Advice to pnms beginning their College/University experience…

[ufdale]

lol That's what you'd think, but it's very, very common! Many girls still go to college to find nice, educated husbands. There's nothing wrong with wanting a nice, educated husband, but when that's the ONLY thing you're going to college for (oh yeah and the parties and social connections too)... I have several friends (who will remain nameless) who honestly just can't wait to be Mrs. Trophy Wife.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by ufdale

lol That's what you'd think, but it's very, very common! Many girls still go to college to find nice, educated husbands. There's nothing wrong with wanting a nice, educated husband, but when that's the ONLY thing you're going to college for (oh yeah and the parties and social connections too)... I have several friends (who will remain nameless) who honestly just can't wait to be Mrs. Trophy Wife.

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by ufdale

lol That's what you'd think, but it's very, very common! Many girls still go to college to find nice, educated husbands. There's nothing wrong with wanting a nice, educated husband, but when that's the ONLY thing you're going to college for (oh yeah and the parties and social connections too)... I have several friends (who will remain nameless) who honestly just can't wait to be Mrs. Trophy Wife.

We have that as a facebook group. "I'm going to college to find someone rich to marry".

[adpiucf]

I have a sorority sister who at age 19 was crying, "I'm past my prime." She's 26 now and when I remind her of that, she laughs and says, "I'm so glad I'm still single and didn't get married out of high school like all of my friends did. All of them are unhappy or divorced or on their second marriage already!"

There are plenty of young women who come to college conditioned by their families that unless they are married or engaged by 22, they should resign themselves to being an old maid. As a result, a lot of girls start husband shopping the minute they get to freshman orientation... only to find that the guys that were the relationship-type in HS have ditched their sweeties to sow some wild oats, and that with a very few rare exceptions, you won't find true love over brews at the fraternity party.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by AXiD670
Go to class.

So THAT was my problem...............LOL

[SFHopefull!]

,,,,

[PhoenixAzul]

+To repeat this, because it is damned important...GO. TO. CLASS. Period. Even if your grades are not stellar, you will almost ALWAYS get brownie points on attendance/participation if you are just there, taking up space! (note, slightly more important at a small/mid sized school than a large one where there are 500 people in a lecture hall...nothing can prepare you for an entire 20 person lecture class plus professor showing up at your dorm door wondering why you aren't in class).

+PARTICIPATE! Make yourself heard. This also reinforces your name to the professor and shows that you still have a pulse and have something to say on the topic at hand. Again, those brownie points for demonstrated knowledge add up!

+ Don't put it off, DO IT. If you've got a longer assignment, break it up into smaller pieces. Use a wall calendar to plan it out. Write post-its or signs to yourself if you need to. Just do it. Even though it looks like this :

+If it doesn't have your initials on it, it is fair game.

+ Establish an "alone time" signal with your roommate. This comes in handy in so many situations.

+Get a good alarm clock with battery back up and dual alarms. Make sure it is loud.

[Dionysus]

You all are oh-so-PC!

1. Don't pick some lame ass college. Party schools rule! But, if you're planning to be career student, go to a commuter school.

2. Class rules are so much more relaxed than in high school. Take advantage! If you have to pee, GO! If you want to eat chinese food, EAT!

3. Don't fall asleep in class though.

4. Sorority is LYFE! If you keep getting cut, transfer schools! J/K But if you WANT to transfer for other reasons, do so.

5. Don't sleep with married men.

6. Get friendly with the cashiers at the cafeteria and campus convience stores. They may give you discounts.

7. Keep an eye on female friends who eat, sleep, and breathe guys. As soon as they get some testosterone in their life, your friendship may be a goner!

8. Don't ever go out with a guy that calls females c***s. It's not a good idea to befriend them either.

9. Be careful which Greeks you talk isht about on GC. You may never know who's lurking!

10. Did you know it was a federal crime if you mess with the geese on campus?

11. If you're a novice in drinking and if someone buys you a shot, drink up or don't drink it at all. If you sip it through a straw, your ass will get clowned on!

