7 Movies You Need to Watch Before You Start College

You’ve mastered high school and now you’re ready to move onto the next chapter of your life. College. There’s so many things to consider, from majors and extracurriculars to dorms and social lifestyles. No matter where you end up, every college experience is different in some way. The cinematic representation of college is never 100% accurate, but it can come pretty close. These seven, must-see films about college can provide you with humor, insight, and even a few tips to help you prepare and survive your first year of college. Make sure you add these to your must-watch list before starting college:

On finding your niche:

Pitch Perfect (2012)

High school is all about cliques, but college is about finding your place. That place could be found in sports teams, student government, or maybe even an acapella group. Beca found her voice with the Barden Bellas and its quirky group members. Each member brings something different to the group with their vocals and their personalities.

College has a wide array of student organizations and opportunities for you to express yourself. Keep an open mind and you might find yourself somewhere you never expected.

On fraternities:

Neighbors (2014)

Living next door to a frat house as a college student? Somewhat normal. Living next door to a frat house as a married couple with a newborn? Something out of a nightmare. This movie is nothing short of hilarious, and the representation of fraternity life isn’t too far off. The boys are all about brotherhood, girls, and maintaining their legacy. You’re guaranteed hysterical laughter as the neighbors go head to head, the couple aiming to shut down the fraternity and the frat struggling to stay under the radar while on probation.

On sororities:

The House Bunny (2008)

Facing threats to lose their sorority house, the girls of Zeta Alpha Zeta take in a former Playboy bunny, Shelley, to be their new house mother. In return for a place to stay, she vows to help the girls attract new members by schooling them on everything from men to makeup. Phi Iota Mu, their rival sorority, does everything in their power to sabotage the Zeta girls. The sororities in this film are all fictional, but the tier-system that they are based on is accurate. This humorous take on Greek life won’t disappoint.

On party life:

21 and Over (2013)

Your 21st birthday is one you will never forget. But that can become challenging when your two best friends make sure that you spend the entire night making the most of your first night of being legal. Jeff Chang has an important medical school interview the morning after his 21st birthday, and his friends can’t seem to find their way back to his house or stop getting themselves into trouble. Chances are your friends may try to persuade you to join them in a night of fun when you need to study for a big exam or prepare for an obligation the morning after.

On dorm life:

The Roommate (2011)

It can be exciting but nerve-wracking to meet your first roommate. Sometimes you’re living with a stranger, and the two of you could either become best friends or worst enemies. This movie shows the extremes of a “bad roommate,” but (hopefully) the worst our roommates will do is be dirty or loud. However, it’s always good to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. And who doesn’t love a good thriller?

On innovation:

The Social Network (2010)

You have a Facebook account. Your friends have a Facebook account. Even your parents have a Facebook account. So, you should know the story of how it all came about. Facebook originated in the undergraduate dorms of Harvard University in the early 2000s. While most students were studying for finals, Mark Zuckerberg was creating one of the most popular social networks on the planet. Let this be your inspiration to make something of your creative and innovative ideas!

On making your college experience your own:

Accepted (2006)

What can you do when you’ve been denied to every single university you’ve applied to? Create your own college, of course. At least that was Bartleby Gaines’ solution as he and his friends fixed up an abandoned psychiatric hospital, made a fake website, and essentially created a student-run university called “South Harmon Institute of Technology” (S.H.I.T. for short). Although the college lifestyle with no exams, no homework, and a curriculum purely made and taught by the students isn’t very conventional or realistic, the film expresses the importance of staying true to yourself by not being afraid to be different, doing the things that you love, and following the path that you want to take in life.