College advice

[quantum mechanic]

I'm heading off to college tomorrow morning. Does anyone have advice about classes, living away from home, social life, etc. that they would like to share? I'm moving from the western U.S. to the East Coast, so it's a pretty big shift.

Also: I know there has been at least one similar thread, but that was a while ago. To differentiate this from the others...what's your favorite color?

 

[Firoth]

Don't fail.
Ramen and take out are your best friends.
If you have a useful skill(s), whore it out to make friends.
Don't try to be "on time" for classes, always try to be early.

 

[SimuLord]

Some simple rules:

1) Be VERY, VERY nice to the older, "nontraditional" students. You have no idea how old we feel (for some of the fortysomethings seeking a second career, they're going to school with people the same age as their kids), so inviting us to toss the frisbee or football around means a lot. That guy in his 30s is just as nervous about college as you are---maybe more so.

2) Binge drinking leads to whiskey dick and felonies. Weed gets you laid. Choose carefully. And unless you've already gotten probation or your financial aid depends on avoiding a drug conviction, abstaining is not one of the choices.

3) If you're an introvert, don't major in business unless you're sure you can take the mandatory management classes without committing a homicide. Accounting is awesome, but getting there is most definitely NOT half the fun. I hated Marketing and I hate Management...but I'm told graduate-level accounting classes in advance of the CPA exam make it all worth it.

4) Are mom and dad paying for it? Then major in your passion because although student loans don't pay themselves off (see item #3 and your friendly neighborhood old guy in college trying to get a decent job), but if you're going off into the world debt-free, the wonderful worlds of fine arts, anthropology, history, and English won't leave you in a virtual debtor's prison.

5) Don't join a fraternity. I wouldn't want to have to add you to my list of people who suck.

 

[Acier]

Join Clubs and get involved. Also during the first week take the time to get to know people in the dining areas, your classes, and your residence hall. If your RA is competent they probably have ideas for hall-wide activities. If they don't suggest some.

Also go to your classes.

 

[Sneaky-Pie]

Proofread everything very carefully. Especially if you live with a bunch of other people.

A friend of mine wrote up a report and someone typed "Hi, I'm [NAME] and I like to rock out with my cock out." right in the middle of it.

Hilarity ensued.

 

[Eumersian]

Some simple rules:

1) Be VERY, VERY nice to the older, "nontraditional" students. You have no idea how old we feel (for some of the fortysomethings seeking a second career, they're going to school with people the same age as their kids), so inviting us to toss the frisbee or football around means a lot. That guy in his 30s is just as nervous about college as you are---maybe more so.

2) Binge drinking leads to whiskey dick and felonies. Weed gets you laid. Choose carefully. And unless you've already gotten probation or your financial aid depends on avoiding a drug conviction, abstaining is not one of the choices.

3) If you're an introvert, don't major in business unless you're sure you can take the mandatory management classes without committing a homicide. Accounting is awesome, but getting there is most definitely NOT half the fun. I hated Marketing and I hate Management...but I'm told graduate-level accounting classes in advance of the CPA exam make it all worth it.

4) Are mom and dad paying for it? Then major in your passion because although student loans don't pay themselves off (see item #3 and your friendly neighborhood old guy in college trying to get a decent job), but if you're going off into the world debt-free, the wonderful worlds of fine arts, anthropology, history, and English won't leave you in a virtual debtor's prison.

5) Don't join a fraternity. I wouldn't want to have to add you to my list of people who suck.

Pretty much this. Also, never come off as that "retarded freshman" (apologies for the term). Be confident, but don't be a jackass about it. Don't pretend like you know what you're doing, but don't be needy. That's why one of my primary groups of friends is in fact a bunch of upperclassmen (I am a freshman this year, making this my fourth week of school). Don't be afraid to get lost, miss class, or whatever. That will just stress you out, and you'll end up looking really green.

 

[SimuLord]

Proofread everything very carefully. Especially if you live with a bunch of other people.

A friend of mine wrote up a report and someone typed "Hi, I'm [NAME] and I like to rock out with my cock out." right in the middle of it.

