12 Reasons Why Students Hate College

As a recent graduate, I know first hand that there are many students who hate going to college. Throughout my time in college, there were moments when I was an unmotivated student. I didn’t want to be there and I hated going to class!

Many college students feel the same way. Some students push through and graduate. However, others may cut classes and likely drop out in discouragement.

In this post, I share the 12 reasons why students hate college and a few tips to improve your college life.

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1. Expensive Tuition

It’s no secret that American Colleges and Universities can be very costly. A big issue in the United States is that college students have to worry about paying off student debt.

As a Canadian whose college education is subsidized, I never had to deal with paying off massive student loans. However, I can understand why student loans can discourage students from going to college.

There are more affordable ways of attending college such as going to community college, receiving financial aid or getting a scholarship. However, the majority of students are stuck paying off student debt for decades after they graduate, which is a big reason why students hate college.

2. Being Away From Home

Part of the college experience is being away from home and living in a dorm room on campus. For many students, especially during their first year of college, being away from home can be quite difficult.

As a college student, living on your own can be really tough as you have to do your own laundry, cook and look after yourself. In college, living on your own is a big change and some students will begin to miss living at home.

This can make their time at college quite unenjoyable and unpleasant.

3. Students are Forced to go to College

Many students have grown up with an expectation that they will go to college from a young age. With the best intentions, many parents put pressure on their kids to get good grades so they can attend a good college or university.

In some cases, students are forced to go to college by their parents. Unfortunately, they may have no interest or motivation once they get to college. In my experience, students who are forced to go to college almost never end up finishing.

Being interested in what you’re studying and having the motivation to go to class is so important in college. Choosing a program or career path that actually interests you will set you up for success instead of going to school and hating it.

4. Mental Health Issues

At times, college life can be stressful, lonely and exhausting. Students can struggle with mental health issues, especially in their freshman year.

Whether it’s having a panic attack before a big test, feeling lonely or struggling with substance abuse, many students are dealing with mental health struggles in college life.

In my experience, things tend to get better by the second year of college, as you know what to expect. If you’re a college student struggling with mental health issues, reach out to an advisor. They are there to help!

5. Pressure from Social Media

Nowadays, social media has a big influence on college students. Social media has young adults constantly comparing themselves to others.

It’s very easy for a student to feel like they aren’t smart enough when they see other’s their age going to Ivy League Schools. Many students hate the immense pressure from social media, and it makes them question why they are going to school in the first place .

As a student who experienced this myself, it’s important to avoid comparing yourself to others. If you’re happy with what you are studying, then there is no reason to compare yourself to other students.

6. Organizational Issues

Many students, including myself, struggle with organizational issues. In college, due to the semesters being shorter, it’s so important to be organized.

Having an agenda and all of the proper materials to stay on top of your tests, exams and assignments is the key to success in college. Make a schedule, stay disciplined and avoid procrastinating!

Recommended items to stay organized in college:

Agenda

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Notebook

7. Indecisiveness

Many students struggle with choosing the right major to study in college. Although I never changed programs, I know plenty of students that have tried many different majors because they weren’t sure what they wanted to do.

Choosing a career path at a young age is one of the hardest things for college students. Many students will take a major and end up not enjoying it and hating going to class.

Talk to an academic advisor so you can study something that interests you. It’s okay to try different majors, as long as you eventually find something you’re interested in pursuing.

8. Difficult Workload

A lot of students take too many classes when they first get to college. This results in loads of stress, poor grades and a miserable college experience.

Many college graduates say that the best way to get through college is by managing your course load. In college you have tests, assignments, team projects and exams so it’s better to reduce your course load.

Compared to high school, the course content in a college class is a lot harder. Many new students find the workload very tough in their first semester of college, and it catches them by surprise.

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9. Large Class Sizes

One thing I hated about college was the large class sizes. As someone who came from a small high school, going to big lectures was a huge change for me.

Many students find it more difficult to learn in a big classroom, as it is harder to ask a question and focus. This can result in students being distracted, having trouble seeing and getting low grades.

Related: 12 Best Backpacks For College Guys

10. Online Education

In recent years, there are new ways to get educated, other than the typical college education system. With information being so widely available online, more and more young people are taking online classes and learning ways to make money on the internet.

Whether it’s having a YouTube channel, learning how to invest or being a content creator, there are so many great ways to make a living online. For previous generations, the way to make it in the real world was to get a college degree and work a good job.

Now, Gen Zers have found different ways to educate themselves that will be more beneficial in the long run. In the last 20 years, the internet has gotten so big and there is so much opportunity, yet college curriculums have not changed much.

Many college students will either see their friends or influencers making money online, which will make them question whether or not it’s worth going to college.

11. Boring Classes

Throughout my college years, I have taken several courses that were extremely boring and a waste of time. When you’re in a boring college course, it’s dreadful to attend.

In college, there are required courses that every student has to take. In some cases, they can be interesting and in others they can be extremely boring.

Taking a boring class means that you will have a difficult time paying attention, staying awake during lectures and you will never want to attend class.

12. Having Trouble Making Friends

Going to college is a huge difference from high school. For some students, they have trouble adapting to the new situation and making more friends.

Students who are very social tend to love college culture, but for others it can be very hard to fit in. Having friends in college makes the experience much better and more fun.

If you’re having trouble making friends in college, consider joining clubs, attending events and talking to your classmates.

4 Tips to Improve Your College Life

After my first semester in college, I had to change some things up to make it more enjoyable. Here are some ways to improve your life in college:

1. Reduce Your Course Load

In college, a big reason why students are so unhappy is because they are stressed from all of the school work. Reducing your course load will make your college life less stressful and more manageable.

2. Take Classes With Friends

If you have some friends in college, consider taking a class with them. Taking classes with friends makes the semester go by way faster and you will have more fun in class when it’s with a friend.

When it comes down to exam time, It’s always better to have a friend that you can share notes with and study with.

3. Do Your Best

It’s no secret that college can be very hard, whether you get amazing grades or average grades just do your best. If you studied hard for a test and didn’t get the best result, don’t put yourself down, it’s just a test and you will do better next time.

4. Stay Organized

In college, staying organized is so important. Write down important assignment, test and exams dates so you’re always prepared.

If you find yourself procrastinating like many students do, create a schedule for yourself and stick to it. You don’t have to be the smartest student to get through college, you just have to put in the effort.

Staying organized will make your school semester a lot more manageable and way less stressful.

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Final Thoughts on Why Students Hate College

As a recent graduate, I know that college can be stressful, expensive and at times, boring. It’s important to find ways to enjoy going to college because there are some really fun parts to college life.

In this post, I shared 12 reasons why students hate college and a few tips to improve your college life.

What’s the best part about college? Please let me know in the comments below.

12 Reasons Why Students Hate College – By a Recent Graduate