What is the college experience? Depending on who you are, your life circumstances, and why you decided to enroll, college can mean different things. College is often portrayed in books and movies as a place where young people live away from home in ivy-covered residence halls. We frequently see college depicted with a major focus on big-time sports, heavy drinking, and partying. Yes, you’ll find some of that at some colleges, but most students today don’t move away from home, don’t live on campus, and don’t see much ivy. College is far more than any single image you might carry around in your head. And college students today come from more walks of life than ever before.