If you plan on watching a college TV series or two to get an idea of what you can look forward to in the fall, you have a few options. Whether you’re tuning into a current show or a classic, if you’re turning to them for more than pure entertainment value, it is important to consider just how realistic the program you’re watching really is!

Each of these college TV shows offers a little dose of reality with some unrealistic aspects sprinkled in.

Community

This current college TV series does a great job of featuring a quirky group of students, all varying ages and from different backgrounds, who are able to find something in common. They do not always get along with each other, but they tend to stick together on their crazy adventures. The members of the group may be competitive, and they may constantly leave Pierce out on purpose, but they are in it together.

Though it is admirable that the show’s study group is what brought these friends together, it is odd that they rarely seem to get much studying done! Their silly antics tend to distract them from ever getting very far in their occasional attempts to study. In real life, they would never pass their classes without some intense study time, but then study scenes are not very exciting for audiences to watch on a college TV series!

Greek

This show was always full of awkward yet realistic moments. Freshman Rusty was nerdy and naïve, and this made for some hilarious but relatable moments. His older sister Casey had the life he wanted, since she was well-known in the Greek system. But she had her share of troubles, showing that college can be challenging no matter how popular you are.

Of course, this college TV series was unrealistic in that it seemed to suggest that every student is either part of the Greek system, or is yearning to be. This may not be surprising since the show focused on sororities and fraternities, but it seemed strange that every major and minor character eventually joined.

Undeclared

This college TV show was short-lived, but it is a favorite among many high school and college students who remember it. As the title suggests, it focused on a few students with no declared major, which is a common occurrence for college students. This, along with the focus on the social scene in college, made it easy for viewers to relate to.

However, some of the odd situations, including having a one-night stand with Adam Sandler, did not seem particularly realistic. The characters tended to be relatable, but the events in each episode of this college TV series were not.

Beverly Hills, 90210

The show’s characters entered college in the fourth season, and the audience got to see them mature from high school. Though most of them stayed in touch with each other, relationships changed over the years, which tends to happen.

However, much like the high school years, this TV show was not especially realistic during college. Many of the characters were more privileged than the average student is, and the location itself has likely always been hard for many teens to relate to!

What are your favorites?

The main point of the typical college TV show is to entertain, but it is also nice when a TV program features characters and situations that real students can relate to. What is your favorite college TV series, and how realistic do you think it is?

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