The college ideal is Jude's main driving force through these first two sections.  Ever since Phillotson says "You know what a university is and a university degree?  It is the necessary hall-mark of a man who wants to do anything in teaching" (46), Jude becomes infatuated with the idea of becoming a scholar.  Soon after deciding that he wants to go to Christminster, he images scholars as the keepers of a secret language, and their familiarity with this language puts them in a sect of society above most everybody.

There are reminiscences of Hardy's "Dover Beach" in young Jude's thinking.  Hardy's themes are carried over when Jude feels "more than ever his existence to be an undemanded one" (54).  In other words, Jude feels as though the world has nothing to offer him, and likewise he has nothing to offer to the world.

Jude later contemplates his sought-after life at Christminster.  In his imaginings, the scholars call out to him, saying "We are happy here" (59).  This is like the paradise that is described in "The Lotos Eaters."  Jude finds meaning in his life in the pursuit of an education at Christminster, and makes it his goal to get there.

In the second part, Jude begins studying and working in Christminster.  Upon his arrival, he begins a kind of interaction with the "ghosts" of the place.  As he tours the campus, he "found himself speaking out loud, holding conversations with them , as it were,...till he suddenly ceased with a start at his absurdity" (116).  He wants to converse with the great scholars and others that had frequented those areas, but are now dead.  Again, he finds himself relating to ghosts when he feels like a "comrade of the dead handicraftsmen whose muscles had actually executed those forms" (119).  HE feels akin to the scholars and the craftsmen of Christminster.

Jude's only downfall in his pursuit of the college ideal is his affection for women, which is a common downfall for University students still today.  For instance, my time-management was compromised and I am turning this in at the last second due to romantic and not scholarly pursuit.  Jude realizes his weakness, but can not seem to help it.