College Bound

I'm really excited and just had to share the news!
Although I haven't heard back from all the places I applied to, I made my college decision today! It's to the school I've wanted to go to since I took a tour there; I just had this gut feeling about it even as I toured other schools. It's perfect for me and I am just really, really excited to get out of this town and move forward. The school is also highly selective so I feel super smart :D

Talk about your college experiences. Did you go to college/university? What did you study? Any tips for an incoming freshman? Did you party hard?

It's nothing like the movies that's for sure :cry:

Hey Rebel- I went to school, was there forever (12yrs counting grad school) and am still there teaching.

My advice is to take it seriously enough that you wont limit yourself in the future, but to have as much fun as you can get away with doing.

I applied to only one school, the University of Georgia, and I got in, so that was where I went. It was a pretty easy choice, because I wanted to go to journalism school, and UGA has a really good one. And because, at the time, Georgia's HOPE scholarship gave in-state students free tuition, as long as they kept a B average. I definitely didn't have the money or the rich parents to afford going out-of-state without taking out a ton of loans.

It worked out really well, because I had a pretty tight-knit group of friends from high school and a lot of us went to college together and are still great friends to this day, even though I don't live close to them anymore. I didn't do a lot of partying in college, but for a couple years we had a four person apartment that tended to be the focal point for a lot of gatherings. So that was cool.

Advice for freshman year:

If you're living on campus, and have good dining halls, avoid the freshman 15. Meaning, try not to pig out too much, and if you do, use the school gym. It's easy to pack on the pounds when you can eat whatever the hell you want!

Don't kill yourself taking a ton of classes the first semester, unless you're really accustomed to working hard in high school. If you're coming in with a lot of AP credits, take it a little easy, you know--take a couple core classes and a couple fun electives.

Figure out which classes need a lot of your attention and which don't. My first two years, before I got into a lot of important upper-level stuff, I'd usually have one class per semester that I could completely skip and only show up for tests. I went to a big school, so some of those entry-levels had 300 people in them and didn't take attendance. If you're good at studying by yourself, you can lighten your daily schedule by not going to those boring lectures every day. But make sure you can handle it--skipping too much and blowing a test could smurf you over.

Buy shower shoes for the dorm bathrooms.

Play videogames with your dorm room open to make easy friends. I don't know what splitscreen/multiplayer game is big these days. Even though it was years old when I got into college, a lot of people in my dorm played Super Smash Bros. Melee. Made a few friends that way.

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Originally Posted by kotora

It's nothing like the movies that's for sure :cry:

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It wasn't like the movies until about Junior year for me when cliques were formed and I felt more comfortable going to wild parties. Still nothing las crazy as Project X though. I'd say Freshman year was easy to form bonds because the way my school was set up, we had "blocks" freshman year. I was in Block 8 and so were about ten other people which meant all eleven of us had every class together. It definitely was nice because we were able to make definitive friends from that. I still talk to a majoriy of the people in Block 8.

Sophomore year we got to choose our specification so most of my friends I made from that time were editing majors. Then Junior and Senior year I made all kinds of friends outside of my Film department which is when the real fun ensued. Socially I changed and a little mentally, but for the most part my college professors weren't as provocative as some of my high school teachers unfortunately.

Darn, I was totally hoping it would be like Animal House xD just kidding. I'm not a party girl myself and I think alcohol tastes awful in most cases.
Avoiding the freshman 15 will be super difficult as the school I'm going to has amazing, nationally ranked food. Their cookies are fantastic.
And as a psych major/neuroscience minor, my schedule will be difficult, I think, since I have required research labs.

you actually have to study in college. who knew?

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Originally Posted by Shiny

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Originally Posted by kotora

It's nothing like the movies that's for sure :cry:

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It wasn't like the movies until about Junior year for me when cliques were formed and I felt more comfortable going to wild parties. Still nothing las crazy as Project X though. I'd say Freshman year was easy to form bonds because the way my school was set up, we had "blocks" freshman year.

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Yeah, I guess it depends on how you're doing socially. Since I didn't make any friends in my first year the parties also sucked, it took me many years to get somewhere socially. I remember in my first year being at this big frat party where 70% of the invited guests were girls. I was sitting in this darkroom with people doing cocaine on one side of me and people having sex on old mattresses on the other side. Of course, I wasn't participating in any of that and just observing everything awkwardly like a dumbass :|

If at all possible, avoid scheduling 8AM classes. Or 9AM classes for that matter.

My only advice is to enjoy it while you can. I really miss college schedules and workloads. :(

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Originally Posted by Miriel

If at all possible, avoid scheduling 8AM classes. Or 9AM classes for that matter.

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Or 10 AM classes, if you can avoid it. I was such a badass scheduler, there were only a couple of semesters where I ever had to be up before 10 regularly. It was great.

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Originally Posted by Raistlin

My only advice is to enjoy it while you can. I really miss college schedules and workloads. :(

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Originally Posted by Miriel

If at all possible, avoid scheduling 8AM classes. Or 9AM classes for that matter.

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Or 10 AM classes, if you can avoid it. I was such a badass scheduler, there were only a couple of semesters where I ever had to be up before 10 regularly. It was great.

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required classes, only one section, 8AM, 6/8 undergrad semesters. i don't understand why they did this. also, it sucked.

YOUR MOM GOES TO COLLEGE

I went to school for sales and representation and customer service. I enjoyed it. There were no cliques or anything. All of my classes were in the evening and only lasted 2 to 3 hours so it was nice.

If you get into trouble, tell someone.

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Originally Posted by Calliope

If you get into trouble, tell someone.

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if you got a problem,
yo i'll solve it
check out the hook while my DJ revolves it
(ice, ice, baby)

Oh my god, time flies. I can't believe you're college-aged now, RE!

