Advice...

[ziasha07]

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.

[1908Revelations]

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

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

[AlphaFrog]

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=68924

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by 1908Revelations

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

Amen!!!!

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

[ΑΓΔSquirrel10]

~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

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrel10

~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.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by 1908Revelations

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

so true, so true

[1908Revelations]

Before I went off to school I listened to the advice of everyone and bought Ramen Noodles , 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.

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

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by 1908Revelations

Before I went off to school I listend to the advice of everyone and bought Ramen Noodles , 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.

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

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!

[AKA_Monet]

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...

[ziasha07]

Originally Posted by 1908Revelations

Before I went off to school I listend to the advice of everyone and bought Ramen Noodles , 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.

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

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?

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by ziasha07

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.

[mystikchick]

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

[AlethiaSi]

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

[aephi alum]

- 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.