By Nicole Yang
Leaving for college at the end of the summer? From browsing the course catalog to picking out dorm decorations, there are so many things to do before you leave. Don't underestimate the power of a movie to help prepare yourself for college, too! Here's a list of the 10 best movies about college to get yourself pumped about starting the best years of your life.
1. Animal House
This infamous 1978 film is supposedly based off of the writers’ own experiences with fraternities when they went to college. The movie chronicles the efforts of college freshmen, Larry Kroger and Kent Dorfman, as they pledge Delta Tau Chi at Faber College. The frat is filled with your typical bros, such as John “Bluto” Blutarsky, portrayed by John Belushi, who has a GPA of 0.0. While some of the incidents Larry and Kent encounter are a little extreme and outlandish, you could definitely come across some of these experiences yourself! From toga parties to cheating boyfriends to bad grades, this movie will expose you to the trials and tribulations of Greek life.
2. Good Will Hunting
In this 1997 drama, Matt Damon stars as 20-year-old Will Hunting, a janitor at MIT and a genius. Even though Will can’t afford to attend college and has a long history of run-ins with the police, education is his top priority. An MIT professor takes him under his wing and helps him turn his life around. Despite the fact that Will is not actually a college student, this film is full of lessons that every college student can learn from, like learning how to handle both your past and future. Plus, many scenes of the movie are filmed in the greater Boston area, which helps display the famous college town.
3. Monsters University
This recently released prequel to the 2001 Disney Pixar film Monsters, Inc. reveals what Mike Wazowski and James “Sulley” Sullivan were up to before they started scaring children. Mike and Sulley, both scaring majors, get ejected from the esteemed Scare Program at Monsters U and have to work hard to get their education back on track. In addition to their struggles at school, the two become roommates for the first time and have to learn how to live with each other despite being very different. Even though you and your roomie might not have much in common, that doesn't mean you can't become friends!
4. Sydney White
This 2007 spin on the famous fairytale Snow White features Amanda Bynes as Sydney White, a tomboy trying to rush a sorority. However, the head of the sorority and president of student council, Rachel Witchburn, portrayed by Sara Paxton, tries to do everything she can to prevent Sydney from pledging. In response, Sydney bonds together with seven dorks in order to try and bring down Rachel and her elitist and exclusive views. This movie shows how Greek life may not be for everybody, and it’s important to focus on finding a group of friends who you feel comfortable with.
5. The Social Network
We can’t imagine college without Facebook, so let’s go back to the social network’s birth. In this 2010 film starring Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Zuckerberg’s story about how his popular site took off is showcased for all to see. Also featuring Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker and Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin, this movie exposes the secrets and conflicts behind the founding of Facebook and the lawsuits that followed. An Academy Award winner for the Best Adapted Screenplay category, this film is definitely one for all you Facebook addicts to watch.