Tips For Incoming 2002 Freshmen 143
An Anonymous Freshman asks: "I, along with many other individuals in my age bracket, will soon be heading off to college. It seems that it would be quite easy to become bombarded by the many changes and potential pressures that are on the horizon. So, as the fall semester/quarter rapidly approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to ask what seems to be an experienced (and, overall, educated) community for any suggestions that would aid myself and the numerous other 'freshman-to-be' in adjusting to college social life (or lack thereof), academics, and the like. I would especially appreciate comments related to the potential necessity of time management in response to increased study requirements (and the desire to have an existence, otherwise)."
Rule #1 (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Rule #1 (Score:3, Insightful)
Partying is ok, but at some point, it's time to stop, and start studying.
Re:Rule #1 (Score:1)
Rules #1 and #2, learned the hard way, are as follows:
#1. If, after a social gettogether, a girl with long blonde hair and C-sized unbound hooters comes, undrunk, to your dorm room and rolls around on the bed with you, fuck her.
#2. If a 32 year old divorcee with blonde hair and big lips rolls around on the bed with you, then asks, "Did you ever have a fantasy about being with two women? I know most men think about that kind of thing.", pick up the phone and say, "Call her up!"
Dont's (Score:4, Funny)
Don't drink before exams.
Don't go to bed if the sun is going to rise in an hour.
Carry 2 condoms.
Don't go on that date if she's got an adam's apple.
Re:Dont's (Score:1)
Shouldn't it be one or the other?
watch out for nerds (Score:2, Informative)
You've got 4 years to fucka round before you have to join the rest of the shlubs in the workforce, so take advantage of it. If you don't you'll be sorry.
This isn't meant to completly deter you from your studies, but you need to find a happy balance between partying and studying. Don't study so much that you have no social life and don't let your social life cause you to fail your classes...
another tip, if you don't like your roommate in the dorms, switch asap. Living with reality-avoidant linux nerds for even a semester will make you insane. completely insane....
DON'T JOIN THE ROLEPLAYING CLUB IF YOU INTEND TO PERSUE THE TENDER GENDER. Women with class avoid anyone who even own a D20...
Also, drinking before english classes does help, trust me...
Regrets (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't mean that I regret meeting girls, hanging out with friends, occasionally forgoing my studies. That was all fine and if anything I regret not doing more of all three. I regret not being more physically active and losing touch with friends and family back home. I regret not being involved in more extracurriculars.
College is different than High School in that nobody is forcing you to do all these things. Parents and Teachers are not breathing down your neck and telling you what to do all the time. But this added freedom requires self-discipline to take advantage of it.
And remember the world outside of College. Plan ahead, think about whaty you'll want to be doing 2, 5, 10, 40 years down the road. Will you want to pursue a profession, start a family, get involved in changing the world, amass money and power, do some great thing?
Start thinking about it now. Don't wake up thirty like yours truly and realize you've wasted a lot of your life.
And don't watch so much tv or play so many video games.
And form study groups. They're a good way to make friends, and you learn a lot more.
Re:Regrets (Score:2)
I definitely agree. I just thought of my classes as grades. I unfortunately did not approach my classes are preparation for the Real World. Classes with big projects look good on your resume when you have no job experience. Summer internships with real companies are also a GREAT way to get real experience and make contacts.
Get to know your fellow classmates because they will be great contacts for future jobs when you all get out! Many times it is WHO you know.. but also get to know some people outside of your major.
I would also spend more time studying and more time partying!
Strange perspective (Score:2)
About the only "down" thing he mentioned was that he realized at 30 that he wasted a lot of his life. That doesn't mean that he wasted all of his life. It doesn't mean that nothing rewarding came from it.
You're assuming the converse, which is a logical fallacy. Too many people do it nowadays.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Dorms (Score:2)
Re:Dorms (Score:2)
Must agree with "frats suck" - getting our doors bombarded with rotten apples wasn't my idea of amusing.
Re:Dorms (Score:2)
Yeah, most people despise the fratboy stereotype, but I have some good friends who are in fraternities.
One thing I do notice, is that those friends start to hate being in the fraternity right around the second semester of their sophomore year. They've met some folks through the greek system, they've had some fun times, but they start to want to do other things, and the fraternity BS gets in the way. You 100% do *not* need to be in a fraternity to meet people - even girls. Because for the most part, you don't want to have anything to do with those girls who only seem to like guys in frats. You'll meet plenty of cool people, both guys and girls, just from being around campus. A lot of this comes from just talking to people in class and around campus.
College kicks ass, I'm a little bit disappointed that this is my last year, but I can't count the number of ways that I've matured and basically become a better person because of these last few years.
Re:Dorms (Score:2)
Re:Dorms (Score:2)
I'd learn generalizations are usually wrong. Yes there are frats that suck, but there are a lot that don't. I'm not saying everyone should join one, but I think having an open mind is a Good Thing.
When I left for school, I would have laughed at the idea of joining a frat. I had the sterotypical impression of what they were about and wanted nothing to do with them.
However, once there, I met several people in one particular fraternity who I seemed to get along with. There was no hazing, and they were very open about the whole thing. There was a focus on community service as well as developing into being a better man. With all the demands on one's time (playing a sport, being involved in other organizations) and being out on your own for the first time, I found it very helpful.
It helped bring a balance to my life, of constantly meeting new people, throwing social events, but also philanthropy, group study events, etc. It exposed me to people with RADICALLY different backgrounds, different ideas, and different viewpoints. It gave me a network of successful individuals to contact when looking for employment. It brought me bonds of friendship that will last for life.
No, not all fraternities are like this, and yes, we had our share of dumb shits too. A fraternity, like any group, is what you make of it. I'm glad I ended up joining the one that I did.
-Bill
purely out of curiosity, which one? (Score:1)
a lot of people look down on frats for no good reasons, a lot of people hold them in esteem for no great reason either. the best advice i can give to anyone, is don't listen to other people's opinions. wait a semester and see how life is like outside of greek life, rush multiple fraternities to get a feel for each (different organizations attract different types of people, don't get pressured into joining an organization, complete the pledge program, and find out that you hate the people you're brothers with). and if you rush and don't feel like you don't want to be a part of any of it, then don't. make up your own mind. for me, i went to school saying that frats suck, im too much an individual for any of that crap, and that my studies are too important for any of that animal house style bullshit. next semester i ended up pledging TKE and it was one of the best decisions of my life. sure, i partied. sure i met a lot of people... but i still had friends outside of the greek world that i did things with, i still got good grades (that semester i ended up with a 3.8), and i was even in a relationship with one girl who cursed 'fratboys' up and down until she met me. you'll meet a lot of people in college. you will be exposed to a lot of things and a lot of ideas both good and bad. if i can myself give you one piece of advice it would be this: (no, not sunscreen), make up your own mind. form your own opinions. and don't be so quick to write off other people or their decisions.
My god (Score:2)
Re:Dorms (Score:2)
-mba wannbes
-date rapists
-violent thugs
I'm not saying that the positive experience you didn't happen or that individual frat members are good people. But I think what you describe is the exception, and I think its important to convey that to one newly entering college.
I give this advice to everyone I meet that is entering college.
Don't lump the bad with the good (Score:2)
Being a longstanding member of a fraternity myself, I must point out that NOT ALL FRATS ARE GREEK, AND NOT ALL ARE BAD!
Keep in mind that the idea of a fraternity is that of a brotherhood. Before fraternities (and actually still), all the monks living together were known as this. And a sorority is likewise a flock of nuns.
That being said, there are three types of fraternities, and you are stereotyping only one of them. These being service, honorary, and social (sometimes you can talk about professional, but I'll put those with honorary, because they work about the same way). Greek fraternities are almost often social and are useful in that they are political machines. There are some LESS social greek fraternities, but it seems that what they have in common is an inward look, that is, the most important thing to the fraternity is the fraternity. I'll agree, they are pretty bad with that view. Of course, I can think of one right now that got around that...
Honarary fraternities require that the members meet some form of qualification, such as HKN, which is for electrical and computer engineers. (Getting in is something of an award, and members can often choose to do nothing with the fraternity). They rarely have hazing, and usually have a general purpose of benefitting the profession. Sometimes there are professional chapters of such fraternities (as in industry professionals). Of these, the only one that seems to behave like a social fraternity is the business fraternity, and then only sometimes...draw your own conclusions there.
Last are service fraternities. These are the wierdest. Like social fraternities, there is usually a stronger friendship with fraternity members than with those outside the fraternity, even though they don't have (as many) social functions. Also, most of these are coed, and have less strict requirements for entry. The majority of the entrance into one of these is a trial period to determine if you're willing to work or not. Wierder still, there are usually also coed sororities. I've never heard anything bad about these (except for um...mine. But that's because we know everything about our own fraternities and because we have a big country, and people aren't perfect).
