Life after college

[emsimes]

Is it really so bad?
I'm about a year away from getting my Bachelor's degree, and all I ever hear from college graduates is, "Enjoy it while you can! Life after college is going to be shitty and depressing, so good luck!"
Boy, is that encouraging
While I enjoy my major and the club I'm involved in at my school, I've never been one of those individuals who loves school. I've always wanted to get done as fast as possible so I can move on with my life ^^
I guess that's a big part of the reason why I don't understand this train of thought. Granted, I don't know what it feels like to be in the "real world" and have a full-time job, but I'm actually quite looking forward to that day. I think it's mostly because I'm just damn tired of being a student, and I already have a job that I really enjoy.

Any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated

[rubydissolution]

And once u graduate you will wish u were a student again. I graduated a while ago now and I miss school. I actually long to go back. I found something in my field with my degree but I don't make enough where one job is possible. So, I'm in the life after school sux category.

[emsimes]

And once u graduate you will wish u were a student again. I graduated a while ago now and I miss school. I actually long to go back. I found something in my field with my degree but I don't make enough where one job is possible. So, I'm in the life after school sux category.

Aww, I hope things get better for you, ruby!!
I guess because I've never really liked school, it's hard for me to imagine missing it, but maybe I will one day ^^

[mllebamako]

I'm sure it's different for everyone but I really miss college. I don't necessarily want to go back for the classes or work, although I have to admit it was nice having something concrete to work on everyday. Do your homework or write the essay or take the exam and then get a grade back. It was very satisfying and made it easy to full productive. I miss how easy it was to make friends at that time. Now it takes a huge amount of effort and, even when I do meet people, it's such a pain in the butt to get together with them that I often don't try as hard as I should. I miss having interesting clubs and lectures and activities and events at my disposal. Now I really have to search those things out. I miss not having so many money/job/life worries. I felt more carefree during school. I had some money worries but not at all on the same scale as I do now.

Anyway, to answer your question...yes, for me, life after college has been pretty rough and I don't really want to go back (because I can't afford it now and don't really know what I'd want to study) but I do miss my time there.

[Rugger]

I'm going to be honest, life after college sucks. It took me two years of working my ass off to find a good job and move out. Now instead of going to cub meetings and bars, I have to pay bills. I have to get up early every day and commute. I don't see my friends as much as I used to because I'm always so tired. I thought college was hard, but it's a piece of cake compared to real life. The fact the my SO and I get to live together now and get pets is actually the best part.

[CanadianGirl]

Oh, man, when my SO graduated, I knew we were in for an adjustment period, but he was unbelievably depressed for months. Spent about 2 months unemployed, which he took really hard. Once he found a job, he struggled with his new schedule and felt like his days were just flying by with no time for himself. It was definitely a rough spot, relationship-wise, since I couldn't help him and him adjusting to his new schedule meant we didn't get to talk as often.

I think, as long as you're realistic about your expectations and prepare yourself, it won't be that bad but it's probably going to take some time.

[lyonsgirl]

Although I had accepted a job offer before graduation, the transition was hard. Honestly the biggest problem for me was going from "walk into a room and find someone to sit next to in class, instant friends!" or "join a club, 20 new friends!" to not really wanting to hang out with the people you see for 8+ hours every day.

Heck, it's STILL hard for me - but that's partly because of my job & the fact I've moved 4 times since graduation. So, yea. I wish I could go back to school.

[80anthea]

Sorry I don't think all these responses are helpful but I still miss university, I'd go back tomorrow if I could afford it.

[dglynn77]

It IS hard, as some pointed out that you no longer live with all your friends and while you have college responsibilities, it is not like life after college responsibilities.
However, if you already don't really love being in school, it will be an adjustment, but it doesn't have to be terrible.
In college you always have things you could be doing. Once you graduate, you start looking for that perfect job that you are just right for because of your training, and for most, it doesn't appear. You spend hours and days applying for jobs that just don't seem to want you. It can get depressing. You sit down with your money and see if you can move out/buy a car/save/survive until you get a job, and immediately become more depressed. It becomes hard to justify going out with friends and having a good time when the only money you have is barely enough to buy your groceries the next week. I think this is all why it can be really hard to adjust after leaving college.
However, I didn't write this to be all doom and gloom, life after college can be a lot of fun. It will be a different kind of fun from college, but fun nonetheless. It gets easier, too. When you were in college you had a lot of choices to make such as "should I go to this party all night, or should I take the train to a concert in this city..." Now, you don't even have to struggle with decisions like that- you know you can't so either because you'll either be at work or you can't afford it lol
This doesn't go on forever though. Eventually you will find a job. Make friends who understand that life Isn't a party but have learned how to make time to hang out. You will be able to be creative with your money and your bills.
Basically, it just takes an adjustment period, but it is not awful. I have never wanted to go back to college, except when I thought another degree might help me get a better job, but even that wasn't a serious thought.
It's not all bad, and just takes time to adjust. With a good attitude, you'll be fine

[emsimes]

Thanks for all the responses! Sure, maybe not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I always appreciate the honesty of the members on this site with their life experiences
I'm sure, as everyone else pointed out, that it will be a big adjustment, but I hope it's not always so bad. I'll try to make the most of it!

