Painful all-nighters, cheap instant noodles, and eccentric professors—the reality of being a university student is stressful, yet somehow unforgettable. No matter how many tears are shed during finals, nothing beats the relief of hitting “submit” on that last assignment or the memories made with your college friends. It’s a love-hate relationship in the truest sense.
All those highs and lows also make perfect meme material, and the Instagram account That Student Page knows it well. They’ve captured every relatable moment of student life, and we’ve gathered some of the funniest ones below. Scroll through to enjoy them—consider it a well-deserved study break.
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ChatGPT has damaged the work ethic of students. All my classmates used it for their projects and it was fairly obvious as they all were written with the same words, style and cadence. My project wasn’t the best one of them all but I can say I put in my all when it came to research so I know at least 1% more about the topic than my classmates
As a teacher, it usually takes me about...seven words to figure out something was written by ChatGPT in my English classroom. I had a day where I gave student essays back, but to their classmates, asking them to grade and comment. I promised extra credit to anyone who could spot which one was written by AI, and a special prize for the least amount of words to figure it out. Turns out that my students can also spot the same AI in about seven words.
Load More Replies...Why do we even need ChatGPT? Real life isn’t THAT hard.
It is a tool like any other. Used properly it can be great. Used poorly and get bad results. History is littered with changes like this resulting in people panicking. I always love to go to books. Today a boom reader is seen as educated. However, when books first became popular everyone worries that people would get brain rot.
If it can get a degree for a student, then the student is superfluous. It ceases to be a tool and becomes a replacement.
Load More Replies...I heard Theodore the chipmunk’s voice saying this because of the profile picture
I had this group project in college once, we had four people in our group. It was only me and another classmate did most of the work. One member dropped out of the class and the other one only showed up a week before the project was due, we kicked him out of the group. I never liked group projects to begin with, especially when you're paired with people that don't exactly have a good work ethic or people you don't really know very well.
Trump reportedly sleeps fine and he not only has never contributed one good thing to society he is actively destroying parts of it.
My senior class was paired up in groups of two for our year-end project. My partner seemed ok at first, but then all the b.s. began... "Hey, I'm picking up my little brother from school, can you start without me?" to "Hey, I think I'm coming down with stomach flu, just do what we talked about" even though we'd hardly ever discussed anything at all. But he showed up on presentation day, took five minutes to skim through everything, and then presented it like he'd been the only one working on it! I'm normally a peaceful, easygoing person, but that day - if I say it, I'm sure BP will block it out, so I'll just say I had decidedly un-peaceful thoughts on my mind.
Mistyped. Because I have a conscience, I can't sleep like a brick
Load More Replies...And that some of us *can't* sleep at night unless we make sure the group project doesn't affect our good grade.
The words student and stress might as well be synonyms, considering how often they go hand in hand. After all, who can truly breeze through every class without breaking a sweat?
Pretty sure that person doesn’t exist. And if they do, I’d love to meet them, because that sounds like something straight out of a fairytale.
I’m currently an A+ student in high school, seeing this I’m terrified
On the plus side, in 30 years not one employer or client has ever asked my grade. Graduating at the bottom of the class gets you the same degree as working your a**e off to be near the top
Load More Replies...Average is now the bare minimum once you're in college or university. In other words, you have to work a lot harder to pass.
This is currently me and unfortunately in my degree program, Cs won't get me my degree.
I honestly don’t care as long it’s above a 93/100. (Around A-)
Hahaha, I ain’t even in college yet but I barely passed my labs yesterday while failing all my tests. I’m worthless aren’t I?
Maybe your talents are elsewhere. In the AI world, the best jobs are going to be hands on like the trades
Load More Replies...Or someone who went into a program that you had to have an A+ average just to get into and is now in a class of equally high IQ students
Load More Replies...Oh, so true. And you are the only one willing to do the work because the whole group gets the same grade.
Research backs this up. Around 60% of students report feeling stressed every day, and 1 in 5 say they feel that way most of the time.
What’s more, managing college life seems to have only gotten tougher. Stress levels among students have risen by 30% over the past three decades, and even high schoolers in the U.S. now report higher stress than adults.
All my friends are NEET aspirants and you can tell based on their hundred yard stare
There was a time when I could barely wait to graduate and wished for that day to come faster... oh, you foolish boy!
Where does the point when you can't wait to get older (6, 13, 16, 18, 21) end, and the one that makes you want to go back begin?
Can confirm. The “real” world sücks donkey dîcks. Stay in school as long as you can! University was one of the two best parts of my life. (The other best part was the first seven years with my partner.)
Think how scared I was when I was 18 and the draft had not yet ended during the Viet Nam war. Do I continue in college that I hated or go die in Viet Nam?
Load More Replies...I am 52 and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. But then the job I am currently being paid well to do didn't exist when I did undergrad in the '90s. Flexible is a better survival skill than having a meticulous plan that won't survive a second in the real world
Load More Replies...Some people are able to do that. Best of luck.