So what was I in? An honorary service fraternity known as Kappa Kappa Psi. We invite outstanding bandmembers to join our ranks, and serve with us (you know, moving band equipment, painting fields...that sort of thing). I'm very glad I did it, and I don't regret any of it. I made a lot of close friends, and I learned a lot about working with people. I probably learned a lot more than I would have had I not joined. By the way, the bad thing? One of our chapters in Alabama got their charter revoked for hazing.
One other thing: when I was in college, there were people who I thought maybe held a grudge against me BECAUSE I was in a fraternity, until they spoke to me (we sometimes wore letters). Be careful with your judgement.
Re:Dorms (Score:1)
However, the service fraternities always did well. I'm opposed to the idea of strictly social fraternities, but I'd encourage people to join service frats, whose membership fees are mostly paid in community service hours, or special-interest frats (music fraternities come to mind). There are plenty of social organizations that accomplish something as well as forge friendships, and most are free.
Basically, don't get suckered in to paying good money to hang out with a bunch of guys and party. Plenty of cool people will do that with you for free.
Re:Dorms (Score:1)
Those were the good old days.... [sigh]
Re:Dorms (Score:1)
Either do nothing but study or nothing but party. (Score:2, Funny)
Preconceptions (Score:4, Insightful)
Your previous successes don't mean a thing, and your failures really don't either. Going into University, you've got a clean slate. Do not waste it by assuming that you'll succeed without working, nor by assuming that you'll fail no matter what you do.
Re:Preconceptions (Score:2)
>Just try to go through things and evaluate as you
>go what exactly is required of you.
Ah, brings back memories of my very first CS class. The prof tells the class "OK, everyone look at the person to your left. Now look at the person to your right. One of those people won't be here after Christmas."
This was an "advanced" CS class, i.e. everyone in the room had passed a test and was taking 2 first year CS courses squeezed into 1.
We all thought we were pretty smart, and the prof was trying to shake us out of it. His little lecture didn't work for me, it wasn't until the second or third assignment that I got scared and started to actually do work
Anyway, uni isn't killer hard, but you actually have to do some work, i.e. you can't sleepwalk thru like high school. If you show up for class and do the assignments, you'll pass.
Oh, and BTW, at Christmas time, the prof was proven right - about half of that "advanced" class had [failed|dropped] out.
go to a school who puts money into YOUR program (Score:1)
every school has degree programs that they are more proud of, where they try to be among the elite. they put more money into these programs.
if you want to get your moneys worth, major in one of your schools "pride" programs. you'll get more for your money.
dont major in the programs that colleges use to collect money for other programs... they'll take your tuition and spend it on your dorm neighbor.
If things start going badly (Score:1)
Study your college first (Score:4, Insightful)
1. Live on campus if at all possible. You get to network with so many more people that way. That is important for the next points.
2. Get to know your (potential) instructors before you register for their class. Meet as many people in your major as you can, preferably who are a year or more advanced than you are. That way you can look at your proposed schedule and ask them what to expect from particular professors - the sad reality is that some instructors just do not care about teaching. Also, put your browser to good use - download the syllabus and read it before you register, compare one professor to another if possible.
3. A 3 hour class means 3 hours a week in class, and probably more than that in preparation. You will be given a warning by someone at some point that for every x hours in a lecture you need to spend y hours preparing. Take this seriously!
4. And when spending the time as noted above - don't just do the manditory problems in a math class, try to do at least some of the optional problems, and for lit/english, Cliff's notes are your friend, but read them AFTER you have read the whole story at least once, NOT as a shortcut.
4. Party when not doing the above, but don't get behind the wheel while you are blasted, and don't knock anyone up/get knocked up/catch an incurable disease. Use latex.
5. Finish the degree and enjoy these years. Once you join us out here in the real world, you will regret it if you did not take the time to enjoy yourself. Youth is wasted on the young - don't let that old cliche apply to you.
Re:Study your college first (Score:1, Informative)
Download and save information about future courses, including syllabi, homework, and of course, solutions. Do this before taking the course, as most profs tend to either archive evrything on their websites, or re-use the webpages, but only overwrite previous course info when it comes time to start the new semester.
Most schools use the same books, especially classic books, so make use of other schools course websites (via google) for solutions and information.
Lastly, make use of all that info RESPONSIBLY!! You know what I mean.
(remaining AC because I've actually done this, and will be taking a few courses this fall for which I have everything already. it's helped me to a few good grades in some courses already, and I dont want my profs, especially those who read
Re:Study your college first (Score:2)
Switch that to at least 3 hours a week in class.
And go to class. There will be some times that you'll go and think "I didn't learn a thing." Even if you know the material well, you'll be learning what you'll be tested on. I promise you, there is a direct correlation with attendence and good grades. Besides, no cute girls are going to ask you to help them study if you're never in class. You've got to learn how to play that "I'm not a nerd, but I know a lot" angle well.
Re:Study your college first (Score:2)
Re:Study your college first (Score:1)
Be open to new things (Score:4, Insightful)
Go to parties, get laid, but be responsible! Know if you are the kind of person who is prone to abuse, and if so, address the issue. Otherwise, do some drinking, or whatever (stay AWAY from E), and have some fun. But find out about emergency contraception, and don't do anything to excess.
Manage your own bills, try to find roomates or housemates who will elevate you, not bring you down. DON'T watch lots of TV (unless it is in a social way), but go to movies with friends.
Go to the library, walk around, check out the journals, books, etc. All the ones you haven't seen before. Don't blow off the required classes that aren't in your major; try to find rewarding or interesting ones, and pay attention. Don't expect to end up where you think you will, expect to find NEW things. Talk with the professors in their office hours, and get to know a few (but don't be too pushy, just drop by, even if you don't have to)
If you like doing things on your own, try to find partners to do projects with. Expect LOTS of people to be working together, on homework, projects, even tests. Students cheat, don't let it surprise you. Learn to collaborate (and give credit when it is required), while turning in work that reflects what you have done.
Get outside, go to events. Hang out in the field; go to the gym. Try not to eat crappy cafeteria food all the time. Take some extracurriculars (aikido, fencing, swimming, whatever).
Don't shy away from theory stuff, even if it isn't your thing. If you are all about theory, get some practical stuff as well (and get to know people who are good in what you aren't, and talk with them). Geek out and enjoy, if you wish. But not always. Look into exchange student programs, and consider some studying abroad, in exotic locales.
Enjoy. I went in as a skeptic, and am very glad I went.
Re:Be open to new things (Score:2)
>if you are the kind of person who is prone to
>abuse, and if so, address the issue. otherwise,
>do some drinking, or whatever
- Your very first objective should be to find the right balance of partying and studying - have as much fun as possible without flunking out.
- Find out how much you can drink without getting sick should also be a high priority.
- If you drink a litre of water before going to bed, you will be less hung over, or not at all.
Have fun, it's the most freedom and fun you'll probably ever have.Re:Be open to new things (Score:1)
Some personal thoughts/opinions (Score:1)
Here are my personal random thoughts and opinions off the top of my head, which may be of no value at all.
Academia at the college+ level is its own universe. Try to understand it as such, and try not to see how it fits in with the real world - it doesn't.
"Network" with people who may be directly or indirectly connected to graduate students and those similar people who actually do everything; perhaps more importantly, try to find people who have access to old exams, lab reports, papers, etc. from the classes you are going to take.
If you do not have to work to make money, don't. Focus solely on becoming connected and powerful in that academic universe. If you have to work, try to work at school.
Don't waste time going to social functions which are just an excuse to get wasted and have sex. There will be plenty of time for that in the real world and it will be at least as enjoyable.
Quickly figure out a field where you are almost certain to make a good living, and you expect it will be least unpleasant to be in that field forever, and major in that.
Forget about getting some sort of "well rounded" education, or any sort of education at all, and focus solely on developing ostensibly good qualifications for a career. You have the rest of your life to educate yourself, and it is a lot easier and more pleasant to do it outside the context of getting graded and having to please some primadonna professor or graduate student. Take the classes where you are mostly likely to get a high grade.
Be pleasant to everybody, no matter how insignificant or lame or annoying or unpleasant they seem to be. Avoid opportunities to express dissenting opinions, or anything else that somebody with authority does not want to hear.
Larry
Re:Some personal thoughts/opinions (Score:1)
I haven't gone through college yet, but I would hope that if you debate college professors they'll tend to respect you more, so long as you do it intelligently.
Re:Some personal thoughts/opinions (Score:1)
A general education also makes you more pleasant to be around, and that is a good thing to have when you graduate and start interviewing for a job.
Advice (Score:3, Insightful)
Take advantage of opportunities that you won't get later in life or didn't do before. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't take fencing my final semester.
Try to expose yourself to as many different types of classes as you can. I realize that it's very difficult to graduate in 4 years in a hard science without concentrating fully on your major, but at least spread out your electives.
