Why Can't I Like College?

[MajWound]

I have never liked college, but almost everyone I know is in love with the experience. Parties are boring, class is boring, I'm not mentally or emotionally stimulated by anything the university shoves in my face, and this is a school of over 50,000. But what I really can't stand is this compulsory school vs school jingoism that I apparently absolutely must become a part of. I just don't care. It's like, "Leave me alone you stupid assholes."

 

[Robert632]

I have never liked college, but almost everyone I know is in love with the experience. Parties are boring, class is boring, I'm not mentally or emotionally stimulated by anything the university shoves in my face, and this is a school of over 50,000. But what I really can't stand is this compulsory school vs school jingoism that I apparently absolutely must become a part of. I just don't care. It's like, "Leave me alone you stupid assholes."

I assume I don't need to point out why I'm a bit confused by your opening post. If you are, read the bold words again.

Anyway, on to your problems and what I can say about them, based on the info you've provided. Plus me probing for more info. In fact, It's mostly probing

Parties being boring: Before college, have you ever had fun at parties?

Classes being: Are you into what you're studying? Were you ever into the classes you're taking

Stuff the uni(?) Shoves in your face: Is it strictly necessary to be stimulated by this stuff?

Compulsory School vs School Jingoism: You're already doing what you really want with this situation i.e Not giving a fuck, so just keep doing that.

 

[Ando85]

Yeah , college isn't the splendor that it is made out to be. I felt no unity or "school" pride or anything. It is just a system like everything else.

 

[SilentCom]

Yes college can be boring but you can receive a higher education. Not everyoe likes college and there are certainly other opportunities. There are vocational schools, internships, and other more hands-on oriented learning to prepare you for a future job if you're more concerned with that. Sometimes I wish I had chosen that route, having just finished 4 year university myself.

 

[FilipJPhry]

During my first year, I thought I was gonna be an engineer. I was dead wrong. I wound up depressed and drinking alot. Then, after exams, I examined my options. I tried out courses the next year that just sounded or looked interesting. I wound up majoring in accounting, where I feel very comfortable. Just explore your campus. Try joining clubs, do a course that sounds interesting, go to the gym, look up flyers. If you have a hobby, post something on your school's message boards and see how many people are interested in said hobby. To have the best time in college, you need to know the place inside and out.

 

[mornal]

I'm going to second the 'find a club' idea. You can have a lot more fun when you've found people you enjoy hanging out with. I don't think anyone will be able to help you with the parties and school rivalries being boring. Those are just a case of you like 'em or you don't. However, if you say your classes are also boring that's a bit of a problem. You might try speaking with an advisor about switching majors or something similar. You could also try speaking with a counselor and telling them what you told us (most campuses have some sort of free counselor you can speak with).

 

[MajWound]

I assume I don't need to point out why I'm a bit confused by your opening post. If you are, read the bold words again.

I don't see the problem here. I go to college at a university.

I think my issue is that I don't give a shit. People my age disgust me with their constant drinking and idiocy. Apparently, at the biggest block party of the year, my fellow classmates attacked (read: rocked and threw beer bottles at) a squad car that was trying to clear the street to let traffic through. I was genuinely embarrassed to associate myself with this student body, then terribly pleased to learn that they had been teargassed like drunken rioters (which they basically were). Every time someone on campus is shot, stabbed, robbed, or raped, I get half a dozen phone calls from the family asking if I'm alright and what had happened. The whole area is a cesspool inhabited by alcoholic children and gangsters.

Thank God I moved off-campus with all the asians, away from the rest of the student body to simply live alone and in peace. But I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. If I hate it so much here, why do they all love it? Why do they sing this school's praise while I plug my ears? Is there something wrong with me or with them?

 

[Rin Little]

I was never a huge fan of college either, the only parties I went to were the ones I held in my apartment, my classes weren't bad but it was mostly talking to my profs outside of class was what I enjoyed, but I did meet some pretty cool people.
I am just not one for school.

