Mistakes to avoid in college

College Life
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<p>Coot raises some good points though. The idea is that you don't have to listen to me or my advice. Yes, i've been through the system and am in grad school now. I ment only to give my own opinion, everyones path through life if different, but sometimes people don't realize that the journey can be so much more rewarding than the destination. So i also wanted to clarify some things.</p>

<p>I didn't intend to villify graduating in 3 years. I ment it more as a comment on all actions carrying consequences. If you cram everything into 3 years you miss out on other things. You do. This is just the way it is. Now, if you are the type of person that says, "Who cares! I really want to study math at CalTech with whatever X professor." And if that is your goal, getting out a year early might not a bad thing.</p>

<p>On double majoring. If you happen to know that you want to do something like international finance, of if you know you want to go into patent law, or if you know you want to do something like art conservation, then yes, double majoring will probably help you out. But for the vast majority of people who read boards and never post, a double major wastes time and money. It does give you more insight into new areas though and that can be fun. Someone picked up a second major without much extra effort. That is awesome. Again, i only speak from the sciences point of view where doubling up always incurrs a bunch of extra courses.</p>

<p>Speaking from the sciences standpoint, which i can only do. You get a degree and you get a job. The likelyhood of someone at 45 going, "You know, analytical lab work for pfizer is kind of boring, i want to be a museum curator" isn't that high. Isn't isn't a 0 chance either, somepeople get bored and want to move on. Usually this is done by going back to school to train for a new career. Just because one has a double major doesn't automatically open all the doors you would think. </p>

<p>In terms of success, this can be defined as many different ways. My own personal definition is that if i wake up every day, and generally like my job and enjoy my day, can pay all my bills and put food on my table every week, then i consider that success. I don't hold anyone but myself to this standard. My roommate thinks that is pathetic of me. She believes that success is defined as a combination between making a lot of money and holding as much power over people as you can.</p>

<p>So if ones idea of success is having a strong business plan right out of highschool, getting into a top twenty university, working your tookus off and landing that job at the high powered firm of some sort with the sweet signing bonus and the slick ride, that is fine. But most people don't have any idea what they want to do out of high school and the point was that you don't need to, take some courses, if that means you are in college for a 5th year, but find the most perfect program for yourself, how are you any less successful than the guy who graduated in 3 years from Yale at the top of his class?</p>

<p>I'll say this again, these are only my opinions. These things have worked out greatly for me in my own life and i've seen the same sorts of things work out for lots of other people, but it is by no means the ONLY way to go about life.</p>

<p>Also, all analogies are imperfect, probably even this one. I am aware that there are pies which call for more than one type of apple. I am infact a large fan of pie, apple or otherwise.</p>

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<p>First of all, I would like to thank Argentum for posting his College insights for the purpose of enlighten fellows of College Confidential. That's very nice of you to do that. I don't know if I am willing to 30 minutes to make a post that draws such criticisms from others. </p>

<p>Of course, I would make some comments as well. :) (By the way, smiley face is my signature. You will, more often than not, see that in my posts)</p>

<p>Concerning about double majors, like all those above me stated, as long as those two majors complement each other and won't increase your course loads to a great degree, it is all good. Like me, for instance, is facing a critical dilemma. My current major Biological Sciences; however, I also show interests in Math. So I don't really know where my call truly lies. I can't possibly double major in Bio and Math as they are very different in nature. So I must pick one.
I recall one of my teachers in High School double majored in European History and English. It worked out for him as he can teach both classes afforded in my old school. Also, even if you don't major in Business or Accounting, I think it is very important for you to take some courses in that regard. Knowing how to manage your money and how companies operate is a good complement to any career you have. Remember, you want to level up in the corporate ladder. So you need to know the business side of your career. Obviously, sometimes it is a good idea to take courses from different disciplines to see if there is a possible interest in those. There is no need to cling to your comfort zone at all cost. Remember success is to be measured not by what position you have taken as by obstacles your have overcome. </p>