Don't be afraid to change majors, even if other important people in your life expect you to do one thing. All through high school, everyone expected me to become an engineer, and I went to an excellent engineering school, Rose-Hulman, however, two years into the electrical engineering curriculum, I realized that I hated it, and wouldn't enjoy a job in the field nearly as much as I thought I would. So I transfered and finished my degreee in economics and finance. I loved that program, and my current job. My family was very supportive of the change, but if your's isn't don't let that stop you.
Finally the key to life is balance, if you learn that now your college experience will be much more fulfilling. If you study all the time or party all the time, you will miss out on quite a bit of the college experience. Good luck at college.
Here's how I did it. (Score:3, Insightful)
Semester One: Take a light load of classes, spend most of your time meeting people and profs, developing good solid relationships that will last the rest of your college career.
Semester Two: Take a slightly heavier load of classes and perhaps join a group or organization that won't suck all your time up, but that helps you develop more good relationships. Here's the biggie for Semester Two: FIND A PROF THAT YOU LIKE A LOT AND LATCH ONTO HIM/HER!!!! This is the best advice I can give, offer to help them with projects and stuff, you'll learn a ton and make invaluable contacts.
Semester Three: Keep takes classes and somehow aquire the balls to ask that girl out that keeps staring at you in your mandatory Ethnics Studies class.
Semester Four: Keep takes classes and start looking a CO-OP or intership positions for the next semester.
Semesters Five and Six: Do a full year of interships at a cool company that will give you some autonomy to do cool projects, real world experience is so helpful. Not only for the work experience, but in learning about how insurance works, taxes, retirement, and all that "real world" stuff.
Semester Seven: Now your are done with your co-ops, start your own company! Yes, just a little one, I started cloudcitydigital.com when I was in school and it's been awesome. Keep taking classes and incorporate your classwork into your business where possible.
Semesters Eight - Graduation: Keep building your little company and using indpendant studies to satisfy both client and work projects! Kill two birds with one stone! Then graduate, throw a party, marry that chick from ETHN 101 and join the real world!!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!
Also, drinking is overrated. As is studying. Have fun and use the resources available to you at school to LEARN. You are there to LEARN, not to get good grades!!!!
Learn how to cheat (Score:4, Insightful)
Three things (Score:4, Insightful)
1) Don't just take a high school schedule in college. A lot of freshmen, in particular, go in and sign up for math, English lit, history, chemistry because that's what they know. You're paying a ton of money -- take a few specialized seminars, a class in linguistics, Asian studies, art history, a course with the world's leading expert on something.
2) Learn a language or two. (If you're not American or Anglo-Canadian, you probably don't need to be told this.) It will stay with you far longer than you'll remember what the hell the Aeneid was about.
3) You'll have a once in a lifetime opportunity to take flying lessons, pick up a sport and play it on a serious level, do internships -- all sorts of things that you couldn't do before and will not have the time for later in life. Make the most of it!
(Note: 1 and 3 assume a major university or college, for the most part. To people who attend something else, no disrespect meant. Just writing what I know.)
Oh, and a fourth! (Score:5, Insightful)
It's another '"this'll be a lot harder once you're out of school" thing, it's a break from the stress of classes and at a lot of universities, it's cheaper to go abroad than to stay.
I was totally burnt out by senior year. Some travel would have done a world of good, and left me in better shape when I got back.
Also, your chances of hooking up are significantly improved -- in a foreign culture, your geekiness is less apparent.
Studying abroad (Score:2)
My language skills improved a lot, but the overall benefit is much more than just learning a language... Studying abroad gives you a much better perspective on the complexities of the real world. You might have seen some poor folks before, but talking to farmers in the 3rd countryside will definatly widen your mind. Similarly, when you see people selling bottles of water for HOURS in the hot sun, or rich officials, or how pride may distort plans to do "what's best" for the country.
For what it's worth, I'm currently working abroad (England), and I can say that I'm very glad I didn't study abroad in a western, developed country. The UK/Europe is different from the US, but not nearly as much as, say, Russia or China. England has been relatively easy to adapt to, but that ease means that there's less things that are really different/entirely new to learn about/experience. Go for the third world -- it's probably cheaper, too. (I think getting a good job in a 1st world country is a good way to understand the culture, and you'll have cash to see the shows, enjoy local specialities, take trips, etc)
2 more things
1) I've found that travelling/being a tourist isn't as rewarding as living in a place. It's cool to go tromping around, but when you can speak the langauge and you have a local role (i.e. student at a univerisity that everyone knows about), you get insight into the country that you won't get from going to the big musuems and climbing the great wall.
2) Perhaps more important than the high probability of dating while overseas, you'll probably come back with some very good friends. Friends that were around when you had that 5 day period of food posioning, that were there when you were frusterated at communicating with locals, and that will be able to understand your experience when you get back.
Sorry if this sounds like a bunch of propoganda, but most people I know gained from their study abroad experiences -- even those that hated it learned a bit about themselves/others.
My experience (Score:2, Insightful)
In any event, my limited experience has lead me to believe that college is only slightly different from high school. The differences are obvious too... First, like someone else pointed out, teachers don't really care. They are there to teach, and you should be there to learn. If you don't care, neither do they. On the other hand, most of the teachers seem very willing to help any way they can and will spend time to answer questions you have privately. Things might be different at a larger campus, however...
Second, definitely don't be over confident (or under confident!). I had an economics class during the night for half a semester that, up to the first test, I already knew from high school. I assumed that, since I got a 100% on the first test without studying, I wouldn't have to pay attention in class, let alone study. My next two tests didn't go well (50% and 52% respectively). I put a good deal of effort into studying for the last test and managed a high 90%, bringing my final grade to a C+. I made similar mistakes in physics and calculus, although not quite as bad because my tests were spaced much further apart in those classes, which gave me time to realize I didn't know the material.
Thirdly, you will meet people from everywhere and they will all have a story to tell. My friend and I decided that we were going to meet a new person every day at college... We held pretty true to that and I'm a much happier person because of it. It doesn't matter what you were like in high school... who liked you, who didn't. College is completely different with different people... There was never a day that went by in college that I was lonely. My time between classes was spent studying with friends, or just chilling and wasting our time away. I formed study groups for classes that I needed a little extra help in and those helped tremendously. There was a very noticable difference in my grades when I studied with a group of friends as opposed to when I tried to wing it myself. My friends and I chose a place to meet, usually a place open all night, like Kings (a local restaurant) or Dunkin' Donuts, or someone's house/apartment (Penn State New Ken is a commuter college... I'd say at least 95% of the students drive from home to school)... We spent just about as much time studying as we did chatting and pissing the night away. Studying is an IMMENSLY boring activity and if it weren't for BS'ing with my friends half the time we were "studying", I would have fallen asleep on the books long before accomplishing anything.
So to sum things up a bit: Don't be afraid of college... Just be sure to pay attention in your classes, do your homework (even if the teacher doesn't collect/grade it... believe me, it helps! I would NOT have made it through calculus 2 without doing my homework), and get things done in a timely manor... Don't procrastinate too long. Any chance you get to work on bigger assignments should be used as such so later, when you decide you are ahead of schedule, you can blow it off a little for some much needed friend-time. Rather than cramming all the work into the last couple days before it's due at which point you won't be able to relax at all and you will get stressed out. And lastly, make friends... LOTS of friends. Don't think you can strike up a conversation? HA! "Hi. I'm so-and-so... Where are you from?" You'd be surprised how easy it is.
Welp, I think that's all I can say. Good luck!
Yoda says: (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Yoda says: (Score:1)
Maybe I'm biased because my father died of skin cancer, but hey...
Re:Yoda says: (Score:1)
Also remember aloe vera lotion to put on when you do forget your sunscreen. Expect your neck to get a lot of it. For women, shoulders too.
Learn To Trust Your own Judgment (Score:1)
Take advantage of the protective and nurturing environment college provides, but remember that it is artificial and doesn't exist in the "real" world.
Don't worry about balancing study and social life. If you make a deliberate effort to do that, you'll likely spend too much time away from the books. Figure out what works for you and don't be afraid to take a break.
Remember, though, that most chances for social growth and development do not happen at a stereotypical college party. Instead, follow your interests and go out of your way to find and associate with people who share those interests.
Don't panic if you do something stupid or if you find yourself failing to meet the standards you set in high school. IT's all part of learning about yourself.
Join Clubs... (Score:2)
This is your best opportunity to meet strange, funny, smart, unconventional and other people who you will bennifit from.
Stay Well & Take Risks... w/ a Safety Net! (Score:1)
* Eat. At $25,000 annual tuition or whatever, it's worth spending marginally more to keep yourself functioning. Know how you as an individual respond to alcohol, junk food, whatever.
