First days of college!

[Smallssonic1120]

Hello everyone!
This week was my first week of college. Aside from having to put my parking pass sticker on my car, I love it!:banana:
I'm getting my associates in Social Sciences which is part of a teacher specialization program.
My question for you is- any good college advice for those who are just starting out?

 

[Isambard]

 

[94383Z71]

THIS.

I'm a junior about to return saturday for my B.S. in Automotive Engineering. It's already going by too quickly.

Advice: Go to class (and participate), and be careful about your extra-curricular habits. Every person i've seen leave college could have been saved by one of those two things.

But make sure to make friends and enjoy yourself, because it all ends far too quickly!

 

[TIEfighter]

Just graduated from college over a year ago. Definitely a good challenge in life that if you stick with it and graduate it will be an accomplishment. Most people drop out after 1-2 semesters.

 

[BriG21]

Work hard but also enjoy it. Once it's over it's over and you probably will never have that much opportunity and freedom to just simply have fun or be able to choose whatever path you want in life. I went to college for a tough degree (mechanical engineering) and worked while I was there to be able to pay for my car/school so I wasn't able to enjoy it as much as I wish (no financial help from parents). God I wish I could go back and do it over again It is very rewarding to graduate and have that edge over everyone else fighting for jobs. Also do your best to minimize debt. Tuition and whatnot is just a number when you are all pumped for school but once it's over that debt will be there for a very long time and that number starts to mean something. Especially if finding a job right away becomes a challenge. Although I don't follow his teachings exactly, Dave Ramsey is a great source for smart common sense knowledge and advice for personal finance. I would read his book, Total Money Makeover and/or listen to his radio show. It's worth reading, Trust Me! Also, network, network, NETWORK! Seems in today's job market it's all about connections and who know and less about your qualifications. OK I'm done. Good Luck and enjoy it! You will have the sickest car on campus with those red accented wheels

 

[Isambard]

Try stuff. And I don't mean drugs.

I joined the church music group my sophomore year. As an introverted shy person, the thought of breaking in to an already established social group was mortifying, but one Sunday night I found my feet taking me to the front of the church to sign up, and that night my life changed.

I met my fiancée and my best friend in that group. We have joined the parish since graduation, and the parish choir (same director as the student choir) is at the center of our lives. Joining that group was such a huge step in "coming in to my own" that I can't imagine what my life would look like now if I hadn't done it.

Best of luck!

 

[Smallssonic1120]

Work hard but also enjoy it. Once it's over it's over and you probably will never have that much opportunity and freedom to just simply have fun or be able to choose whatever path you want in life. I went to college for a tough degree (mechanical engineering) and worked while I was there to be able to pay for my car/school so I wasn't able to enjoy it as much as I wish (no financial help from parents). God I wish I could go back and do it over again It is very rewarding to graduate and have that edge over everyone else fighting for jobs. Also do your best to minimize debt. Tuition and whatnot is just a number when you are all pumped for school but once it's over that debt will be there for a very long time and that number starts to mean something. Especially if finding a job right away becomes a challenge. Although I don't follow his teachings exactly, Dave Ramsey is a great source for smart common sense knowledge and advice for personal finance. I would read his book, Total Money Makeover and/or listen to his radio show. It's worth reading, Trust Me! Also, network, network, NETWORK! Seems in today's job market it's all about connections and who know and less about your qualifications. OK I'm done. Good Luck and enjoy it! You will have the sickest car on campus with those red accented wheels

Thank you very much I actually just sent you a message checking up on your wheel search! Keep me posted opcorn:

 

[Smallssonic1120]

Try stuff. And I don't mean drugs.

I joined the church music group my sophomore year. As an introverted shy person, the thought of breaking in to an already established social group was mortifying, but one Sunday night I found my feet taking me to the front of the church to sign up, and that night my life changed.

I met my fiancée and my best friend in that group. We have joined the parish since graduation, and the parish choir (same director as the student choir) is at the center of our lives. Joining that group was such a huge step in "coming in to my own" that I can't imagine what my life would look like now if I hadn't done it.

Best of luck!

Awh that's so sweet! Thank you ALL for the wonderful advice. I figured this would be a good thread to not only get good advice from people whom have experience but also to chat with fellow forum members

 

[Insanika]

Also.. Don't be afraid to change your mind.

If you get to where you don't like what you're doing, don't waste the money to finish and the young college years of your life doing something you'll end up hating. By this I don't mean quit. I mean go for whatever else your heart desires.

Trying to go back to school when you've got adult responsibilities is way harder.

Good luck

 

[ChevySonic]

One of the most important things I learned in college is that the professor is everything. I was taking my mandatory math class and I ended up having a teacher from France. Strong accent and difficult to understand. So I had to read the chapter all over after class to know what was going on. SO my point is, do research on your teachers. Ratemyprofessor.com has become my go to tool before picking classes. Then making sure you do any extra credit the professor offers. Got me an A in my accounting class instead of an B =)

 

[RoXXXanne13]

deff one of the things I regret.. not going to school then enlisting.. had a couple schools talking to me about playing ball for them.. parties and just plain fun lol so I cant give you much advice other than do your best and stay focused on goals.. but I can tell you.. Recognize opportunities when they arise.. and take them! lol

 

[Beastlick]

These will be the best 4 years of your life, then real world kicks you in the face and says pay up sucker!

 

[MrSnuggles]

Don't do drugs.
Make Friends.
Do study groups (highly suggested).
Do your homework.
Pay attention in class. (Don't fall asleep).
Take Notes.
Review the notes. (Don't forget about them).
Enjoy College life, but know your limits.
Don't fall into peer pressure.

These are just a few. They are universal, but they are very important.
I'm a Junior. Going for my B.A. Criminology degree.

