<p>How often do you contact your parents? Do they make you? I know a person whose mom requires him to call her up weekly just so she can tell that he's alive and well.
And also, if your parents were anal about grades in high school, did they let up in college? Or do you just ignore them?</p>
<p>tnguyen08: For EC's, there should be some sort of event as you move in where clubs on campus set up tables and advertise. If not check out your schools website and look for clubs you like. Last year I got involved with about 5 clubs, but only stayed and participated fully with 3. The two I dropped I just didn't enjoy much. You won't like some of the personalities and the goals of some clubs, so you should just stick with the ones you really like. I actually hold an officer position in two of the three clubs now. On top of that, this year, I'm joining another organization and I have a job. So, it'll be an intense semester.</p>
<p>As far as estimating how many EC's to do, it really depends on the person. A majority of my friends are only in one or two, or even none, and they still are enjoying their time. I just like to be involved and meet people and all that, so I thought I'd join some right away.</p>
<p>woami: My mom's really into emailing, so she emailed me about once or twice every other week with some updates on the family and the house and whatnot. I sometimes replied, sometimes didn't, but it's something that she just likes to do, and I really don't have a problem with it. Since I live in-state, I'd go to dinner with her and my dad maybe once or twice a month. I wasn't required to do this, but it really depends on the parent and what type of person you are. I enjoy spending time with my parents, and they help me out a lot, so I feel like it would be very rude to just ignore them.</p>
<p>One of my best friends talked to her mom every single day because they are very close and it was a big transition. Another friend barely spoke to her parents at all. It really depends. </p>
<p>For grades, if they're anal about them in high school, it's probably going to be about the same in college, but the difference is that you won't have to deal with it until final grades come in. So, if you do poorly on an exam, but raise your grade eventually, then they won't be harking on you for that test unless you tell them.</p>
<p>Checking in once a week is a reasonable request, IMO.</p>
<p>I didn't think it would be an all-out war of the who-can-press-the-refresh-button-the-fastest competition! Almost all the classes I ever want (even the backup ones) always fill up 499/500 or 397/400, etc becaue appointment times for me suck. And so, I have to wait til someone drops out last minute and steal the spot before someone else gets it! This is a long and painful process of constant refreshing and copy+pasting your class ID number and etc.</p>
<p>I wish
* someone had told me that that I'm cute and boys WILL try to holla at me. No matter if I think I am ugly or not, someone should have given me some advice on how to deal with boys.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>some had given me this study guide by Cal Newport</p></li>
<li><p>someone had told me the school's study skills class is BS</p></li>
<li><p>someone had told me more about greek life (not just the white people).</p></li>
<li><p>someone had told me that I can't get credit from community colleges once I enter smu</p></li>
<li><p>someone had told me how hard science courses are</p></li>
<li><p>someone had told me how to win scholarships</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I am glad</p>
<ul>
<li><p>someone told me not to trust the advisor</p></li>
<li><p>to pick classes on who is teaching them</p></li>
</ul>
<p>
[quote]
* someone had told me the school's study skills class is BS
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Note to future students: this is true of every school's study skills class.</p>
<p>^Is that the same thing as freshmen seminars?</p>
<p>My school doesn't have freshman seminar. The class is a class where you supposedly learn study skills, note taking, etc, and speed reading. Everything is BS or something you could have heard or read online. You didn't need to spend 1.5 hours every effin' other day. Plus, its crap that you won't even use. Raise your hand if you actually use a mind map on a regular basis? Plus, wow, like I need all these note taking strategies for all the MATH classes I'm going to take, yah? They didn't have anything for people who are getting a technical degree. On top of that, speed reading is almost a hoax. If the study skill part is BS, so is the speed reading. Basically, go online, type "how do you speed read?" and you'll be doing the same thing. Same effectiveness as the class (which is barely there) minus the BS and time and delusion-ness.</p>
<p>Often the Freshman Seminar is a small literature/writing seminar (a version of Freshman Comp)</p>
<p>Oh, okay. I had to take a required writing class. It wasn't a seminar... wait, what is a seminar really anyway? It was just an actual class. Because amazingly, some 18 year olds do not know how to write... So I have to be punished. Great. I wish someone told me how to pass the AP english exam so I wouldn't have to take these classes which required essays below stardards of what I wrote on the AP english exam.</p>
<p>
[quote]
How often do you contact your parents? Do they make you? I know a person whose mom requires him to call her up weekly just so she can tell that he's alive and well.
