advice for the class of '11

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Haha, I can't go to page 5 either.. and for the person on page 6 who mentioned the fidelius charm.. you rock. haha.</p>

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<p>Don't over-pack!!! You probably will...</p>

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<p>Okay, so I have a question.. everyone always talks about going out on Thurs/Fri/Sat in college, and working the rest of the time. I completely understand the Fri/Sat thing.. but thurs? I don't understand how ppl can do it with MWF classes? On fridays I've got calc/chem/bsci/chem lab.. wouldn't it be irresponible to go out of thurs with a schedule like that on fri? Also, aren't most tests given on fri, or is that not so?</p>

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<p>thursday is the new friday</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Okay, so I have a question.. everyone always talks about going out on Thurs/Fri/Sat in college, and working the rest of the time. I completely understand the Fri/Sat thing.. but thurs? I don't understand how ppl can do it with MWF classes? On fridays I've got calc/chem/bsci/chem lab.. wouldn't it be irresponible to go out of thurs with a schedule like that on fri? Also, aren't most tests given on fri, or is that not so?

[/quote]

I take it you're a premed?
Premeds don't usually go out thursday nights. I sure as hell don't. We often can't afford to.</p>

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<p>yeah i hope no one does anything thurs night bc i have a chem lab 6-840 :(</p>

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<p>ok ....is there racist problems ....i know this sounds kind of ..uh...yah...but i m kind of worried.....- - people might exclude you on purpose because of ur race? or am i just thinking too much?</p>

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<p>how cliquey are most colleges?</p>

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<p>"ok ....is there racist problems ....i know this sounds kind of ..uh...yah...but i m kind of worried.....- - people might exclude you on purpose because of ur race? or am i just thinking too much?"</p>

<p>Could that happen? Of course it could. But the better question is why you would want to associate with such myopically minded pigs.</p>

<p>"how cliquey are most colleges?"</p>

<p>That is WAY too general of a question to answer. It varies dramatically by school. And, even in those schools where cliques are a rarity, they still exist. The reverse is equally true.</p>

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<p>Thanks Gold Shadow, I understand now. And yes, I'm premed. I think I'll get over not going out on Thursdays.</p>

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<p>I'm really shocked by some of this horrible "Parttty harrrd" "advice", if you can even call it that. =p I don't think anyone should be pressured into getting wasted, but what do I know, I don't move in for 5 more days.</p>

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<p>mi_lie, it's not about partying hard, but like that tom petty quote said earlier, college is short, and it ends, work doesn't so take your time, savor the experience, fall in and out of love with yourself and others and be a little irresponsible from time to time.</p>

<p>life's short, make the most of it, college is even shorter</p>

153

<p>In response to . . . "What if you like to get wasted?"</p>

<p>You will wash out and be on academic probation by the next semester/quarter and probably back at home before your sophomore year.</p>

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<p>or....um...you get away with it and graduate on time and do what you want.</p>

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<p>QUOTED: "I HAVE A QUESTION!:</p>

<p>So, like most teenagers, I like to sleep in. However, as we know, sleeping in comes with a price: a big loss of time. So, my question is: though waking up early sucks, is it a good idea to schedule 8am classes to MAKE us get up early, and therefore have the whole day to be productive? I never missed a class in high school to sleep, so I don't really know if this is a big deal or not."</p>

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<p>I thought, 8 AM, no problem. I'm a morning person. I prefer going to bed early. I'll get my classes out of the way and have my afternoons to myself.</p>

<p>I found out soon enough that living in the dorms is too noisy to go to bed early. Even if you don't party with your hall mates, good luck snoozing. Try not to schedule before 9 if possible, unless you're on a sports team that requires you to practice early in the morning so you're up anyway.</p>

<p>In my junior year I changed my major to theatre, and I had to become nocturnal--I didn't get out of rehearsals and lighting calls until after midnight most times. At that point I didn't take any classes before 10 a.m. unless it was one of those "offered only once every two years, and 8 a.m. is the only time we offer it" classes.</p>

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<p>"In response to . . . "What if you like to get wasted?"</p>

<p>You will wash out and be on academic probation by the next semester/quarter and probably back at home before your sophomore year."</p>

<p>Pfft, okay. I drink fairly regularly, don't get "wasted" all the time but I have been more than a handful of times before. As long as you don't do it Every Night and confine it to the weekends, you'll be fine. You won't flunk out and end up on academic probation. That's rare. You can still study during the week and do alright. Of course, don't go out and get completely trashed the weekend before you have a big test on Monday, because then you'll be too hungover to study. But that's common sense. You can be responsible about it.</p>

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<p>QUOTED TEXT: >>>> "Some people might disagree with me on this, but I think everyone should get a job. Even if it's just ~5 hours a week or whatever, it gives you a sense of ownership over your education, provides you with some structure, and gives you valuable experience. Plus then you stop having to rely on Mom and Dad for spending money, which you should really be trying to do anyway."</p>

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<p>I heartily agree with getting a job--even if you don't need the money. When you work for someone else, even for a few hours a week, your brain actually makes connections about what you've learned during the week. You also learn the value of a dollar if you depend on your job for your spending money! Lastly, you could learn a skill, advance in a position, create something that looks good on a resume besides an unpaid internship. If you do well in the job, you can even ask your employer for a recommendation for a future job, internship, or even grad school.</p>

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<p>In response to the original question of this thread . . . what do I wish someone had told me when I first went to college?</p>

<p>If you get into classes and have no clue what you should be doing because it's not at all like high school--GET HELP RIGHT AWAY! Go to your professors and the learning center. It is not shameful to realize you are lacking in college survival skills, but it is shameful not to get the help you need because of pride.</p>

<p>Even if you don't drink or get wasted with other intoxicants, going night hiking until 3 A.M. when you have a class the next morning is NOT a wise thing.</p>

<p>If your roommate gets sick, take care of him/her like you would want to be taken care of. Chances are you'll catch the bug next week and need some TLC yourself.</p>

<p>If your parents send you a care package, share with your roommate and your close friends.</p>

<p>If you are having a problem with your roommate, DO NOT leave notes for each other. It just causes more problems. If you have to, schedule an appointment for your roommate(s), you, and your RA to sort through the problems. That's why you have an RA.</p>

<p>Before you go to college, or even if you just moved into the dorms, read either <i>College Rules!</i> or <i>Becoming a Master Student</i>. I wish I had them twenty years ago!</p>

<p>If you make a mistake (whether it be blowing your grades your first semester or overdrawing your checking account or even an addictive problem), let your parents know right away--even if they won't help out on the finances to teach you a hard lesson. You will stress about it until they know, so you might as well get it out of the way--your parents might actually think you're growing up if you approach the issue in a responsible manner.</p>

<p>Get involved in something you can be passionate about or have always wanted to try. </p>

<p>Lead a balanced life--classes, work, study, social life, chores.</p>

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<p>The key to college/work/life in general = Balance. </p>

<p>Oh, and GO TO CLASS.</p>

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<p>If you want to have a good social life then don't play video games, watch tv all day, or sleep in rather spend your time before class and in between classes studying and getting ahead with your readings. I do this and can easily go out wed-sat(when no exams later in the week) and I am going to graduate magna cum laude (>3.75) this upcoming spring</p>

<p>Oh yeah, take finals seriously because your grades can easily change if you do well or poorly on your final exams</p>