Pros and Cons of an On-Campus, College Social Life

Although it certainly will not be written in the colorful brochures sent to aspiring college students and their parents, one of the main things that many colleges aim to teach their students is how to professionally, successfully and diplomatically deal with their peers and authority. Having a social life while in college is applauded. College stress social happens, though. The very way that most dormitories and college campuses are set up encourage and foster the student's social life. From communal tables in the cafeteria to group projects in the classroom, the social life starts at school. How far one takes his social life while in college depends on the student.

The Pros of a Social Life in College

Students with an active social life that revolves around fellow students can actually encourage him to be more active on campus and in the classroom. If your new best friend is going to all the classes, you don't want to be left behind. Also, students who have an active social life are often inspired to start and join clubs, which are extensions of the classroom learning experience; they can often teach students as much as a class, yet are free or minimally expensive.

Having a social life in college will also inevitably lead to an improvement in your social skills. How you deal with people in the future can be shaped by how you learn to deal with people in a more protected campus environment. If you were going to end up in a fist fight with your first bad roommate, it is best for that to happen on campus, where an RA can help solve the problems and where roommates can simply be switched.

Networking

What is often over-looked in the importance of a social life in college is how crucial networking is in the world. While it is not a pretty picture, a lot of your future success may depend on who you know. This is evident with rampant nepotism. In areas where there does not seem to be nepotism, hiring of friends or advancement of people within a social network often occurs. By having a social life in college, you are also making connections that may help you or your friends later in life. Be true to your friends, and they will be true to you. Colleagues can lift one another up. While that is certainly never a reason to make friends, it can be an unexpected benefit to a social life in college. Few people know that Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve were college roommates.

The Stresses of a College Social Life

Like all good things, a social life in college can easily spiral out of control. It is only natural for a college student to want to accept all friendships offered. Turning down an invite can seem very hard to do, especially when you want to be popular or avoid hurting feelings of other students who are just as nervous as you are. However, there has to be a line drawn. By organizing your schedule, you can avoid overloading yourself with too much to do. Use a student planner, making sure to account for more study hours than socializing ones.

There will also be added temptations when you have an active social life. College is a time of experimentation for many students, and this can lead you off the track you want to be on. To avoid having your social life go down the wrong direction, be sure to always have someone you can call to get out of a bad social situation. If someone tries to pressure you or crosses the line on what you find is acceptable, simply make up excuses to avoid hanging out. You need not make a big scene or be mean. Simply make social choices based on the friends who treat you the right way and support the lifestyle you desire.

Sources cited:
my own experience as a college worker, college student and journalist