Post-Grad Reality Check
When you were in college, you probably daydreamed about life after graduation: finally securing a stable job, becoming a real adult, and leaving exams behind. But now? You miss it. You miss those late-night drives with your friends, the crowded parties, the excitement of meeting a new friend in class. If you're feeling nostalgic, we're here to reminisce it all with you. Here are 20 things you miss most about college after you graduate.
1. Seeing Your Friends Every Day
The best thing about college was that, like high school, you got to see your friends every day—or, at least, every other day. Even if you no longer shared the same classes, you were all still on campus and (hopefully) had the same breaks to grab lunch together.
2. Partying on the Weekends
Admit it: you miss partying in college. Sure, you were in school to learn and choose a suitable career path, but that didn't mean you couldn't enjoy a drink or two (or 10) on the weekends. Plus, if you joined a fraternity or sorority, partying was in your blood.
3. Joining Clubs
In college, there were clubs for just about anything. Creative writing club? Check. Anime club? Check. Chess club Check(mate). Joining a club allowed you to meet new people and befriend those who shared the same interests as you, which made the experience all the more worthwhile and fun.
4. Flexible Schedules
Technically, your class schedule depended on what times your required classes were taking place, but it was mostly flexible. At least, there were often multiple sections offered for popular courses, so you were able to plan your semester accordingly.
5. Living on Campus
Another great thing about college was living on campus. Sure, you might not have gotten the dorm of your choice or even a roommate you got along with, but it was still a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Plus, it meant you didn't need to wake up early to commute.
6. Learning New Things
College, of course, was the place you spent four years (or more) in to learn. Along with the required classes for your major, you also had the chance to sign up for electives to learn about other subjects you were interested in. This gave you ample opportunities to build your knowledge and skillset, and to meet more people.
7. Keeping a Part-Time Job You Can Quit
After graduating, you're expected to secure a full-time job, hopefully in the field you spent four years studying for. But while you were in college, you were able to take on different temporary part-time jobs that you could quit whenever, and these roles were often less stressful and didn't require as much responsibility.
8. Making New Friends Every Semester
Every semester when you enrolled in new classes, you were given chances to meet new people and expand your friend group. That was the exciting thing coming back after a short break; not only were you tackling new subjects, you were also placed in new classrooms and sitting next to people you'd never met before.
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9. Study Sessions
Remember those last-minute study sessions you'd have with friends and classmates just before an important exam? Yup, those were the days. Even though these sessions often consisted more of the whole group doing everything but studying, they were memorable nonetheless.
10. Taking Up a New Sport
Whether you had a newfound interest in badminton or volleyball, college was the perfect time to take up a new sport. Joining a club or a team allowed you to get some exercise in, and it also gave you chances to meet new people, so it was like hitting two birds with one stone.
11. Student Discounts
Another great thing about being a college student was that you were given discounts almost everywhere. As long as you had a valid student ID and email, some stores and services offered upwards of 15-20% off regular-priced merchandise, making it more enjoyable to shop.
12. Summer Breaks
After you graduate, there are no more summer breaks. In college, summer was even longer, since your final semester ended whenever you finished your final exams. This often meant you had at least 3-4 months off to catch up on other hobbies, extracurriculars, and goals.
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13. No Real-World Pressure
When you're a student, you're still in a bubble, your days structured and dictated by your class schedule. If you had a part-time job, you had another responsibility, but most of the time, your main duty was to be a student and learn. You don't face any real-world pressure until you graduate—and that's when the real "fun" starts. (Spoiler alert: it's not fun.)
14. Having a Bad Diet
Your metabolism gets worse and slower as you get older, so you definitely aren't able to eat like you used to back in college. Those days were filled with cheap junk food: ramen cup noodles, chips, burgers, French fries, chicken nuggets, waffles. Nowadays? It's all about lean protein and leafy greens if you want to keep good health.
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15. Networking Opportunities
College exposed you to career fairs, mentors, professors, and other professionals who could help you get your foot in the door. After you're out of school, though, it becomes increasingly harder to connect with people in your field to secure better roles.
16. Access to Free Counselling
In college, counselling is often offered free of charge or at a lower cost. This was especially helpful for students struggling with their mental health or those feeling burned out by their classes. After you graduate, you quickly realize that booking an appointment with a therapist is expensive unless you have proper insurance from your employer.
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17. Campus Freebies
Another great thing about college was that you often came across free things, whether it was free cookies, energy drinks, keychains and lanyards, or water bottles. Outside of school, you rarely come across things being handed out at no charge, unless they're small samples.
18. Campus Food
Technically, campus food was often expensive and not worth the money, but some options weren't bad, and there might have even been cafés or bakeries that opened exclusively at your college and nowhere else. Those are the ones you miss the most.
19. Weekend Trips
Remember long weekends and short trips with friends? College was the time to let loose and have fun whenever you were given a break, and you likely didn't take those chances for granted. Whether to the beach, ski resort, or hiking trail, these special trips became core memories.
20. Being Young
What do you miss most about college? Being a student. Being young. Not having to worry too much about the real world yet and finding a stable job. Life is hard, being an adult is hard, and if there's one thing you wish you could do again, it's probably to go back in time to savor your youth just a bit longer.
