<p>Hi everyone!
I'll be joining JMC this fall....I was wondering, how hard is the first semester of college? How many credits should I take?....also, what kinds of things should I avoid on campus?...I know these are broad questions....but anything will help...thanx!:)...:cool:</p>
<p>Congrats on getting into James Madison College it is a very well respected program within the university and outside the unviersity. I was accepted to JMC at MSU last year and almost ended up attending, although to this day I have no regrets and I am enjoying my college experience thus far.</p>
<p>where are you attending husky85?</p>
<p>MSUabcd, you will find JMC a rather demanding but also nurturing place. That is, the faculty will set high standards, and require you to read, think, and write. The students tend to be quite motivated. It's akin to what you would find at the better liberal arts colleges. </p>
<p>At the same time, the faculty really want you to succeed, you will get good advice, and so on. They also have a reputation for really supporting their students in things like job and grad school applications, fellowship competitions, and the like.</p>
<p>The biggest challenge when you enroll is getting your priorities lined up: studies always first, and then "everything else," which includes an intellectual life outside of your courses and the extremely varied range of activities you can get involved in including the overall campus spirit. You need to have good planning and time management skills. Be aware of due-dates, the time needed to complete assignments, how to use your "waking" hours effectively (you'll only be in class about 15 hrs. per week, i.e., 3 hrs. per day, and so you need to use those other daytime hours efficiently.) If you get too caught up in the big circus that you find on all Big Ten campuses, you'll get into trouble with your coursework. So just keep that foremost in your mind. But at the same time, enjoy!</p>
<p>Thank you husky8585 and mackinaw for ur insight....but I have another question....</p>
<p>What is the biggest mistake(s) that u made ur freshman year?......if u dont wanna talk about urself, then maybe talk about some things that you've seen other freshmen do that were stupid/harmful to their college experience.....</p>
<p>MSUabcd, I should have said that my own freshman year was a long time ago. . . . I was speaking about MSU from knowing most of the JMC faculty personally.</p>
<p>The mistakes that I made at college weren't just in freshman year. One that I know of, though, was the mistake of ignoring the advice of an uncle of mine who was himself a college professor. Just before I enrolled in college, he told me that when I'm at college I'm going to hear about some fantastic course, some spellbinding lecturer or professor; and I should do everything to take that course, even if it's not in my major or even if I don't expect to earn a high grade. These are the types of courses and experiences that you never forget. </p>
<p>You can get so caught up in meeting requirements, taking the "right" courses, and so on, that you miss the opportunity for an inspirational academic experience just because it may seem "irrelevant."</p>
<p>husky85 are youare Washington</p>