A
male
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:hi everyone my question is aimed at people who have been to what they call college in America.is the experience like what the films and t.v programs make it out to be like drinking and sex as well as the education side of it.I was thinking about going to go to America and study at a community college etc. and i just wanted to know the experience is like rather than going expecting what i see on the t.v and movies and being totally wrong.what is college life in America like?thanks everyone Reply to this Question
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (12 April 2011): It depends where you go to college. Don't forget America is a big country. Most of the movies, while often they do depict pretty realistic portrayals of certain college life, they often are skewed toward the mentalities of Hollywood or New York. Most people from LA and New York have never ventured to any other part of America. There is even a joke about it in the movie Coming To America. Semi says, "But America is so vast where should we go...NY or LA?"You are not going to get a full college experience at a community college. Community College is generally for kids who have full time jobs who commute, they offer two year programs, very few electives, probably no housing, little diversity or athletics, no Greeks or really any college life. Good places to look into college for that "fun" movie experience are:1. New Orleans, Louisiana. They got tons of colleges and it is party central. 2. San Diego, California. A fun beach town in Southern California known for its flare and funness. 3. Anywhere in California along the coast, that's not LA. 4. New York. NYU.5.Boston. It is a little more conservative but it is full of colleges and full of young people. And most importantly, stay away from the belly of America. Choose one: Either west coast or east coast.
A
female
reader, TasteofIndia  +, writes (12 April 2011):
 Hi sweet,
I've done both community and university here in the US. Community college is definitely not like that. It's a good way to get used to the college classroom and workload, to build up your grades and to meet lots of new people. The classes can be more unique - not all the basics that you find in most universities. They can have some pretty fun subjects. It's not quite a party life though, because most folks don't live on the campus, and it's not all 18-22 year olds. The age range is much, much larger than that.
College & universities vary. Some are bigger party school than others, but really it all comes down to YOU. If you're looking for parties, you'll find them. If you're there to take your education seriously, then you'll not really mingle with the party world at all. At pretty much every college - I suspect all over the world - there will be drinking and there will be sex. That's what happens when teenagers get released from being under their parents eye and finally get a taste of independence. But, some schools are less focused on those things. And not everyone goes to college hoping for one big drunken orgy.
If you aren't interested in going to a party school, avoid ones with a big focus on Greek life (fraternities & sororities).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_school
They have a top ten list from the Princeton Review & Playboy.
Honestly, I go to an alleged "party school" in upstate NY, but have never once felt like I'm at a party school. It's a tough university that challenges me and gives me a satisfactory education. The two times I've gone to a bar, it's been pathetically empty. I'm not sure where this "party school" label comes from... maybe the fact that there's a lot of balloons around the campus? Hahaha...
Anyway, almost nothing is what it seems like on TV. Marriage is not always between a bitchy wife and a lazy husband, everyone in New Jersey are not greasy, tanned up Guidos and usually teenagers don't live in glamorous lofts without parents. College doesn't have to be a drunken haze that gave you herpes and that you barely remember! Good luck!
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A
female
reader, k_c100 +, writes (12 April 2011):
 Life is nothing like what you see on TV or in films, so I think you should lose that idea pretty quickly!
As cerberus said, it is pretty similar to going to University in the UK (University is what the American's call college. What we call college here in the UK is where you study your A Levels). The main difference is that you cannot legally drink in a lot of states in America until you are 21, so the typical student cant go out clubbing like the typical UK student. So most of the 'partying' done in America when you are at 'college' is at house parties, whereas if you went to University in the UK you would go to more bars and clubs.
Here is an interesting link for you:
http://www.transworldeducation.com/articles/nusameric.htm
Realistically, you can get into drink, drugs, sex etc wherever you are in the world. If that is what you are into - you will find it. Studying is pretty much the same worldwide, you have to work hard and then you get to have a bit of fun with your friends when you are not studying. University/college is hard, wherever you go to study. There is a tonne more work than you are used to, you have to motivate yourself, look after yourself, pay for everything yourself.....basically there is a lot more responsiblity for you. The American college system has different semesters and grading systems so there will be some differences there, but in terms of the people and social life it wont be too different to the UK. Apart from a few cultural differences - have a look at this website http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Cultural_differences_between_the_US_and_England
http://listverse.com/2007/11/25/top-10-differences-between-europe-and-america/
But overall, I think as long as you are open to having fun and are a friendly, outgoing person you will have no problems going to any University/College in the world.
I hope this helps and good luck!
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female
reader, dmartin89 +, writes (12 April 2011):
 Hi, I dont know much about Colleges in America, but I do know that community colleges are not like "normal" collages.
Your grades dont have to be as good to get into community college. At a univerity you get bachelors degree, at community college you get an associates degree (lower level).
At a community college, most the courses only last a year as they are less academic than longer courses.
University degrees will last 3/4/5 years.
Some people use community college qualifications to get into university if their high school diploma scores are not good enough.
More info here;
http://www.educationbug.org/a/university-vs-community-college.html
Also to note; the sex and drinking you see on tv occurs in Fraternities and sororities and shared housing on student campus which are only in normal colleges/universities, not community colleges.
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reader, anonymous, writes (12 April 2011): College life in America is the exact same as anywhere else. I mean if you watch Skins you'd assume that college life in England is all sex, drugs and wild parties but it's not. Parties are part of every college in almost every country, that doesn't mean you have to go to them. Plus it all depends on your clique and the friends you make. It will be pretty much the same as your friends in Britain because you'll share similar interests.
I have a friend studying over there at the moment and she said it's the same as anywhere and it all depends on the crowd you hang out with. But what you see on TV is a glamourized version of things. I mean you can go to a house party there and it's the same as the UK, there'll be people there dancing, people hooking up, drinking and depending on the party there'll be drugs. But that's only about 5% of college life, most of it is work, projects etc. Another 20% of it will be social activities like going to a match or live music. It's a hell of a lot of fun and if partying is your thing you'll find plenty of that too.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (12 April 2011): At a community college no your not going to find that. At a community college every one is only going to class. It's a lot of older people or young parents. No one has a dorm or anything like that. However at a university it will be like that. You can go to a community college in a university town and have the same party experience. Some of the universities are bigger partying schools than others. Some of the universities are in bad area's too, so you want to keep your eyes open for that when you pick a school. Good luck! And have fun. Schools over here are great!
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