<p>Dont be afraid to grow. There are a lot of external factors affecting many of our experiences in college, but in reality, your growth as a human being does not come from the external world but from yourself. </p>
<p>Make sure the people you are hanging around are people you respect. That is the only way to become more aware of who we are. The people we surround ourselves with is very important.</p>
<p>
[quote]
how do you score straight As during your first semester in college?
[/quote]
Basically what meteorain said.
I managed to pull it off first semester, but second semester I got a B+ in history (damn gen ed!). Either way, you probably won't get all As just because teachers can be so subjective with their tests and grading, not necessarily by a fault of your own.</p>
<p>From what I've heard, grad schools (let's just focus on med schools and law schools for now) only really care about GPA and test scores. Is this true? </p>
<p>
[quote]
Keep in mind that no matter how hard you work, your high school preparation ... will also be [a] major factor.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Can you explain this thought further? Are we talking about how much our high school prepared us on say, European History.... or are we talking about how organized we became as a result of our high school being very demanding?</p>
<p>Like fhimas, I too am rather worried about grades due to grad school. I heard one C will pretty much kill your chances of getting in anywhere. So as much as I am willing to work my ass off, I don't want to miss out on the social aspects of college and just having fun. What should happen in undergrad years in respect to trying to get into grad school?</p>
<p>Most grad schools I've looked at say their minimum requirements are a 3.0 in the last two years of undergrad. So like, if you have a 3.1 overall, but junior and senior year you got 3.5-4.0 every semester, you should do fine. Programs are competitive, but so is college. Do your best, and unless you get C's and D's on everything you'll be okay. One C will not kill you, especially if you make it up later with A's.</p>
<p>
[quote]
From what I've heard, grad schools (let's just focus on med schools and law schools for now) only really care about GPA and test scores. Is this true?
[/quote]
Yes and no. Visit the respective forums here on CC for more info.</p>
<p>A "C" grade won't necessarily kill anyone's chances.</p>
<p>My advice:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>College is a time to start fresh. Write down a list of things that you want to change about yourself i.e., "make an effort to meet more people," "don't be condescending and bossy" or "give myself more of an opportunity to have fun and enjoy myself."</p></li>
<li><p>Don't tie yourself down. Meet plenty of people and don't pledge yourself to a long-term relationship immediately. Have some "casual encounters."</p></li>
<li><p>Stick it out. If you feel like you've gotten in over your head or you miss home, don't be afraid to call a friend back home, but remember that this is a completely new chapter in your life. If you typically have a difficult time adapting to new situations, just tell yourself that you will get used to it and if you keep an open mind, you will.</p></li>
<li><p>Don't be afraid to explore your interests. I go to a school where it is very difficult to change your major and many students who entered as engineering or accounting majors are seeing that the promise of a steady paycheck won't be enough to keep them happy for the rest of their lives. Don't be afraid to explore your passions and major in something that actually interests you.</p></li>
<li><p>Take care of yourself. There is nobody to nag you about drinking too much or not keeping up with your school work like there was in high school. By all means, have fun and celebrate your freedom but make sure that you are being responsible and taking care of your body and mind.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I could give tons of specific advice but I think that this really covers almost everything. The fact is, you could have parents like taxguy who (no offense) want to tell you how to do everything and interject with their suggestions or you could have parents like mine who are a bit more laid back and let you just "jump in." Frankly, it doesn't matter. You are living on your own and only YOU can determine how to live your life from now on.</p>
<p>well just helpful packing tips for freshmen..</p>
<p>""A Check-Packing List For Upcoming Freshmen""</p>
<p>It used to be first-time college-bound students had to just wing it or depend on a college "veteran" to educate them on what to pack for that first move away from home.</p>
<p>That's gone the way of standard-issue dorm rooms. Online or at the counter, retailers across the industry have created lists of must-have items for college life. </p>
<p>From Wal-Mart to PBTeen to Bed Bath & Beyond, retailers want you to shop them to stock up the bedroom, the bathroom, the backpack and even the medicine cabinet. And many have taken steps to make the experience as effortless as possible. </p>
<p>Surprisingly, many colleges and universities don't offer the quintessential list of what's needed, sending students to sites like collegeboard.com or CollegeView.com. But there's little question that planning goes a long, long way. </p>
<p>There are many items that are no-brainers like a laptop (with built-in wireless connections), cell phone, bedding and bath gear. But most first-time college-bound students don't think about packing a roll of quarters or antacids and pain relievers or a can opener. They'll have mini-fridges, microwaves (assuming the school lets them) and MP3 players, but forget that 21 pairs of underwear and 30 pairs of socks is not excessive, particularly if they participate in sports. </p>
<p>Other items often missed include dental floss, Band-Aids and laundry stain removers. Shampoo and conditioner, blow dryers, curling irons/straighteners, razors - they're must-haves for many students. </p>
<p>Of course, university towns do have stores that sell paper towels, bar soap and laundry detergent. </p>
<p>"The important thing is not to panic," said Colleen McGovern, who is sending a second child to St. Norbert's College in De Pere, Wis., this year. "Inevitably you will forget something, but don't stress out. There's always a Wal-Mart or something similar near by." </p>
<p>The collegeboard.com or CollegeView.com Web sites offer fuller lists that catalog necessities by category.</p>
<p>Also Sears Roebuck, Target and the Container Store all have handy reference lists. Container stores, for example, help students get organized by offering three separate routes, one of which is called the "dorm room basic six" of categories closet, walls and doors, desk, laundry, bath and storage with items under each. They also have a "talk to an expert" service. </p>
