biggest fear for incoming freshman?

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Hi, I just happened on this thread & I want to give you folks some reassurance! I am a Mom, Brown 74, and my D Brown is 01,03 MS–So, you new Bruins—Brown is on top of that hill. If you went to RISD you would be climbing up & down it all day. But depending on your schedule you do walk a lot. Less so for first years, your quad is right across the street from the Green. </p>

<p>And you first years have very nice dorms, btw! The rooms are large. The only “bad” is if it happens to be near an entry door—lots of coming & going noises in those spots. </p>

<p>Univ Food Svs does have choices & based on my college visiting for the last D, now a rising Sr in hs, the food at just about everywhere is way way better than it was back when we old folks went. Much more veggie & fresh fruit options.</p>

<p>For the one worried about riding buses—go now to the school’s transit pages on their website and examine their setup–schedules, stop locations, whatever. Print yourself a map before you go there. You’ll feel much better prepared and feeling better is half the battle. They will give you info on this stuff when you go to orientation. Many of the other freshmen are every bit as new to it as you are!</p>

<p>For the one worried about ants—get some airtight tins or plastic food storage things and keep your gooey chocolates in those. Can’t help you on the roomie though. If you do get ants in your apt/room, mixing some 20-Mule Team Borax (laundry soap aisle) with white sugar and trickling it aloing the edges of the wall, counter etc gets rid of them quickly. </p>

<p>You all have 2 yr to decide on your major, and most of you will change your mind at least once, many of you will change 3-4-5 times. Don’t worry about it today! You haven’t even packed your bags yet.</p>

<p>For the time-management fears – I have always had a Big problem with that. What worked for me in college was buying the kind of wall calendar with a good size box for each day of the month, and hanging it up right next to my desk. Then using a different color ink for each course, and putting in those boxes everything that was due, or had to be read, etc. I also made a big X on each day as it passed. That was to help me see at a glance & from across the room,how many days were left till the things that were upcoming.</p>

<p>Today there is a calendar on your computer, your phone, etc etc, but the paper one on the wall right next to the workspot is always there to glance at! I still make lists, every day (do I do everything on them? No).</p>

<p>To those in a single—you can get yourself a roomie the next three years, and you will have the luxury of choosing someone you have gotten to know. You can make your room a welcome spot for your friends who need a break from their own roomies! Get a folding chair for hanging out. And you will have the freedom to study, etc whenever you need to. You can’t have the only single in the dorm—maybe there are others in your positiion who wd like to hang around with you the way you think the ones with roommates are getting to!</p>

<p>(Sometimes your freshman roommate does not wind up being your best friend for life, you know)</p>

<p>For the ones who will miss the family back home — they will miss you too — but you have facebook, email, texting, the phone, Skype… (“back in my day” we had one phone down the hall in a booth --none in the dorm rooms-- and Mom & Dad called on Sunday afternoon, when the long distance rates were lower). Stay in touch using the technology you are blessed with and it won’t be so bad. If you have younger brothers or sisters don’t forget to send them frequent messages; they will miss you more than you think (and more than they will let on).</p>

<p>Loft beds either come with or can be fitted with a sidebar that will keep you from rolling off. Don’t get real drunk and try to sleep there, though!</p>

<p>I hope you do not mind my joining your thread! I was just as worried about the same things as you are today — everybody is. In 6 months you can read these things and you will laugh: “why did I ever think that was going to be a problem?” God bless & good luck to you all!</p>

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<p>I had a single handicapped room my sophmore year because my first roommate dropped out and it was great. Even though im not handicapped the only downfall to the room was that it was located right by the door. After a couple weeks u dont realize the noises anymore.</p>

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<p>I am going to NYU and spending my freshman year on their international site in Paris (I’m thrilled). As for the major fears:

  • finding spiders in my dorm.
  • being forced to be in some beginner french language course while I’m a native speaker
  • finding out that my english isn’t that good compared to americans/native speakers
  • not getting good grades
  • not getting enough history classes
  • managing my budget badly and ending up broke
  • not being as lucky as usual despite my lame time-management skills
  • finding any other sort of insects anywhere
  • having silly classmates, being hated by everyone, not making good friends</p>

<p>ETC… I think, on second thoughts, that I prefer to think about the good sides…</p>

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<p>Losing focus in class… it happens.</p>

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<p>dropping out is my biggest fear. it’s also my most irrational.</p>

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<p>(Though coming from someone who is just entering senior year). Being unemployed after getting my degree(s).</p>

