- published: 21 May 2016
- views: 3752
A college (Latin: collegium) is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage of the word college varies in English-speaking nations. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, an institution within a university, an institution offering vocational education, or a secondary school.
In the United States and Ireland, "college" and "university" are loosely interchangeable, whereas in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and other Commonwealth nations, "college" may refer to a secondary or high school, a college of further education, a training institution that awards trade qualifications, or a constituent school within a university.
In ancient Rome a collegium was a club or society, a group of persons living together, under a common set of rules (con- = "together" + leg- = "law" or lego = "I choose").
There are secondary schools that have "college" as part of their name. In Australia, this usage varies between the different states. In all states there are independent schools called "college". In the state of Victoria, some state high schools are referred to as secondary colleges. In Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory, "college" is used in the name of all state high schools built since the late 1990s, and also some older ones. In New South Wales, some high schools, especially multi-campus schools resulting from mergers, are known as "secondary colleges". In Queensland some newer schools which accept primary and high school students are styled state college, but state schools offering only secondary education are called "State High School". In Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, "college" refers to the final two years of high school (years 11 and 12), and the institutions which provide this. In this context, "college" is a system independent of the other years of high school. Here, the expression is a shorter version of matriculation college.
We were just dumb kids with a six pack
That a bad fake ID bought
Sittin' on the livin' room couch
Hopin' that we didn't get caught
And when we did, my dad
Had some good advice for me
He said, "Son, there's a time and place
For just about everything, it's called 'College'"
Next thing I know I'm packin' up
And hey I'm outta here
A backseat full of clothes
And my old cavalier
And there was empty pizza boxes
Attacked all around the room
A couple of beers on a Tuesday
And one in the afternoon, hey college
Those were the best days of my life
I found my friends, myself, and my wife
I learned almost everything that I know
Without ever gaining knowledge
In college, in college
I had such a good time in those four years
That I stretched it into six
And I'd like to thank ole George's Bar
For the the classes that I missed
I was searchin' for the meanin' of life
When I saw her walk my way
There was not doubt in my my mind
That it wasn't about a GPA
Those were the best days of my life
I found my friends, myself, and my wife
Learned almost everything that I know
Without ever gainin' knowledge
In college
Those were the best days of my life
I found myself, my friends and my wife
Learned almost everything that I know
Might have gained a little knowledge
In college
In college
In college