Entertainment

'Monsters University' and 9 College Movies That Gave Us Unrealistic Expectations

'Monsters University' hits theaters Friday, and while we're excited for the 'Monsters, Inc.' prequel, it will surely be added to the long list of college-set movies that give prospective students very unrealistic expectations for higher education. Of course, no one thinks there will be neon, closet-dwelling monsters walking around their university (we hope), but whatever hijinks Mike and Scully get into are bound to give kids out there some false hope. Here are some other movies with far-fetched portrayals of college. [Image: Disney]

Fiction University

'Monsters University' hits theaters Friday, and while we're excited for the 'Monsters, Inc.' prequel, it will surely be added to the long list of college-set movies that give prospective students very unrealistic expectations for higher education. Of course, no one thinks there will be neon, closet-dwelling monsters walking around their university (we hope), but whatever hijinks Mike and Scully get into are bound to give kids out there some false hope. Here are some other movies with far-fetched portrayals of college. [Image: Disney]

'National Lampoon's Van Wilder': Super Seniors are Really Cool (and Good-Looking)

In 'Van Wilder,' Ryan Reynolds plays the titular character who has been attending college... for seven years. Van Wilder is popular, generally awesome, and looks like Ryan Reynolds. In real life, someone who's been purposely stuck in college for that long would likely be the creepy old guy sitting alone in every class, and after all that tuition, too broke to have any sort of social life. And some general life advice: Only Ryan Reynolds is that good-looking. Do not get your hopes up. [Image: Artisan Entertainment]

'Legally Blonde': You Will Become the MVP of Harvard

Let's not even get into Elle Woods' dorm room, which can fit a treadmill and allows dogs. There are many other issues with the Harvard of 'Legally Blonde,' starting with Elle's acceptance via poolside video application. Then once she starts Harvard Law — you know, the best law school in the U.S. — she lands a competitive internship, a cute T.A., and somehow speaks at graduation. Not bad for a Beverly Hills girl who was just stalking her ex. [Image: MGM]

'Accepted': Starting Your Own College is Totally A Thing

Plenty of people don't get into their first-choice schools, and some might not get into any. While the most realistic solution is probably to enroll in community college and try again in a year or two, 'Accepted' teaches us that you can just start your own school. Apparently, all you need is a building and some letterhead. Once there, you can take classes like "Slacking 101" and no one will question you at all — even if your school is literally S.H.I.T. [Image: Universal Pictures]

'Animal House': Constant Toga Parties

Yes, there are toga parties in college, but most are lame and few and far between. And while we're at it, there aren't really any food fights either. [Image: Universal Pictures]

'The Social Network': You (or your Roommate) Will Invent Facebook

First, and most obviously, Facebook has already been invented. Sure, there are still Zuckerberg-esque geniuses out there, but now there are also hundreds of tech companies dedicated to social media. They'll probably be the ones to come up with the Internet's next big thing, not your spurned, socially awkward friend. [Image: Columbia Pictures]

'Back to School': Dorm Rooms Are Huge and Can be Renovated

While it's unlikely that any student would ever let their father join them in college, the dorm room shown in 'Back to School' is even less realistic. Rodney Dangerfield converts his son's room into a palace. At most real schools, you aren't even allowed to hang posters with thumbtacks. [Image: MGM]

'The House Bunny': Playboy Makeovers

Sorry guys — there aren't many 'Playboy' bunnies walking around college campuses, especially as sorority house mothers. And don't expect a group of nice, studious girls to all be made over into Hollywood starlets either. They simply don't need it. [Image: Columbia Pictures]

'Old School': Middle-Aged Frat Guys Aren't Creepy

We're pretty sure that civilan fraternities aren't a thing, and for a good reason. A frat full of unhappy middle-aged fathers is stranger than a middle-aged man going streaking. We don't know how they threw full house parties — in reality, the only people that would show up would be the cops. And not for a noise complaint. [Image: DreamWorks]

'Boy Meets World': Co-Ed Bathrooms

No it's not a movie, but 'Boy Meets World' deserves a mention for its fear-inducing portrayal of college bathrooms. The fictional Pennbrook University had co-ed freshman bathrooms. Showers, toilets, sinks — all fair use for everyone. True story: when I was visiting colleges, two separate tour guides made it a point to say that unlike 'Boy Meets World,' the bathrooms weren't co-ed. This concept got so big that colleges have to dispel the rumors themselves. [Image: ABC]

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