<p>Regarding free time, I found that to be true and necessary. There needs to be a balance between work and fun. When I signed up for the fall semester of 2007, I was thinking about focus all my 22 credits on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. With no classes on Tuesday and Thursday, that will save me four hours of driving back and forth. However after consulting with my dad, I changed my mind. He told me that I will go crazy for being in classes all day long. Also, having to wake up so early, like 7am and come home like 10 Pm won't benefit my learning much. I live at home, and it takes me about 30 minutes to drive to school, and 30 minutes for me to take the bus to get to my first class. That's my side of the story. My honest recommendation is that if you can, play some video games to relax your mind. My school library offers Xbox and Wii just for that purpose. :)</p>

<p>Now about cramming, I agree with Argentum that you should try to avoid that habit as much as possible. Honestly, I cram all the times, from middle school to first year of College. I can say that it has worked out for me considering I got the grade I wanted, mostly "A's and sometimes "B"s. However, I noticed that if I didn't cram, and studied on a daily basis, I can almost guarantee all 'A"s throughout my scholar career. I usually spend at least 4 hours to study the day before the exam. After I finished studying, I usually think that I have remembered all of the materials. That's not the case. I have noticed that when I cram, if I ever get panicked during the exam, I will forget half of the materials that I studied the day before. Of course, that did happen to me from time to time. Just because I got above 90 most of the time doesn't mean it has worked out as I wanted. If I didn't cram, instead study on a daily basis, I could maybe get 100 on those exams. Guess that? That's what I am going to do for my Finals coming this week. I will study a little bit each day, and review the whole materials the day before. I would like to see if that could land me a perfect score on my Finals. By the way, in case you haven't figured out, to be considered successful, cramming has to land me at least 93 or above on all of my exams. If it doesn't, it is failure. :)</p>

<p>Hmm, about Community college, like coot66, I always have negative opinions. I thought that because some of my old high school students. who I thought were a bit below average, went there too. Also, the fact that almost anybody can go there makes it seem like a trash collector. However, don't get me wrong. I am not saying that all students over there are bad. Some people go there because they were late in applying to their University. Some wait for transfer. Some just want to take courses as a way to save money considering they are cheaper than Universities. </p>

<p>Well, unless you have financial problem, I wouldn't recommend rushing through College. As you should know, College is more than just getting a degree. It is a bridge connecting your school career to your future professional career. It is not all about academics, the social aspects are very important too. I remember reading a career guide, calling college a laboratory, where you can experiment different ways that will contribute to your success in the future. Also while in College, you can apply your knowledge by committing yourself to some interns. If you rush through, you might miss some opportunities for explorations of your interests and yourself. Also about College prestige, I don't find it that much of a big deal. You success depends on how you treat yourself in College. Even if you attend top University yet you don't involve actively in cocuricular activities, you won't be successful as those who do in lower ranks. </p>

<p>As for drunk emailing your professors, I didn't that about that. One thing I know is that you should treat your instructors with respect. This mischievous act might bite your in the back in the future. I remember reading a teachers' forum about weird emails that teachers have received from their students. One teacher stated that he received an email from a student asking for an assignment with the name "hotty69er." The teacher thought that student must have been drunk or something when he sent the mail. So purposely, he replied by beginning the heading, "Dear hotty69er.....". </p>

<p>I think almost everybody can agree that cheating is a serious issue. If I can I have never cheated in my life, that would be lying. However, I know that in college, they treat cheating as a big misconduct. Some schools might expel your for that. The problem with me is not the cheating part, but rather reporting cheaters. I remember in my Economics class, a student sitting next to me wrote several concepts on a small piece of paper before the class. However, I didn't tell my instructor about me. I know if I did, everybody will think awry of me. So......... yeah, don't cheat. </p>

