<p>Hello all, as seasoned college professionals you must have some essential advice for entering freshman in 09.</p>
<p>What would you have done differently academically, socially, etc.. ?</p>
<p>Your advice is highly valued.</p>
<p>Long-distance relationships, however heartfelt, are difficult to maintain. You may believe with all your being that you are going to transfer next year to be near your best beloved, you may talk/text every day and skype every night-but by spring break, you will find your, and/or your best beloved’s, interests are starting to diverge and there is less to talk about. Student advisor at S’s school referred to ‘the turkey drop’ whereby students go home for Thanks-giving and come back unattached.</p>
<p>Advise? Don’t do anything drastic to make a long distance relationship work. It won’t and you will have cost yourself friends, academic opportunities and a chance to invest emotionally in the people at your school at a time when they are especially open to new relationships. </p>
<p>(Of course, this advise is for college freshman. Spouse and I made it work for two years in grad school, but we were older, married, living together during the summers and had a common goal in sight.)</p>
<p>decide to transfer sooner…i thought i could stick it out but that was the wrong train of thought. should’ve just accepted i didn’t like it…</p>
<p>Um, ditto to sweetpotato. Ironic that we go to the same school. For incoming Vandy kids who want diversity and liberal ideals, UM. ***RUDOIN</p>
<p>lolzzz vanderbilt </p>
<p>thanks for the long distance relationship advice (although it doesn’t really apply to me atm, but ill keep it in mind)</p>
<p>moar?</p>
<p>lulz, umm join clubs if you are socially awkward. I pretty much wasted my whole first semester and i regret it now since i ended up with no friends, i’m hoping for a change in the next semester though, maybe getting a job in campus for the summer…</p>
<p>OP how did you waste your first semester? studying too much? i fear this too.</p>
<p>Nah man, my school is a breeze… i’m just lazy i guess. If i would’ve live in a dorm i think things would’ve been soooooo different.</p>
<p>Protip: don’t commute!</p>
<p>Oh and i haven’t been to any college parties, never heard of them…</p>
<p>^ i’ve heard this too. but i suspect that if you live in the dorms it’s much easier to find parties? idk im not the partying ‘type’ so it doesn’t really matter to me i spose lolzzzz</p>
<p>I wouldn’t have drank so much and made stupid mistakes.</p>
<p>don’t drink 4-5 nights a week
keep it to like…2, maybe 3 if you don’t have s**t to do.</p>
<p>hamburgler2:
Yeah it is, live in the dorms if you want an actual college life… although when i meet people, i’ll bring the parties over here :p</p>
<p>any academic advise?</p>
<p>The one thing I wish I did was meet more people (join more clubs, talk to people in class, etc) I ended up just being friends with the people conveniently located near my dorm room, and I think I would have been happier if I met more people with more of my interests.</p>
<p>don’t smoke weed on a regular basis…if yer gonna be a stoner, do it in the summer. </p>
<p>Don’t skip classes even if they’re boring. </p>
<p>Date who you want. Don’t fear judgment.</p>
<p>Seriously, I would have taken better care to eat a balanced diet, and not gain 15 pounds my freshman year. I would have worn SPF on my face everyday. I would have brushed my teeth every night, flossed, and worn my retainer.</p>
<p>What about frats? I’m thinking about joining one next year. advisable ?</p>
<p>F@#k frats, there are other clubs were you wont meet as many “jocks”, but that’s just me…</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard from my fellow freshmen, and some from personal experience:
- Don’t drink overwhelmingly when you first get to school. Bad idea. This is the time you tend to make decisions that you’ll later regret.<br>
- Girls-watch out for your drink cup. Don’t let it get roofied. Be smart-don’t walk home alone in the dark. Also, try not to sleep around. People know everyone’s business, and you don’t want to gain an undeserved reputation right off the bat.<br>
- Be friendly. Keep an open door. Say hi to everyone. Go to club meetings, join activities like intramural sports or organizations (community service, pre-professional, special interest etc)
- Don’t be adverse to trying new things. Go out of your comfort zone (but still keep in mind 1-3)<br>
- Treat your roommate(s) with respect. They will likely reciprocate</p>