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There’s no shortage of movies and TV shows depicting college life. As a result, many of the lessons American teens have learned about the college experience come from pop culture. Not all of those lessons are based on accurate reflections of the college experience. Although some college movies and shows are more realistic than others, in general, pop culture has given rise to various misconceptions regarding what college life involves.

The following are some noteworthy examples of beliefs you may have about what college will be like based on pop culture myths!

1. Every Party is an ‘Epic’ Occasion

An American high school student who has never attended a single college party could still probably describe one if asked to. They’ve likely seen plenty of movies and TV shows featuring college party scenes, after all. In movies, an average college party takes place at a house packed with energetic young coeds who all look like Abercrombie & Fitch models. Music is blasting and partygoers are showing off their moves on an impromptu dancefloor. Everyone is consuming extremely copious amounts of alcohol, and some are openly using drugs. Additionally, every spare room in the house is occupied by people hooking up.

The reality of a college party isn’t quite as over-the-top. Yes, college parties can get lively, but the real-life version of the party described above is not exactly the same as the Hollywood version. Will a college party take place at an off-campus house? Often, yes, although it’s also not uncommon for parties to take place in small dorms and apartments. Is such a party overflowing with people? Sure, college parties can get crowded, but not everyone there will be a supermodel. All types of individuals attend parties. Some are loud and energetic, dancing along to the music, while others are content to sit in a corner with a few friends enjoying the casual conversation. The music itself won’t be too loud either. No one hosting a college party wants to have the police called on them for a noise complaint.

Nerdify reviews data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism indicating that more than half of college students between the ages of 18 and 22 will drink alcohol in a given month. However, college students don’t have unlimited budgets for alcohol, nor do they wish to try and get arrested for using illegal drugs, so many partygoers don’t drink or use drugs at all. Finally, Nerdify reviews stats from the American Psychological Association showing many American college students will experience some form of romantic experience, but these experiences are not as common as some incoming first-year students assume.

2. RAs Are All ‘Buzzkills’ or ‘Creeps’

A Resident Assistant (RA) is a student who lives in a dormitory and is responsible for keeping an eye on a certain number of students/rooms. In movies and TV shows, RAs tend to be depicted in one of two ways. They are either power-mad enforcers of the rules who exist solely to ensure no one living in a dorm has any fun, or they are slightly creepy older students who try to use their RA status to strike up relationships with younger students.

Do some RAs match these descriptions? Probably, but not always. Often, an RA is a helpful source of support who can lend an ear when a student is feeling homesick, help roommates get along more easily, and organize dorm-wide social events where students can meet each other in low-stress situations. True, part of an RA’s job is to enforce campus rules and policies, but this doesn’t make an RA a “narc”. RAs have to handle all the stresses of being a student while also handling the stress of being an employee of the college they are attending. On the occasions when RAs have to enforce the rules, they aren’t doing so to spoil anyone’s fun — they’re doing so because it’s their job to keep everyone in the dorm safe.

Some incoming students might even consider becoming a RAs after a year or two. Along with helping pay for room and board, being an RA could help a student expand their social group and make more friends. For more insights, you can find stories on Reddit about users’ best and worst RA experiences, as well as Reddit threads featuring amusing stories from former RAs.

3. College is Similar to High School in Certain Ways

Movies and TV shows which take place at colleges often depict many of the ways college is different from high school. Although college classes may end at designated times, there usually isn’t a bell that goes off indicating class is over. More importantly, there are no scheduled lunch periods, like there may be in high school. Students can eat lunch whenever they choose. During the time a student is not in class, they are free to roam about campus or leave campus as they please.

It is often during these free periods throughout the day that college students cultivate friendships. Unlike high school, where friendships may develop in the class environment itself, because college classes often involve large numbers of students sitting quietly while professors lecture, at the college level, friendships are often cultivated via on-campus events, get-togethers, lunches, and other social occasions big and small.

Worried about making friends and socializing in general in college? You’re not alone. Nerdify experts review studies and surveys showing many first-year college students wish they were more emotionally prepared for the experience. Additionally, Nerdify reviews new research indicating today’s parents may not realize how anxious about college their children are. If you’re worried about starting college, there are many Reddit threads and communities where you may find helpful advice.

College movies and TV shows can also depict professors actively reminding students who are falling behind on their work that they haven’t turned in assignments. Like high school teachers, college professors in movies will go after students who are in danger of failing. In reality, while some college professors may let students know they have missed due dates or are failing their classes, most professors aren’t as aggressive as high school teachers in this regard. They know it’s their job to simply teach a course. If a student who is paying for the course decides not to do the work, it’s not the professor’s responsibility to get them back on track.

These differences may seem minor, but they highlight an important point: college students have the freedom to make their own choices about everything from what they will have for lunch to whether they will attend class. They also need to always remember that pop culture depictions of college life are rarely accurate. Yes, college absolutely can (and should) be fun and enriching. It’s simply more likely to be when a student’s expectations about the college experience are realistic.

It is a festive season, yay! Our friendly Nerds at the Nerdify reviews team had their say in the selection of original Christmas ideas. Some of them recommended dressing up as Santa, while the others found it to be way too old school. Still, we came up with seven original recommendations that will not only make the next Christmas season memorable for you but will also inspire others to make this world a little bit better, brighter, and safer. After all, Christmas is about love and taking care of each other, bringing hope and light to everyone!

Visit Sick People at The Hospital. Christmas should be fun for everyone regardless of age or gender, yet there are many people who are sick and cannot get out or dance around the Xmas tree. Visiting sick people at the hospital or paying a visit to the children’s hospital will be a great reward for anyone as soon as one sees the happy eyes and even the tears of those who wait for a miracle to happen. As children, we all believe that Christmas is a magical time, so why not take that magic stick in our hands and spend the next Christmas by turning to one of Santa’s helpers?

