What were your experiences at college like?

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For those of you who have been to college, what was it like for you? Here's how it was for me:

I've been in college for five years (in the US) and I expect to get a Bachelor's degree next December, and college has been a combination of good and bad experiences for me. In general, I was much more successful at the academic aspects of college than its social aspects. I have a 3.99 GPA but I had so much trouble socially living on my own at college that I transferred back to community college and then transferred again to a school that was within driving distance of my parents' house so I could commute from home. I never did well at college parties (in the unusual cases that I was invited), and my only success socially came with clubs or groups of friends who had common interests with me, such as anime, politics, or debate. Even then it was hit-or-miss - there was an anime club that I stopped attending because I couldn't connect with people there. I'm still glad I attended college - it is not only useful for my future but it gave me the best experiences of my life, even though it also caused some of the worst.

My first two years of were a horror show. Along with 5th to 8th grade the worst bullying in my life with some of it with what is called Gaslighting today. Loud music from those big three foot tall speakers popular at the time vibrating right through the paper thin walls, drunk and stoned (this was the 1970's) people saying nonsensical things loud at all hours a day falling down, continually punching holes in my door (and everywhere else).

I transferred and it was the best 2 years of my life. If a clone of my 21 year old self wanted to be evaluated for ASD today he would be laughed right out of the office. People there were just nice. We were like one big family. It could still be plenty loud at times but it was not as crazy. You would see me in crowded bars because I did not know I was autistic and therefore did not know I was not supposed to be able to handle it. Sure on really crowded nights the pushing and bumping bothered me but I thought it bothered everybody else just the same as me. Looking back I now realize there were subtle but obvoius signs. I have gone to a few informal college reunions and still feel much more comfortable with people whom I knew and did not know then then with any group in my life.

I did 2 years of uni on campus & full time, but then I dropped out. I was making myself sick with the effort of talking to people, dealing with all the sensory & organisational things, etc.

I had a complete breakdown, wound up in a psych ward a few times. Eventually I enrolled with a different university in an online-delivery course.

I really enjoyed online study. I could work at my own pace and I didn't have to interact with people any more than I could cope with, or go through the sensory ordeals of university campuses.