<p>So i'm really excited about next year!! anything us freshman should do our first year that any upper classmen regret they DID or DID NOT DO???</p>
<p>Just lookin for some advice!</p>
<p>I don't have any specific thing to recommend that's a "don't miss" because what people are looking for varies so much. So I'm not sure if what follows is the kind of reply you're looking for, but here it is anyway ;)</p>
<p>Going off to college, especially a residential place like ucsb, is a real adventure! And you should take advantage of it. But a drawback shared by all large state schools is that its going to be impersonal, so you won't automatically get the same experiences that a kid at a LAC or smaller private U gets as a matter of course. </p>
<p>In academics, for example, you'll start off in large classes where you're just a face in the crowd of hundreds. And in more popular majors there may still be around 75 kids in the upper-division classes. But every prof has office hours each week, just sitting there waiting for students to come by. You'd be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't) at how few people have ever gone to an office hour except to contest a grade on a test or paper. But your profs are among the tops in their fields; they had to be to get hired by UC. If you have a love of learning this is your chance to talk to an expert, to learn how what you're studying relates to the world around you, to tie things together. And if you're thinking of grad school someday a rec from a prof who knows you and can write a personalized rec is what it takes for the top programs; and don't forget they came from the top schools and have connections.</p>
<p>On a related vein, you'll have to decide what your personal standards for schoolwork are. This is a voyage of personal discovery, I can't tell you the right or wrong answer. But do you always try to do your best work on a paper or in learning some material, or are you more focused with just doing what is required to get a certain grade (even an A) and no more? In other words, do your rewards come from inside you or from an external source? There is an interesting (and very long!) thread over in the Parents Forum right now that tangentially discusses issues such as this as it debates the advantages of elite schools; see <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=187878%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=187878</a></p>
<p>Switching from academics, one of the joys of ucsb is that the friends you make are going to be living right near you for the next 4 years, as compared to many other UCs where kids disperse into the city. So take full advantage of that, build networks of friends that make SB a fun place for you. You'll get to know people in the dorms, but also broaden your wings a bit and join some clubs, play intramural sports, attend campus lectures and events, etc. Take advantage of all that's out there!</p>
<p>On a related theme, I'd also suggest challenging yourself a bit. College iis a place to take chances, to push the envelope. For example, everyone I've known who spent a semester abroad said it was among the best experiences of their college years. Take a course from someone your friends say is a great prof even if the subject isn't your favorite.</p>
<p>And even though frosh year sounds WAY too early to be thinking about a future career, its not. Some kids come in "knowing" what they're goin g to do, such as the pre-meds or engineers. Yet 1/2 or more who start as engineers change to something else, probably even more for the pre-meds. So if you think you know what you want, begin confirming that as soon as possible -- attend career fairs, talk to alums in the field (the career center can hook you up), get internships. And if you don' thave a clue yet, no reason to panic, but if you spend 4 years exploring and refining your career goals it will be easily accomodated and you won't face the panic of kids ending their junior year and who realize they have absolutely no idea what they want to do 9 months hence.</p>
<p>Lastly, my advice is this -- be proactive. As a large state school the opportunities and resources are almost without limit, but on the flip side they don't come to you. If you don't take the inititiative to go out and take advantage of them, they might as well not have existed. It's not quite sink-or-swim, but even for advice you need to go to the counselors and advisors.</p>
<p>Ok, off my soapbox :) Have a great time, wish I could do it again!</p>
<p>mikemac, thank you for that post. It will serve very useful for me as I am worried about the whole college experience. I mean, I'm going because mainly because I started out in some gifted program in elementary school (went all down hill after seventh grade) and stuck in all APs and basically, that's what's expected. Like, your education is designed to lead you there so I am really unsure of it. But I'm now becoming much more appreciative of those who thrust me into an environment that encouraged it, becuase as you said, it's a time of great discovery, and since I do know what I want to do, I can make the most of it.</p>
<p>At least I now know how to approach the academics of it from day one thanks to you, mikemac!</p>