Upcoming freshmen...listen up

<p>I don’t know if there is a similar thread in the forum, but whatever; I can’t sleep. This is my contribution to CC. Upperclassmen please contribute also, if you want. No obligations. </p>

<p>I’m going to share something similar to “do’s and don’ts” every first-year student should learn. These are based on my accomplishments and flaws and my observations of others last academic year. If you’ve heard or read about these things already, well please read again. It’s very important. </p>

<li>Academics/Courses</li>
</ol>

<p>If there are indeed courses in which you strenuously feel you can earn an A, then BY ALL MEANS EARN THAT A. Don’t take any of your courses for granted. Study accordingly, submit assignments accordingly, participate accordingly, and most importantly, SHOW UP FOR CLASS (even if you think it’s a blow off session). It’s a mistake I made for courses such as Calculus and Public Speaking. I missed many, many classes. And guess what, most of those classes I missed were pop quiz days for Calc, and impromptu speaking days for PS. I swear I had those classes wrapped around my fingers because I got A’s on major tests and speeches, but my absences screwed me over minor quizes and speeches, which in turn screwed up my chances of As. I earned a B+ in those courses. I know they’re not terrible (I’m not complaining), but the fact that you know you could have gotten an A and didn’t sucks no matter what grade you get. Well that’s a lesson learned. Never again. So, yeah, I emphatically advise you to NEVER TAKE YOUR COURSES FOR GRANTED. If you know you can get the A, then BY ALL MEANS GET IT!</p>

<p>2) Social life</p>

<p>The minute you have settled your things in your dorm, GO OUT AND SOCIALIZE. Don’t confine yourself in your dorm during move in week because if you do, it’ll gradually become habitual and you’ll miss out on various fun and activities your college has to offer. Attend meetings or activities student organizations of your interest have, go to events the Greeks host, attend the social RHA presents for the residents, etc. Go out there and befriend some people. When you go to class and you happen to see someone sitting alone, go to talk to him or her; if you see someone eating alone in the dining center, ask if you may join him or her. Be outgoing. It’s healthy. And of course, allow yourself to be befriended. Don’t masquerade around campus looking hostile or scary. Present happiness and joy in your face, with your posture, and your walk.</p>

<p>3) Professors</p>

<p>Forget about getting to build a relationship with your professors by visiting them during their office hours and initiating conversation; although, there is nothing wrong with it. I feel the best way to build that professor-student connection is by avidly attending class, sitting in the front row(s) of the class, and participate in discussions. I promise you, nothing pleases a professor more than a student who considerably takes part in a discussion that took the professor a great amount of time and effort to plan. A deadbeat class ****es a professor off because the professor does take time to organize the lecture and discussion. He or she wants substantial feedback or responses so that it makes the professor’s work worthwile. Even if it is just one person participating (hopefully you), it makes a professor’s day to see that distinctive, stellar student who gives a damn about the subject discussed in class. No professor forgets a student like that. Trust me.</p>

<p>4.) Registration
Very important. Always create a preliminary schedule that you would like to have for the next semester. That includes having backup courses in case one of those courses is not offered or has full classes. As soon as your registration date and time arrives, register right away! Also, consult with your advisor every semester before registration to make sure you are on track.</p>

<p>5.) Net Checks</p>

<p>If you receive a net check from financial aid, please…SAVE THAT MONEY! Don’t be that fool who goes to the campus store to spend a bundle on overpriced school merchandise. Even the cashier you do the transaction with will think of you as a fool. So please save your money. You will never know when you’ll be in a financial jam during your college career. Saving that money can fundamentally help you out of that jam.</p>

<p>6.) Books
Don’t sell your $60 philosophy book only to get $10 for it. Keep it. You may not need it but what about one of your siblings or future child who may have an interest in philosophy. It’ll be a great gift. Additionally, well this is a no-brainer, but books pertaining to your field of study should be kept. I’m not even going to explain why.</p>

<p>Well now I’m sleepy. This is just some advice I wanted to share with you incoming freshmen. Utilize this info wisely. It’ll only benefit you.</p>

<p>=) Thanks.</p>

<p>For scheduling, would you recommend taking all your courses in one huge chunk (~8-1) or spreading them evenly throughout the day. I'm currently stronnngggly leaning towards the former.</p>

<p>Take them in one chunk. That "dead time" gets really frustrating. If you go out for class and are done when you come back you have time to go to the gym. eat, put in a big chunk of studying for something, watch a movie with a friend...without having to go back out and into academic mode to go to another class. I find classes not in the big block to be harder to motivate myself to go to- so I always schedule in big blocks.</p>

<p>
[quote]
For scheduling, would you recommend taking all your courses in one huge chunk (~8-1) or spreading them evenly throughout the day.

[/quote]
I'd go for plan C, a few chunks. 2 or 3 hours in the morning, a break of a 2+ hours for lunch, then afternoon classes. A single dead hour between classes is just wasted for the most part; by the time you go to the library and get organized, you get 20-30 minutes before its time to walk to your next class. With 2 hours you can take a break, then go over and augment your notes while the lecture is fresh in your mind (look up on the web tips for good notetaking), have time for a snack, etc. </p>

<p>And if you can get one day a week with 3-4 hours free that's great because its a slot you can use to work on papers or bigger projects, or just take a mini-vacation and wander into town or do something with some friends.</p>

<p>But don't sweat it too much; you have 8 semesters in college, after the 1st you'll know what scheduling works for you and you have 7 more to go ...</p>

<p>excuse my ignorance but whats a net check?</p>

<p>^I think he is referring to refund checks that you get if you have leftover money from your scholarships.</p>

<p>For scheduling, if you do it in a big chunk, make sure you're done before/around lunchtime. There's nothing worse than having to sit through a class while longing for some food. If you need to take a class in the afternoon, schedule your classes in 2 chunks, a morning and an afternoon. Like take two classes in the morning, break (1-2 hours for lunch/relaxing) and go back and take 2 classes in the afternoon or something. Space your classes out so you have classes every day too, not just TR or MWF. I did that last semester (not on purpose, just how it worked out) and it didn't do me a bit of good. Just made me really lazy on TR when I didn't have class.</p>

<p>Thanks for the info akafizzle. Sounds like what I've been hearing. As for the block scheduling thing, I think I did alright. It's kinda hard to get all the classes you want with 40k other kids competing but I did manage to get most of my classes done before 1 o'clock. </p>

<p>There is actually a really good thread on this board (or maybe parents cafe idk) that contains a letter from a dad to his daughter. Really good stuff.</p>

<p>For scheduling, as a priority, schedule your courses in a fashion that ensures that you are indeed satisfying your gen. ed. requirements and/or major courses. Never postpone a mandatory course for the next semester. Always get it out of the way because you don't know if it'd be offered for that next semester or two, which would instantly "backtrack" you. You may end up as that one person who has to graduate a semester later just because of this one course you're vying to take. Don't let that happen. But to the question at hand, schedule your courses with which you'd feel most comfortable. You could spread them out within day or take them all in a "chunk" as you put it. I, personally, prefer to take it in a chunk because it easier to schedule my day that may include work, studying, extracurricular activities, rest, etc. I find the day a little convoluted and disorienting with spread out courses. I don't know that's me; but, persons' comforts vary. But as a first-year, I'd recommend taking them in a chunk just to assimilate to college a little easier; it's kind of like your hs scedule. When you get a jist to life in college, then you may wish to spread out your courses. That's just my advice, but don't let my advice limit you.</p>