College Not What You Expected? You’re Not Alone

You’ve probably heard it all: “College will be the best four years of your life!” or “Get ready for endless freedom and fun!” But the truth? College is usually a mix of highs, lows, and everything in between.

Students we talked to described showing up with sky-high expectations—or no idea what to expect—and then hitting reality fast:

• Homesickness is real. Even if you couldn’t wait to leave, missing family (or even your dog!) can sneak up on you.

• Workload shock. Seeing a whole semester of assignments in your syllabus can feel overwhelming, even if you adjust later.

• Friendship expectations. That “perfect roommate = instant best friend” idea? Not always the case. Friend groups shift a lot more than Instagram suggests.

• Mixed emotions. You can feel excited and lonely at the same time. Both can be true.

So how do you handle the gap between expectations and reality?

• Watch out for “fortune telling.” Assuming you’ll never make friends or always feel homesick just adds stress.

• Try a “beginner’s mind.” Instead of predicting how college should be, notice what it actually is—curious, open, like you’re experiencing it for the first time.

• Remember: meaningful = messy. Anything that really matters (friendships, independence, growth) comes with some stress built in.

👉 College isn’t about matching a movie script. It’s about writing your own. The mix of freedom, challenge, homesickness, and growth is what makes it meaningful.

To hear more about ways to manage college expectations, and create a beginner’s mindset this semester, listen here: