I start my life as a university (college) student tomorrow, how many other people are in the same boat? Nervous, excited? Any helpful advice for student life?
Starting University!
- Thread starter LightspeedJack
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I just started my second year, so maybe I can give advice...
First: Know how to write a complete sentence.
that may seem like I am pulling a funny... but no... I once sat at my desk looking into the mindless void that was another person's paper for what felt like an eternity. I did help them through it tho, they even got an A! I had proud "fatherish" feelings hahaha. But still, that shouldn't have happened, not at that level.
And: Have discipline! You know? DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! also, have the personal philosophy that unless it's 100 percent, it's not good enough. Otherwise, if you are all, "Meh" about a 90% then what about an 85% or an 80%? It's kind of a slippery slope, just don't kill yourself over giving your all and still not getting the top spot.
It really isn't that hard if you involve yourself in your studying; lead the class discussions and stuff.
First: Know how to write a complete sentence.
that may seem like I am pulling a funny... but no... I once sat at my desk looking into the mindless void that was another person's paper for what felt like an eternity. I did help them through it tho, they even got an A! I had proud "fatherish" feelings hahaha. But still, that shouldn't have happened, not at that level.
And: Have discipline! You know? DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! also, have the personal philosophy that unless it's 100 percent, it's not good enough. Otherwise, if you are all, "Meh" about a 90% then what about an 85% or an 80%? It's kind of a slippery slope, just don't kill yourself over giving your all and still not getting the top spot.
It really isn't that hard if you involve yourself in your studying; lead the class discussions and stuff.
Dont get drunk all the time, well ok i graduated this year but i saw so many people struggling not only with work but with money cause they drank a lot.
Otherwise idk, lot of it depends what country ur in really.
Otherwise idk, lot of it depends what country ur in really.
yeh im starting my second year tomorrow kinda (induction week so not really a good week).
my one biggest tip is: DONT LEAVE THINGS TO THE LAST MINUTE. all the way though secondary school and college i left all my work to the last minute without really struggling. but i get to uni, all my works left to the last minute in the first semester and it was the worst week in my life i vowed never to experience that again.
end of the story: dont leave things to the last minute.
my one biggest tip is: DONT LEAVE THINGS TO THE LAST MINUTE. all the way though secondary school and college i left all my work to the last minute without really struggling. but i get to uni, all my works left to the last minute in the first semester and it was the worst week in my life i vowed never to experience that again.
end of the story: dont leave things to the last minute.
From my experience in the U.S., it's easier than everyone says. You still need to put a modicum of effort in, or you won't have the grades for grad school. I'm in my fourth and final year and I have to say that intellectually, it was mostly a letdown.
As a science major, I generally don't have much writing to do, except for lab reports which more or less write themselves.
As a science major, I generally don't have much writing to do, except for lab reports which more or less write themselves.
Make friends with your lecturers. Seriously, you're at the age where you can be taken seriously at that level, so speak with your lecturers after classes, and that will do you a world of good when it comes round to references, final year projects etc. etc. Also, they'll be sure to help you when you ask for it, as opposed to those random students who don't show up.
Depending on which science, you still have a bit of writing to do. Don't know about your uni, but I had lit reviews to write on a regular basis (and two dissertations/theses). As for lab reports... nnnnnn... result reporting is a right royal pain in the arse...Dags90 said:
Anyway, curious, which subject have you sold your soul to?
Well started last week and I am doing Engineering so depending on your course prepared to have a very boring(this is not course dependant), tiring first week. The first day all we got were little tiny introductions to the course and I have yet to do a single bit of Chemistry in the Chemistry class(it is basically just about atoms) or if I have to Vectors(I have only in 1 lecture done any more than at 2nd level) in another subject I might drop kick the lecturer.
Other than that the other advice here seems to be good as it was similar to the advice I have gotten from previous and current students in my course so it must be good advice. Although one thing that is not there is try to show up to all lectures and try get some books from your college library or whatever library early.
Other than that the other advice here seems to be good as it was similar to the advice I have gotten from previous and current students in my course so it must be good advice. Although one thing that is not there is try to show up to all lectures and try get some books from your college library or whatever library early.
Biotechnology, I'm looking into graduate school in a healthcare related field. All of the major writing (lit. reviews, ethics papers, small thesis) is crammed into one course which I've yet to take. It can be substituted with an approved internship, which hopefully I'll be able to do because I hate writing, and have no interest in academia.SckizoBoy said:
This may seem silly, but don't TRY to make friends, they will come, but if you have housemates make friends with them first. I knew someone when I started, who only wanted to make loads of friends, he almost failed the first year, but did have to retake some modules, and did the same in the second year (I did a foundation degree and had to go to Plymouth to finish, he didn't go, so have no idea what happened to him).
