Advice about college?

[princess_ballet]

Hello everyone!

I suppose this can be my formal introduction since this is the first time I've ever posted in this forum and I don't recognize many of you.

I'm leaving for college on Thursday and I was wondering if any of you have any advice for me about living on campus? I've taken college classes at the community college before, but I've lived at home, so I'm getting extremely nervous.

Please, no horror stories, I just want to know any "if I had known what I know now..." type things.

Thanks!


:crosself:

 

[lindslu01]

I can give you some advice about college.... I am about to enter my senior year. Freshman year of college, if you will allow it to be, was the most amazing year!! I lived on campus with one roommate. Our rooms held three but we only had two. That year, I learned so much about people. Here is some advice - do not expect your roommate(s) to have the same manners/etiquette/lifestyle as you. You will most likely only be dissapointed! Be open-minded to how different your roommate may be from you. Remember, they were raised totally different than you. But it is a wonderful opporutunity to learn about other people. ALSO - do not eat too much of the cafeteria food (there is sooo much fat and calories in that food, you have no idea... the freshman 15 is SO REAL!) Eat the salad bar and fruit. Do not take "no doz" to stay awake and study. Getting 7-8 hours of sleep will benefit you so much more the next day than staying up all night studying. You really will remember more if you get the sleep. TAKE NOTES! Some professor's do not like to tell you what will be on a test, it may be a comment they mentioned one time! Good note-taking is key in college. Wow I feel like I have so much advice to give!! Make time for fun... go to the movies, go to the mall, whatever! Just get off campus and take a break. Parks are great for relaxing after a strenuous day. BUT do not wait until the last minute to study either. Once you find out you have a test, start studying a little bit each night. I know it takes discipline, but it is worth it. Don't sweat getting a couple bad grades!!! College courses are designed for that! You can still make a decent grade. GO TO YOUR professor's offices!! They have office hours for a reason, so if you are having a problem , you would be surprised how much they will help you on a one-on-one basis. Pay them a visit. Lastly - have fun........ college is the best experience! People are right when they say it's the best years of your life. It can be if you make it that way. If you have any other specific questions or need advice once your there or whatever, my AIM is lindslu01. Take Care!

 

[fieldmouse3]

If I had known, I wouldn't have wasted the money on college. I just wasn't into it, so I was miserable and didn't do well in my classes. I went because I thought I had to, not because it was something I really wanted to do.

 

[LionOfJudah]

no college will not guarnetee you a job, what you need is the college degree and experience in whatever field you want to go into.

Jump and do whatever you can with the school, if you are majoring in dental and you can work at a dentist office do it. even if it is just 1 day a week it is 100% worth it.

i dont know what your major or what school you are going to, do not expect to find a guy right away, i know at my school and many other Bible schools girls expect to find a husband in the first week to semister. have fun, make alot of friends any chance you do just go hang out, take people to the mall, get pizza watch movies in the dorm or out of it.

 

[but'n'ben]

What I've experienced in my first and second year of uni is people who become students only for the lifestyle. They end up living life to the max, missing lectures/tutorials, and eventually fail exams. That's a complete waste of everyone's time and money.

By all means enjoy yourself. Makes friends and stuff but never forget the reason why you're there. I didn't stay on campus and I don't wish that I had. A lot of people say "if I could go back to first year I'd live on campus" but they're only interested in getting drunk all the time.

You'll make friends no problem because everyone is in the same boat-they don't know anyone either. Plus you could go to the champlaincy at college and meet other christians. That way you'll have friends who generally won't be into the 'typical' student lifestyle.

Above al, good luck and enjoy your time there...you'll be fine

 

[Phrasedefina]

Well, I recommend living on campus the first year...but......you have to be very carefull as a female. I have seen things happen to young girls that otherwise would not have had they not gone to this frat or co-op party and gotten drunk here and there.....not to scare you...

