University is a blitz of emotion, hedonism and missed deadlines.

Teenagers used to tidying their bedroom and sneaking out to drink in the park have independence thrust upon them and often make the most of this new found freedom.

But once you've scrapped a decent pass and said goodbye to a working week of two hours combined with a plentiful supply of people to drink with on a Tuesday night, what happens?

For many, the expectation is that your hard-fought qualification will elevate you to the educated elite, furnishing you with opportunity after opportunity as you proudly wield your 2:1 in Politics at them like you hold the Magna Carta.

But it doesn't quite work out like that. Here are six ways your post-university expectations are shattered.

Expectation: So you've sweated over your degree (in the final few months) and have come out with a creditable result. It doesn't matter that your subject is not directly vocational, you have proved beyond doubt that you are a clever and resourceful person who would be an asset to any role.

Reality: After six months you have applied for every conceivable job with the broadest possible relation to your area of 'expertise' without success. You realise that the piece of paper you clutched so tight at your graduation is about as much use in the job market as a napkin with the words 'Giz a job plz I'm good' scrawled on with a crayon.

Expectation: You have lived a life of perpetual skintness for the last four years, working in any job you can get to supplement your loan and pay for extravagant, unnecessary items like rent and food. But now you've got a degree from a respected institution you can start to live the high life as a high-powered professional. Which is good because you have a fairly sizeable mountain of debt which you ignored during your studies.

Reality: You might be one of the lucky ones, in a degree that is so specialised that you sail right into a sweet gig, but for many your learned tolerance for eating pasta with ketchup will come in handy as you stay in exactly the same level of financial obscurity.

Expectation: Now the four years of fun is over, you are content to settle into a more sedate and sensible lifestyle. Pints for £1 in the union will become craft ales in the independent bar and going out for dinner will mean a nice restaurant rather than a haggis supper leaning on a bin.

Reality: You soon discover that the joy of a nice meal at a restaurant is offset by the crippling cost and decide to just 'go to the Wetherspoons one last time'. This self-delusion will continue for four more years.

Expectation: At university, you have grown from a child into an adult,with a full understanding of how the world works and a compete understanding of society's requirements. You look forward to enjoying more cerebral pursuits and enjoying Radio 4.

Reality: As your early 20s disappear, you slowly realise that this supposed maturity is mostly manifested in body hair and slower metabolism. Eventually you become comfortable with the fact that you still find all the same jokes funny and still believe in all the things your parents said you would grow out of.

Expectation: The days of your mum fussing over whether you've remembered to pack a warm jumper as the weather is getting colder are over. Never again will an older man call you 'son' or 'darling' when you are talking to them and you will hold your own in any debate conducted with adults.

Reality: Your mum will still start every conversation by asking if you're eating properly, and if your parents come round to your flat, they will bring some food or take you to the supermarket with the implication that you basically live off cold Pop Tats and vodka. Which is a half-truth. Praise will still be given as though you have just successfully got through the 'No room at the Inn' line from the P1 Nativity play without crying.

Expectation: Now you are an official functioning adult, your insecurities and hang-up will dissipate and you will become a normal functioning member of society. Life will be an uninterrupted stream of positive self-image and good fortune.

Reality: You are still the same person. This will likely be the case for the rest of your life. Hopefully as you get older you will become a little more secure in your insecurity, and realise that while life isn't the perfect you still have a lot of time to make it as liveable as possible.