Advice to pnms beginning their College/University experience…

[GammaPhi88]

Bumping because this is a good thread.

1) Do NOT take a job in retail unless you are SURE you can handle it. I made that mistake, and though I requested time off for finals week and the week before it way in advance, I still had to argue with my manager about my schedule when I got it. You are best off getting an on campus job where they understand about classes and exams and so on.

2) Better yet, if a professor offers a research job or allows you to do extra work for them, take it. Even if you don't get paid, this is great for networking, recommendations, and experience.

3) Realize that if you decide to room with your best friends from freshman year, come Christmas break of your sophomore year, you guys may not be that close. I grew way closer to people I wasn't close to my freshman year, and that happens. Freshman year is so stressful and crazy at times that while you do make some lasting friendships, you may grow closer to others in later years. And thats okay.

4) Try not to have a boyfriend freshman year at all. Most freshman relationships I've seen have ended, and I've seen many people who come in with serious relationships become fulling wrapped up in their relationship. Its sad to see, because they don't get to experience freshman year as fully as they could. I didn't meet my current boyfriend until I was nearly done with freshman year, and I'm so glad of that, because I was well established with friends and activities on campus before he became a part of my life...he wasn't and isn't my whole life, but he is a very good part of it.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by GammaPhi88

Bumping because this is a good thread.

1) Do NOT take a job in retail unless you are SURE you can handle it. I made that mistake, and though I requested time off for finals week and the week before it way in advance, I still had to argue with my manager about my schedule when I got it. You are best off getting an on campus job where they understand about classes and exams and so on.

Not to mention, call-ins totally suck if your job uses them.

Re the boyfriend, I agree, but in my personal experience I was so naive that if I would have jumped right into the dating different guys thing I don't think I could have handled it. It was nice to have a steady person to help me thru frehsman year. The problem came the next year when I had more confidence and had "outgrown" him and he thought we were getting married.

Just put it this way - college relationships are NOT like hs relationships.

[sceniczip]

Originally Posted by GammaPhi88

4) Try not to have a boyfriend freshman year at all. Most freshman relationships I've seen have ended, and I've seen many people who come in with serious relationships become fulling wrapped up in their relationship. Its sad to see, because they don't get to experience freshman year as fully as they could. I didn't meet my current boyfriend until I was nearly done with freshman year, and I'm so glad of that, because I was well established with friends and activities on campus before he became a part of my life...he wasn't and isn't my whole life, but he is a very good part of it.

I had a boyfriend who went to another school my freshman year and still managed to be involved in other programs, including joining a sorority. I don't feel like I missed out on anything my freshman year and if I had to do it over I would do it exactly the same. However, I also think it depends on the person. I'm now a sophomore and we are still dating and are very serious. I'm also Director of Rituals for my sorority and I show horses competitively as well as maintaining a 3.8 GPA (I got my first B this semester and boy was I pissed! lol), so it is possible to be well rounded and still enjoy a serious relationship, but don't hold onto a boyfriend that wants you to spend all your time with him. My boyfriend and I are both involved in a few different organizations and we know that we can't spend all our time talking or driving to visit each other lol. However, don't listen to anyone who tells you to dump your boyfriend for your freshman year if you really are serious about him. I had different people tell me that including family members and I know I would have really regretted it. Despite popular belief you CAN enjoy freshman year while in a relationship I know a few people who started dating their boyfriend their freshman year (or earlier) and now a few years later they are either still together, engaged, or married. I also know some who did not work, in fact some were complete disasters, so take it on a case by case basis.

Now that I'm done with my marathon lol, my own personal pet peeve: I work at our school library both at circulation and in laptops. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO PRINT YOUR PAPER!!!!!! I can't even begin to tell you how many people come in to print something and the printer is down and their paper is due in like 10 minutes. Don't be nasty to the people who are trying to help you print your paper, yelling does not help.

If you are driving to campus, especially on a mainly commuter campus, leave plenty of time to find a parking space.

Get to know your professors if you can, I find that it's a lot easier to ask a professor that I've talked to before for help rather than one who doesn't know me from any other student. And in addition to that, don't wait until the day before the final to ask for help!