 

[LesStewart]

First off, I have to say that I'm shocked you don't like university based solely upon your avatar. As far as I have witnessed, "The Dude" is worth enough cache at any post-secondary school to get by at any party.

In regards to your comments about "everyone else loving it", I would imagine that it has to do with a homogeneous attitude at your school that celebrates one group of people as opposed to a variety of peoples. I have had friends at institutions like that who couldn't stand it. They left for more cosmopolitan campuses and ended up enjoying a university setting where they not only had a place, but were able to explore many different views of the world.

Out of interest, where do you attend university?

 

[Yureina]

You're not alone. University was not very appealing to me either. Honestly... I don't know how I endured that for the 4 years it took to get a degree. But I also went to a commuter campus, so... there was little to no social life at my university whatsoever.

Anyway... what's the discussion value here? And why is this in the Advice forum?

 

[MajWound]

I was hoping someone could help me figure out how to enjoy myself. Nevermind for asking.

 

[staika]

I'm not shocked that you don't enjoy college because its not as great as much as everyone makes it out to be but I am enjoying myself in college. as for what I like about college well I'm in a major that I enjoy (Intelligence), the teachers I have are either laid back or funny, my upper classman are awesome, my classmates are okay and there are a lot of clubs in my major to choose from and most of them are seem like they'll be fun (I still need to make my choice about which one I'm going to join).

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

drink more booze and don't be a hater

 

[Radeonx]

I loved college, but I went to an upper class private college on a huge academic scholarship, so my experience was probably much different than yours.
We got shitfaced at parties and stuff (We had tons of fun), but we never did anything super illegal.

 

[Dags90]

Out of interest, where do you attend university?

Given the large size of the school and location of the OP (US), a large state university is the most likely scenario. Honestly, if the OP is at ASU or some other notorious "party school" and complaining about partying, he should've done some research.

 

[slavec]

University is boring. The fun is in the things you do outside of college. But this could be just me since I only have 2 hours of college on wednesday.

Then again, university is just the place I follow classes. I don't know if the US is very different.

 

[Navvan]

I assume I don't need to point out why I'm a bit confused by your opening post. If you are, read the bold words again.

I don't see the problem here. I go to college at a university.

I think my issue is that I don't give a shit. People my age disgust me with their constant drinking and idiocy. Apparently, at the biggest block party of the year, my fellow classmates attacked (read: rocked and threw beer bottles at) a squad car that was trying to clear the street to let traffic through. I was genuinely embarrassed to associate myself with this student body, then terribly pleased to learn that they had been teargassed like drunken rioters (which they basically were). Every time someone on campus is shot, stabbed, robbed, or raped, I get half a dozen phone calls from the family asking if I'm alright and what had happened. The whole area is a cesspool inhabited by alcoholic children and gangsters.

Thank God I moved off-campus with all the asians, away from the rest of the student body to simply live alone and in peace. But I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. If I hate it so much here, why do they all love it? Why do they sing this school's praise while I plug my ears? Is there something wrong with me or with them?

I don't like parties and the like either unless its the type where everyone is someone I hang out with or directly knows someone I hang out with. However, I knew what I was going to college for. Not to party, but to learn about something I love. Which wasn't how to party.

Perhaps you picked a boring major that doesn't actually suit you?

 

[Shadu]

I like college well enough. Yes, there is a lot of stuff, politics and stupidity, that I hate, but I still enjoy myself. I have met some awesome people. We hang out. I don't party. I don't drink. I've taken mind-numbing classes, because there will always be there, but I've taken some great ones too. Those are usually directly related to my major.

The best part for me has definitely been finding my best friend (who is also my roommate now) and hanging out with her, and others in my major. And before anyone asks, I'm a senior this year. This is not first year giddies for me.

In many ways, I hate college with a passion, but in others, I love it. The connections I've forged and the friends I made were worth it. Oh, and the experience of living away from home before moving out of the house completely.

 

[Zakarath]

I'd say what you need to do is find a course of studies that interests you. What I love about uni is finally being able to take classes in things I care about.