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<p>-My biggest fear is probably being lonely because I have the hardest time making friends (am I extremely shy, very self-conscience)! </p>

<p>-I’m scared that my roommate might think I’m weird when we are both in the room and the awkward silences commence because I don’t talk a lot.</p>

<p>-I am not a partier or drinker AT ALL, so I’ll feel like I am going to be looked upon badly by others. :frowning: </p>

<p>-I’m also scared about next year because I feel like I won’t get a full-ride again at UNC (as a Carolina Covenant Scholar) since my mom is getting married (therefore it will change my financial status). :(</p>

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<p>That is unbelievably refreshing.</p>

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<h1>1 Fear->Not doing well</h1>

<h1>2 Fear->Facing financial obstacles</h1>

<h1>3 Fear->Crappy dormitory registration</h1>

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<p>Fear #1: Not getting good grades
Fear # 2: Having to be financially independent
Fear #3: Having complete responsibility for everything (e.g. no constant encouragement and praise from parents to motivate me, nobody there to make me dinner or do my laundry (things like that we take for granted living at home.))</p>

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<p>Hey, I just want to let you know that I entered UW with this expectation (academically), too. I figured I should be shooting for AB’s, but expecting B’s and occasional C’s. After three years of UW, I really think you should know that this is a horrible way to approach our school’s courses. Your academic life will, ironically, be easiest if you just work hard and get As. </p>

<p>UW grading for intro classes is a bit odd. There’s usually 25-35% that get As, the rest are almost evenly distributed among Bs, BCs and Cs (you really shouldn’t be getting Ds and Fs if you care). So, the students who got a B, BC, or C all had similar raw grades.</p>

<p>Ultimately, there ends up being a big discrepancy in the “type” of student you are at Madison. There are those that get lots of As, and then there are those whose grades scatter all over the place. Start out Madison planning for As and studying accordingly, otherwise your grades will fluctuate all over the place and will be hard to control. It’s pretty easy to get an A if you study, but it’s hard to solidify a B instead of a C.</p>

<p>There are exceptions. It might be worth your time to check out grade distributions for your classes ([Office</a> of the Registrar - University of Wisconsin-Madison - Course Grade Distributions](<a href=“http://registrar.wisc.edu/course_grade_distributions.htm]Office”>http://registrar.wisc.edu/course_grade_distributions.htm)) before you start school.</p>

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<p>Your intro classes will be curved, and non-literature/language/humanities students will have many advanced classes that are curved. There’s no such thing as a cruel grading policy in curved classes. The percentages that get good grades are predefined.</p>

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<ol>
<li>Failing classes.</li>
<li>Losing financial aid.</li>
<li>Things being awkward with my roommate. On his Facebook, he looks like the jock, preppy type while I’m the weird, gay type.</li>
<li>Being lonely</li>
<li>Drifting apart from my high school friends. My college is in the same city I was born and raised in.</li>
</ol>

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<p>Basically my sole concern is not making good grades…</p>

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<p>@LivingOxymoron</p>

<p>Almost all of my fears exactly.</p>

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<ol>
<li>Losing Financial Aid</li>
<li>Roommates shaving my eyebrows</li>
<li>Losing touch with my high school friends</li>
<li>Roommates eating my Clif bars</li>
</ol>

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<ol>
<li>Not getting straight As</li>
<li>Not being a genius</li>
<li>Not getting internships</li>
<li>Not getting a good social life</li>
</ol>

77

<p>1- I know this is really weird, but I’m seriously afraid of the lack of air conditioning in my room. I absolutely cannot sleep in 70+ degree weather without my AC on full blast. I don’t know why, but I didn’t have it on in my room once and I stayed awake for 24 hours straight. I need sleep so this is a priority. I guess along with this would be getting kicked out of my dorm for the prohibited AC I’m bringing with me. </p>

<p>2- Not playing drums as much. This is gonna be hard. I’ve always been able to just go out in my garage and play whenever I want, but now I don’t know if I’ll be able to at all. </p>

<p>3- Making a group of friends that I like. I’m not worried about actually making friends, I know that will happen. I just want a group of friends that I actually like and have things in common with. </p>

<p>4- Possibly missing the season finally of True Blood and Entourage. If I can’t watch the end of those shows, I will have a mental breakdown. </p>

<p>Honestly that’s it. I’m too excited to even think about worrying.</p>

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<p>

Oh thanks for answering my question. I don’t think I would ever roll off my loft bed but knowing the possibilities is sorta horrifying.</p>