As all of us seniors begin our exciting journey into college life, we all think we have a pretty good idea of what to expect. But college is full of unknowns, and there will be a lot you wish you’d known once you reflect later on. I’m lucky to have a sister in college, Claire, who also went to Lab and has given me some great insight into college life. Claire now lives in Grinnell, Iowa, where she attends Grinnell College and is majoring in English and Anthropology. I have lived vicariously through her as she made the transition into college and I wanted to interview her about her experience and share some of her advice with all of you. 

 

What surprised you the most about college? What have you learned?

 

Going to Grinnell was a very different atmosphere than New York and I was surprised by how close the community there was. It was very important to learn how to communicate well and to learn what you want from relationships. Whether it is roommates or friendships, learning what you want out of a friendship is very important since you spend so much time with people in different ways. You are eating meals with these people, living with them, and studying with them, so communicating with them is so key. If you want that alone time you need to initiate it. I have realized that how people show up for you looks a lot different in college than in high school.

 

When you go into a new environment like college, it is very appealing to want to make friends and spend as much time with them as possible. But once you start figuring out who your friends are, it is important to reconsider how you want to connect with them and how much time you need to dedicate to yourself. It is important to figure out if studying with other people, for example, helps motivate you, or if it only distracts you. Additionally, while you may feel pressure to attend every social event, prioritizing your mental and physical well-being is more important than what you could be missing out on. Some people need more alone time than others and will need different social outlets than others. While college is made out to be a place where you party every night, that is certainly not the case, and if you do so you may just burn yourself out.

 

What has been your favorite thing about college?

 

In terms of social life, I just absolutely love the community at Grinnell, everyone is so nice and welcoming. Additionally, I love deciding my classes and path, it's very freeing and I love the independence.

 

Do you miss anything about high school?

 

Not a lot, to be honest. I mostly miss things about New York and my dog. I really miss the food in NYC that I could get at out-lunch because the dining halls at college do not compare.

 

Any dorm advice?

 

WEAR SHOWER SHOES! That is the most important thing you can get. Also, you should consider your dining hall options and if you want to make food in your dorm. You might want to consider a kettle or fridge/microwave and work that out with your roommate. Speaking of, it's super important that you communicate clearly with your roommate. Also, if you have the option to choose where you live on campus, think about what dorms are the “party dorms.” You may think you are a party person but you probably don't want to live 24/7 at the party. If you live in a party dorm it's going to be noise and partying 24/7 when you may want your own downtime or study time. So ask yourself, do you want to go to the parties or live at the party?

 

Any last advice?

 

Join clubs and put yourself out there as much as you can! You will regret it later on if you don't.