12. Be as careful who you put on your isht list as those you put on your cool list. Don't burn bridges. You might never know when you need something from someone.

13. Taking bids from more than one sorority. NOT SMART.

14. Sororities telling you it's okay to do so. NOT NICE.

15. If you're in the mood for drama. Attend SGA meetings.

16. Explore the underground tunnels, but tell someone you're going.

17. KNow the history of the dorms you're moving into. We have one that used to be a mental institution

18. Do more than one internship and do them early. You don't want to change your mind your senior year, because you discovered that you hate the real world experience in your field!

19. All-nighters are dumb. How can you learn and retain information if you're sleep deprived? Even caffiene won't keep you that sharp.

20. If you're want to be a kiss ass, don't be obvious.

21. I heard that dorms and gated university apartments are easy to get into...

[Stef the Pef]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

5. Don't sleep with married men.

...OR PROFESSORS! No matter what the perks are, that's just a bad idea. Sure, it's okay to flirt, especially if they're towards your age or especially charming. But for the love of bob, don't pursue a relationship if he's in your major or minor! Good grief, you don't want your dirty laundry running around your major profs' minds when they're handing out grades, do you?!

Originally Posted by Dionysus

16. Explore the underground tunnels, but tell someone you're going.

Better yet, bring someone who knows the tunnels (or spires, if you're at a college who loooooves to put towers on every building). Our tunnels have an alarm system in them, so it's best to bring someone who knows where those alarms are, how to spot them, and how to avoid them. Do explore things like tunnels and towers, though, if for nothing else than the graffiti is a fun read.

Originally Posted by Dionysus

17. KNow the history of the dorms you're moving into. We have one that used to be a mental institution

Good grief, where is that?

Other assorted advice:
*It's okay not to drink. Most college students (aside from a few "whooo! no parents!" freshmen) will respect that if you don't because of religious reasons, because you know how you get when you're smashed, or if you'd just rather not risk it. It's better not to be trashed at parties because there are so so many things that can go wrong there! If you're the type of drunk who's prone to dancing on tables and hooking up, wait to explore the wide world of alcohol with a small group of trusted friends and not at parties. Your sorority's standards board will appreciate that.

*Pay attention to your health! Eat right, take breaks away from the books from time to time, and get some sleep. Developing problems like anemia or migraine headaches due to that academic perfectionism isn't worth it, and will ruin your grades. Taking the time to eat, sleep, or work out won't ruin your GPA if you manage your time well.

*Save your doctor's notes! They come in useful for challenging grade decisions or missed work.

*Be friendly! Don't be afraid to say hi to people in your classes or your other activities. Keeping to yourself all the time is no fun.

*Find student or school-related websites. Talk to existing students. Get to "know" other students or alums before coming to school and you'll be less nervous about the transition. My honors program had a message board set up for us that let us find out a little bit about each other before we even showed up. We kept meeting each other in person and going, "oh! you're so-and-so from the BIC boards who likes blahblahblah." Ask older students and alumni questions, too! We don't bite, and we've been in your shoes before and know a thing or two about many of the questions you ask.

*Go to your school's Orientation and Welcome Week programs. You get to know a lot of useful information through those.

*Go to athletic events! Tailgates are wonderful and games are usually a welcome break from stressing the heck out of yourself. Go with friends, and be loud!

*HUGE AMEN to not going home every weekend. Eventually your mom has to undo the umbilical cord, and at college, you need to start learning how to be independent. Unless there's a good reason for going home at every opportunity like a family member with a terminal illness, going home that often is just lame. You miss out on important things to do with friends if you're not there for the weekends.

*Don't over-pack--the move-in crews will thank you, and so will your roommate!

*If you have roommate issues, apply to switch. Sometimes there are singles reserved for people with certain health issues that aren't used every year, and you can go into one of those if you're lucky. Just remember that it's better to get out of a bad roommate situation than stay there.

