Advice...
 

What are some general tips you have to offer to people going into their first year of college?

or even

What are some things that you've learned the hard way or wished someone would have told you before you went to college?

Please and thank you. :)

Don't believe the hype.....ramen noodles suck!!!

But seriously.....quality points!!!! Be aware of them!!!

Amen!!!!

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...light=freshman

~Visit your professor's office a lot. It really helps you stay on top of your work.
~Use post-it notes on your walls around your desk...helps you remember upcoming assignments
~I use a dry-erase calendar to write down meetings and stuff
~Exercise regularly!!! Freshman 15 is an evil, evil thing! I would give anything to have my high school body back
~The food is awful :(

* I would like to add - use your dry erase calendar to also write down assigment due dates, test days etc. I personally used a Day Planner to put all this info down, but it's the same concept.

It helps you visually see what is due when, your tests, etc. I made it standard practice to go through my syllabi at the beginning of each semester and plant all that info as soon as I could. My profs were nice enough to let us know at the beginning of each semester what the assignments would be and when they would be due. I don't know if it's like this everywhere.

I liked that I could plan out when my study times would be when mid-terms and finals came around if I could see when all my tests landed.

* READ THE CHAPTER BEFORE YOU GO TO CLASS!!!!!!!!!! My mom told me to do this. Not everyone does this, and I honestly didn't do it consistently my first 2.5 yrs, but my classes were SO MUCH EASIER when I went to class already knowing what we would be discussing. If I had any questions about the chapter, I would make note of them and if they weren't answered during lecture, I would ask during or after class.

- Go to class, go to class, go to class. Did I mention go to class?
- Line up a good study group. I did best in the classes where I had a regular study group.
- Get a day planner (electronic or paper, whatever is easiest for you) and USE IT.
- Exercise, even if it's just a daily walk or bike ride.
- Learn to cook. Even if you only learn some basic recipes, like pasta or stir-fry, it's a hell of a lot better and healthier than cafeteria food.
- Bring an item or three from home. Just because you're going to college doesn't mean you have to discard your entire childhood. Bring a few photos, a favorite doll or toy, etc.

Thank you for all the advice and the links! Keep them coming if you wish...
Two things I'd hope a few people can expound on:

1. There wasn't alot of things pertaining to roomates that I saw other than "Don't room with best friends" and "Lock your stuff up, you can't trust everyone" Any roomate specific tips or stories?

2. I'm Black (sorry to be so blatant) and prior to this I've only attended predominately white schools. On top of that I've been told that (not that there's anyway to "act" a certain race) I "act" like a white girl. Well due to my major, location, and well the band, I've chosen to apply to and plan to attend an HBCU. Is there anything I should know, stories, or tips? I already know that I may have a bit of a culture shock I have black friends, (how racist does that sound!? I'm not!) but still. I also know that I probably need to man up some... But anyway, advice?

The whole roommates deal: One of my really good friends roomed with her best friend her freshman year, and it got really ugly. They didn't start speaking again until the second semester of their sophomore year! So don't room with your best friend. This year, I roomed with a girl who I didn't really know, but we get along great! We're even rooming together again next year. So it's best to pick someone who you think you can get along well enough to live with, but make sure you somewhat know that person!

Good luck on your freshman year! It's a lot of fun, and I hope you enjoy every minute of it!

Advice? Be yourself. :) Seriously. It can go a Long way. HBCU...hmmm Since I did attend Grambling for a year I think I qualify for this one :)

Please, visit the school prior to attending. Are you sure you want to go there after you see it.
Be prepared for slow administration/admissions.
Go to class.
Unless you are required to live on campus, move off campus after your first year. Trust me on that one.
Please, don't pledge the chess club.
Have fun but dont forget to study.

ETAI was like you in that when I transfered to GSU from San Francisco, I had culture shock too. It took me a while to adjust to not being "the only one" in my class. Once I was used to it, it was great because people saw me for me and not "oh the black girl".


If I remember correctly, a lot of HBCU's wont let you join greek orgs until you have 30 residential units and you are a sophmore. Dont sweat it. Get your GRADES together your first year. That's what really important.

I think the reasoning behing the 'don't room with frriends' thing is: you already know them quite well and they you, the comfort level is there, but as a room mate you would probably prefer a little more privacy. If the person is already your friend they may be 'too comfortable' with you. I roomed with the assignment I was given freshman year and it was good after we worked out the kinks.

My room mate and I were very different and her friends were a bit much for me to deal with. We became close and even took a road trip. She used to piss me off because she would drink my apple juice and that was something I didn't want to share. One day to get back at her, I locked EVERYTHING in my closet before I went to class (she would use alllll of my post it notes and paper....stuff I knew she had). Well.....I lost my keys and was effed up! It was 3 am and I recruited some people to help mee look for them (it was 20 something degrees). Long story short we got along and we had only met at school.

Lock up your stuff!!
We all hope people won't steal from us, but the fact is people steal! As for your room mate they may not take big stuff from you, but they may want to use things with out your permission.

