Nostalgic College Experiences Your Kids Won’t Have

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“There’s a time and place for everything, kids, and it’s called college,” joked a character from an old cartoon I grew up with. For me, that phrase rings true. I was the quirky kid in high school—too much of a bookworm for the cool crowd, yet not quite geeky enough to blend in with the true nerds. But once I hit college, everything changed.

The late ’80s and early ’90s were a wild and exhilarating six-year adventure. I was uncertain about my future, so I explored various majors, drifting my way to a degree rather than rushing down a path that would likely change anyway. College meant living in an apartment with a rotating cast of roommates, surviving on a diet of coffee, ramen, pizza, and cheap beer. It involved writing papers at 3 a.m. while sipping peppermint schnapps, hauling laundry home once a month, and crashing in my childhood bedroom until Mom’s coffee kicked in. It was about late-night debates over politics, TV shows, and the antics of a classmate who seemed determined to be the worst. My attempts at mastering German left me with nothing but the word “schadenfreude” to show for it. It even included a hilarious episode where a friend in a trench coat (and no pants) knocked on my door at midnight!

My love for college was so profound that it eventually led me to work in higher education. Sometimes it keeps my spirit youthful; other times, I find myself dyeing those pesky gray hairs more often than I’d like.

Technology has drastically altered college life today, and many of my cherished college rituals are now relics of the past. When I share these memories with the current crop of students in my office, they look at me as if I’m recounting tales from the Stone Age.

Here’s a glimpse of the college experiences that are now largely extinct:

  1. Registration Lines
    Back in the day, when the new course schedule was released, we would scramble to the Registrar’s Office, where stacks of paper schedules awaited. I’d grab a few for friends—much to the annoyance of the staff—and we’d gather outside, flipping through the newsprint while discussing our options. After consulting with quirky faculty advisors—one with a penchant for quoting Hunter S. Thompson and another proudly sporting a “Beowulf” license plate—we’d gear up for registration day. I would brave the lines at the Commuter Cafeteria, where the air was filled with the scent of Lysol and tuna fish. I had a love-hate relationship with this tradition; the anticipation of a new semester was thrilling, but those lines were a test of patience. Today, registration is a breeze with mobile-friendly websites, allowing students to sign up for classes from anywhere.
  2. Hallway Grade Checks
    In those days, waiting for grades was a communal activity. Professors would post grades outside their offices, and students would gather, anxiously checking the list. Using social security numbers instead of names felt normal back then. Now, as someone who manages academic records, I shudder at this practice, especially considering the risks of identity theft.
  3. The Race for the Dorm Phone
    My “dorm” was an on-campus apartment I shared with a few friends, and we had one communal phone. No one had cell phones back then; a few had pagers, which we thought were the ultimate status symbol. That dorm phone was our lifeline to the outside world, and I would eagerly check for messages, hoping for one from a classmate who looked like a young Kiefer Sutherland. Today’s students can’t fathom the anticipation of checking a voicemail after a long class day.
  4. Resume Paper
    During college, I worked part-time at the career center, where I learned the importance of good-quality resume paper. I remember the stress of printing my resumes on off-white parchment, only to face the dreaded printer jam. Now, resumes are mostly sent electronically, and I can’t recall the last time I held a piece of resume paper in my hands.
  5. Reconnecting on Social Media
    While not strictly a college experience, it’s something my peers and I did post-graduation. Many of my friendships faded after college, only to be rekindled years later thanks to Facebook. The thrill of reconnecting with old friends was memorable, but today’s students don’t share that same experience; they’ve grown up with social media, making it easy to keep in touch from the get-go.

Sure, today’s students may not have the same wild experiences, but they’re still forming friendships, pulling all-nighters, and likely enjoying ramen noodles. While some elements of our college days are gone for good, I don’t miss waiting in those long lines or worrying about printer jams.

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In summary, while the college experience has evolved, those unforgettable moments remain etched in our memories. Just as we cherish our past, today’s students will create their own unique college stories.

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