Load More Replies...While stress may feel like a rite of passage, there are ways to make student life a little easier, and no, it’s not just scrolling through memes (though that definitely helps, and Bored Panda has plenty of those, wink wink). Here’s what experts in education suggest.
University of Twente recommends rethinking stress altogether. While too much of it can be harmful, a healthy level isn’t necessarily bad. In fact, it’s your body’s way of motivating you to solve problems.
Without it, you might not feel the drive to study for that big exam or finish an important project. Stress often signals that something matters to you, so instead of trying to eliminate it, the goal is to learn how to manage it.
1000% me before i went down and quit. it lasted months and it was horrible.
For 3 months I haven’t been able to pick up a single book to study :/
I'll never wrap my head around why higher education is a privilege with a heavy price tag. How many brilliant young students are there who would become doctors, scientists, engineers if only given the chance? It's getting to the point where only those born into a family who saves up to help with post secondary education expenses are able to achieve their career goals. And that's a damñ shame.
Of perhaps like they shouldn’t ..like charge interest on education
Load More Replies...To keep stress from becoming overwhelming, preparation can make a bigger difference than you think. And while actually sticking to it is easier said than done, it doesn’t have to be complicated.
At the start of the semester, take a moment to look over your schedule, mark important deadlines and exam dates, and set a few reminders. Planning ahead won’t solve everything, but it will spare you from last-minute panic later on.
I'll accept "hey a*****e", as long as *someone* says something in class.
I’ll keep that in mind thank you a*****e
Load More Replies...I never call anybody “sir” or “ma’am.” However, I will use their title (Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr., etc.)
EXACTLY! it feels weird. Like ur putting urself down and…. Iykyk..
Load More Replies...Me: calling them teacher/professor bc I just don’t say sir. Idk why I just don’t like saying it.
I just have to hunch over, and also hike my trousers up to my nips for what I'm about to say - when I went to university, your ID was for three things - to place on your desk on exam days, to prove you were a student so you could get the university bus pass, and then student discounts in shops, at the cinema, etc.
in the UK, mainly because some international students share ids to fake attendance but actually work illegally elsewhere. it is part of the visa sponsorship scheme following evidence of considerable abùse.
Of course, procrastination will still try to sneak in, but it doesn’t have to win. Creating a study plan and sticking to it can really help. Even having a loose structure is better than playing everything by ear; it gives you direction and a clearer sense of control.
To get started, try prioritizing your tasks. Begin with the smaller or quicker ones—crossing them off your list gives you a small boost and the motivation to move on to the more demanding ones.
The sad thing about this is that you *should* be able to "go out with friends, make memories, and experience everything" at any stage of life.
Nope. As a student I had tons of stress, a mountain of work to do at all times, and no money. Once I graduated I had entire work free weekends and a little money. Waay easier to experience things when you can afford the entry fee
Yeah, exactly. Whenever I hear someone going on about the "best years of your life" I'm like speak for yourselves: I was juggling three jobs (morning job, evening/night job and week-end job) and I still had a hard time making ends meet. I had so many dietary deficiencies I found handfuls of hair on my pillow every morning. After graduation I had just the one job, standard hours, a little money left at the end of the month, time to sleep at night, one single commute, free time for family and friends and I could eat three square meals a *day* instead of three a week.
Load More Replies...Beyond academics, Purdue Global reminds students that it’s just as important to take care of themselves. An unhealthy diet can make it harder to manage stress, even though most students practically run on caffeine and fast food.
Eating balanced meals can really help, and when possible (as obvious as it sounds), try to squeeze in a bit of exercise too.
Have you considered teething triplets with colds? I believe those few weeks have me in line for sainthood!
You can write 20+ pages overnight by hand along with drawing the lines on the page for all of them as well as finding and printing relevant pictures for each subtopic 🫠
I dropped out of college after six months. Joined a band. Played in bands traveling the country for eight years. Finally at age 26 I realized I loved working on music electronic equipment so I went to night school for electronics engineering. I repaired music equipment. keyboards and organs and recording equipment for 36 years. I loved every minute of the work.
Old fashioned thinking. The degree you choose should be based solely on what, i f any jobs, would be available in that field.
Right. Do NOT consider whether or not those jobs pay a living wage, or whether or not you have any interest in that field.
Load More Replies...And debt! Don't you have debt? Then you've missed out on real uni experience
Well, now you should try and get yourself a useful piece of paper, preferably many. 💵💶💷
Many is fine if you enjoy it. et earnings wise I would have been better off skipping the degrees and becoming an electrician
Load More Replies...At the same time, self-care isn’t limited to exercise or eating well. It also means finding what helps you recharge, whether that’s drawing, gaming, or picking up a new hobby altogether.
And don’t forget how important your support network is. College is the perfect time to surround yourself with people who lift you up and listen without judgment.
It’s not any better when you’re not a student. Adulthood sücks balls.
The solution to this, obviously, is to have no personal life. (I'm fine. Everything's fine.)