You will encounter many people with different personalities from everywhere. So, the way you act will probably not be so rare once you get to meet other people. The people will probably not make fun of you for acting a certain way, and if they do it will likely be in a jovial manner that you may appreciate.

I went to an HBCU freshman year.

so true, so true:p

Before I went off to school I listened to the advice of everyone and bought Ramen Noodles:mad: , they told me the noodles were a staple. I microwaved a pack.....the smell was bad enough, but my dumb ass had to taste them......barf!! I gave them away, but not to my room mate b/c I didn't want to smell that crap.:mad:

Now our soon to be college student a staple is Ragu Express!!! Yummy!:D

LOL. The best way I could eat the ramen noodles was to cook them, dump the water, open a jar of spaghetti sauce and pour it on. Cheap and quick.
Since we could get the noodles @ 10 for a buck, it was on!:p

This Noodles thing, I eat them just cause sometimes, the Chicken flavor is tight, but you're right, the rest smell (and taste) HELLA weird. If you give me 2 cans of Tuna (3 for $1) and some mayo I'm good! Hopefully I'll be fine on that front. Plus I believe my college requires at least a 14 meal per week plan for freshmen. I think the food is ok. I'll see soon when I visit the campus later this month and hit up one of the Dining Halls.

Ragu Express? What's that?

The chicken was pretty good. I always liked the shrimp flavor.

I know this sounds weird, but um... eat your veggies.. seriously lol I ran into major stomach trouble my frosh and soph year, and after being in the emergency room for a few hours.... its worth eating your veggies... or at least taking fiber pills lol (i know some schools supposedly put laxatives in their food, but my school definately didn't, and the food was actually good! if you aren't getting what you want, don't be afraid to ask for it, a lot of schools have comment cards, or go and talk to the head people yourself, don't be afraid, they don't know until you say something)

definately have a little kit with things like hydrogen peroxide, cotton balls, bandaids, cough meds, nyquil, dayquil, vitamin C (multi vitamins), i also kept some pepto and tums type stuff in there... also rubbing alcohol... cough drops... ibuprofen/tylenol, also condoms (even if you don't, your friends might need them) and a back up supply of birth control (if you use it) i think i kept an extra supply of the stuff i use all the time

I graduated from Spelman College.

I had roommates for 3 years.

I only got along with 1 roommate.

Locking up stuff: It's more about how much you can make a Costco or Sam's Club runs... If you can have a car on campus. And if you did, you might want to bring a bucket because your stuff will get stolen.

And do not bring the kitchen sink with you. Just purchase the essentials on a budget. I wish my family taught me that logic. Like how to eat after the cafeteria closed for dinner... Your food options become beyond ramen--more like chicken broth cubes. You learn the importance of longterm food storage.

Then clothes washing--yes, you wear and rotate your 3 varieties of pants for 2 weeks because at most HBCU's even the high end ones, do not have functional washing machines that wash and dry your clothes.

And since most HBCU are in the relative southern region, for some logical reason not all the dorms have air condition, then a square fan if your friend. And to keep cool, drink the sugared ice tea...

And purchase some the school ware: like large cups to take back and forth to the cafeteria. And the food will be yuck. But, PBNJ's are your BEST friend!!! Be creative.

Okey, dealing with an HBCU admin... Love standing in lines and have things in quadruplicate. Then turn on Southern charm, like "I would certainly enjoy life if you would so kindly assist me in this manner". Humility goes a LOOOONNNNNGGGGG WWWWWAAAAAYYY.

And if you like living on the internet, well, let's just say it doesn't happen often. They have energy crises there... Many of buildings are in disrepair. There are numerous reasons.

But, one thing they will teach you is how to stand on your own two feet and confidence in your abilities.

And if you skip class, you professors will know and be all up in your business. So don't do it.

It is like 1950's there...

The dorm director I had freshman year changed her schedule to night shift so she could watch us at night! She really went old school and moved in! Z, you will learn what is meant by dorm mother depending on the director! Tuskegee wanted to keep up with our every moment. I didn't mind it that much, but she did kinda flip out on us....she wouldn't let guys walk to to the door...the front door. Microwaves were not allowed, but my room mate and I had a George Forman grill, microwave, and a toaster (never got caught;) ) please don't get caught doing anything wrong, because you will be fined! I am sure NinjaPoodle, and Monet can attest to that (not saying you were fined).

Soror Monet, Tuskegee would just shut our power off as if it is not hot enough in Alabama! You were soooooo right! Standing in line will become your new hobby! My room was nicknamed HELL, when everyone else in the entire dorm had air conditioning my room didn't! My pictures on the wall curled up it was that hot!

OMG, curfew flashback!:mad:

Curfew? Please explain...

Not all schools have curfews. We didn't. Plus you will find ways to get around stuff.....trust me!

I agree with AKA Monet. Make sure you end up with a good roomie. A bad dorm roomie can make your freshman year a bad one.

