usually students have at least 10 days to read a book or write a 5-6 page paper. This is more than enough time, if you pace yourself. Too many college students procrastinate, ask for extensions, or just avoid the work all together. Many wait until the night before an assignment is due and then get frustrated when their printer runs out of toner, the book they need is checked out of the library, or their roommate decides to invite three friends over to drink beer in the room.

One researcher noticed a trend: that students wre far more likely to report the death of a grandparent the week of midetrms or finals. Even if your prof believes your lie, you still will have to turn in that paper (often late with a grade reduction) or take the exam before you can receive credit for the course. This can mean having to do make-up work over the summer. Many students would rather drop out of the course (or school entirely) when the late make-up work starts building up.

As you can see, the academic requirements are rigorous, but what makes college hard for most students is the fact that they have to make smart decisions about their health, eating/drinking/social habits, and time management.

Good luck!

Good luck

Answer 2

College is just different than high school. It really is a whole new world. I think you will have an easier time because you will still be in high school at home with your parents. Many factors contribute to the "difficulty" of college. A very small portion of that is the actual school work. The actual work content will usually not be any harder than high school, but it all depends. Kiss the days goodbye where you could "memorize" definitions with flash cards and score an A on a test. College is concept oriented, which means it is ESSENTIAL for you to actually fully understand what you are being tested on, in depth. You may still have a class that uses a textbook with definitions and aids like that to HELP you understand those concepts, but you may have classes that require you to read very old novels (which can feel like you're reading a book written in a different language), or even case study books, where the entire book contains article written by masters in the subject. These are extremely hard when you're used to the tradition textbook, because you are still expected to fully understand what is going on. Someone once told me that however many credit hours you're taking (most full-time students take are 15) double that number and that is how many hours a week you need to dedicate to studying. So if a class is 3 credit hours, expect to study 6 hours a week alone for that course. If you take 15 hours total, expect to study 30 hours a week. Also, be aware that in most of your classes you will just have a midterm and a final, which means that if you fail one, it is DETRIMENTAL to your grade. You might get lucky and have some fluffer points somewhere but the majority of the time, you will not. Some classes also will have the midterm/final systems and require you to use a bluebook for both, meaning it is an essay exam. One essay that will determine half of your grade. It is very stressful, and a lot of pressure. Memorization techniques in college are not going to fly, so study really hard, and remember to ask your professor or TA for help if you need it. Most are always willing to help you IF you ask for it, but unlike high school, professors really don't care if you pass or fail. Trust me. The hardest part of college is not the school load though, it is learning how to "balance" your life. You have to learn to make time for school, social life, extracurriculars, and maybe even work if you choose to get a job. After you're out of the dorms and in your own place, you will also need to learn how to pay bills on time, budget for groceries, and this is harder than it sounds. College is extremely difficult, but it is also THEE most fun you will ever have. Being on your own feels great, and NOTHING feels better than checking an exam grade and seeing that you did well. Work really hard and you will do fine.

Answer 3

It's challenging. For some people it is hard. Certain degrees are more difficult than others. If you study something you enjoy, the hard work will be worth it.

But a degree doesn't mean anything if you don't have to work for it. It all depends on what you study and how much effort you are willing to put in. It's the best ay to ensure a strong future for yourself, and almost required these days to get most any job.

Answer 4

Lots of people start college, but only 50% end up with a BA .. many drop out. It is hard because you have a lot of material to read and study and memorize. Try to balance your classes with one difficult class, one med. hard and one easy.. if you can do it that way. Get advice from your advisor at the college. They can be very helpful. You can do it .. just requires some concentration and "go for it" attitude . Good luck ! :)

Answer 5

Lots of great answers on this one-good luck picking a best.
For some people college is hard, but for others it is easier. Some people just have more ability in that setting than others. Whether it comes naturally or you have to work hard, my advice is to FOCUS like a laser. Go get 'em!

Answer 6

They tell you that every year in regular school too, or my teachers did. The hardest part about college is making yourself go to class. Since most people do not have classes from 8-3 in one place it is easy to skip a class, especially if a friend wants to meet for lunch and a beer. Even easier if said friend knows about a good party on a Tuesday night, just try attending and making it to that 8am Wednesday morning World Lit class. So, no the actual work was no harder, but you have to have self discipline (and the good sense to NEVER schedule an 8am class)
Good Luck!

Answer 7

Depends on what kind of classes you take, some classes are harder then others. And sometimes it also depends on what teacher you end up with.

I have a learning disability and I go to college, have been for a few years and I get pretty good grades. Just make sure you study, turn your work in on time and show up to class (not late) and you'll be just fine.

Answer 8

It was like high school to me. Only just a tiny bit harder. I just had to make sure that I studied and paid attention so I wouldn't get behind. I also had to keep an eye on the time because all of my classes were not back to back like in high school. Sometimes I had an hour or so between my classes.

I hope I helped some. Don't worry, you will be fine! :)

Answer 9

Colleges vary a lot. If it's hard to get into, it's generally harder. I wouldn't worry about it too much because the college entrance process will determine if you're capable of the school.

To be honest, most average colleges are equivalent to junior and senior level high school classes. You just get into more depth.

Answer 10

You and only you can decide if college is hard. I wouldn't go by any ones answers on this because people have various opinions about college. Also people have different habits of studying, classwork, and so on. One may find it hard and another person may find it quite easy. Personally I think its easy at least it was for me because I devote myself to my work. Its a lot more information then you ever get in high school at a faster pace so if your not completely devoted to your education then you may find it overwhelming.