*Community appliances SUCK. Out of the two microwaves in my dorm, both got broken on a regular basis and were unusable for about a week afterwards. If you can bring your own (or if your roomie can bring one to share), bring it. Same goes with things like TVs, computers, coffee pots--it's just better to know that you can have access to them when you need them. Another option would be getting a computer with a built-in cable TV hookup--it saves a lot of space and you won't have to worry about your required watching of political debates/____ documentary/whatever strange assignment your get that might involve TV conflicting with the masses' Desperate Housewives hour.

[Soliloquy]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

15. If you're in the mood for drama. Attend SGA meetings.

I can't tell you how hard I laughed when I read that, because it is SO true. I've always been actively involved in SGA and continued that interest in college, boy was I suprised by how heated debates can get. It's a lot of fun though, especially if it is something you are passionate about and have to convince your fellow members that its worth the time and money.

I also have to comment on a few other things:

1. Credit cards: I don't know if you all actually know this, but when you make a purchase on a credit card and pay it off completely when you get the bill, you are delaying the benefits. Sure it will reflect that you are capable of handling the responsibility associated with credit cards and it will raise your credit score, but slowly. Let's say you have a $200 balance on a credit card, make a couple of large payments to pay it off within 3 months! Do not let a balance sit long enough to acrue a ridiculous amount of interest. You should have read all the fine print to know what the APR is on the credit card and when balances begin to gain interest! Also, for the love of God 19.9% APR is NOT a good deal!!!!! Anyway my point is that if you make consistent large payments (way over the minimum) you will raise your credit score quickly, especially if the balance is paid off within 3 months. Having friends in the finance curriculum pays off My credit score has skyrocketed in the past year because I followed this formula.

2. Classes: You will be suprised how wrong sites like ratemyprofessor can be. I took a class with a professor that had been praised on that site! There were very few negative reviews on his teaching style and testing. Granted his tests were incredibly easy, but I felt like I didn't learn a damn thing because he was SO boring. I think most of the class slept or entertained themselves with their laptops. I'm pretty sure the only reason he came so highly recommended was because he was so easy.
Also, I took a teacher that had some pretty tough reviews. Overall the comments said he was a great guy but graded really hard and his tests were insanely difficult. Well I didn't have a choice and I had to take him, but this was also in a subject that I am rather confident in (my minor). I worked my butt off in his class, but learned a great deal and made an A. I sucked it up and took a class against others advice. Sometimes listening to other people's opinions won't get you far and you won't learn a darn thing. Don't forget, you are in college to learn and to be challenged- so make sure you do exactly that.

3. Office Hours: I just feel I absolutely have to repeat this because of its importance! Please do not feel intimidated by asking for help! You are not weak or dumb when you ask for help, you are actually demonstrating that you care about the class and want to do well. Also, like others have said, you never know what kind of personal connections you will get out of it. I became pretty close with two professors this past year and they are so supportive of me. The professor who I mentioned in my #2 rant has definitely become my mentor and he has "demanded" that I take him for the rest of my classes required by my minor! He has so much faith in my capabilities and wants to do everything possible to help me succeed, so that's why he wants to make sure he's the one prepping me for my future. How awesome is that? I've got this incredibly powerful professor (he's the interim department head!) in my corner because I would pop into his office for help, but we would also talk about random things- like music. Also, don't waste their time either. Don't go to the office unless you really have valid questions and really want help. You'll be taking time away from students who really do need the professor's assistance and you'll probably annoy him/her. Like I said, by all means if you are there for help and somehow another subject rises into the conversation- go with it. Just don't go there for tea and cookies, ya know what I mean?

4. Nightlife: Ok, there is way more to college nightlife then college parties. If you are musically inclined, you will be suprised how many incredible bands will be playing near you. Good local, and small national, bands love playing in college town bars. Not only will you be exposed to different kinds of music, you will be suprised how many people from campus you meet. That cute guy in your bio class might be there and it would be a splendid time to talk to him. I've talked to people in classes that I might not normally had the opportunity to have a conversation with, and I've met people involved with all sorts of organizations. So look around campus for music flyers, find out the rock hot spots and get to it! Great way to get out on the weekend!