<p>I don't want to make any more comments right now. It is getting late here. Need some sleep tomorrow. Feel free to make any comments. Don't worry, the worst thing that can happen is me crying like a baby. Indeed, babies are cute. :)</p>

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<p>It's nice of you to take the time to share your insights with us.</p>

<p>However I'm not convinced on a couple of points</p>

<p>"Take your time in college, don't rush through in 3 years. Everyone i know who has rushed through in 3 years is miserable now.They didn't have as much fun as they could have, they missed out on opportunities you get once in your life. One of my friends got his Bio degree in 3 years and now is the resident director at a state college. Why? He has no idea what he wants to do with his life, so he is doing the only thing he knows how to do. Be an RA. Only now, he is the boss of the RAs. I guess that makes him a super RA or something."</p>

<p>Maybe some of us know what we want to do (I am certain I want to study Computer Science) and would like to shorten the course (save time & money).</p>

<p>And also about the double major - perhaps some people cope with it better than others. And maybe some people have a strong interest in more than one field.</p>

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<p>thanks guys for starting a great thread and making great comments!
i'm into my 2nd year of college and i'm still learning...
your insights were very very helpful. thank you :)</p>

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<p>Here in Florida community college is not just for the damned. The Bright Futures pays 100% of your tuition and if you are in honors you can get more scholarships. So basically you are getting paid to go to school.</p>

<p>About the not rushing through college thing. It may be right for some to stay 4 or maybe even more years. For others like myself getting out earlier is best. College for me got old real fast because I like to get up and go travel. Can't do that when your in school only during the summer. So being stuck in the same spot for 10 months is no fun.</p>

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<p>excellent thread...keep them coming :)</p>

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<p>It seems like this discussion has mainly gone into a Double Major debate and I have to agree with the combination of coot and phobos. Coot was the first to refute and made good points that a double major isn't a BAD thing. It's important to work in college. Phobos did a good job on explaining that yes...it is good to work hard in college...but you need to give yourself time to have fun too.</p>

<p>In my opinion: be prepared to work hard in college, but practice effective time management to give yourself time for fun too. THAT will make you a more successful person. A double major is NOT a bad thing...it broadens your horizons and pushes you to learn more. After all, for professionals learning NEVER finishes...you should always be willing to get more education to keep up to date on your field. So naturally, it's never bad to receive more education while you have the chance.</p>

<p>I'll tell you right now that the above paragraph is not without base. My dad has been a VP of Human Resources (for those who don't know that basically is a broad encompassing department that includes RECRUITING/HIRING) and has encouraged me several times to push myself for the double major. He said that IT IS seen as valuable to employers. It won't guarentee you the job, but it will definitely help you get to the interview. It shows that your motivated to do the extra work to get what you want. (But keep the major relevant to your field)</p>

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<p>I see everyone also jumping on the point made originally that you shouldn't rush through college. If any of the people who are refuting this point have actually completed college and moved on to grad school or professional life, I would be surprised. College (undergrad) is great - it is way better than working and it is way better than grad school. I think people here would be well suited to take his advice, and slow down a little bit. College is 4 years where you get all of the benefits of being an adult, but you don't have to face up to all of the realities of it (for the most part). Enjoying your time there, and maybe even stretching it out a semester is not a bad thing, its a nice respite from the real world, which is not a friendly place like college.</p>

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<p>@ blue147
It depends on the private school of course, but I think the more well known private schools tend to be more geographically diverse because they are not cuffed by state limits. For example, I go to Tulane and the diversity among states and countries within my group my friends is immense. I might be special in that however and that should be considered. In any case, I do think that private schools such as Vanderbilt or Tulane offer a geographic diversity that is hard to match at a public school, mainly due to state mandates on how many kids need to come from that state.</p>

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<p>Wow! What a great topic.</p>