Only get hammered on weekends, since that is your only time off, Monday - Friday, no matter how much free time you have, you should be working at least 6 hours a day on college work. Try not to take too many drugs, everyone ends up trying something at least once so you won't avoid it completly. If you're in Britain, make the most of the SU, but try not to go into student pubs, everyone in them is trying to be 'WACKEY, WOO HOO!!!', they will drive you absolutly mad.
When an assignment is handed out, try and start it that day, even if it's just a basic outline, as what you have been told will still be fresh in your mind, and try and get together with others on your course to do the work, it really helps.
Finally, although this is two years away now, final year dissertations are a *****, sort it out early, DO NOT wait for the third year to start before thinking one up, they're actually quite easy but very time consuming.
Remember, this is going to be the best three/four years of your life, so have as much fun as possible, you're young, so drink as much as you want, but never on a college night, thats what the Xbox is for.
Hope this helps.
Only get hammered on weekends, since that is your only time off, Monday - Friday, no matter how much free time you have, you should be working at least 6 hours a day on college work. Try not to take too many drugs, everyone ends up trying something at least once so you won't avoid it completly. If you're in Britain, make the most of the SU, but try not to go into student pubs, everyone in them is trying to be 'WACKEY, WOO HOO!!!', they will drive you absolutly mad.
When an assignment is handed out, try and start it that day, even if it's just a basic outline, as what you have been told will still be fresh in your mind, and try and get together with others on your course to do the work, it really helps.
Finally, although this is two years away now, final year dissertations are a *****, sort it out early, DO NOT wait for the third year to start before thinking one up, they're actually quite easy but very time consuming.
Remember, this is going to be the best three/four years of your life, so have as much fun as possible, you're young, so drink as much as you want, but never on a college night, thats what the Xbox is for.
Hope this helps.
I'm now halfway into my second year (this uni does a March intake to spread out the 'noob' students in hospitals rather than bombarding them in September).
Things I learnt were:
Be sociable - This can be stupid things like making an effort to talk to people in shared kitchens, leaving your door open if it doesn't need to be shut, just showing your willing to communicate with people and not be a reclusive shut in.
Budget - Iceland and Tesco Value stuff have saved my arse on more than one budget stretching month for sure. Learn that price doesn't mean quality (i.e. managed to do Chili Con Carne tonight for 3 using £4.50 (and I've got enough left for lunch tomorrow).
Booze - Yeah, go out and get pissed, but go easy on it (We had some freshers move in last week, and last night, my flat mate who has been sociable with them bought one of the girls back into the kitchen to chat, she then walked off leaving me with a girl I've never met before who started puking all over the floor, this is how not to make friends!).
Work - Get a head start on projects and don't procrastinate if possible, I'm horrendous for it, and my marks last trimester were crap, pure, utter crap. Still passed, but 44% on a 40% pass rate isn't good.
Above all else, have fun, can pitch up cheap food ideas if you want (you'll be living on enough shit food for the duration of your course anyway).
Things I learnt were:
Be sociable - This can be stupid things like making an effort to talk to people in shared kitchens, leaving your door open if it doesn't need to be shut, just showing your willing to communicate with people and not be a reclusive shut in.
Budget - Iceland and Tesco Value stuff have saved my arse on more than one budget stretching month for sure. Learn that price doesn't mean quality (i.e. managed to do Chili Con Carne tonight for 3 using £4.50 (and I've got enough left for lunch tomorrow).
Booze - Yeah, go out and get pissed, but go easy on it (We had some freshers move in last week, and last night, my flat mate who has been sociable with them bought one of the girls back into the kitchen to chat, she then walked off leaving me with a girl I've never met before who started puking all over the floor, this is how not to make friends!).
Work - Get a head start on projects and don't procrastinate if possible, I'm horrendous for it, and my marks last trimester were crap, pure, utter crap. Still passed, but 44% on a 40% pass rate isn't good.
Above all else, have fun, can pitch up cheap food ideas if you want (you'll be living on enough shit food for the duration of your course anyway).
Huh, that's where you and I could not differ more... I love academia, though to be fair, my area of enjoyment has drifted toward the biological, but man is it a pain in the arse trying to get funding here... Anyway, considered med-school? Or is it a bit too long for your liking?Dags90 said: