20 Mistakes Everyone Makes in College

There are some lessons you need to learn the hard way.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Ah, college. A time to turn up and turn in term papers, have thousands of dollars “given” to you and still have your bank account consistently in the red, and get countless hours of sleep without ever truly feeling rested. These are truly the best years of your life.

While you may strive for perfection while earning your degree, you are bound to mess up. For many, college is the first time that they are responsible for themselves. The road to maturity can be bumpy for some. Okay, most. No one wants to go home sobbing to Mom and Dad about how it’s all just too much to bear. On the flip side, no one wants Mom and Dad to sob about how college has made you a whole new person—and not for the better. 

Some mishaps can be avoided with a little common sense, but others can only be used as lessons. The growing pains of adulthood are many, but being able to laugh about them in a cap and gown makes them worthwhile. Be comforted in knowing you’re not fucking up all by your lonesome, here are 20 Mistakes Everyone Makes in College.

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20. Spending Loan Money Inappropriately

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19. Developing Unhealthy Habits

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18. Frequently Cutting Class

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17. Not Looking For Free Money

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16. Not Doing Internships

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15. Taking Early Morning Classes

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14. Failing to Get to Know Your Professors

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13. Not Checking the School Calendar

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12. Not Taking Advantage of the Library

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11. Refusing to Purchase a Meal Plan

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10. Plagiarizing

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9. Not Joining a Campus Organization

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8. Skipping Office Hours

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7. Missing the First Day of Class

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6. Not Befriending Classmates

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5. Failing to Read the Syllabus

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4. Taking on More Than You Can Handle

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3. Majoring in Something You're Not Passionate About

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2. Waiting Until the Last Minute to Figure Out Post-College Plans

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1. Not Having Enough Fun

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