[lucybelle]

Everyone has different experiences, I have had 0 problems transitioning from college to work life. I was offered a job at the school where I student taught and the year went pretty well. I had great support which is important in a school. Then I moved to CR which is a whole adventure in itself!

I view college/high school like I do the single life. I loved college and I loved high school. Tons of great memories. But would I ever go back? No way. It was great while it lasted, but I'm happy to be an adult. I'm happy to be independent. I'm happy I make my own decisions (for the most part). I can go on vacation when I want. I can eat ice cream for breakfast and no one will yell at me. I can get a dog and name it myself. Being an adult is great!

[piratemama]

I think it comes down to the differences in people. If you don't like school that much, you will probably be fine. The grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence. I never really wanted to go back to college until recently. After having been a stay-at-home mom for years, it's been hard trying to get back in the workforce; I think getting into another field might help.

One reason working might be so tough is that you have to pay bills. You always worry that you might lose your job and no longer have the ability to pay bills.

[kittyo9]

There are some good things. I can do what I want in my free time instead of worrying about homework, having to run experiments or keeping my grades up. I have money to buy things I've always wanted or needed and I can support myself if I need to. I'm still in save mode, though, so I'm not really using all the benefits of my new income.

I do miss college. I miss learning and being able to walk everywhere I needed to go and having friends around. Now I live with my family, all my friends live in other states, and everyone at my job is over 30. Spring break, summer break, winter break are all gone-- now, if I want to travel for more than a week, it's at the risk of my job (though thankfully right now I'm on a contract so when it ends I'm commitment-free). When I finished school, I was working part time and reminded constantly that I was a guest in my house for the 5 months it took before I found a full-time job. Now I'm slowly opening up to the realities if things like paying for insurance, owning a car, commuting to work, etc.

For some people, the transition is just easier. I know that when I transitioned into college, I was SO ready to be away from home and at university that I transitioned with no problem at all. Since you sound like you're looking forward to it, maybe it will be easy for you!

ETA: Since it's tax season... TAXES!

[Sunbeam]

Oh, man, when my SO graduated, I knew we were in for an adjustment period, but he was unbelievably depressed for months. Spent about 2 months unemployed, which he took really hard. Once he found a job, he struggled with his new schedule and felt like his days were just flying by with no time for himself. It was definitely a rough spot, relationship-wise, since I couldn't help him and him adjusting to his new schedule meant we didn't get to talk as often.

I think, as long as you're realistic about your expectations and prepare yourself, it won't be that bad but it's probably going to take some time.

This was my situation too.
I found myself unemployed from May-October. I got a part time job in October. My job relies a lot of work from home, which is harder for me than commuting, because a. I know literally one person I work with and that is it, and b. I have to have a lot of time management.
Most of my friends have full time jobs, and other friends, so I feel very lonely.
Once May rolls around and I live with my SO though, it'll be one good thing in this year that's been pretty bad, tbh.

I agree with everyone about be realistic, and remember if it does suck, not everything will suck forever.

[Agathiel]

For me, graduation was a big change in my life. I was attending schools for 17 years and, suddenly, I found myself outside my university building, holding diploma in my hands and feeling lost in the big world. I'm a person who gets used to things, to routine, so I must admit that even though I didn't love learning, I felt like some important part of my life became missing.

Also, what others had already mentioned, I had trouble with having as much friends as before. At uni, it was enough to enter the class to see 30 people and have someone to talk to. After I graduated, it turned out that maintaining these friendships is not as easy as before and many people just naturally "disappeared".

Also, job market in my country doesn't look as good as I anticipated when I was a student, full of hopes... After finishing studies, I started to feel the pressure of responsibility for more things that became pretty serious (mostly financial issues).

But on a more positive note, it's nice to have schooling behind, to have more time to focus on what you really want to do, on hobbies. For example, I read finally many books that I didn't have time to read when I was studying. I also could seek a new job when I wasn't satisfied with the one I had. I feel like I can more often ask myself if I like the current course in my life and fix it more quickly. It takes some time to get used to the new stage of life, but after some time you become comfortable with this change. You start looking at the bright side of this transition.