By all means have all the fun you want as long as you can remember to make it to your sophomore year alive....

You may also become very offended by the things your roommates or friends do while they are in college...thing is...you have to learn to let other people not affect you and you do the best you can to maintain an internal peace with yourself. I am not saying that will happen...maybe your not worried about the crazy things that go on in college...I wasn't/am not

yes I am in college now (started rather late)

 

[fishstix]

Just remember that if you're going to play any practical jokes you need to be prepared for retaliation.

 

[Lizzi4Christ]

Remember why you're at college. Yes, the social life is a huge aspect of it, but your major concern is schooling. Don't neglect your studies for your social life. But don't totally give up your social life either. Find a nice balance. Learn to budget your time.

When you get assignments do not, I repeat, do not wait until the last moment to get them done. The sooner you get it done, the better the quality. Quality is important.

You are responsible for your own work. Professors won't always, if ever, remind you when an assignment is due or when a test is coming up. That's your job to remember. Get a nice planner to keep all your assignments in. What I do, On the day I get the assignment I write it down. I also write it down on the due date. It never hurts having it written down twice.

Beware of some people. I don't mean in a predator type of way, although you should be careful that way too. There are going to be people who want you to hang out or party instead of doing homework and studying. Like I said before, budget your time and don't let people distract you from your purpose or your walk with God.

Whether you're going to a secular school or a Christian school, there are going to be people there who aren't Christians. Remember that you are an ambassador of Him (2 Corinthians 5:20). People are going to be watching you. Live your life for Him.

 

[California Dreamin']

I'm moving into residence in.... 10 DAYS!!!

 

[scottocaster]

Princess Ballet,
Are you going to a secular or christian school? My mindframe and any advice I could pass on to you would be totally different depending on which venue you head towards.
Overall I would say hit the books hard, that is it, everything else will fall into place. Social life will come, just be careful who you hang out with, they could really pull you down, or bring you up. Hope this helps.

 

[MadeInOz]

I'm probably not the best person to ask about college advice, coz I'm currently writing a booklet called "a cynic's guide to tertiary education"... sort of an anti-hand book... it's very amusing... but not all that much help.

 

[Sketcher]

Your beliefs will be challenged. I highly recommend "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel as a read before you go. Many of the questions and doubts presented by unbelievers can be put to rest with that book. Strobel interviews some very distinguished Christian professors in this book who really know their stuff, so when someone tells you that the Bible isn't reliable or whatever, you can have some very good answers for them.

 

[Raanan]

Heh, I'm an entering freshman living in the dorms this year as well. I get in the dorms tomorrow. (I should really be packing up this computer and going to bed.) Because I'm a couple years older then teh average freshman, they put me in an upperclassmen residence hall. Cheers to that!

 

[Echoes Peak]

Advice...Go to class....seriously. This new found freedom thing makes it really tempting not to go. Yeah, don't do that until you at least have mastered the college schedule.

If you're going to a secular school......find a good church/home/bible study group. College is the time when most fall away from their Christian background.

Textbooks.......can be a whole lot cheaper online then in the actual school book store so hunt around. Unless you are specificially told that you NEED to have a book for the next class, do some serious comparative shopping. It'll save some cash.

Make friends on your dorm floor.

And finally, try to take at least one to two classes you like a semester. They make that whole going to class thing a whole lot easier.

 

[Saxman]

I am a 3rd year veteran and learnt what I have learnt the hard way. I would give anything to go back to my 1st year and start all over again!

Here are my top tips:

WORK: Start early and stay ahead. The moment you fall behind it is hard to catch up. Go to all your classes and lectures and work a 9 to 5 day, which gives you the evening to socialise. Write up your lecture notes asap after the lecture expanding them with extra reading.

SOCIAL LIFE: The secret is to do a few things and get very involved in them. I wasted a lot of time doing around 20 different activities but never really getting into them. IF you get seriously involved in a club/activity then you make close friends get a lot out of it and have fun. I would recommend: a Christian club, Church, a sport (even if not sporty), a choir or music band and some activity that you just enjoy.