* If someone thinks you're acting depressed, phobic, etc., really, take them seriously and go get some free or subsidized advice from the health service. (I guess this is inverted from the usual advice, but I am speaking from my experience. I am grateful to this day to the teacher who recommended me to counseling.)
TAKE RISKS
* Try things. Work at them. This is what pass/fail is for. If you need the grade later when you declare, that's the time to see a department head or dean.
* Summer can be a time to earn money, important, yes, but even better is if you can earn some money doing research &c. If you're smart enough to be in a good college, you're smart enough to get into some kind of REU or something.
SAFETY NET
* Find some kind of a good advisor, even before you declare a major, even if it's unofficial. And visit the career center every semester.
* The smartest people on campus go to office hours. Shouldn't you? And if you're too intimidated then email, get a buddy, whatever.
* Get some kind of social network together. It can be a geeky network or whatever fits you. My guess is it makes a
Upper Classmen (Score:1)
2. Also, Sophomore women seem to be much easier to get into bed than Freshman women. Perhaps, they were too picky when they were Freshmen and are making up for lost time.
3. As you climb the ranks of the University, don't forget to share your vast experience with the new Freshmen. Since KARMA is a bi7ch anyways it's always in your best interest to make sure she's happy.
4. Try new things. Especially with #2 above.
5. Let your parents come and visit during Parents' weekend. This will give you a boost to the cash pool and let's them feel involved in your schooling. Also, make sure it's a madhouse when they come so if your grades slump...they'll understand why.
6. Go to EVERY Class. You can basically get a C in any class by going to the lectures. You should get a B by taking good notes. And an A is easily accomplished by going to class, taking notes and studying. But, you should get a C just through osmosis of the lecture.
7. Have fun. This is your time to grow and become a person. Not a good person...but your own person.
Get involved. Meet people. Start early. (Score:2)
It may have sounded moronic when some asshole told you the same thing in high school, and then it was. High schools don't have dick for clubs and less for funding.
In college, it's different: There are serious clubs that get a lot of funding and do serious things. My school, GVSU [slashdot.org] has an anime club you can rent anime from free for a week and in conjunction with the RP club throws JAFAX [slashdot.org] every year. Next year, if we can get the money, we'll have Tracy Hickman himself running a game.
A friend at Perdue has a billiards club (pool actually, but for some reason they insist on calling it billiards... blech!) and they took the team to some sort of national college circuit or something.
The point is, there are actually serious clubs there, that do things, BIG things, that you can get involved in. You don't have to join some nerdy honors society; you can score anime chicks.
Do it early! Its a hell of a lot less uncomfortable to get involved in a club when its starting up for the year. Joining halfway through can be awkward, especially if they build towards a specific event.
On a random note, this may not apply to your school, but rennaisance fair chicks are HOT! if your school has one, consider joining :) I know I will next year :) (every school has a club w/ a lot of hot single chicks... and not necessarily the cheerleaders, either...)
I was a commuter. (Score:3, Insightful)
1. Schoolwork comes first. You're going there for an education, and someone (whether you, your parents, the government, etc) is paying a lot of money for you to get an advanced education. Make sure you get it! I knew a _lot_ of people who played around freshman year, and didn't come back for a second year because of poor grades.
2. There are no easy majors. You will hear lots of "urban legends" that the social sciences - Psychology, Sociology, etc - are easy. That's pretty much wrong. Some majors are easier than others, but once you get into 300 and 400 level courses, they will all be difficult.
3. Don't be afraid to explore campus. You may feel dumb just walking around aimlessly, but you'll feel worse being a 2nd or 3rd year student and not knowing where Building X is. (I'm guilty of this one!)
4. Plan for graduation. Sooner or later you're going to get a job and think about a career. Find out what you like now -- both in terms of employment and hobbies. Don't go for a major you dislike because of a lucrative career path. You'll be able to tell when someone is taking a class "just for the money"... it's not a pretty sight.
5. Be safe. If you're going to party, drink, or do drugs, don't do it to excess. It seems like every year there are a few college students in the state (Maryland, FWIW) who end up dying from alcohol (either intoxication or drunk driving). Likewise, find out how safe the campus and surrounding areas are. Getting mugged at an ATM is a real possibility in some places (like my school).
6. Enjoy yourself. Freshman year is difficult for everyone, but by the second semester you'll be more comfortable. Take some time for yourself: hang out with friends, go to parties, etc. College is the last chance you'll get to enjoy your youth and freedom before you enter the real world. You can make mistakes in college that won't follow you around in your "adult" life.
#6 is my one regret -- that I really didn't get into college life until my last year.
College is about learning to learn (Score:2)
Anyhow, the thing I really got out of college was not the information and knowledge I acquired, but the skills. And the #1 skill was knowing how to learn effectively. On a day to day basis at my job, I use little if any technical knowledge I learned directly in my college courses. What I do use are the skills and the knowledge that I've learned in 6 years in the industry. I've been able to impress my management with my ability to pick up new concepts and solve problems that had stumped others, so I've done fairly well in the raise department - but not because of the facts that I learned in college.
If you can learn effectively, you can do anything you want when you get out of school. It doesn't matter so much what your major was, but simply that you got the degree and can show any prospective employers or clients that you can do the job they are looking for. The best people I work with are ones who didn't go directly in the exact field they majored in, but who sought jobs that would interest and challenge them, and that they knew they were capable of picking up.
With that in mind, make sure you choose a major that interests you. Preferably also one that you'll excel at, or that you'll at least do ok with. Don't worry so much about what the job market will be in that field - 4 years is a long time and things can change dramatically (just think about people who graduated this year - they started just as the dot com bubble was starting to swell up). As I said above, if you can demonstrate intelligence, an innovative spirit, and both a willingness and ability to learn quickly, employers won't care what your specific major was.
Along the same lines, don't stress about choosing a major too soon. Explore and take classes that sound interesting. If you stumble onto something that really excites you, great! By the same token, don't fret if you get into your upper division classes and start to lose interest. This happened to me as a physics major - I completed the degree but have no desire to go any further in the field. I concentrated on rounding out my education and diversifying my learning as much as possible.
My alma mater [hmc.edu] was a science and engineering school that emphasized the humanities, and I'm ever greatful for that. I had to take more humanities classes that most science and engineering majors at other schools, and it significantly broadened my horizons. I ended up taking some really neat philosophy, music, history and other classes that I wouldn't have otherwise. The music classes in particular led me to expand my hobbies as an amateur musician after I got out of school. Whenever possible, take classes outside your major that sound interesting and that you might not otherwise take.
Other people have already made some good comments about the non academic stuff. Make sure you have fun, take a break, get out of the dorm (and do live in the dorms - group study sessions were often lifesavers in those really tough classes), go to parties, exercise and all that. Take an extended break if you feel yourself burning out, but don't let it go too long. I can say after being in the "real world" for 6 years, I have little motivation to go back to school and get a graduate degree. I may do it yet, but it'll be tough.
One last thing I'd say is that you get out whatever you put into your education. Yeah, it's a little clich but it's true. My wife's school [fullerton.edu] seemed more like a diploma mill than a real school. The vast majority of the students were only interested in going through the motions to get a piece of paper at the end. It not only made things difficult for her in group projects where she did most of the work because they didn't care, but I think contributed to an overall attitude of apathy at the school. Most of her classmates got little to nothing out of their years there. Some of them acquired some knowledge, but I'd say most never got it, never learned how to learn.
And unfortunately these people will probably be our bosses in the future... ;-)
Lots of 'me too' (Score:2)
Live on campus. You'll have better internet access and you won't have to worry about tons of bs.
Ignore that 'real world worries' stuff people are mentioning. If you want that sort of thinking, go to a tech school. Remember, you are there to learn how to think and how to learn. If you want to learn how to do something, attend a tech school.
Ironically, I counter this with 'get out of the room'. Attend parties. Rush a frat. Join clubs. This is networking, and if you are on slashdot, you probably aren't as good at this as you wish. This is an important skill, and it's the one you'll best be able to learn in college. It is applicable to almost any vocation you follow after school. (Retired Jedi knight, living in the Jundland Wastes being one of the few exceptions)
If you are having major trouble in a given course, pray it isn't your major. If it is, you probably chose poorly. (Maybe it's just me, but I did far better in classes in my final major than in prior one(s), figuring in difficulty and types of learning.)
Get to know your advisor. Choose a competent advisor.
Get drunk before going to college. Yes, some people go through college without drinking, but you and most others won't. Safer to get drunk and learn your limits at home than around those who may or may not call an ambulance when you OD.
Don't overcommit yourself. Don't do too much.. etc (Score:1)
1. Don't get married.
2. Don't take too many classes at once. Even if you think you're smart. Even if others think you're smart. A student who takes 3-4 classes is an A student. A student who takes 5-6 is a C-D student. I see this all the time amoung students I have tutored.