[sunnyhibiscus]

Soliloquy, I agree with you on the ratemyprofessor.com deal. I took a math teacher that have received negative reviews. I was scared because I was terrible in math. However, she was a good professor, and I gave her high marks there. You just have to not fall behind and do your homework.

And some of the negative reviews on the site come from people who don't study or don't give an effort.

[flirt5721]

Originally Posted by sunnyhibiscus

Soliloquy, I agree with you on the ratemyprofessor.com deal. I took a math teacher that have received negative reviews. I was scared because i was terrible in math. However, she was a good professor, and I gave her high marks there. You just have to not fall behind and do your homework.

And some of the negative reviews on the site come from people who don't study or don't give an effort.

I agree with you too. However sometimes a professor can be a really bad lecture teacher but be a better one on one teacher. Don't just judge the professor in the classes room. A lot of the bad review might come from students that did not bother to go to the office hours or make and appointment with the professor. Go to their office hours and they can help out so much more (most of the time).

[sunnyhibiscus]

Originally Posted by flirt5721

I agree with you too. However sometimes a professor can be a really bad lecture teacher but be a better one on one teacher. Don't just judge the professor in the classes room. A lot of the bad review might come from students that did not bother to go to the office hours or make and appointment with the professor. Go to their office hours and they can help out so much more (most of the time).

I forgot one thing. Some of these people who write negative reviews don't show up in class except on exam days.

[AChiOhSnap]

Originally Posted by flirt5721

I agree with you too. However sometimes a professor can be a really bad lecture teacher but be a better one on one teacher.

The reverse can be true as well!

I'd advise any new college grad to quickly look into research opportunities, especially if they think they might want to attend grad school or do internships/study abroad. The earlier started with research the better it will look on grad school apps. That said, don't single a prof out for mentorship or research advisory based on whether or not people like him/her in class.

A well-liked, funny, personable prof can end up being a disorganized mess one-on-one, or a control freak, or a total space cadet. Or it may simply be a personality clash. Make sure you really get to know a professor's personal style before signing on to endless hours in the lab one-on-one with him. Spend some time chatting with him after class and in the office hours before you commit yourself to assisting with his huge publication.

[Indie_Superstar]

Originally posted by PhoenixAzul
+To repeat this, because it is damned important...GO. TO. CLASS. Period. Even if your grades are not stellar, you will almost ALWAYS get brownie points on attendance/participation if you are just there, taking up space! (note, slightly more important at a small/mid sized school than a large one where there are 500 people in a lecture hall...nothing can prepare you for an entire 20 person lecture class plus professor showing up at your dorm door wondering why you aren't in class).

+PARTICIPATE! Make yourself heard. This also reinforces your name to the professor and shows that you still have a pulse and have something to say on the topic at hand. Again, those brownie points for demonstrated knowledge add up!

+ Don't put it off, DO IT. If you've got a longer assignment, break it up into smaller pieces. Use a wall calendar to plan it out. Write post-its or signs to yourself if you need to. Just do it. Even though it looks like this :

+If it doesn't have your initials on it, it is fair game.

+ Establish an "alone time" signal with your roommate. This comes in handy in so many situations.

+Get a good alarm clock with battery back up and dual alarms. Make sure it is loud.

Phoenix, I love your drawing. By the way, can I add something that I kind of learned the hard way this past year? I just want to say, you (GENERAL you, as in "hey all you future first years/rushees!") should pick and choose what activities you do. Trying to pack in, say, choir, student government, and multiple volunteer commitments AND take extra classes all at once, is really not a good idea. So, it's okay to say "no," once in a while, it's okay to think, "All right, it says in the syllabus that we need to take Underwater Basket Weaving, but I don't really have room for it this semester, so it can wait," and it's okay not to feel guilty about it. I'm not really sure how well I'll be able to follow my own advice this coming year, though, so if someone could remind me about what I said later on, when I've stupidly said "yes" to one too many people, then that'd be awesome.