The end of the semester always brings forth handfuls of prompts questioning, “What’s your biggest piece of advice for fellow students?” or the Buzzfeed-esque “What are some things every freshman must do?” The answers that follow almost always cover things like studying abroad, joining student clubs or falling in love.

These things are great to talk about and have worked for plenty of people. A list of compiled advice can be what sparks even the slightest amount of interest for someone to get involved or seek out a certain goal in their life.

But it is imperative to realize that advice is truly never one-size-fits-all.

Different things will work for different people. Going to the PEIF every day can be great for one person, but will not work for others. Some will hold down a job (or two) and will not always have the time to fit both classes and a student club into their schedule. Studying abroad can seem like an unobtainable goal to students who don’t have the money or are focused on a specific degree.

When giving advice, assuming that another person’s situation is similar to yours is illogical. There’s no guarantee that they will share your interests, background growing up or even income bracket—and these things make all the difference when choosing one’s college experience.

Even the “traditional college experience” doesn’t have one definition anymore. Most would assume that it means living in a dorm, drinking cheap alcohol and having lackluster flings with strangers.

The stereotype is reinforced by tons of movies, stories from parents and older siblings and even the lists of modern college advice.

But after truly facing the college life, many realize that this cookie-cutter depiction of classes, parties and hookups isn’t always the case. Life on and off campus is very much shaped by the person themselves, and what they make it out to be.

Students are often told to do certain things the correct way and how to be happy. We are told that high school, college, or even after we graduate is the so-called “best time of our lives,” but in reality we do not ever know the peak of our lives.

Our lives are all incredibly different from each other, and expecting the same advice to fit everyone does not always work.