3. Don't have a job at the same time if you can help it. Try to get by on scholarships/student loan/parent's/even a bank loan, rather than work, since working will pay far better once you have graduated
4. If you can live off campus, then it is better to do that since living in Dorms isn't really worth it and exposes you to all sorts of temptations that you can do without. Live alone if possible, but only if that doesn't stretch your finances. Do not try to live with someone of the opposite gender.
5. Don't commit to dates when you still have homework to do, even if the person is very attractive. Call it playing hard to get, or call it waiting for your moment, but you don't need a relationship right now at all. It will only distract you, and both genders get more attractive when they're 25-30 and have money and experience anyway. (If you really want, you can go raid the university towns again once you've got a nice job and some money...)
Some commitments are good though, such as to be healthy, so making sure you eat good food and get lots of exercise are well worth the effort. Anyway, good luck, and I don't really expect you (or anyone) to be able to avoid all five pitfalls, but there you go.
Re:Don't overcommit yourself. Don't do too much.. (Score:1)
Grow / Be Teachable / Get Laid (Score:3, Insightful)
1) Grow. Allow yourself to expand your mind and experiences. If there is something you always wanted to do, do it. Keep your eyes and ears open to what other people have to say. Don't stay cloistered in your narrow view of life, find out what other people have to say, think. I'm not saying that you need to violate your morals, if you have a strongly held belief stand by it, but don't be afraid of what other people have to say or think. The only way a person can change their beliefs is if THEY WANT TO CHANGE.
2) Be Teachable. There is a lot to be said for being willing to be taught, the entire amount of time you spend at college is a time of learning, if you aren't teachable you will miss half of the college experience.
3) Get Laid. Seriously, get laid, there will never be so many single, attractive people in your age bracket that close to you at any other time in your life. Capitalize upon the opportunity, but please think intelligently, wrap your equipment before you use it.
I would also so be careful, think intelligently and don't do what's cool, do what's right. You'll be happy you did!
Know Thy Professors (Score:1)
Do as I say, not as I do (Score:1)
My 2 cents (Score:2)
"This above all, to thine own self be true" - Prometheus, Hamlet
Credit Cards (Score:1)
Two things I wish I had done (Score:1)
1) Do Co-op if your College/University has it. Get any kind of experience you can because right now, there just doesn't seem to be any jobs for grads with no experience. Things may change in the future but having some experience is always better than having none.
2) Network, Network, Network! Make contacts. Keep in touch with your employers after your co-op terms. Get to know your professors. From what I've seen up here north of the border, it's more important "who" you know rather than "what" you know.
Hope this helps a bit.
A technique for getting college girls (for men) (Score:2, Insightful)
2) Dont dress like you are trying to 'get some'.
3) Go to crowded collegetown bars on Thursdays and Fridays. I'm talking about the kind of bars where it is packed, wall-to-wall beer swilling.
4) Find a decent looking girl at the bar who is obviously consuming.
5) Go stand next to her to buy your next drink.
6) Strike up a conversation while waiting forever for service. Don't be pushy about the drink - you WANT to wait.
7) Ask her about her name, major, etc... your arent trying to pick her up, you are just waiting for your drink. Dont talk much about yourself, ask her about her. Use NO cheesy lines or moves.
8) If the conversation goes well for awhile, tell her you will be leaving soon as it is getting late. If she is leaving soon too, does she want you to walk her back to her place, just to make sure she gets home safe?
9) Walk her back to her room.
10) If you made it this far, she's going to invite you in for a coke or for coffee.
11) There wont be any coke or coffee - the making out starts once you get in the door.
12) You get to walk back to your place the next morning with a big ass smile on your face.
You see, with the above you never presented yourself as someone trying to get into her pants. You were just a nice guy at the bar. You never "conquered" her, things just happened! That's what a girl likes, to feel like it was all natural and there was no point where she bent to your will.
This is for you, Squidboy!
Re:A technique for getting college girls (for men) (Score:2, Funny)
14) You're on megadoses of cephalaxin or bactrim for that 'stuff' oozing out of your dode.
15) you get a call 5 months later informing you of an event in 4 months, that you'll be paying for.
16) You'll drop out of school and start your new job at Wal-Mart in 6 months.
17) You'll spend your free time in the Wal-Mart PC section playing with those "Preloaded with Linux" PCs.
18) You're a college dropout, wal-mart employed, linux geek father.
DON'T BUY THAT DRINK.
FUCK SORORITY GIRLS, NOT BAR WHORES.
Here's a good DON'T... (Score:1)
Then, suddenly, when you're carrying a balance of $489, they'll raise the limit to $1000. Woo hoo, more credit!
Take it from a guy who graduated sitting on about $5000 in credit card debt, just don't go for it. You'll spend years paying it all off - more if you don't get a decent job right out of school. I eventually defaulted on that debt and have spent the last few years trying to clear that bad credit rating.
If you do get a card, use it responsibly.
Good luck in school. It's a blast.
Re:Here's a good DON'T... (Score:1)
Required reading (Score:1)
Heh.
Great one everyone! (Score:3, Interesting)
Take the outlandish class, interact with your classmates and enjoy the time. This is a rare time not to be seen again in most people's lives. When going through it I missed some of the experience as I attempted to "focus". Luckily, I met a lady who helped me see the forest through the trees. [We met the first semester in a Dark Age Studies class, an optional course that just sounded interesting. 20 years later we are still together.]
Good luck and thanks to the slash dotters who showed why I read here daily.!
Don't procrastinate (Score:1)
have (Score:1)
Only stop having fun if it starts to interfere with one of the following:
Graduating.
Not getting arrested/establishing a record.
As long as the latter two are not screwed up, just fucking have fun, cause that shit has to end some day.
Graduated 4/27/2002
Advice on heeding advice. (Score:3, Insightful)
Pick the right classes. (Score:1)
Also don't be afraid to get those hard classes out of the way during summer school, classes are usually easier then and of course shorter.
Same addiction... new twist... (Score:2)
Much better off doing kegs -- at least you will hate yourself in the morning, and might get some social interaction to boot. Course, better to study hard, work a bit, and enjoy the time.
One Important Item (Score:1)
If you don't think you can do that, minimally keep track of how often you are missing your classes. It's easy to lose track and realize you haven't been to calculus for 3 weeks. (That's a bad thing by the way)
Double Major? (Score:2)
Re:Double Major? (Score:2)
Rent "PCU" (Score:2)
Tom: Well, yeah.
Droz: Well, here's all you need to know: Classes, nothing before eleven. Beer, it's your best friend, you drink a lot. Women? You're a freshman, so it's pretty much out of the question. Will you have a car?
Tom: Uhh...no.
Droz: Someone on your floor will. Find them and make friends with them on the first day.
~Philly
Don't believe you know you. (Score:3, Insightful)
I went to university relatively determined to be
an ubergeek. In high school I taught myself LISP, C, Perl, and pretty much all the usual ins/outs of UNIX (eg. intimate familiarity with vi, sed, bash, emacs, what the fuck
Four years and two universities later, it turns out that I'd rather be doing something else! Although for the past year I've had a comfortable 'junior software engineer+net admin' job and a relatively high degree of success here in this anteroom to the 'real world', I now desperately want to go back for two extra years (!!$$) so I can get accreditation and raise my GPA for what I really want to do -- graduate studies in philosophy. You will *not* want to see my student debtload two years hence.
Pay attention not so much to what you're doing (although do that too!) but to what you *feel* about what you're doing. Take as diverse a course-spread as you can manage --- abstract algebra, physics, bio, chem, and certainly those lovable, wacky humanities. Read things not published by O'Reilly. Read Heidegger. Read Faulkner. Read your mood, but don't try to read the future --- unspoken feelings of 'destiny' and 'fate' are often simply disguised habit and fear of uncertainty. Do not cleave to your adopted 'tribe', geekiness, simply because it is yours; if you ultimately follow this path, do so because it is the best possible option! If the *only* thing about university that you enjoy is the bit with the beer and the friends, take it as a big, flashing warning over the course, and courses, you are taking.(Although you are allowed to enjoy said beer a little bit.)
Less melodramatically: Think of the following four+ years of your life as a 'random walk' optimisation algorithm in n dimensions: To find the best solution, you'll need to step off of the coordinates upon which you currently stand.
But watch out for those downward asymptotes.
Two pieces of college advice. (Score:2)
Try not to spend to much time with a certain segment of the female population which is looking for the MRS degree. (They typically will have an Education or a touchy-feely kind of major, like hotel and restaraunt management.) But they're looking for a degree in MRS, and will be quick to abandon their major!
go to community college, if available (Score:2)
In california, community college is $11/unit. You can't beat that. Most of the professors are cool and laid back. Try to find a community college that is transfer oriented, and a few 4 year universities you'ld like to transfer to.
