High school is well known for having “cliques.” Preps, punks, jocks, loners, “gangstas”… high school has it all. When you graduate from high school and move on to college, one of the things that you expect is for college to be a lot different from high school. Not only is the actual course material a whole lot different, but you are given a certain amount of freedom that you are not given in high school. What about the cliques though? Does college still have the same type of cliques that high school has? This is one thing that you would expect college students to outgrow, right?
Are There Cliques at Colleges?
Believe it or not, there are cliques are colleges. The main reason is because people tend to stick with people that they have something in common with. Preppy kids often have a love for the same clothing stores, while jocks may have played the same sports. Punks and “gangstas” often listen to the same type of music, which is how they identify with one another. Rather than starting off entirely new and blending in with a group of people, most people finding themselves befriending the type of people that they have gotten along the best with in the past.
Who Do Cliques at Colleges Benefit?
Although the entire idea of cliques at colleges sounds very disadvantageous, it really can benefit certain people. Freshman or transfer students who are new on campus and want to find someone to fit in with may find themselves to relieved to know that there are the same type of cliques that there were in high school. This will often make them feel more comfortable with the new college experience, as they will be able to find a group of friends that may be in the same position that they are or that may not be new to the school and can help them learn more about the specific college.
Who Do Cliques at Colleges Hurt?
While cliques can have their advantages, they can also hurt some people as well. People who consider themselves loners may find that they don’t fit in well with any clique. In some cases, however, they may develop a clique that’s all their own. It is more common for parents or older people who are just returning to college to find themselves at a disadvantage because of cliques. They also want to feel comfortable with the college experience, but may not be able to do so if they are not accepted. At the same time, they often tend to form a clique of their own.
Depending on how you view, cliques at colleges can be a huge advantage or disadvantage to students. In either case, they do and probably always will exist. Cliques are one habit that most people don’t know how to break, especially when they make the immediate transition from high school to college.