And also, if your parents were anal about grades in high school, did they let up in college? Or do you just ignore them?
[/quote]
Yes, my parents (rather, my mom) makes me call her every day. Its very effin' dumb. Same reason as your friend. To see how I am doing and make sure I am alive and not doing bad things. So I purposely "forget" to call so it turns into every other day. Sometimes twice a week. Hopefully I can widdle her down to leaving me alone for more than 48 hours. My parents were anal about grades in highschool. The way to make them let up is to make a C. This technique has worked for all my african and asian friends. I don't know about white people, but if you're a foreigner and your parents are anal about grades, 87% of the time, if you make a C, they lighten up.</p>
<p>The freshman seminars I've heard of just consist of learning about school resources (this is the library, do you know how to find a book?), learn the way around campus, learn the school fight song, and get to know others in your group. Some might cover some basic study skills, but they don't really completely focus on them. I'm sure it might differ by schools. The classes you all above mentioned are called "freshman writing seminar" at my school and it is a completely different thing.</p>
<p>Something I wish I would have known is that adjunt professors tend to be awesome (at least in my experience) for general eds. They seem to be more helpful and nice.</p>
<ul>
<li>wish someone told me its okay to drop a course</li>
<li>wish someone told me that freshman 15 is a myth, but your body could react in different ways. It could be acne, your period, your fatigue level, your health. It doesn't always have to be weight.</li>
</ul>
<p>ECs
[quote]
I have another question. I've heard a bunch of advice on this forum about ECs. I know you should drop them if you don't like 'em, etc. What I'm wondering about is the number of ECs you should try out your first semester. What is a good estimate? How involved should you get with a club until you decide to stay or not?</p>
<p>Oh, I wonder how many ECs are you guys in right now? Is there much difference between those that we had in high school and those that we will have in college?
[/quote]
Okay... here is what you should do. You should join every club that seems interesting to you. At first. Now, after going to a meeting or two, signing up, etc (DO NOT TAKE ON ANNNYY RESPONSIBILITIES YET!), think about each club. Did you enjoy the club? Did you feel like it was good? Do you wish you could do something to make it good or do you not care? Did you like the number of members? Did you like the people in the club? Professors involved? Do you see potential or do you see its a waste of time? Were you excited to go to the meeting or did you think "Ugh, 6 pm... gotta go"?</p>
<p>After thinking about it, widdle your EC list down to ONLY THE ONES that you have become passioante for. That would be zero to three clubs, usually. Unless you're a deeply passionate person. Then PM me because I wanna meet you. If you have widdled down to zero start a club or do something else with your time... like research, work, sports, something OFF campus, etc.</p>
<p>I was in too many freshman year and I stayed in them for no reason. Big mistake. I learned its okay to dabble.</p>
<p>transition
[quote]
How did most of you guys find the social transition from highschool to college? As in where you more social in college than hs and did you find it easier to make friends, go out etc? Or was it the opposite, were you less outgoing in college and did you dislike the social scene?? And, is the freshman 15 really something I should worry about?