Still, sometimes stress can become too heavy to handle alone. Persistent headaches, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, or feeling down can all be signs that it’s time to reach out for help.
Contact your study advisor or seek professional support through your university. It’s not something to be ashamed of—it’s a way to take care of yourself and stay on track.
A bit of stress can push you forward. Just don’t let it take the driver’s seat. You’ve got this.
My 3rd-4th years were definitely better, in all respects, than 1st-2nd years. My master's program was even better. The pic on the right does capture years 2-5 in my PhD program though.
Your name means zit light doesn't it
Load More Replies...Pro move: questioning your existence while *presenting* a lecture. And then after doing that for ten years, being told that lecture "doesn't work" for kids these days, so everything leading up to that moment basically ended up a huge waste of time.
I’ve been questioning my existence since birth. Why stop now?
It’s not teaching yourself, it’s more like digesting everything into something only you can understand. I managed to study chemistry by repackaging all the elements and formulae in a way only I understand, if I told anyone else my ways then they’d get confused
I was terrified to graduate, but it's actually turned out to be okay :)
Fr! It’s about 16 years of learning, then you move on and a HUGE chunk of “daily life” is gone.
IKR? The readjustment was horrible for me. Life after uni: One star, do not recommend.
Technically, you can skip work, but the consequences will be different than they were in school.
I skip work and as long as I don't do it too much, I still get paid. Skipping class meant missing something I paid for, and I still had to learn the stuff.
I’ve never skipped school bc I was a strict parent good student…. But I always wanted to.
Maybe the bright side is that your best days haven't happened yet. Maybe....
Nope, I'll take paid employment with weekends mostly off
Load More Replies...And then she starts asking "Have you found a wife yet? Grandchildren when? What will you work after graduation?" :D
Nah my mom is already asking if I have a bf in high school O_o
Load More Replies...Had a lecture at 9:30am after 5 hours of sleep while the AC at the lecture hall was defective so it was set at 15°C in a city that never dips below 20. I think I fell alseep at one point
My "uni" counselor was free - for four weeks. Then I had to pay for off-campus counseling if I wanted to continue. In any case she missed a slam-dunk diagnosis of depression.
Same! Why would I invest my time in learning to open up to someone when it would only last 4 sessions?
Load More Replies...Uni is a nice place because the counsellors are free. And more important even than that, the counsellors aren't raving idiots.
For me it’s: study, break, study, break, study, break, study, miss a break, break down and cry
This should be higher. It’s one of the biggest letdowns in life.
Hmmm if I wake at 6 am, I can get 2 hours! Wow! But if I fall asleep later, it’ll be about 50 minutes!
And doing homework and wanting to scroll on bp.
Load More Replies...Who the hell are all these people who had friends and active social lives in school? I guess my mistake was going to college. Should have gone to "uni" instead.
I long for the days when students copy-pasted Wikipedia. It was much easier to catch, for one thing.
It's simple. Have your room slowly start to look like someone planted a b**b in one of the pieces of furniture.
XD how not to sleep for me.. but different for u. lol!
Load More Replies...It’s just not even a thing in the UK. Everyone has their own room. When I was at uni you had a bedroom, on a corridor and shared bathrooms and kitchens. These days you have bedroom with an en-suite wet room, in a shared flat. Cost: roughly £300 a month, or roughly $400 a month. Nothing to do with being rich.
Load More Replies...My bday is in august and school starts on august for me. A couple times school started on my bday on the spot. ;-; (the 9th) so I can relate…
Why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!So!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Unfair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Woah!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
Load More Replies...What, that some people have more money than others? Well, obviously....
Especially when all of your friends go to different countries, or even continents...
Yeah ;-; and when you text it’s in different time zones….
Load More Replies...Yeah. They are just trying to be cool and aesthetic and when the vlog is over, welp.
Load More Replies...I like how half of these are "Uni is the best! Friends, fun, and fulfilling life experience!" and the other half are "Uni is literally a living hell..."
Matters what program you are in. Mine was 80 hour weeks. My housemates was 20.
Load More Replies...Something I wanted to share: in certain universities, there is a ministore that sells study cookies. They are literal cookies. They can either wake you up and boost adrenaline, or out you to sleep sugar free.. I visited rice university in Houston, tx and yes. 👍
I did enjoy Uni, but I also don't want to go back to these days. Yet I still have dreams where a test/essay is due, but I haven't started to revise/write it. Or I lost my schedule and I can't find it.
I like how half of these are "Uni is the best! Friends, fun, and fulfilling life experience!" and the other half are "Uni is literally a living hell..."
Matters what program you are in. Mine was 80 hour weeks. My housemates was 20.
Load More Replies...Something I wanted to share: in certain universities, there is a ministore that sells study cookies. They are literal cookies. They can either wake you up and boost adrenaline, or out you to sleep sugar free.. I visited rice university in Houston, tx and yes. 👍
I did enjoy Uni, but I also don't want to go back to these days. Yet I still have dreams where a test/essay is due, but I haven't started to revise/write it. Or I lost my schedule and I can't find it.
