Things every freshman should know

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington & Lee University
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<p>I would advise getting a Dell. It's what most people have, so it's easier to get help/borrow cords/download class things, I think.</p>

<p>Some sort of beanbag/futon is def a good idea for anyone to have in their room. It's nice for people to have somewhere to sit, and also good if siblings or friends come to stay with her.</p>

<p>Her advisor will help her with registration. She'll ahve a meeting with him/her, and they'll do registration together, so don't worry about that. I don't know if freshman have had to preregister yet, but it means almost nothing, so it's not a big deal if she ends up in different classes than she preregistered for. PreReg is just a way to gauge interest and set class sizes. One good thing to do, though, is to look at class times (you can find them on the Registrar's website) and make sure things she wants to take aren't conflicting or need prerequisites. Other than that, her advisor will really take care of her.</p>

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<p>It is true that most people have Dells, but really the only reason to get one would be to "borrow cords" which you should ideally never have to do. As far as being easier to get help, that's usually completely software-oriented, so any Windows-based PC would fit the bill. But having a Dell (or other Windows machine) would not make it any easier to "download class things." We just switched our network system from Novell Groupwise to Microsoft Active Directory, so it is equally accessible through Windows or Mac machines. </p>

<p>And on that note, Apple's growing market share is very well reflected on the W&L campus. I was the Apple campus representative my Sophomore year and on-campus sales increased by over 500% just in that time. I'd say at least 1/4 of students have Macs now. I made the switch two years ago because Macs are simply better computers. I operate a PC repair business and let me just say the most complicated problem I've had to solve on a Mac is helping an elderly woman install her printer.</p>

<p>Whichever way you decide to go, I'd be glad to help with connecting it to the network and all that. I'm a Dorm Counselor right on campus so it's not a big hassle at all.</p>

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<p>Oh and regarding tablets--if your D already has a computer she can use for the first couple months of school, I'd wait until the Macbook tablet comes out. Nothing official from Apple yet, but insiders are saying it'll be out by October, and it should be pretty awesome. Definitel worth waiting for. Rumor:</a> MacBook touch Coming in October</p>

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<p>Okay, weird question here - what do guys use to carry their stuff to the shower? Shaving kit, bucket, hands :-)</p>

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<p>Thanks for the replies beauty and Morgan. Good tips. </p>

<p>An yes, the Apple tablet does look very promising. The combined capabilities of a Mac with iphone type features is pretty exciting. I don't think we are going to be able to wait that long though. Plus I'm always leary about first generation technology products. </p>

<p>She's all over the map right now though. Maybe you could just offer some suggestions about the best screen size, weight and power requirements. How many students are really lugging their laptops around all day versus just occaisionally? </p>

<p>I bought D1 a large desktop replacement system sometime ago because it mainly stayed in the dorm, and in addition to productivity applications, she used all of the entertainment features. It was great by all accounts. However, she's been trying to use it for work this summer and has been miserable lugging it around, so I feel terrible about that choice now. </p>

<p>I'm thinking maybe D2 would benefit from a small, lightweight system to carry around with a docking setup in her room with larger monitor, printer etc. Is that overkill?</p>

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<p>My dd rarely carried her laptop anywhere other than the library for studying. If your student plans on using the laptop in class, that might be different, but dd's laptop basically lived on her desk in her room, with occasional outings to the library.</p>

<p>There are computers all over campus, so dd was able to log on and check email, class notes, etc. from pretty much anywhere at anytime even without her laptop.</p>

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<p>I had a friend freshman year who had a desktop. before the year was out, she'd traded it for a laptop. it's true that you don't carry it around often, but it's nice to have the capability. i often write my papers in the science center, or the sorority house, or the very empty level of the library, or something, and it's nice to have that flexibility. i really don't think it's worth it to get a desktop.</p>

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<p>I was at W&L from 2001-2005. I had a desktop and really liked having the extra disk space and experience of a desktop. I also often used computer labs, but I just saved on my network space or used a floppy disk (now, I suppose, you would use memory sticks).</p>

<p>I think it's really about personal preference.</p>

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<p>My D will be a freshman this fall. This is a very helpful thread. Thank you all so much!</p>

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<p>I'm on the faculty at W&L and here's what I'd say:</p>