Get in touch w/ counselors at the 4-year colleges to see what kind of classes they're likely to accept for transfer credit, and take those. Be sure to get your Associates, cause if something goes wrong w/ your 4-year degree, at least you've got some college degree.
Even if it takes you 3 years to finish your 4 year degree, you'll have saved a chunk of money (on the average), and had a better opportunity to get some work experience while you're at the community college.
Re:go to community college, if available (Score:2)
i attended two classes at a california community college: they were far and away the saddest and most depressing educational experiences of my life. the students were completely apathetic. no participation whatsoever. and the instructors have about the lowest set of expectations of their students you could imagine (although honestly, probably justified).
community college classes that are for kicks--like picking up a smattering of a language or furniture-making, etc. sound like they're fine from what i've heard. but taking classes at a cc instead of at uni when you have the option is just silly.
cc in california is dirt cheap so there's that. and if you don't want to study, i suppose there's that.
College - Ins and Outs (Score:1, Insightful)
I've been a college professor type for a bit and in contemplating Yet Another Commencement Address, and its trite cliches and nonsense about the future I decided to write my own - not that anyone would ever ask me to actually present such a thing. (The observation that many of the faculty present were doing things other than listening (reading, correcting papers, listening to CDs) probably contributed to my determination to do it.)
But after I wrote it, I realized that could serve equally well as a "Welcome to College Pep Talk".
Or maybe taken to induce vomiting. (Do not do that if you've recently ingested caustic materials.)
Most quotes unattributed. Think of it as an exercise for the interested reader.
Jefu does A Commencement (Leaving College and Starting a Life, or Starting College) Speech.
Never go to the supermarket and pay in nickels. Now, pennies - that's a different story.
"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent."
If someone insults or offends you, its your job to figure out what it is in you that is reacting. Only then should you hit them on the top of their pointly little head.
Ask yourself why someone is buying a shopping cart full of sugar.
Is there a guy in the ceiling tile factory who checks the tiles to make sure the holes are in the right places?
Randomness. Good. Fun.. Do things sometimes on the flip of a coin - or the roll of dice. But dont bet on roulette.
Think for yourself. Be ready to _listen_ to everyone else. Or at least to appear to. Sometimes its easier to listen by email.
Try something from time to time that bores you. Try it seriously, dont just kid yourself.
"A corporation has no soul to be damned, and no body to be kicked."
Try something from time to time that annoys you. Try it seriously, don't just kid yourself.
"Guns don't kill people. Physics kills people."
Imagination is often the best place for revenge - practice thinking of good (however impractical or hazardous) revenge schemes. Funny is best. Up to you to decide who to tell about them.
Think for yourself. Find your own ways to react to things. Stick your tongue out.
Imagine the possibilities in Liquid Oxygen and Spam.
"First thing we do, lets kill all the lawyers."
Everyone needs to be kicked from time to time. Remember this when someone kicks you. Kicking back is optional.
Its more fun and effective to attack using humour. Self defense is difficult when everyone is laughing.
Write checks and fill in offical forms with bright green ink. Use the French revolutionary calender if possible.
Keep on learning. Take night classes. Teach yourself. Don't stop.
Write funny poems. Be careful who you show them to.
Go to a nude beach. Get nekkid. Look around. Are you really that beautiful? Or that ugly?
Think for yourself. Learn something new, let simmer. Repeat until dead.
Cultivate a bunch of people that share your general interests and whom you trust (the internet is great for this). Its all the better if some are smarter than you. When one of them suggests something - follow it up. Make your own suggestions.
Be bizarre.
Bi Bezarre.
Bee bazaar. (Careful not to get stung.)
Practice writing about what you like and why. Write reviews for IMDB.com, for Amazon.com ... Write about what you hate. Avoid lists
of "the 100 best...."
John Wayne was a draft dodger - or was he?. J. Edger Hoover was a crossdresser - or was he?
"Where would we be without the agitators of the world attaching the electrodes of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?"
When you write or speak (in your native language) remember that its your language so use it as you will. Remember Yoda, talks oddly he does, yet wise he is.
Watch movies with subtitles from time to time. Its much easier in the theatre than on TV.
Remember that everyone rises to their own level of incompetence so what they say may be a reflection of that incompetence. Remember - you're doing the same thing.
Find a quiet place of your own that you can retreat to. Keep it private.
Dont tell ANYONE your PIN number, or your computer passwords. You may be in love today - but tomorrow? Keep a checking account separate from your partner. Establish credit in your own name. That goes double for women.
Cross your sevens. Cross your Z's.
Watch old movies, read books written more than 50 years ago, listen to Chinese/African/experimental music. Avoid Tom Jones and the later Elvis.
Fourteen year old's can and will circumvent most any security on your TV, your computer and whatever else you want to keep secret when motivated. Lock up that gun, and those (um) interesting photos, oh - dont forget that dildo.
Your education is YOURS. Don't let anyone steal it from you this includes parents, faculty, advisors and meddling idiots of all flavors (most all of whom are well meaning). .
Make a complete fool of yourself at least once a month. Find new ways to do it.
Nothing you learn seriously is wasted. A class where you just cram crap into your head so you can vomit up onto the exams is a waste of time and perfectly good vomit.
If God starts speaking to you directly, you might try Thorazine.
Challenge your professors - thats what they're there for. Otherwise you could just read the textbook. Be sure to use reason, information and reasonable amounts of politeness. If they say "lets take this out of the class", shut up and do so. If they get all defensive and cranky, shut up and drop the class - they probably know less than you and will take it out on you with low grades.
Your manager is there to help you to get the job done - so he really works for you. He won't think so.
Collect because you like stuff - not to make money. Cultivate good taste and you may still make money.
Try something new every so often. Try something you tried before and didn't like. Do it seriously - your tastes may have changed.
"It is easier to get forgiveness than permission."Avoid foods with "surprise" in their names.
Practice that willing suspension of disbelief thing. Believe everything someone says as long as you're listening/talking to them (or taking their course). After that think for yourself. (Hey, its a Theme!)
If you label something as nonsense without reason, your label is probably nonsense.
"You never really learn anything, you just get used to it."
Think for yourself. Just cuz its written in a book, put on TV or told to you by your favorite trust-in-me-i-know-the-truth authority, doesn't mean its true. Though if Yoda says it true is, true must it be.
Get started NOW on an exercise program that you like and that works for you. Don't stop. Each time you do it gets harder to start again.
"Alice in Wonderland is the best book for novices on anything."
If the supermarket line gets long, just leave your cart (basket) and walk out. Put ice cream in the cart first.
If you go to the supermarket and pay in nickels, someone may be thinking about throwing melted ice cream from that abandoned shopping cart over there at you. First practice getting ice cream out of your clothes.
Insincere compliments are obviously fake. Find a sincere compliment even if it takes some work. "You have such a cool smile." is pretty general purpose.
Accept compliments with "Thank you." You are not required to compliment back. Honest. But when you can compliment someone else, do so.
Make intricate, tall and balancy piles of rocks. Avoid Jenga.
Crosswords are a great thing to take into meetings so you can look like you're taking notes. If someone peeks over your shoulder ask them what the word is for 13 across.
Meetings that last more than an hour become pointless. Nothing more will get done.
"For every complex problem, there is a simple solution - which is invariably wrong."
The internet MAY become a world changing technology or it may become just an electronic equivalent of a strip mall. If you only use it for the corporate web sites, we'll be lucky if it gets as good as a strip mall.
"Its not done when you've put everything in, its done when you have taken everything out."
Leave an occasional surprise for people. F'rinstance, put a dollar bill where it will be found eventually - but not soon. Build a replica of Stonehenge in the woods a ways away from a trail. Bury that jar of pennies somewhere.
Try cryptic crosswords. But don't try the ones in the Atlantic till you're sure you're ready - they're scary.
"Think of it as evolution in action."
Feel free to dislike someone. And you will. Remember that everyone else is free to dislike you. And someone will. Pity them for failing to appreciate you properly.
If you dont understand it, look it up. If you still don't understand it - study it. If you still don't understand it, teach it. If you still don't understand it, perhaps you have attained the Buddha nature.
Remember the Snark. Tell people things three times. If they haven't heard you by then they're not likely to ever hear you.
"Do Not Meddle In The Affairs Of Dragons For You Are Crunchy And Good With Ketchup"
"Do not meddle in the affairs of Unix, for it is subtle and quick to core dump."
"Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will piss on your computer"
"Do not meddle in the affairs of professors, for they are subtle and quick to flunk you"
"Do not meddle in the affairs of artists, for this is satire and you would look good in lingerie."
"Do not meddle in the affairs of cyborgs for you are conductive and can support 110 volts"
Running jokes either don't go on long enough, or go on too long. Sometimes both at once.
Read the New Yorker - or at least look at the cartoons.