<p>Double Major: I wonder how many double majors who say they are doing them because they love both subjects are really doing them to please their parents and themselves. What I mean is that they are majoring in X because their parents see a lucrative career at the end of it, and they are also majoring in Y because it is their passion. If people are truly interested in taking coursework in two fields, why not take one as a minor? The minor allows you to enroll in all the same courses, but without the full requirements of the major. The earlier example of chemistry and art history could be combined as an art history major with a chemistry minor. </p>

<p>Cheating: I was accused of cheating in college and almost got kicked out. It was the scariest 3 weeks of my life, waiting to hear if my life as I knew it would end. It was a big wake-up call. (In the end, I was acquitted of the charges and allowed to make up the assignment that was in question--and I didn't get kicked out.) Even if you want to do something to meet requirements but are the slightest bit hesitant about the morality of your idea, ask your professor before proceeding. Don't just "take action." For those who cheat on tests or plagiarize on papers or projects--shame on you. You should be expelled.</p>

<p>Rushing through college: I totally agree with the original poster. Don't rush it if at all possible. By the way, I don't value success in a high-paying job but in job satisfaction and how you make the world a better place for us all. It took me years to realize that satisfaction was more important than financial rewards, but trust me--it is. College is a time of maturing for the young adult. Even once you are out of college you are maturing. College provides you a chance not only to explore but to relate socially with other human beings who will eventually become people quite similar to those in your future workplaces. If you think college is only about studying, you may come out of it unable to relate to society, and thus unable to hold a job because you can't get along with your co-workers or are uncivil or creepy to the customers and vendors. (I know people like this.)</p>

<p>Cramming: I sort of agree. Cramming only worked for me to pull a C out of a class that I had procrastinated about all semester. If I were truly interested in pulling an A in a class, I would attend every single class, take notes, review notes, do the reading on a regular basis, work on the class projects early, and review, review, review on a daily basis. (I did this for a few classes that I was truly interested in.)</p>

<p>Free time: Yes, you need time to relax. You also should volunteer your services to help others--but you don't need to volunteer in more than 1 or 2 groups. Pick something that truly interests you, do it well, and become a positive leader in the organization. I found that my time spent in my groups became wonderful social time as well as volunteer time.</p>

<p>Don't drunk e-mail professors: Never did (because it didn't exist way back in the Stone Age). As a previous poster said, give respect to your professors. Don't pack up ten minutes before class ends, arrive on time, don't eat in class, don't show up to class and doodle or text message all hour. But you don't have to worship the guy/gal. Just treat him with the respect s/he deserves. Say "Hi," to them when you see them off-campus, stop by their offices during office hours for something other than a "grade bail-out" meeting, get to know them as human beings. You'll be surprised what a little time on your part will do to help you understand the material better because you understand your professor better. It also helps to have a good relationship with your professors when you need a letter of recommendation from them--whether for a job or grad school.</p>

<p>Community College: I know many "Who's Who" high school students who have specifically chosen to attend community college on the "honors" track to transfer to the UC of their choice. They find the honors courses challenging and the ability to save some money a plus, as they are looking at many more years of college at a top-name university. I have since taken a few courses at the local CC, and I have found them to be challenging and well-taught. If I were to do it all over again, I would consider going to a CC for a year or two and then transferring once I knew what I really wanted to do. (I did end up changing my major 3 or 4 times before graduating.)</p>

<p>Of course, you don't have to follow my advice . . .</p>

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<p>Avoid 8:00 classes unless you are a morning person. If you are living in a dorm as a freshman, you won't be getting to bed early. It's too easy to roll over and sleep through that 8:00. Now a 10:00 -- that should work.</p>

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<p>^^^I agree with Lux. Even if you are a "morning person," it's very hard to get to that 8:00 a.m. class when your roommate is sleeping in.</p>

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<p>8AM classes suck, agreed. I don't think it matters even if you really think you'll be fine because you're a "morning person" or not, just avoid taking 8AMs whenever possible. Avoid 9:00 too. Like Lux said, 10:00 is a good time to start.</p>