 

[AdorableKaren]

Ha party up! I'm just kidding don't follow in my steps
I joined a few sororities it was expensive but a quick way to make friends.
You just have to find a balance between fun, boys, and books. Good luck!

 

[Lovehanayo]

Don't work full time and go to school full time. Wait a couple semesters before you dive head first into something like that. Taking 12-14 hours of college and working 40+ hours is not the same as in high school. Completely different work load.

Even though you might only go to class twice a week, it's a different ball game and it takes a semester or two to adjust.


Don't worry about not knowing a major. You'll figure it out eventually.

Don't fall into peer pressure for "thirsty Thursday" and all that crap.

Focus on finishing your degree and getting ahead. There's always time to party at the end of the semester. Don't waste your student loans/grants/whatever on getting a mediocre GPA but good drinking stories.

 

[ShadowRS]

Lemme break it down for you, as I am a senior now in College...


1. For the love of god find out about your professors. Nothing can ruin your school semester like a god awful teacher.

2. Don't go partying. Don't be an idiot. You're in college to learn about a field of study.

3. Don't procrastinate. Do your homework well. You will find your GPA is a very slippery slope. Also, don't bite off more credits than you can handle. Quality over quantity.

4. Don't waste your time. If you are taking a class and right away you HATE IT. Don't just "stick with it" unless you have to. You are a customer at the college, don't buy something you don't want. ( Unless you NEED the course. ) On the same topic, only bail the class if there are NO TIES to you financially or academically. Don't take a class, hate it, then just decide to "fail" it.

5. Meet new people. This is a must. You will most likely be in a lot of classes with people you recognize. Make friends. You will be AMAZED how many times I have saved someones ass in a class and vice versa. For example, I became friends with a kid in my calculus class and we worked together through that. I was better at calc than him. Next year, I had to program in C++ language. I was struggling in that class, but luckily the guy I helped in Calc was a pro at it!

6. Learn to work in teams. You will be doing a lot of it. You will have *******s, you will have people who are lazy, you will have good people. Get used to it. Don't be afraid to speak up to the people you are having a problem with, yet remain civil.

7. Time management. It's key. Lock that **** down.

8. Don't worry about fitting in. The cliques are still around... but now it doesn't matter at all. These people don't know you. You will make friends and find your way.

9. Money management. Unless your rents are helping you in any way, mine didn't help at all, you will learn this fast.

10. Live. Always remember, college is NOT the last stop in your life, nor should it be the "best." This is just another milestone you have chosen in your life, and as well as any aspect in your life, should be lived to the fullest. Don't make going here a "9-5" kinda job. Have fun with it, but remember you are there to LEARN.

Please just remember unless you get grants and scholarships, YOU ARE PAYING FOR IT! You are paying quite a bit. School should be your #1 priority before having fun. Many people make the mistake of going out, getting drunk every night, and then never doing work. It may be hard to put it into perspective. As in, you receive financial aid that pays for your school. So you, as a consumer, don't fully realize the costs of school as you aren't physically paying for it at that time. The value of the dollar doesn't mean as much. I didn't get much aid and had to pay in 1500 - 3k every year of my own money. Kinda was some good motivation to do well because I just shelled out money that could have been spent modding my car!

You will have to pay back what you take out. Try to avoid loans as much as possible.

There, I think.

 

[ShadowRS]

Also, if you can, try not to work fulltime and go to school fulltime. That's what I do now. 40 hours a week, 14-16 credits a semester... Going for Electrical Engineering.

But hey, it sounds and looks impressive if you pull it off. Learn some great time management skills.

 

[Thaifight-R]

Like everyone said, networking is crucial. You never know if a classmate might become super helpful in a class you struggle in, or if they can hook you up with a job or something of the sort. Actually got an internship from a friend I met in a class.
Of course, this doesn't just apply to students; this also applies to faculty. 0_o

Try to get to know your professors, whether it be during office hours, after class, or even over a cup of coffee. See if your school has some sort of dine/coffee with a Professor program.
Not only will it make a professor less intimidating, it will also make them more willing to help you out since they'll see that you're putting more effort into their class. You'd be surprised what can happen from simply going to office hours often or inviting your professor for lunch. I personally scored some letters of recommendation and a job simply from this.

Time management is also important.
One does not simply procrastinate in college.
It WILL bite you back.

Also, if you find yourself struggling in school, don't take it too hard upon yourself. You most likely won't be the only one that feels that way even if it seems like it. While you shouldn't be settling for less, you should not let lower grades discourage you from staying in school. Rather, look at it as an opportunity to improve upon your study skills or time management.

Most schools will have a resource that you can tap into for additional help. It varies from school/classes, but there's anything from having friends in the class, talking to the professor, talking to the TA's (if your school has them), going to the lab or dedicated help area for the department of the class, etc... Again, talking to your fellow students can be very helpful here because some might know things you don't.

That being said, even if your GPA isn't where you would want it to be, you shouldn't worry too much about it as grades aren't everything. You should also be looking into getting an internship as soon as you can. Employers typically like seeing people that have actually had some experience in the working field since you can only learn so much from books. Find a balance between doing well in school and gaining experience, and you should be more than OK in school.

I think everyone else here did a pretty good job with the other advice.

Me? I'm going into my senior year. (my school's on a quarter system) Studying Computer Science with a Specialization in Bioinformatics.
Trying not to rush through college though as I prefer to gain as much experience as I can and keep my grades up. Better to have that and finish college late than to graduate early/on time and have meh grades and work experience.

 

[JimmyQ]

1. dont skip class
2. check for e-books good way to save some money
3. go to office hours especially if you are in a 300-500 person lecture
4. rule of thumb is to study 2 hours for each 1 credit the class is.

enjoy it, it can be the best or worst time of your life.

Im half way through my bachelors in Chemical Engineering