Hilarity ensued.

I call BS. No way did the professor actually read more than the opening paragraph and the conclusion

 

[Plurralbles]

One phrase: Don't suck.

Ofcourse, don't die works too.
Dont' fail.
Get drunk.
Get chicks.
Make as many friends as you can.
Party.
Maybe study.
Work.

 

[Sneaky-Pie]

Proofread everything very carefully. Especially if you live with a bunch of other people.

A friend of mine wrote up a report and someone typed "Hi, I'm [NAME] and I like to rock out with my cock out." right in the middle of it.

Hilarity ensued.

I call BS. No way did the professor actually read more than the opening paragraph and the conclusion

No joke. He got the paper back with a big read circle followed by a question mark.

I'm not sure if it affected his grade.

 

[SimuLord]

Proofread everything very carefully. Especially if you live with a bunch of other people.

A friend of mine wrote up a report and someone typed "Hi, I'm [NAME] and I like to rock out with my cock out." right in the middle of it.

Hilarity ensued.

I call BS. No way did the professor actually read more than the opening paragraph and the conclusion

No joke. He got the paper back with a big read circle followed by a question mark.

I'm not sure if it affected his grade.

I've gotten that reaction from stuff I've played straight. I wear the puzzled WTF? looks as badges of honor.

 

[Firoth]

Know how to use a stove or oven (if you have one) or DON'T USE IT. You don't wanna be the guy who set the fire alarms off at 2am, and made the whole dorm get evacuated because you burnt your mac and cheese.

 

[Extraintrovert]

As far as I know, the most important thing to consider is that a full university load requires similar levels of input as a full time job: approximately fourty hours of study per week, twenty for classes (whatvever they may entail) and twenty for independant study, be it performing assignments, research or simply reviewing notes. Using that time efficiently is also important; two hours of continuous work is far more valuable than ten hours of faffing about. Thirdly, set goals, short term and long term, as it will repeatedly become overwhelming and it is necessary to have something to strive towards. Personally I failed miserably at my pitiful attempt at tertiary education so my advice is hardly worthwhile, but I suppose I can use myself as an example of what not to do.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

If you don't already know how to cook, learn. My time in college wouldn't be nearly as tolerable if I ate like the people around me.

 

[Kpt._Rob]

1) Keep on top of stuff. Everyone procrastinates... and everyone crams when it's looking like the shit is about to hit the fan. It's normal to want to do that too. Don't. College is stressful enough as it is, don't add to the stress by waiting too long to do things you should be doing now.

2) Talk to people who you do not know. I'm a junior and I still practice doing this every day. People sitting next to you in class, or people who sit down at your table at lunch. Trust me, I'm naturally introverted and I know how hard it can be to reach out to people, but most people actually want to talk, and they'll be glad you talked to them. Easy things to start with are as simple as shaking hands and telling them you name, then asking them what their major is. If they know, ask them what interested them in that major, just work to get to know them better... etc. Seriously, sometimes the difference between whether you sink or swim will rest on having friends, but if you don't talk to anyone, it's hard to make new friends.

3) Be careful with drugs and alcohol. I'm talking from experience on this one. My sophomore year, I got really depressed, and started doing a lot of drugs. I'll never completely recover from the damage that did to me. After you've spent three days convinced that the old soul died, and you're a new soul who has been given access to his body and memories... well, you can't come back from that... not all the way. I haven't had a flashback in a while, but the last one I had scared the hell out of me. Seriously, I could keep going on about the just how much drugs can fuck you up, but I won't. It's okay to smoke a little weed from time to time, but don't be one of those guys who lets drugs become a way of life, it'll mess you up physically, emotionally, spiritually, and it'll definitely take a toll on your schoolwork.

4) Learn to love the period trick. Now, before I tell you the period trick, let me preface myself by saying that the period trick ONLY works with hardcopy papers, if you've got to submit an electronic copy then forget it. But if you're turning in a hardcopy paper, and need some extra filler, the period trick will do wonders. It's so easy. All you have to do is go through the paper, and change the font size of all the periods up one or two sizes. I know it sounds ridiculous... but the period trick will seriously add at least a couple paragraphs worth of length to most papers. If you don't listen to my advice #1, and get in a jam, the period trick will save your ass big time.

 

[Jodan]

just try your hardest and remember who you are and you will be fine

 

[CKYNEMESIS]

Start smoking cigs to meet interesting people and make friends with someone 21 and over so you got the beer hook up. If a class has no attendance policy and has PowerPoint notes that are online don't even go to class lol. I went to class 3 times all for tests for a class with PowerPoint online notes and got an A. If possible make friends with a girl or have a friend with a girlfriend so they can buy you a cup at a house party (cups are cheaper for girls). Don't mix hard liquor and beer unless you want to puke later or black out. I don't know what your living situation or the legal situation involved if you are in the dorms but if your in the dorms and the dorm isn't a wet dorm aka no booze and you have booze in the room with the cops knocking on the door, hide the booze in the closets and tell them they can't search them. Even with all the crazy cop mind games they will play on you the worst thing that could happen is you get a non compliance fine which is much cheaper than having booze.

 

[Sonofadiddly]

Don't buy textbooks from the school store. Use eBay. Use it all the time. Buying previous additions of textbooks will save you even more money, and they're almost exactly the same as the newest editions. Also, if the Presidents of the United States of America (the band) come to play at your school, for the love of God, don't forget to buy tickets.

My favorite color is shut up.

 

[ssManae]

1) Despite the couple people saying "omg do it," you don't need to binge drink or do drugs. Don't be afraid to have some fun, but take it easy your first few times out until you know your limits better. Kid recently bashed his own skull in falling off a wall with a 0.16 BAC (0.08 is legal driving in PA) and died. Besides, 90% of what's served just to get you sloshed is cheap, watered-down beer and cheap rotgut hard alcohol. You just can't enjoy that stuff. Except for Jaeger. Most people will be on the floor from just a few shots of that stuff, and it's actually good.

2) Show up to class early, and try to sit in the front 3rd of large lectures. It'll help you keep awake, and if the lecturer knows your name it can sometimes help bump up that half-a-letter grade if you're near the cutoff. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions. If you have one, chances are at least 20% of the rest of the class does, too. But, don't be "that guy" that asks a question after every other thing the lecturer says, or when they ask if there are any more questions when class is already running over time (in the latter case, stick around and ask personally, most lecturers won't mind unless they also have somewhere else to be, and they'll let you know).

3) To go with the above-mentioned period trick, you can add some length to a paper by putting two spaces after the end of each sentence. It's not much, but it is grammatically acceptable.

4) Learn to cook if you have the available appliances. Yes, ramen is a staple college food and can be made in a microwave, but you can do so much better in both flavor and nutrition. For that matter, even with just a microwave you can cook rice: twice as much water as rice, nuke it until all the water's gone (7-10 minutes). Put a towel or plate under the bowl, though, as the starch will boil over.

5) If you have a TV, bring it to your dorm room unless your roommate contacted you to let you know he's bringing his. Also, consoles are a huge plus. Many a fun all-nighter as a Junior playing SSBM in my room.

6) Meet with your pre-major adviser at least once a semester, and hopefully you already have a preliminary major path picked out. If you find you aren't enjoying the lead-in classes, don't be afraid to switch majors. The last thing you want to do is have a degree in something you just don't enjoy. Go for a 'career,' not a 'job.'

 

[Mimssy]

Major in something that you enjoy and for a field that you will be happy in, not because you think it will make you money (the latter group always looks so damn sad).

Don't do anything too stupid. You don't need booze/casual sex/drugs to have fun and be happy. It usually ends poorly.

Participate. That means in class and in the things the campus has to offer.

Frozen veggies are your friend. Eating something relatively healthy will make you feel better overall and with so many that will drain your energy, your health should be a concern. Frozen veggies are cheap and can be combined with rice and pasta dishes to keep ya feeling good.