This study aims to fill the gap in the field of observation-based longitudinal studies about metaphors in educational literature and investigates students' perceptions about the concept of university before and after university by identifying and comparing the change and the direction of change observed in perceptions. The phenomenological study was conducted on 128 Abant Izzet Baysal University first year students selected through maximum variation sampling method during 2012-2013 academic year. Qualitative data collection technique was used in the study and descriptive and content analyses were used in data analysis. Based on the metaphors used during research, the following categories were obtained "prior to university entrance": place hard work is rewarded, place that is difficult to reach, personal development center, free place, culture center and vocational/professional center whereas categories "subsequent to university entrance" were found as vocational/professional center, culture center, place of research, happy environment, a new beginning, life sample, disappointment, loneliness and hardship. Comparison of conceptual categories for "before and after categories" shows that perceptions were positive prior to university entrance, some positive perceptions changed to negative and university was defined as disappointment, loneliness and hardship.