LIVING ON YOUR OWN: Look after yourself. It is so easy to let things slip. Eat well, exercise, sleep well, don't drink too much and be kind to yourself.

TEMPTATION_THE BIG BAD WORLD: College is full of temptations-especially that of the hedonistic lifestyle of partying, promiscuity etc-which is morally wrong from a Christian perspective. The secret is to pray regularly and choose your company wisely. Peer pressure is v dangerous.

LOVE/ROMANCE; It is very easy to fall in love at college-the new environment, the hormones etc. As a Christian it is best to stick to Christians as boyfriends and make sure you start off as friends and do not let stuff get too heavy. Concentrate on getting a degree before you consider marriage. Spend time with people other than your boyfriend or you will get caught in a bubble.

Finally as people have already iterated-the most important thing is to get a good degree!

 

[princess_ballet]

Wow.

Great advice everyone (especially the person who mentioned the college doesn't necessarily equal job post, I don't remember your name, but I reped you! Lol).

I do plan on going to class. I did dual-enrollment before this, so I was only at high school half the day and understand what it means to not want to go to class (then again, one class I didn't go to and still got a 94% in....). And I have no desire to drink or have sex.

Speaking of all that. The way some of the girls act around here has completely opened my eyes. Its disgusting. They act like a piece of meat! Its one thing to dress nice and look nice, but they care a bit too much. They act as though if you aren't looking for a bf, they there is something wrong with you. And since I'm not looking for a bf (as if I needed the added pressure and stress right now?) I've been getting the oddest looks. I can't help it I'm not so concerned that my hair isn't perfect, my make up isn't always great (it was 90* on move-in day), and I'm not hanging over every guy I see. Good grief.

Anyway, I'm done with that rant.

Are you going to a secular or christian school?

I am going to a secular school. My major is cell and molecular biology here and its closer (an hour) to home. I wanted both of those before I cared about secular/Christian. My cousin, who is about as anti-Christian as they get, went to a Christian school, so that made little difference to me.

The first day, the first girl I met was Catholic, well she thought she was Catholic. She had gone to Catholic schools her whole life and so she at claims it (which is a start). My roomate is a different story. While she super nice and everything, she's not Christian.

And if professors give me a hard time, I would be used to it. They did at my high school. I'm not sure I would say anything here like I did there, but I doubt it would bother me. But all of you would let me vent; right?



Thanks again everyone!

 

[princess_ballet]

Oh, I have another question. My friends were going to go get a job yesterday on campus. Do you think maybe I should try a couple weeks out first and then try to get a job or just get one now.

I want to make sure I can handle all that I have on my plate first before I tackle a job. What you do think?

 

[Echoes Peak]

Oh, I have another question. My friends were going to go get a job yesterday on campus. Do you think maybe I should try a couple weeks out first and then try to get a job or just get one now.

I want to make sure I can handle all that I have on my plate first before I tackle a job. What you do think?

If you go to a big state school like I do, go for the job now. Because it will super crazy if you don't....lots of competition with everyone and their mom looking for one.

 

[princess_ballet]

The school has 35,000 students (not all live on campus) and there is the surrounding community where people live.

I really think I'll just keep checking because they only had about 5 job listings as it were and it wasn't all that great...yeah, I guess I'm picky (a ton of working hours).

 

[plum]

advice: don't try to dress all cute and trendy. it seems all the freshmen here this year think it's important to look good for whatever reason they make up for themselves.

it's all about the t-shirt and jeans with a hoodie sweatshirt. maybe even pajamas.

just don't be one of the kids who makes a big deal about appearance. you're cool enough being normal. now, maybe dressing up and wearing stringy tops is normal for you. in that case i recommend against it but hey, whatever you do just be yourself.