<p>The practical essentials</p>
<p>Here are some other tips from experienced parents: </p>
<p>Have wash, need quarters. More than a few parents said rolls of quarters were one way of helping do their children's wash without physically being there.</p>
<p>Duct tape. It's not a joke. Students need it to tape down all those wayward cords, fix broken items and hang things.</p>
<p>Batteries. All sizes, and don't forget chargers. Most students forget that camera and calculator batteries die with lots of use, and there's not a go-to drawer filled with batteries like there is at home.</p>
<p>Flip-flops for those community showers. They forget too that college dorms can be welcoming venues for germs. </p>
<p>Flatware. At least one fork, knife and spoon are necessary - and often more if students tend to lose them. A box of plastic utensils is one suggestion. </p>
<p>Lamps and flashlights. Lighting in dorm rooms is notoriously poor.</p>
<p>Over-the-door storage units for shoes or extra hanging clothes or under-the-bed boxes. Dorm rooms are small. Need we say more?</p>
<p>Know what you're getting</p>
<p>Some schools do endorse packages and services that students might want to use to outfit themselves. But at least one parent has waved a warning flag about them. </p>
<p>Karen Anderson found out the hard way that university-backed packages from outside vendors are not always what they're cracked up to be. Stymied by the extra-long fit for sheets on twin beds, she was pleased to find a company endorsed by the University of Iowa that would provide all the necessary bedding at one affordable price. </p>
<p>"It was a good price and certainly fit the bill of what she would need in one easy order," she said of her daughter Katie's package that included sheets, pillows, pillow cases, comforter, blanket and other bed and bath items. </p>
<p>"When the box arrived about a week later I told my daughter there must be a second box coming behind it because I couldn't imagine two sheet sets, a comforter, two pillows, blankets, shower caddy and countless other items fitting in this tiny little box," she said. </p>
<p>"I was wrong," she said. "Comfort should not have been part of the word describing the comforter and the pillows were as thick as the sheets. The blanket, however, was the icing on the cake." </p>
<p>An order-taker suggested they pick the indigo color to match the sheets. Anderson said the tone is not like any indigo color she's ever seen and that the blanket itself was transparent. </p>
<p>The load out</p>
<p>Packing the car or in many cases, the cars - doesn't have to be a nightmare. Bed Bath & Beyond, for one, offers a "pack and hold" service that allows students to shop at stores near home, then pick up merchandise from stores near school. And, of course, there's always shipping, which some retailers offer for free or reduced fees. </p>
<p>Finally, parents say that financial issues like banking, debit cards and checking accounts cannot be overlooked or left to the usually inexperienced college-bound student to handle alone. </p>
<p>Sharon Considine suggested that parents open a joint or custodial account at a college-town bank that also has branches in their home city. </p>
<p>"Make sure that you have access to their bank account," she suggested after she sent her son to the University of Notre Dame. "You then have the option to deposit funds or, more important, to keep an eye on their spending." </p>
<p>She also suggested opening the account at a bank that does not hold parents' accounts to keep the bank from dipping into your money if funds are not available in the child's account. "Trust me, I know this from experience," she added.</p>
<p>think of getting into grad school kind of like getting into college.... people talked all the time about how impossible it is, how one C will kill you, etc etc and it turns out... that's just not true. admissions officers are people too. don't kill yourself for grades, you'll just end up stressed out and frustrated.</p>
<p>Do some math with your college expenses: add up tuition, board, etc.. Divide that number by the semester, by the week, by the day, by the hour, by the course, and by the class. Know what it costs for you to attend your school and resolve to make the most of it. </p>
<p>Treat your weekdays as if you are working a 9 to 5 job. Making use of a spare hour between classes will free up an hour to linger at dinner with friends.</p>
<p>Make a habit to study in the library. Don't try to work in your dorm room. </p>
<p>Give some thought to what activities interest you before you arrive on campus. Give some thought to clubs you might join or try... some familiar activities and some new ones. Seek them out on campus. Resolve to be a contributor.</p>
<p>Attend lectures and concerts on campus. It will never be as convenient or as inexpensive to do so again.</p>
<p>If your school has an amazing library, athletic facility, woodworking studio, or computer/multimedia lab, spend time there and savor your good fortune in having this opportunity available to you.</p>
<p>Do right by your fellow students, both friend and foe.</p>
<p>Break up with your significant other BEFORE you go to school.</p>
<p>^^ Thanks! I guess I should listen to the advice I've given so many on CC: use the search function.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I wish I knew what hard work was and how much I was capable of doing (and that it wouldn't kill me).</p></li>
<li><p>I wish I knew how to prioritize my work and accept that it was not necessary (nor smart, nor possible) to do everything perfectly.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Don't work too hard, you have the rest of your life to work, this is your ONLY chance to be independent while still being somewhat sheltered.</p>
<p>You'll only regret the nights you don't go out, you'll hate yourself looking back and seeing yourself in the library.</p>
<p>I'd imagine you'll hate yourself even more when you don't get into your choice grad school!</p>
<p>No, you can do both. Just budget your time and there's plenty of time to go out and party.</p>
<p>What do you suggest getting started first-social life, or academics? I'm not too worried about making friends- there's plenty of time during orientation to start meeting people.</p>
<p>But after that, it's a fork in the road. You can build relationships with those new friends and neglect the academics somewhat (I realllly don't want to start out bad, I heard first semester is really important in forming your habits), or you can work hard and then risk the chance of losing those friendships. Is this easier than it sounds to balance, or do you have to make a choice?</p>
<p>“You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does...”
-Tom Petty</p>
<p>^^^ain't that the damn truth man....</p>