Education logo

College Life

When does it end?

By Olympia PavPublished 6 years ago 3 min read
Like

When you graduate high school, it is supposed to be the greatest time of your life. You finally feel free, getting ready to leave your parents' place, go off to college, study hard and occasionally party with your friends...

"Go to college," they said. "It will be fun," they said. Yeah, right!

I didn't expect college to be a breeze. I knew it was going to be hard work and require dedication, but at what point? Late nights, all-nighters, coffee highs, no sleep, seven papers due in the same week, grumpy professors, and kids that don't give a crap.

I started out at a community college to save money. I had good grades in high school but my plan was to go to community college and get an associate’s degree so that way I could have a good job while I go for my B.A. in Criminal Justice.

NOPE.

Saving money! Ha, it's not even in my vocabulary anymore. They never said if your parents make a certain amount above the required limit that you can't get financial aid in a community college. They don't tell you that in high school. So, here I am, thinking it will be great. First semester, okay I had to give them $900 out of pocket. Okay, whatever. Next semester, they wanted $1100. The third semester, they wanted $1500. I was like, "Okay, now I'm broke." I'm a college kid with a minimum wage job paying out of pocket for community college tuition and books because my mom made $100 too much. That's where they get you, it isn't even about the workload anymore. It's the nickel and diming they do to these poor college kids. College basically costs an arm and a leg at this point. (No pun intended).

So I decided to transfer out to a University and it's great. I received tons of scholarships for my educational achievements and I really liked the University, but then they wanted ten thousand more dollars than the tuition was just for me to live on campus. I said, "Oh, hell no!" Isn't the point of college to get AWAY from your parents and out of their house? So because the tuition and the amount to live on campus was so much, I decided to commute and stay home—every college kids’ worst nightmare. These Universities really know how to make their money back. It’s especially hard when the kid has to pay for all this out of their own pocket because the only parent living has to pay for medical bills from her deceased dad who had cancer. Off to a great start! (Not)

So you go to class and it's great. You like the professor and the curriculum and think it’s going to be a great semester. Then after class or before a workout at the gym, you go to the convenience store on campus and they want $6.99 for a water. A WATER! Like bitch... isn't that suppose to be free, like c'mon man! Then you decide you need a protein bar or some chips. Another $10.99. Your total at the register ends up being $17 for a water and chips. These universities want to charge us broke-ass kids $400 for textbooks a semester, $30k on tuition a year, and $17 for a water and chips. PSHHHH. Oh and you can't forget the meal plans and when you need a new notebook because yours fell in a puddle. Your total at the end of four years is so extreme and you're in so much debt that when you have kids someday, your kids will still be paying off your debt.

Be warned. College sucks! But thanks for that $150,000 piece of paper that says I am smart!

college
Like

About the Creator

Olympia Pav

22~ College Student

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.