The clock is ticking and move-in day is just a few weeks away. At this point you are probably excited but nervous to enter the world of college. We’ve all been there. With that in mind, the Old Gold & Black editors decided to put together this piece that highlights the realities of college living. So here’s a reality check before you start off your first year as a Demon Deacon:
Dorm Room
EXPECTATION:
REALITY:
No matter how hard you try, your room will never look like it is in a Pottery Barn Teen catalog. There is no space for all of that PB Teen stuff anyways. So pack accordingly and then bring half of that.
The Parties
EXPECTATION:
REALITY:
College parties are fun, but they are not as glamorous as the movies. So don’t expect the awesome parties as seen in Old School or Accepted. Be prepared for many nights spent making some questionable decisions in dark, dirty frat basements. You will come to love them.
Who You Will Miss the Most From Home
EXPECTATION:
Dear Old Mom and Dad
OR:
Your Friends From High School
REALITY:
Your Pets
You have no idea how much you will miss your furry friends until you don’t have them to snuggle with at night. Don’t worry though, everyone with pets will be in the same boat and no one will judge you for Skype-ing your parents just to see your dog.
Eating
EXPECTATION:
REALITY:
It can be very easy to make unhealthy choices in The Pit or Benson. So you really have to use self-restraint to avoid gaining the dreaded Freshman 15.
Working Out
EXPECTATION:
REALITY:
Try to make time in your schedule to workout. It’s important for your health, fitness and sanity. Don’t let your social life and other “extracurricular” activities get in the way of going to the Miller Center or hitting the Reynolda trails for a quick workout.
Romance
EXPECTATION:
REALITY:
It’s not always a fairytale.
Concerts
EXPECTATION:
REALITY:
Wake has not had the best luck with concerts in the past few years. After a string of lackluster performances on campus, Macklemore and Kendrick Lamar came to Wake last spring, however a rowdy crowd and broken barriers forced the Macklemore’s act to end early. Better luck next year?
The Weekend
EXPECTATION:
REALITY:
Weekends never go according to plan. Learn to go with the flow and fit in naps. Oh, and you should also know that Wake kids do not mess around on Sundays. You become convinced that you have more work than everyone else and therefore must spend at least 12 hours in the ZSR.
Studying
EXPECTATION:
REALITY:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Buzzfeed and pretty much everything on the Internet tries to distract you from studying. Try downloading the application, SelfControl on your computer. It allows you to block websites for whatever amount of time you set. It can really help stop you from wasting your entire day browsing the web.
Wake Forest Sports
EXPECTATION:
OR:
REALITY:
OR:
Yes, Wake’s athletic teams are not up to their historical standards right now, but soon we will be victorious again. Even though we had a dismal basketball season last year, we beat No. 2 Miami, showing signs of progress and hope. And though we did not make a bowl game in football, this year look promising! Fingers crossed.
Laundry
EXPECTATION:
REALITY:
OR:
Doing laundry sucks, but you have to do it. Oh, and please wash your sheets more than once a semester.
Class Attendance
EXPECTATION:
REALITY:
Without your parents, it’s easy to get in the habit of skipping classes. But Wake classes are pretty small and usually your professors will notice if you are not in class. Sometimes showing up is part of your final grade so take the opportunity to boost your GPA before it is too late. Also, if you do the math, each class costs about $70 so it’s a really poor financial decision to sleep through a class.
The Wake Forest Student Body
EXPECTATION:
Southern School=Southern Charm and Southern Students
REALITY:
A Bunch of Northerners
It seems like everyone at Wake is from New England, DC or New Jersey. You will soon learn to differentiate between the authentic “y’all” and the adopted “y’all.”
Thinkpads
EXPECTATION:
REALITY:
Thinkpads are notoriously unreliable. Be sure to purchase Thinkpad insurance and don’t throw it off your top bunk. (It happens.)
Roommates
EXPECTATION:
OR:
REALITY:
After a couple of weeks:
And then there are a couple of arguments:
And finally:
Living with another person in such tight quarters can be tough. But make the best of it and learn to compromise.
The Next Four Years
Expectation:
Reality:
Your four years at the Forest will be the best of your life. Learn some stuff, make new friends and enjoy! See you on the Quad.
And don’t forget to read the Old Gold & Black.