All the dorms were single-sex, doubtful if there is a co-ed option now but I could be wrong. At GSU, the guys were on the other side of the campus. When I was there, doors closed and were LOCKED at midnight. You were S.O.O.L. if you were out after midnight and hopefully you left your window open on your 2nd floor dorm room and you wore flat shoes and you know how to climb a window. :p (seriously) Male visitors had to be out of the lobby by 11. No male visitors to your room. This rule changed the 2nd semester I was there.

I'll have to remember that.;)

I think 3 of 12 dorms at the college I looked at are co-ed. However ALL freshman dorms (male and female) are single gender and say members of the opposite sex can only be present in the lobby. For upper-classmen it changes to in the any area of the hall (I assume) at designated times. I'm hoping to luck out and get one of the upper-classmen dorms specified for the band, which may or may not be a good thing. How do you regulate who is where in co-ed dorms?

It says all that but doesn't mention curfew. Only key card entry with (I think) the doors that beep like hell if left open too long which can be DETRIMENTAL to sneaking in at 1 a.m. :cool:

That's cuz there ain't nuthin' but a blinkin' yellow light left on in Tuskegee... :P J/K

Curfew: several HBCU's are reinstituting them. Spelman DEFINITELY had one when I was there. I heard they stopped it, then restarted with a more relaxed version. Too many of the girls getting pregnant...

All freshmen had curfew: You have to be in by 10 PM on the weekdays and by 2 AM on the Weekends.

If you got caught after curfew, you were written up and had to be in your room at 6 PM for 2 weeks!!! :eek: That's happened to my roommate.

Freshman year, I had a buckwild class--Engineering Graphics, when I thought I wanted to be an engineer and this what B.C.--before computers. My final, I had to "spend the night". So, I asked my Resident Hall Director if it was okay. She said yes. I got a B outta that crazy course.

Quiet hours wer 24 hours a day in my dorm and the fine for violation was $100!:eek: Let's say you go to class and your alarm is going off....when you get back from class.......$100 fine! No questions asked. We didn't see guys until we went to class and she probably didn't want us to see them then. I remember on girl was moving a huge trunk in the dorm and it was full. The director suggested:rolleyes: (told) that a bunch of girls got together to move it b/c she was not going to let any males (unless it was someones dad) in her dorm. Despite all of that I had fun and I appreciated her for her views, because my roomie and I went to Alabama State to visit some of her former classmates and it was a whole different world.

actually i live with my best friend, this is our second year living together (last year was a one room double, this year we have an apartment with single bedrooms) and we'll be living in (hopefully) a house together next year with two other friends. yeah, sometimes we get on each others nerves but as long as you learn to respect the other person's wishes and privacy, it's not too bad.

learn to cook. the minute you get a stove, avoid eating the dining hall food.
do the reading, it sucks when you have to play catch-up
do work during the day - life is better when you're not up until 3 am on a nightly basis (even though i am, it's because it's my own fault :P)
if you get a bad grade on a paper, or don't understand something, go see the professor. more often than not, they are very willing to give you advice and pointers

Another question, (however superficial it may be) is clothing. Did you buy a new wardrobe? If so, what kind of clothing did you get? If not, how did you decide what to take with you and what to leave home? Also is there anything that you would say one should refrain from wearing around campus/in the dorms?

Your best bet is to research and find out what the local weather is like year-round. That will give a better idea of what to bring. Also, remember that most dorms are small so you will have to limit how much you bring. This is why you should visit the campus 1st. :)

Agreed. I think most people's tastes probably mature when they get to college. It's definitely easy to pick out who the freshmen are around campus. A tip I have for clothes: if you're living in dorms, people will most likely borrow them. If you're OK with that, I STRONGLY SUGGEST writing down who borrowed what on a post-it or something like that. I lost a ton of clothes last year living in the sorority house and you don't even realize it until you go to wear something and can't find it.

I agree with visiting the campus because you will see how much space you have. As for the borrowing of clothes....that didn't happen much for me or my friends. My room mate and I had a understanding, so if we wanted something we asked each other. But as for other things.....I have CD's that I know I didn't buy and some CD that I have not seen since freshman year. My school was only 2 hours away from my hometown. So, if your intended univ is in a few hours driving distance (like 6 or 7) then you will be able to leave your winter clothes at home instead of many of my friends had to have their parents ship them stuff or they brought EVERYTHING when they first moved in.

1. How can you tell the freshmen?

2. Thanks for the post-it note tip! I wouldn't even think to do that...

In my experience freshmen are the most overdressed the first few weeks of class. That's not to say they look like bumbs second semester, but the first few days is indeed a fashion show. There are a few other tells, but I can't think of them right now.

But at my previous school (HBCU) most days were fashion show worthy....espically 12 noon (aka Power Hour) on the yard....you will see;)

They look so young! I'm only a senior but some of these kids just look like babies to me.

Also, for some reason, the freshmen wear tennis shoes to class, as opposed to what everyone else does: UGGs in the winter, flipflops during fall & spring. I don't think I've worn tennis shoes to class since high school.