My college experience is way different than the typical state school. Everything I have learned so far is based on the fact that I attend a private arts college, live in downtown Chicago, and lead a super independent lifestyle.

The most important part of my day is class, considering I’m a full time student. My first semester I discovered that having late afternoon/evening classes was not the right fit for me. I find it so much more productive to get up early, get done with class, and have the rest of the day for myself. My class days are Monday-Thursday and I am done by either 11:50 am or 1:50 pm. This is a huge advantage to me and I highly recommend scheduling college classes early, it leaves a lot more motivation to make the rest of the day productive.

At school I make all of my own meals. I have a full kitchen and no meal plan but I definitely prefer this over a cafeteria style dining hall. I have already learned so much about nutrition and healthy cooking and it is definitely something I love about my college life. I’ll have a full post up soon regarding what I eat in a day, but I definitely recommend exploring cooking for yourself in college.

In the evenings I have definitely been trying to get out and explore. There is so much to do in the city of Chicago and I would be stupid to not try and experience the most I can. A huge positive of attending Columbia College Chicago is that there is usually a lot going on within the school itself. This is my biggest recommendation about college, take advantage of everything your school has to offer.

Most of all I love the fit I have found at my school. If you are feeling uncomfortable at the school you attend don’t be afraid to keep looking, there is nothing wrong with transferring to a school that is going to better yourself in the future. If you are interested in Columbia College Chicago I will say that it is an amazing community to live and grow in. Attending a school with artists and creatives is so inspiring and I learn so much daily just by interacting with peers. Living in downtown Chicago has also provided me with so many important life lessons and I feel like I have grown more in the past 6 months than I did in all of high school.

Cheers to college life and the amazing opportunities it brings.