<p>1) Don't think you have to major in the C-school in order to be successful in life. Find what you love, not what you think you "should" do in order to get a job. There can be a lot of pressure to head to the C-school (to business in particular... and to I-banking to be even more specific). Thing is, you might hate I-banking. If you are going to a liberal arts school, go find what you love- try on all sorts of stuff for size. If you love business and I-banking, great. If not- don't push it, b/c you'll have to wake up every day and DO that job you hate and chose for the wrong reasons. You WILL be successful if you find what you love. Major in what you are interested in, and you can work your way into some business classes even w/o being a major (it's hard, but you can). Also, I'm in the C-school. We'd like to see people not feel like they "have" to major in this stuff. And parents- BACK OFF. I've got students whose parents are MAKING them major in the C-school, when really they want to major in studio art. They can always go back and get an MBA. Let the kid love his/her major! You can major in anthropology and go get a great job at Microsoft. Seriously. Chill out. They are kids, not hand puppets. (Yes, I have children.)</p>

<p>2) Go to class. Behave. Be respectful. Work with integrity. It's a small school w/ a small group of students. And an even smaller group of faculty and you'd be surprised who is good friends w/ whom. Faculty will largely not only learn your name, but will still know it 2 years after you took their class, and 5 years after you graduate. We all came to a school like W&L for a reason, and it's because we love teaching. </p>

<p>3) Parents, make reservations for Parents Weekend like... yesterday. There aren't a plethora of rooms around here.</p>

<p>4) Computers- Macs have completely tipped here at W&L. I'm seeing more and more pop up in class, and yes, kids take notes on them in class. We have a wireless campus. Yes, the faculty knows they are really Facebooking instead of taking notes, some of the time. We aren't stupid. But yeah, Macs are good.</p>

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<p>Thanks Insideview. I did pass along your comments to D. Of course, she's there now, and by all measures, loving it (I know it's early, but getting off to a good start bodes well). </p>

<p>As far as computing, she bought a tablet about a month ago and played around with it quite a bit to get comfortable with all the ins and outs. She likes it very much and thinks it will work well. According to her the advantages are as follows:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The One Note application creates folders, tabs, and pages for every subject or project she wants. Inside each workbook, and on any page, she can integrate a mix of handwritten notes, drawings/diagrams, recordings, web links, scanned materials, etc., and it's all searchable. </p></li>
<li><p>The handwriting recognition works really well, and easily converts to text. </p></li>
<li><p>Text books can be scanned in or integrated as an ebook so she won't need to carry them. She can also add handwritten notes and highlighter within any document without actually marking up her books. </p></li>
<li><p>Variety of inputs: keyboard, touchscreen, pen, mouse etc. </p></li>
<li><p>With a port replicator, it works the same as a desktop with all her accessories (full keyboard, mouse, speakers, printer, monitor, backup drives, etc.)</p></li>
<li><p>It works with her LCD tv. When she sets the tv input to PC, it gives her a dual/extended monitor set up so she can look at multiple pages on two different screens. </p></li>
<li><p>Something about some math software program that performs certain functions from handwritten problems -- I didn't quite understand what she was telling me about that one, but she seems to think it's a big deal. If anyone wants to know more let me know and I'll ask her again about. </p></li>
<li><p>Lightweight, fits in her tote, and doesn't take up much space. Decent battery life.</p></li>
<li><p>Essentially, with the tablet, she says she can digitize virtually everything, which is her intent, I think. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>There were some other things she mentioned, but I think those are the main ones. I only hope it lasts for her. I've been telling her to make sure she keeps it backed up regularly in case it has a meltdown with all the stuff she's running on it. So far so good though.</p>

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<p>I had to laugh when I saw Insideview's recomendation that you make reservations for Parents' Weekend now. When I was a Freshman at W&L they told the parent's to make reservations for Graduation now! At that time there were two hotels in town, the R. E. Lee and another to the south of town. My parents did sign me up for the "linen service" - which at the time was strictly a change of linens once a week, but they made your bed too. Of course, we also had Saturday classes (8:30 am Poli Sci and if you missed more than 3 classes you automatically failed), you had to wear a tie to class and no girls in the dorms or above the first floor of the fraternity houses.</p>

<p>My one piece of advice would be the same that I have heard from many college administrators around the country when my son was looking into colleges - Dare to Fail. Take subjects that are outside your normal comfort zone, but you think might be interesting. When I was at W&L I took a number of Art History classes even though I was an American History major. I will admit that I took the first one because several of my fraternity brothers said the teacher was an easy grader, but after the first one I was hooked and took several more. It has always been nice to look at a painting or sculpture and recognize the artist by his style without needing to look at the caption first.</p>