Organize Charity Meals for The Poor. A lot of nerds that constitute the Nerdify reviews team have discussed the way how not so rich people organize charity meals for the poor people in New York, California, and many other cities and villages nationwide. It does not take much to share your joy and participate in a great charity event with both small and old. It is also a great way to show the younger siblings and friends that kindness starts in the family and that anyone can make a difference. Unlike the gift that is often unwrapped and forgotten soon after, this kind of Christmas will be remembered for a lifetime.

Create a Handmade Gift. This is probably the best part of all because it inspires people for being creative and is a lot of fun during the holidays. Instead of trying to catch all the possible discounts at the local malls, creating something with your own hands will be much more precious to the person you give it for. Do you remember how we would paint a picture or write a little note in that awesome child’s writing just to see the happy tears in the eyes of parents or grandparents? Now it really shows that something is done from the heart, yet most importantly, it will be a truly unique present!

Volunteer for the Local Community. It was surprising even for us at the Nerdify reviews, yet there are many things a person can do as a volunteer for the local community. Christmas is a busy season, so everyone tries to take a break and have some rest. Still, there are many professionals that still work on a daily basis and do their best to keep the city and the people safe and well. Even if it is something very little that you can offer, do not hesitate to give your local community a call and ask if there is anything you can do as a volunteer!

Organize a Family Reunion. It is really bad that most of us meet only during the holidays. Our advice is to start early and organize a great family reunion with a lot of surprises, special games, and the stories that people of all ages can share. If you know that someone struggles financially, organize their transfer to the place of gathering, but do it in a very kind way without offending anyone. At the same time, focus on the people, not on the conditions because it is the happy faces of the family members that really matter.

Start Writing a Story or Paint a Picture. Another fun idea is to start writing a story where you try to finish at least one page a day. It can be a detective story, something for the children, a secret diary or even a new Star Trek episode. If you do not feel like writing, you can try to paint a picture or even decorate the house!

Start Learning About a New Culture. No Nerdify reviews post is considered complete if we do not offer at least one geeky suggestion. The best way to spend Christmas in an original way is to start learning a foreign language (even if it is only several phrases from the tourist book) or exploring a new culture. We often think that we know everything about the world, but try to read up about Japan or even Great Britain’s customs to discover much more than you can ever imagine!

No matter how you plan to spend the next Christmas, keep positive, have fun, and remember that it is about pure love that we share with each other!

Wishing you happy holidays,

Nerdify Reviews Team

According to our experts in the Nerdify reviews team, the majority of college students do not even realize that they are feeling depressed until things suddenly seem too dark and they do not feel like doing anything at all. It is only natural to feel this way when your immunity needs even more strength and the dim light of winter is only adding up to the way you feel. However, it is still possible to fight winter depression as you learn and find that inner strength and inspiration before the beautiful springtime. Honestly, though, winter can be beautiful as well if you follow these little tips and look at the brighter side of life!

1. Add More Physical Activity To Your Life

The safest way to fight winter depression while learning is to stay active. We have learned it the hard way at Nerdify reviews where we have tried our best to work hard no matter what. Our minds and bodies would only feel exhausted as we ignored basic stretching and going for a walk or dancing with our friends during the break. Just do something that you really like, play snowballs if there is snow, have some fun even when it is dark and you do not feel like doing anything. Just keep yourself active and your brain will release the stress.

2. Consider Winter Camp Exchange Programs

Another idea that we came up with at Nerdify reviews is the use of fun winter learning exchange programs where you can study beyond your bedroom or a college campus by joining winter camps for students. Sometimes you can even go abroad and stay somewhere where it is still warm while working on your research project or dissertation. Just enquire about your college opportunities and seek scholarships that may allow that! It will help you to seek opportunities even if it’s locally as you will be able to stay within a great social circle that will boost your emotional state.

3. Start Learning A Foreign Language

If you have not considered it before, think about learning a foreign language by turning to free apps like HelloTalk that allow you to learn by talking to native speakers from all over the world. The trick here is that your brain switches to another culture, which helps your depressed state become dissolved in a different realm where all the words are unknown and you can express your thoughts the way you have not tried before. Give it time, don’t push yourself towards results as the purpose here is to get relaxed and learn something new.

4. Focus On The Things You Love

Another safe way to fight winter depression is turning to sports, music, blog writing, or doing something that you really like. For example, you can start a college business by offering online help for ESL students. There’s a lot to look ahead to, which is why you should get creative and push that sadness away!

5. Keep Yourself Hydrated

As we did some research at Nerdify reviews, we found out that one of the core reasons why we feel depressed during winter is the lack of water as we forget about keeping hydrated when the air is getting dry and we turn on the heating devices. It is not only that our skin often suffers as we turn to lip balsams and things like that but our inner being also becomes affected. Just make sure that you drink enough and keep yourself hydrated!

6. Participate In Social Projects & Team Work

There’s always someone who needs your help and participation even if you feel as if there is not a person out there who would care if you are there or not. They may not even know you but there are thousands of people that need your support right now. Become a part of important social projects, offer help for people with disabilities, autistic children, students who have been through disasters and abuse. If it doesn’t sound right to you, think about environmental protection or team projects that interest you.

7. Seek Professional Help If You Can’t Cope Alone

If your depression lasts more than two weeks, affects your studies and daily life in a negative way, seek professional help as it’s only natural to receive some support. It may be a more relaxed schedule, a different group, a week’s break to visit your family and friends, or just someone you can talk to privately by discussing your fears, apprehension, and other aspects that you would like to mention.

You can either contact your college help center privately or seek help at places like The Recovery Village or other depression resources that are private and are free for most scenarios.