Like many people, I started college with a slew of expectations about academics, lifestyle, and experiences I’d have. Though I thought I had a good sense of what to expect, I found it impossible (in a good way!) to anticipate 100% of my first year. With my first year behind me, I’ve been able to pinpoint a few things about my Northwestern experience that took me by surprise!
1. I didn’t expect to take so many classes that genuinely fascinated me
Before arriving at Northwestern, I was under the impression that first-years had very limited course options, consisting only of broad introductory classes (like Intro to Psychology). I definitely didn’t expect to have the opportunity, let alone availability in my schedule, to take courses on such interesting, narrowly-focused topics like Communications and the Good Life, Comparative Literature: The Theme of Faust, and Studies in Victorian Literature: The Brontës. Often, I’ve found classes like these so engaging that they never felt like work! When your time comes to sign up for classes, I definitely recommend balancing your survey courses with more concentrated studies to create a course-load that is both productive and enjoyable; that way, your learning is both broad and deep.
2. I didn’t expect to visit Chicago as much as I did
Though the heart of downtown Chicago is just under an hour from campus, I assumed that I would only manage to visit maybe once-a-quarter. To my surprise, I’ve actually traveled down to the city more times than I can count! With the convenience of free rides from the Intercampus shuttle and the Chicago Express shuttle, heading downtown, especially on the weekend, is temptingly easy.
During fall quarter I was able to experience the city in all its holiday splendor, taking special care to drop by the Christkindlmarket and the nearby Walnut Room. The chill of winter quarter didn’t stop a Florida-native like me from wandering around the Loop, visiting the Bean after dark (it’s less crowded!) and discovering new favorite dinner spots. Spring quarter has brought perfect weather for catching a show at Navy Pier, taking strolls down the Magnificent Mile, and taking train rides to food-filled stops in Chinatown. Chicago is such an exciting city, and with a little bit of planning and time management, it’s not hard to take full advantage of our 2-mile proximity to it!
3. I didn’t expect the passage of time to feel so different
Most surprising of all is how time seems to completely warp in college. Days may feel like weeks at times, but weeks tend to go by like days. I’m not sure if it’s the workload, the structure of the -quarter system, or the anticipation of breaks, but time moves impossibly fast. Each Sunday when I changed my weekly countdown on my whiteboard, I couldn’t believe that another week had flown by! With that said, be sure to enjoy the present moment, take lots of pictures, and make the most of your breaks (whether that means relaxing or cramming in as many adventures as possible). Before you know it, you’ll be reflecting on your first year and wondering where the time went (see what I did there?)!
Whether they come from TV and movies or from family members, you may bring your own expectations about college life to the table. However, in the generationally-relevant words of Selena Gomez, everything is not what it seems. With such a big life-change, there are bound to be surprises, but as long as you remember to be open to new experiences, everything will be a breeze.