Don't get arrested for posession.
"Do not meddle in the affairs of the drug warriers, for they are morally certain and quick to use asset forfeiture."
Condoms are good. Use them. You know how. If you don't know how, go no further. AIDS is a nasty way to die.
Make a New Years resolution to never make another New Years resolution.
"On the internet, no one knows you're a dog."
Be ready to ignore all those around you. Do you really believe they're smarter than you? Similarly don't copy on exams. Are you sure that that person over there knows the right answer? Really?
"I say its spinach and I say to hell with it."
If you have no idea what to write for a paper or an essay question, try limericks or a funny essay on the topic. Or find a good argument to support a bizarre conclusion. Probably best not to do this on a business proposal.
"God must have had an inordinate fondness for beetles, since he made so many of them."
More than three people will have trouble making a decision. Even "Which restaurant?"
Waitrons walk out of the room with your credit card. Hmmm.
Send presents to people you like when you find the Right Thing. Don't shop, just wait for the Right Thing to jump out at you. There's no point in waiting for a holiday - they can use a lift Right Now. If you find the Right Thing for someone who is not all that close and its not overly expensive, do it anyway - just anonymously.
Find holes in the rules.
When you're in a restaurant, its easier to pick up the check than to argue about it. But make sure everyone takes their turn. Going to the bathroom when the check arrives is not a good strategy. On the other hand extended and noisy disputes about who ordered what can provide good comedy for the other patrons.
From time to time, overtip.
"Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."
All of the above is true.
All of the above is false.
"You are a fluke of the Universe."
Its all up to you.
make friends w/ townies/commuters (Score:1)
1) they know the hassles of college (unlike non-collegiate townies)
2) will kiss your ass to hang out in your dorm away from thier home
3) if they have thier own place its party central
4) if they live with parents its a chance for you to get some home cooking once in a while
5) they know where there is good shit to do that others might not know of.
6) a place to crash when you absolutely can not stand to be on campus any more (it'll happen)
7) locals can get local library cards while campus dwellers cant, useful when term papers are due
8) (for Americans) they know what places dont check ID for uhhh liquid refreshments
Not to say that campus dwellers arent cool, but locals/commuters are valuable associates.
University Savoir Faire (Score:1)
From a member of the Class of '02 (Score:2, Interesting)
Spend at least one semester abroad. After you graduate, taking long-term trips will become vastly more difficult, and the experience is unlike any other.
If you got into a really great school but decided to matriculate at a less well-regarded one due to cost, get on the phone now and transfer. Debt goes away; the knowledge that you went to a second-rate institution doesn't.
That said, no matter where you go, make your degree count. While putting forth the minimum effort to get the grade seems like a good tactic, you'll rue yourself for it later.
By the time you graduate, you must have at least three professors who like you, preferably in your major. This is critical; these people are your references. If you're going to grad school, academic references are mandatory, and they don't look half bad on a professional resume either. To this end, visit professors during their office hours (few people do), and keep in touch after the class is over, even if you didn't do as well as you thought you would.
Another benefit of keeping in contact with your professors is the possibility of finding mentors. Mentors are great; you can learn a great deal that isn't taught in classrooms.
You will regret the things you don't do more than the things you do, and you will feel great fear and trepidation shortly before you have the greatest experiences of your college career.
Do something out of character for you. Join some student organizations you find interesting, even if (or rather, especially if) you don't know anything about what they focus on. Change your wardrobe, hang out with some different people, stop reloading Slashdot and get some fresh air.
Keep busy, but stop and smell the roses every so often.
View your course requirements not as arbitrary hoops to jump through, but as opportunities to take courses (and meet people) outside your major. Are you sure you know everything you want to know about art? About business? About law? About theatre? About literature? About journalism? About biology? About history? If you're sure now, will you be in a year or three?
Do not declare a major, either formally or in your mind, until the end of your first year at least. College is all about change, and yes, you will change. Making a four- or five-year plan is a good idea, but try to stay away from listing courses and instead list things you'd like to do or achieve.
You are not Carl Gauss. Do not take five upper-level mathematics courses in one term, no matter how smart you think you are. (I'm not Carl Gauss either, in case you haven't already figured it out. I know I hadn't.
On a more general note, if you've coasted through high school, you might be able to coast through your first and possibly second year as well. Eventually, however, you'll have to work. I know they've been saying that since you started middle school, but they mean it this time.
Learn how to navigate your school. Universities provide a mind-boggling range of resources, and most students don't take advantage of everything that's there for them. Remember, some resources (e.g. advising) won't do you any good if you get to them late.
Please email me if you have any further questions; I'm always happy to point out hazards.
Try this... (Score:2)
#1. For your first semester, meet as many people and get involved in as many social activities as possible. The people you meet your first year will be the core of your friends for your 4 years, typically. Ignore your classes except to pass them, they'll be intro stuff mostly. Never turn down any social activity!
#2. If you think you're pretty smart, consider getting a double degree or double major. It's not too hard if you start early, though it may cost you the ability to take fun classes to fill your breadth requirements. But start early if this is what you want.
#3. Don't take any shit. College is not really any different from high school, except your teachers are smarter. (And so you deserve to take even less shit than you did in high school.)
That's it. Enjoy!
Get out (Score:2)
My List (Score:3, Insightful)
Most of this has been said already, but I'll repeat it to add my vote. However, I'll start with one biggie I've not seen elsewhere:
Toward the end of your course start to think about what you're doing afterwards (so this is probably off-topic as I certainly do not think you should be thinking about this in your first year - quite the opposite! But I do recommend you keep it in mind. Maybe you think you know what you want to do. I would advise you that it's very possible that can change. This may be as a result of changing priorities, changes in your character (college/uni is all about growth in your character, and if you're a typical geek this hopefully means change for the good - tho be proud of the good parts of geekdom!). It may be that your experience of your chosen subject (likely science I guess) doesn't match your expectations. Don't feel bad if you end up changing courses.
The main reason I bring this is up is to recommend that you think about your job and career before you leave and enter the big wide world with nasty amounts of debt (something getting worse here in the UK). Keep in mind that lots of tech companies will target your college so keep an eye out and stay informed during your time there. Something to think about as you progress. Don't leave it til you're panicing about finals.
In all you do, be informed. Sex, drugs, new social groups and events, course decisions, whatever. Ask other people for their experience - this is a very good first step! :) Ask different sources, a lot of things you may have to deal with for the first time are in my opinion a matter of choice based on what is important to you. You can only listen to what others say, weight that up against your ideals and morals, and make a decision for yourself.
As others have said, play fun but play safe. Carry a condom, even if it doesn't look like you're going to need it. If the miracle happens you do not want to be stuck without one. (This goes for girls too - don't rely on guys.) When you're out doing whatever (which is probably a lot - and more extreme than you're used to - in your first year) make sure there're people there to look out for you. Ideally ones you can trust.
Build good friendships! Some of my best mates are from uni. People there will hopefully be well educated - you will have important discussions with them. That's part of the age you are and the atmosphere of uni/college.
When it comes to the crunch - work hard. Especially for your finals. This is something I regret - I could have and should have got a better grade. For me the difference won't make much differnce long term but it is something I would change if I could. However, you do not need to go to every lecture, work every day, etc. Party like the rest of them. But if you get yourself into a bad situation where you know inside you need to work then do it! Then go and get horribly drunk afterwards. :) Again, work is not the most important thing long term from uni/college, but it is a reason for being there. So for the important occasions, bother with it - otherwise it's just an annoying distraction and do what you need to. Of course if you really enjoy your course or find it easy then great! But it's quite possible one of other of those things will not be true at times.
You will probably be more free than ever before, and quite possibly than you ever be again (real jobs suck)! Take full advantage of this. I can't stress it enough. If you have an opportunity to go and do some random trip - take it! Party hard (but safe) - there're things we do and experiment with in these years we don't or can't do later in life. I'm not saying you should go try every drug out there, but if you're considering that or other things now is the time. Drugs are a bad example, but an easy one... I mean other stuff too. You'll probably know what this is relevent to in your own life.
Another thing people have already said: live in dorms/uni owned buildings - it is so worth it. Often cheaper (don't know about in the US), but the social contact is like nothing else. Get into different societies. Test yourself with new things you wouldn't normally do. Sign up for loads of stuff in freshers week - you can always ditch stuff later.
I could go on but that'll do. Good luck and enjoy yourself!
Study abroad (Score:2)
Talk to your advisor. Make sure you can do it and not mess up your graduation.
I spent 5 months in Australia and it was amazing. I know people that spent summers studying in Spain and Italy and they talk about it constantly. You can go almost anywhere and rarely does it cost much more $$ than staying in the states.
You'll never regret it.
Take the Initiative! (Score:2, Insightful)
Don't wait for people to introduce themselves to you, go up to them.
