9 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Left College

January 12th, 2012 - By Victoria Uwumarogie

Loved, LOVED, the story done yesterday called “9 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before Jumping the Broom”! Loved it so much in fact that it made me think…what are other big leaps in life do I wish someone would have warned me about before I jumped? Then I thought about college. Such a sheltering place, yet and still, your first big foray into something of a “real world.” If you are paying for yourself to attend school, taking out major loans or hustling from internship to internship, then you’re already getting a taste of the struggles of adulthood. But for those who didn’t, things are going to be a lot scarier than what you’re used to. If someone would have warned me about these things, it “sho’ll” would have helped in my introduction into adulthood. For starters…

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  • ash

    I agree w all of them, but the loans one and the moving back in one, (kind of) I decided to move back in after school and its been pretty cool. I’m 24, no kids, and didnt have a job… my mom knows that im an adult who does things adults do. (Sex, drinks every once in awhile, maybe goes out) and she has never gotten mad if I want to do what I want. I have since gotten a good job w the post office and make good $. I pay my loans on time every month. (Almost 600) as well as my share of rent, utilities, and other things.

    My point is, don’t get all bent outta shape for going back home. We help each other out, my bills get paid and I can still spoil , myself. People get on my case a lot and tell me I wasted my time in school, when will I move out, and can’t believe that I pay so much to sallie mae but you know what? Im HAPPY! Before I turn 40 they will be paid off, I will own my own home, and no one can ever take my degree from me!

  • TVAL

    Another good sound advice for college is to seek help when you need it. Either academically or emotionally. I learned sophmore year of college that I was suffering from depression that I had since high school, which I never realized I had. However, I sought help through counselors and close friends. 

  • Liz

    this is really nice

  • Pricelles06

    Sooooo right!……

  • Guest

    True.

  • Batontwirler187

    #9 is SO TRUE. I am dealing with it now and I graduated college in 2009. I recently ran into someone I spoke to everyday in high school. We even hung out sometimes. I tried to speak to them and they totally blew me off. What is worse is when I texted them ( I still remembered their number from 6 years ago,) they said that we were never friends and that we were just acquintences ( I so have proof that we weren’t just that.) It really hurt me because I did not socialize with too many people in h.s. because I was focused on school and extracurriculars.Needless to say I don’t speak to this person anymore.  It gets pretty lonely after graduating college, especially if you are in law school. You are so focused on school and the people in grad school (at least in law school sometimes,) treat you like you are the enemy competitng for grades. Meanwhile all of your friends have boyfriends or are getting married. I guess that is just the way it is…It would be nice to go out and get a drink with some of the ppl you knew sometimes.

    • Allyce

      Don’t worry when you get your law degree and into your career that same “friend” will look you up for free legal advice. Refer that person to Legal Aid. 

  • http://www.bednp.com/ D&PCartel http://www.bednp.com

    OMG!!! The transition from school was and still is hell. And like the writer said it’s because you had no clue that life after college was like this. It’s like everyone believed the same fairytale. Get good grades in grade school, do your best in college, graduate, and boom you’re instantly your own form of Cliff and Claire Huxtable.

    So not true. It took me three years to land my first full time job in my field and those words “student loans” have my net worth so far below 0 it’s scary. And what bothers me the most is the battle of not wanting to crush some teenagers dreams about school but yet being extremely irrittated with people who act like post grad programs are the automatic antidote to life. I never want to ever kill a kid’s dreams of educating themselves but it’s killing me looking at people be in blatant denial about there situation.

    People tell me every other day, “You’re a smart girl you need to go back to school.” For what? The average graduate coming out of undergrad has anywhere from $20 to $100,000+ in student loan debt. Not to mention credit cards and car loans. So someone tell me why would I go back to school, put myself in more debt, just so I can “possibly” ( and I’m talking about possibly) make that $20 to $30 grand more. Please, let me ask the real question. Who’s really winning? 

    The person who got an associates in some trade that could afford to pay cash for their education making $39K a year straight out of school with no outstanding debt or the person who has a phd making $94K a year straight out of school but has anywhere from $200 to 300,000 dollars in debt?

    Vermel Kinmon

  • Mooke10

    wow all soo true going through this all right now!

  • Candacey Doris

    All the stuff here is true. But you forgot one thing: Enjoy college life! I wish i enjoyed it  more. I was always fretting about grades, money, or roommate drama. Even because of race drama on campus. I wish i had more fun.

  • Lonestarbelle

    Wow… You hit the nail on the head girl!!! I’ve been out of school for almost 3yrs now and I wish I would have known those things back then. Most of it I learned the hard way lol, but I finally got it together. Im sending this article to my girlfriends still in school, I keep telling them to GET YA MIND RIGHT, IT’S REAL OUT HERE!  Instead of spending all your money on eating out, and that $150 a bag remi hair, start saving cause you’re gonna need it! Great article.

  • Lovelygemiancer

    I’m in school now….reading this definitely helped me out a lot.

  • Sugar_Spice

    GIRL YOU TELL IT!!!!!!!!!  Almost all of these were true for me, especially the moving back in with your parents & needing to learn how to cook or starve.  I lived off of Little Caesars $5 pizzas & $1 double doubles until I taught myself how to cook.

    • Pahleeze

      Co-sign ;-D