I graduated about four months ago and this is the first September I can remember where I’m not in school. It’s pretty wild.
And post-grad life is… nothing like I’d imagined it would be based on television and magazines. And it’s not just me. Whether you’re a fellow recent graduate or you’ll be graduating soon, here are the truths about graduating from college and the myths about post-grad life that aren’t true. While everyone’s experiences won’t be the same, these should help you breathe a sigh of relief when your plans aren’t going…as planned.
1. MYTH: Everyone will have a job.
Most of my friends still don’t have a job. Heck, I have an internship… which isn’t technically a job even though it’s full time. Yes, I have some friends who went to grad school and others who got a job ASAP, but the majority of my pals are still figuring things out and applying to opportunities. No matter how many jobs you apply for or how well you do in college, there’s no promise you’ll have a job as soon as you graduate. Plus, who’s hiring and who isn’t is constantly changing.
If you don’t have a job ASAP, don’t sweat it. Pick up something to do in the meantime and keep on hustling, you’ll be fine.
Related: Here’s how to find your dream job
2. MYTH: You’ll move out and continue on the road to independence.
False. My sense of independence is sort of taking a few steps back. In school, I became super independent in terms of cooking, cleaning, running errands and buying groceries. Now? I live at home. My mom cooks me dinner sometimes and feeds my kittens during the day. I’m more dependent on my parents than I was a year ago and… it’s okay.
I have a handful of friends who have moved out of their parents’ house and the only ones who’ve moved out are in grad school or got a really sweet deal on an apartment and have a job to pay for it.
But, with that being said…
3. MYTH: Moving back home will be miserable.
FOR NOW, it’s pretty nice. It’s nice to come home to people and to not have to worry about buying groceries and paying rent. I am relishing in these moments where I don’t have to be entirely independent (not that I could afford to right now anyway). I see this as a blessing.
Of course, this isn’t the case for everyone and everything. Some people’s situations at home are a nightmare. Some people’s parents will charge them rent. Some people aren’t allowed to move back home.
I’m lucky to be able to live back at home until I can afford to move out. But, having someone keep tabs on how late you stay out isn’t the worst thing in the world when there are plenty of perks. That being said, I do plan on moving out. I don’t want to still be living here when I’m 30.
4. MYTH: You’ll never make new friends.
I sort of believed this one. Almost every friend I’ve made has been in a school/college environment. And it’s not easy to make friends, especially when you’re not surrounded in a bubble where you can see people all of the time and chat about campus common ground.
But, within a few weeks of graduating, I found myself getting closer to new people and making new pals at work. While the friendships are slower to grow outside of college, they’re still there. And it’s comforting to know you can still make friends.
Related: 15 Best Friend Ideas
5. MYTH: You should take the first job offer you get.
While it’s important to acknowledge that you, in most cases, won’t get your dream job or even your second or third dream job right out of college, it’s also important to note that you don’t have to accept the first job offer you get even if it’s the only job offer you have!
I didn’t accept my first offer and neither did my good friend. We’re both doing just fine! If it’s something that doesn’t feel like a good fit or something that you know you’ll be miserable at before you even sign the dotted line, it’s okay to turn it down.
That being said, if something seems like you’ll be able to grow and learn and it’s something you might like or something that can help you move forward in a major way, go for it. Don’t say yes for the sake of saying yes. Always think through your decisions, even if you only have one offer at the moment.
6. MYTH: You’ll constantly miss college.
I do miss college. Certain things will spark a memory or nostalgic feeling and I’ll feel kind of sad. But, most of the time I don’t really think about it. I enjoyed college, but I (luckily) don’t find myself missing it deeply and constantly.
But, I am trying to ignore my younger friends’ Snapchats and Instagrams. Those give me a small dose of nostalgia. And I know heading back up for alumni weekend will give me nostalgia, too. But, life goes on! And you keep moving forward.
There’s plenty of things to miss, but there’s also so much to look forward to and I find they balance each other out.
How’s post-grad life going?