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<p>"If success in life is equal to A + B + C, then A is work, B is play, and C is keeping your mouth shut." -Albert Einstein</p>

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<p>On double majoring:</p>

<p>When should you double? You love both subjects, and you want to push yourself to the highest standards possible to achieve excellence in both.</p>

<p>But Avcastner brought up a good point. Why not minor in something that you're interested in so as to balance practical commitments and interest? It really depends on the level of commitment you want to maintain. If you think you don't have enough energy to do what you really like to do in college at tertiary level and gain insight into things you have been fascinated all along, then perhaps it is better to drop it to minor status, where u'll still learn lots, but not as much as you could have. </p>

<p>As to someone else who posted the idea of going back in time to pursue your interest, it's a good idea. Especially if during college, money and job opportunities becomes an ongoing concern. Not everybody can afford just "studying what they like" in college. In fact, many people can't afford that.</p>

<p>But on the flip side, I should think that going back to college to do that major you always wanted to do when u were 18 and swingin' but can't due to etc etc when u're 30 or something is going to be very different. Will you want to do that again? Go through college again, seeing people many years younger that you...I don't know, but it removes some aspect of the eclectic environment and freshness and eagerness of mind that accompanies you when you first step into college as a freshman.</p>

<p>If you have the time, money and energy, then it's much better to do it in college. I've always liked the idea of majoring in 2 entirely disparate subjects because it trains your mind and perception in different ways. It forces you to ditch preconceived bias against each subject and peer into their merits and applications. There is a joy associated with understanding what integration truly means and how all those weird rectangles under the graph could actually conceivably be used by summation to equate the whole area underneath it. But there is also euphoria with reading one of John Donne's poems, when you discover the ingenuousness of his conceits, his sheer dramatic force and his grand imagery, when you can almost see love embodied. Drink the glimmer of Plato's Republic, or lose yourself in the abstract thought of relativity. When you see a thief grabbing money from a helpless child, think of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Or even realize the unique nature of Petersen's graph. Don't be afraid of learning. Don't shrink from knowledge. Never stop learning. And College is really the BEST time to do it. </p>

<p>Anyway, I'm planning to double major in English and Economics, and maybe in Philosophy/Math (haha big words, no it's just an idea really, just an idea for the third major, if it becomes possible, probably won't because i don't think i have the latitude to do it, but we all have dreams don't we =p)</p>

<p>But having said all that... </p>

<p>College is about preparing you for the workforce, maturing in your intellectual ability and personality, as well as having fun and meeting and making some of the very best friends in life. It is an experience. What experience you really want AND GET will depend on your preference and the choices you make in your journey in college. Argentum, and many others have made terrific points on having basically, a college life with no regrets. </p>

<p>So, just a few little words from me. =)</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I know many "Who's Who" high school students who have specifically chosen to attend community college on the "honors" track to transfer to the UC of their choice.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Wait, isn't "Who's Who" a dumb scam which tries to get you to pay money for some book which has a bunch of "top" students in it? That would explain why they went to community colleges...</p>

<p>-The Dumb Coot66</p>

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<p>Thanks for this great information...
This is awesome...
I am going to bring this to college with me.</p>

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<p>Good advice. I pretty much agree with all of it.</p>

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<p>Try to avoid falling into a Serious, long-term relationship freshman year of college! Enjoy and embrace your college years and beyond--meet new people and try not to feel "married" to someone as a freshman.</p>

<p>^how do u quote</p>

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<ol>
<li>Don't do all your university requirements your freshman year. Huge mistake for me because I don't have a major and I will be taking all science classes next year. You can only take so much of one subject. You need a balance.</li>
<li>Don't blare your music during finals week. It's rude, annoying, and extremely childish. I shouldn't have to leave my room everyday to find a place to study.</li>
</ol>

<p>Can't think of anything else at this time.</p>