[/quote]
Social transition was something. Like I said earlier, wish someone had told me I would be found attractive by some persistent boys. Also, lots of temptations, especially if you're sheltered like me. You'll want to go to that place and that place. Suddenly, you can go inside the living place of someone you just met. Suddenly, you can on a whim, go with a friend some place. Its great, but then you will have to learn self control. You eventually realize that all those things will be there forever so you don't need to indulge in them all the time. Also, you will probably be more social in college. I was. MOre outgoing, etc. Like I said, you don't have to worry about weight gain unless your mommy has been making your dinner for all of your life, but do watch out for these new stress levels to hit you else where.</p>
<p>About calling your parents occaisionally...now that you are an adult and going to college, you can afford to have a less self-centered view of the universe. In other words, call home because you are a nice and self -sufficient adult who realizes that the call home isn't for you or your benefit...it's because your family misses you and you are doing something nice for them just because you can. </p>
<p>My sons would call me most often when they were walking across campus between classes or on an errand--we would keep it short and sweet unless they wanted to talk longer. It's a good way to call your folks and make them happy that things are good with you (which is their primary worry) while keeping you in control of the situation. ("gotta get off-the professor is down the hall and I have a question for him...."). Each would call about once a week, sometimes more---and they would call each other too, and bring me up to date on the sib.</p>
<p>quitejaded: "The way to make them let up is to make a C. This technique has worked for all my african and asian friends. I don't know about white people, but if you're a foreigner and your parents are anal about grades, 87% of the time, if you make a C, they lighten up." - LOL! I got an A- in one of my college courses that I took during my senior year, so there was no way I could have a 4.0. After I told my father (and he freaked out about it), I went on my school's website and found out those grades didn't count. I guess it just sorta slipped my mind to tell him about it. Now he won't be oh so depressed when he sees my grades ;). Oh, and thanks for your advice about the EC's.</p>
<p>woami: "How often do you contact your parents? Do they make you? I know a person whose mom requires him to call her up weekly just so she can tell that he's alive and well. And also, if your parents were anal about grades in high school, did they let up in college? Or do you just ignore them?"</p>
<p>I'll probably call my parents and write to them every other week or so since they don't know how to use the computer. </p>
<p>This brings up another stupid question of mine: My school has a land line I can use, but it's costly (I think) to call home long distance. I'm planning on bringing my cell, but will calling from my cell be more costly? I have verizon if that matters.</p>
<p>My mother was a bit ridiculous about calling when I was a freshman. One time, she called 12 times in one day (and left increasingly frantic voice mails about calling her back) because I forgot and left my phone on silent after a class. After that, I basically told her off and let her know that she was being insane. Since then (over two years, I'll be a senior this year), I speak to her either once a day, at night, or every other night if life is particularly boring.</p>
<p>My parents are already frantically worried about my safety after all of the college shootings. I told them that because it's unusual and rare is why it's on t.v. but they don't understand...*sigh. My dad's planning on showing me some 'defense' moves before I go. At least we'll have time spent together...:)</p>
<p>tnguyen08-
Are your parents in this country? If so: if your parents have verizon phones, too, the call from your cell to their cell will be free.</p>
<p>tnguyen08--If you don't have the same cell phone carrier you can buy a calling card. It ends up being halfway cheap for long distance calls. Some cell phone plans do offer nation wide calling, but the only problem is that I think your home phone is still charged for long distance. They could also probably add long distance to the home phone if you all don't want to have to worry about calling cards.</p>
<p>"Ok I have 2 questions. How did most of you guys find the social transition from highschool to college? As in where you more social in college than hs and did you find it easier to make friends, go out etc? Or was it the opposite, were you less outgoing in college and did you dislike the social scene?? And, is the freshman 15 really something I should worry about?"</p>
<p>Okay, to answer the questions:</p>
<p>How did most of you guys find the social transition from highschool to college? As in where you more social in college than hs and did you find it easier to make friends, go out etc? Or was it the opposite, were you less outgoing in college and did you dislike the social scene??
--I think that that is your choice. I know many people who totally changed who they were in college, because they wanted to be a different person. Some wanted to be more outgoing, others, more studious; but overall, people typically stay the same. I think I was slightly more social solely because I had gone to such a small high school (private, all girls academy, about 450-500 girls), that I wanted to make lots of friends, especially guy friends! But for my friends who came from public schools, they stayed pretty much the same. </p>
<p>And, is the freshman 15 really something I should worry about?
-Don't go crazy worrying about it, but you probably will gain weight. It could be any amount though...I know people who gain 5-10 pounds..and people who gain 20-30 pounds. You eat differently at college because: a) your parents can't tell you what to eat; b) your sleeping/working/eating habits will change totally; c) stress tends to make you eat more, especially if there is more junk food available. My tips for you to make it not appear are: exercise by taking regular walks or going to the gym, try to eat fruit/veggies at least with lunch and dinner, avoid keeping junk food in your room (instead, keep something like baby carrots or apples in your fridge), drink water/milk/100% juice rather than pop/soda, and try to keep the junk you eat to a minimum. </p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Yes. The day you learn about a test or project, set aside time the next day to write out a schedule. For example, say you have a test 2 weeks from that day (ex. Monday), so that Wednesday and Friday, you study for 10-20 minutes. Then, next Monday, Wednesday, and Friday you study for 20 minutes, and then Saturday, you study for half and hour, and Sunday (the day before the test), you study for one hour. This is just an example of what you can do. Depending on the length and difficulty of the project or test, modify the schedule.</p>