14 Ways Freshman Year and Senior Year Of College Are Totally Different
You worked really hard to shed that Freshman 15, and now your perception of food has kind of changed. But you still like to eat pizza...like a lot of pizza.
By 
Ari Eastman
Academics
Freshman year: You get to all your classes 10-15 minutes early to make sure you get the perfect seat.
Senior year: You awkwardly lurk in the very back because you were a few minutes late and every spot has been taken.
Freshman year: You’re determined to attend every single lecture, class, discussion.
Senior year: …that professor puts his PowerPoints online…so….
Freshman year: The idea of pulling all-nighter fills you with a strange combination of terror and excitement.
Senior year: All nighters are second nature. It’s actually weird if you DON’T pull an all-nighter before an important exam.
Freshman year: You have a weird crush on your TA, but feel so embarrassed about it because they’re basically your teacher…is it illegal? You have so many questions. So many feels.
Senior year: You see your TA at a party and don’t even trip.
Food
Freshman year: You complain about the dining halls. Same shit, different day. You so badly wish you had your own kitchen to cook up various delicacies. That’ll be the life, huh? One day….one day….
Senior year: Remember when you had access to unlimited food at your finger tips? You’re so jealous of your former self. You’ve got your kitchen now, but you don’t ever have time to cook. Or maybe you just…don’t really know how. Cup Noodles 4 life.
Freshman year: Your metabolism still works at warp speed. You’re not concerned about late night snackage and a diet that consists of pizza…like a lot of pizza.
Senior year: You worked really hard to shed that Freshman 15, and now your perception of food has kind of changed. But you still like to eat pizza…like a lot of pizza.
Dating
Freshman year: There are boys/girls everywhere. So many people you haven’t met! So many chances to fall in love/hook up/fall in love AND hook up! It’s like a smorgasbord of romantic opportunity.
Senior year: You will run into that random person you drunkenly made out with ONCE at a party absolutely everywhere. You also bump into your ex at the absolute best times, like right when you’re leaving the gym and you kind of resemble a sweaty hobo.
Freshman year: You’re into playing games when it comes to a crush. You and your friend construct elaborate plans, analyze text messages, overthink absolutely everything.
Senior year: You might still analyze text messages with your friends, but you’re more comfortable with just being straight up. Yeah, I like you. Do you wanna go out? Nah? Okay, cool. On to the next one.
Friends
Freshman year: You collect friends with such voracity, it’s as if you’re trying to prove something to your old high school peers. It becomes a quantity game, not always quality.
Senior year: You’ve found your group. The people who have helped take care of you after you puked outside of a Halloween party and still stick around. Friendships without true staying power sort of fall by the wayside, and you’re left with those beautiful humans who you truly love, and even better, they truly love you.
Freshman year: Weekends are all about going out with your friends and soaking up every single moment of social activity you can. You’ve definitely said the words thirsty thursday.
Senior year: Your new idea of a perfect night with friends is sweatpants, wine, and falling asleep on the couch watching Friends reruns.
Appearance
Freshman year: You plan outfits, watch YouTube hair style tutorials, set your alarm early to make sure you’re looking top notch for class, etc. You’re all about putting in effort.
Senior year: At least you still brush your teeth and throw on deodorant. Killin’ it.
Health
Freshman year: You think you can run on little to zero sleep and actually sustain it. You down coffee/red bulls like it ain’t no thang.
Senior year: Your body is starting to fail you.
Freshman year: The first time you get sick, it’s absolutely horrible because there’s no one to really take care of you in the same way as getting sick when you lived at home. You still have to actually do stuff, sick or not.
Senior year: You don’t let a cough get in the way of what you need to do. Oh whatever, this isn’t that bad. It’s just a cold, I can still go into work.
Life After College
Freshman year: You think about graduation in sort of a whimsical, light-hearted way. Like, ah, when I graduate I’m going to move to some brand new city and furnish a cute little apartment with random Pinterest inspired knick knacks and live with my best friends forever!
Senior year: You have an ulcer forming from the thought of ACTUALLY graduating. 