Don't wonder where people are planning to go this evening and how you can be a part of it: make the suggestion that people come with you to a restaurant for pizza or beer.
Don't worry about what to do on a weekend or weekday night. Make your own plans and invite people along to see a movie.
Try new things and be adventurous: try new types of restaurants with groups, go see movies that are foreign with other people who might be interested. Some of the best memories I have from college are of walking across the Longfellow Bridge to go to the European for pizza with ten freshman and a random smattering of upperclassmen or road trips to Louis' Lunch for hamburgers or Hilltop Steak House.
Don't be afraid of trying a new language for the first time; you don't need to have studied French for years in high school to take French in college. They have intro courses. Take anthropology, psychology, sociology, art history; don't just take the requisites.
If you have the opportunity to take classes at other schools, do it! If you're at a tech school, there may be a local liberal arts college that you can cross-register at for a class or two with no extra fees. If you're at a liberal arts college, try to take a tech course.
Do sports and physical activities: join an intramural sports team, try ice-hockey, go watch the volleyball team, and even if you don't qualify for a varsity team hang out with people and play basketball or racquetball. Learn to Sail! This is probably offered and often does not entail any extra fees.
There will be all sorts of free or close to free events going on at your campus and nearby colleges. Attend symphony performances; go watch a dance troupe; pay a few bucks and watch the plays that are performed on campus or at local playhouses; go attend lectures or seminars that may be aimed at grad students in things that interest you or that might interest you. Encourage someone to come to these things with you. Even if no one you know wants to go, go on your own. You'll meet people at these events who have interests that overlap yours, but will also differ from yours. Then you can extend yourself.
There will be a lot of people with a lot of ulterior motives trying to grab a piece of your mindshare. The beginning of college can be a vulnerable time for people: a lot of religious proselytization goes on (and atheistic and
humanistic and libertarian and republican and democratic and socialist, etc.), there are many easy avenues for acquiring alcohol and drugs and STDs. Don't be too easily convinced of anything.
But DO NOT blindly disagree with everyone who is not just like you! You may not want to be converted, but college is a great time to debate religious and political philosophies with others. Assert your own ideas, but be willing to realize that your view may not be the only view that has to exist.
The benefit of being in a university or college is that, yes, everyone around you is like you in trying to educate themselves, but everyone around you has a lot of great differences that can be of benefit to you. Hang around with the exchange students; hang out with people whose politics and viewpoints are not the same as yours. There's nothing like realizing that people in your dorm are from different countries, too, not just from different states. Take the initiative to meet people, talk to them, argue with them, learn from them, and stay connected with them.
Volunteer if you can, and not just for APO or other services frats or organizations. You're not doing this so that you can put it on your resume. That may have been the thing to do in high school: padding your bio to get you to the next step. Volunteer so you can be a part of the world and see that there is more to the world than just the ivory towers you'll be ensconsed in. Helping out at a pet shelter or a hospital or a crisis center or suicide hotline will let you in on the many options that there are in life.
You get to make your own way and define your own path. It's good to join groups, but don't let yourself be defined just by what others suggest you should do. Take advice with a grain of salt: listen to what your parents, siblings, friends, teachers, and advisors have to say. But even the faculty advisor that may be assigned to you may not know enough about you to give you the right advice about everything. Trust yourself to make decisions about what classes to take and what major you'll be and what nonacademic things to do.
College is like a ski area: (Score:2)
You've obtained a four-year season pass.
The college provides the trails, but which trails you take are up to you.
There is supposed to be plenty of snow, but there will be some bare spots, and they won't always be marked. Some trails that are supposed to be open may be closed.
Signs may point out the most popular trails, but you don't have to take them.
You can have a bad day at a good ski area, and a good day at a bad ski area.
If you don't know how to ski, it's a good idea to take lessons; but just going to the lessons won't automatically make you a good skier. You have to spend time by yourself working on what you've learned.
Breaking with the ski analogy:
Calculate how much each class you attend will cost you. If you're attending 15 classes a week, attending two 20-week semesters, that's 600 classes; if tuition is $18,000, that's $30 per class. This is simply a number you should KNOW. It can put things in perspective. I don't say you should get $30 value out of every class; many will be valueless, a few will be priceless. I don't say you should never cut a class, but keep in mind that you're wasting $30 tuition whenever you do.
USE your college. This is not like high school, where someone else will make all the decisions for you. Take a few chances. If you have electives, elect something interesting.
Your college has facilities besides classes. Wander around. Find out what libraries it has. Make it a goal to enter every building on campus at least once.
Oh, and one bit of strictly practical advice. Find out what the rules are about dropping courses. It's important to know whether and when you can drop a course and not have it show on your record. I've never heard of anyone dropping a course and seriously regretting it, and I know several people who really were hurt by mistakenly staying in courses they should have dropped, either out of reluctance to quit or accidentally missing the deadline for dropping.
get some work experience (Score:1)
Anyway, I recommend getting some outside work experience. Work on-campus or off - just make sure whoever reads your resume doesn't ask, "What have they been doing the past five years?"
I came in as a CS major, switched to liberal arts three semesters in. I got a job due to my on-campus work experience in academic computing center, not the degree. Last month, a year out of school, I interviewed a candidate who had a CS degree from the same large public university (he even graduated the same day I did), but I didn't hire him. I'd been working for 6 months, been promoted and started my 401k and he's still interviewing. Maybe because the only interesting thing he did was spend a lazy summer interning in silicon valley.
CREDIT (Score:1)
Don't read Slashdot! (Score:1)
Stay away from my sister! (Score:2)
Start two years ago! (Score:2)
I'm serious, start two years ago. In most states you can skip your last two years of high school to take college classes for NO COST!. I know several people who got their 2 year degree 2 weeks before they got their high school diploma. So for all your geeks looking over this early, see the consoler and DEMAND to get into this program. You have to be firm, schools lose money when you opt for this so they try to talk you out of it, but it is your future that you make better by ignoring them! That way when you finially get out on your own you only have to pay for 2 years of school instead of 4, and you have expirence. Likely you pay for 3 years because geeks tend to want a technical eduactaion, and you get a libral arts education, but that is ok. You will be dealing with libral arts people all your life (many of whom are smart anyway) so get used to it now.
For the rest, study the theory. Thats what I regret now, even though it is harder to study the theory, everything else changes. With the theory you can at least work out how things really work no matter how they change.
Get hitched! (Score:2)
Ask for numbers/don't be afraid (Score:2)
The school I was at last year had an awesome ratio (66% women, 33% men). The first few months, you could ask for anyone's phone number, or where they lived, and they would gladly give it to you.
Just sit down with random people, or go up and say 'Hi my name is FOO, what's yours?'.
It sounds unlikely, but even if the ratios aren't in your favor, you can most likely meet a TON of people really quick. I remember during orientation getting about 5 numbers of people, and thinking, wow look at all the people here, and then realized that there were 9 other freshmen orientation sessions!!! And there were upperclassmen and grad students too! There are so many people at even a small place, so take advantage of it.
One other bit of advice is learn an instrument (guitar of drums works well), and play it outside around people. People like it, and people will like you, not because they think that guitar is 'cool' but because for some reason it makes you more approachable, and allready they have a reason to come talk to you. People are scared of people often, it removes that fear.
Fly a Kite, people like that, and alot of people will talk to you as well. It's almost Zenlike to fly a kite for hours outside while meeting people or thinking. It's cheap too.
Everyone here knows how to help others with their computers. Do so, but don't get trampled on. Learn to say no, or point them in the right direction. Because otherwise everyone will be banging down your door to fix their computer.
Promote good computer usage. Teach people how to remove 'spyware', check for viruses, remove programs from startup, format their systems even so they can do it themselves. Teach people to defrag and they think you are god. Run an FTP server around campus, but only for those in your college's subnet (ipSec? or firewall rules?) People like that too, but it's not sharing out to the world.
Teach others, and let them teach you. Don't think that you are better than others, and can't learn anything, and don't think that you don't have something to offer. You do. College isn't just for learning from teachers, learn from each other.
Dress well. Wearing a tie even isn't out of line. It makes people respect you, and everyone will treat you more seriously. Look at the grad students, the teachers like them more right? Class is a professional place, treat it that way. It will get you far.
Oh, and watch out for Everquest, Nethack, slashdot, etc... they will hurt your GPA badly.
Do things you don't like. Go out for Sushi, so see a 'girl movie' (with some chicks), go to a Bible study (esp if you aren't religious, just don't be mean to people there), read about other religions, write, write, write, learn yoga, exercise, cut your hair different than you had it in High school, talk to gays and lesbians (my roommate was gay, but awesome person, and my school was very 'colorful') they are cool people, and unlike HS people won't think you are gay too. Go to plays, support your school, plan meetings, join clubs, start a gaming group at school. HAVE FUN!!!