Definitely avoid 8 am classes, as Hannah said. And, although it is important to do well in school, your grades in college absolutely do not mean everything. More important are the experiences you gain, such as an internship or job connections, that put you in a good position out of college. But this is from someone who went into work straight out of college rather than grad school, since I really didn't have a desire for it.

Don't be afraid to reach out to any of your professors if you are having any issues. Also if you plan to work during the semester then find the right balance between schoolwork work and your social life. Also a rule of thumb for credit hours. Each credit you are taking will have on average 3 hours of expected work a week, though this will vary greatly.

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Originally Posted by Denmark

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Originally Posted by Raistlin

My only advice is to enjoy it while you can. I really miss college schedules and workloads. :(

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Originally Posted by Miriel

If at all possible, avoid scheduling 8AM classes. Or 9AM classes for that matter.

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Or 10 AM classes, if you can avoid it. I was such a badass scheduler, there were only a couple of semesters where I ever had to be up before 10 regularly. It was great.

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required classes, only one section, 8AM, 6/8 undergrad semesters. i don't understand why they did this. also, it sucked.

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The worst part is that some like to take attendance and if you no-show enough you fail automatically...Which apparently I might be doing in one of my classes right now...

As for first year, usually you are forced to take a bunch of different courses: take advantage of it. You might be set on a degree in a certain area, but you never know, you might just find something else you like. Changing your department is normal and okay!

As for me, my first BA was a major in World Religions and a minor in East Asian Cultural Studies. Currently doing a second BA, I know crazy eh? I am majoring in Philosophy but hoping to change that into an Honours. Then it will be grad school application time come this Fall if all goes well!

Yeah, all of my classes fail you/automatically drop you if you miss x amount of classes/classes in a row.

I am pretty much a professional student as I am currently in my 9th year of uni. First attended OCAD for a BFA Mjr in Oil Painting. Then Georgian College for a Health Sciences pre course. Then York University for my BScn. (I could have graduated last summer but transfered my credits to an Australian Uni instead with a projected grad date in Sept 2014) and am thinking of working p/t in nursing while applying to post grad work or work on my MD.


My advice is don't skip class, do the work and manage your time so you're not doing all nighters to finish 20page essays... but who am I kidding you might as well get a membership to the nearest cafe.

College was okay although I regret majoring in what I did basically every day. I wouldn't regret it nearly so much if it hadn't gotten me $35k in debt but it did so yeah

College? Ain't nobody got time fo' that!

I didn't go. Have fun.

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Originally Posted by Tifa's Boobs

Yeah, all of my classes fail you/automatically drop you if you miss x amount of classes/classes in a row.

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Kinda late but even if you have a valid excuse, such as an illness? I'd seriously hate to have to repeat a class just because I came down with the flu or something.
But thanks for the advice, everyone, college is overwhelming to think about at times xD

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Originally Posted by Miriel

If at all possible, avoid scheduling 8AM classes. Or 9AM classes for that matter.

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Or any AM classes. Or Friday classes.

Or classes 5 days a week. 3 days a week at most.

smurfing liberal arts majors with your flexible schedules

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.c...mble100607.jpg

edit: also

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Originally Posted by Rebellious Eagle

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Originally Posted by Tifa's Boobs

Yeah, all of my classes fail you/automatically drop you if you miss x amount of classes/classes in a row.

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Kinda late but even if you have a valid excuse, such as an illness? I'd seriously hate to have to repeat a class just because I came down with the flu or something.
But thanks for the advice, everyone, college is overwhelming to think about at times xD

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everyone gets sick. in my experience, professors are human (mostly) so they'll be understanding, especially if you email them before the class. bigger classes will most likely not have attendance policies due to practicalities of taking attendance in a several-hundred person class. just make sure to have a friend in the class that you can get notes from and/or go see the professor (or TA, if the class has one) during their office hours as soon as possible. be proactive, show initiative; it'll serve you well.

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Originally Posted by Denmark

smurfing liberal arts majors with your flexible schedules

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.c...mble100607.jpg

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http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/f/ff/Bait.png

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Originally Posted by Denmark

smurfing liberal arts majors with your flexible schedules

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.c...mble100607.jpg

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eff that

I was an arts major and there was one semester where on Tuesdays I had class from 8am until 10pm

10PM

but to be fair that 6-10pm class was basically just Watching Movies: The Class

My advice?

If you're getting a Liberal Arts major, go to community college the first two years instead of a university. Seriously, going to uni for libarts is a waste. If you know for sure you're going for performance, music, art, theatre, etc--fine. But not knowing what you want to do and going to uni is the worst decision you can make.

I am JUST at the point where it is becoming stressful and omg i have a bunch of deadlines and holy crap exams are coming and maybe suicide is a better route to take but my advice is schedule your essays or coursework and get them done early so you dont stress out and check out the prices of noose-capable ropes in the local DIY store like I am


(you won't follow this advice but in all sincerity do so)

i'd take parker's advice with a grain of salt because

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Originally Posted by Parker

i had a bunch of whiskey this evening

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Oh, I already know what I'm doing - Psychology with a minor in neuroscience. And of course I aim to go to grad school since I kinda need a PhD to get anywhere with it.

Oh, okay! :) I seriously thought I read somewhere in here that you were going to uni for a Liberal Arts degree.

Don't be like me and realize you've spent all this money on classes you could've gotten for much, much cheaper, and you end up back at CC anyways.

Psychology is a liberal arts major because it's all made up.

(SPOILER)/nik0tine

I meant that I'm going to a liberal arts college but I definitely know what I want to major in and what sorts of careers I'd like :P

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Originally Posted by Rebellious Eagle

Talk about your college experiences. Did you go to college/university? What did you study? Any tips for an incoming freshman? Did you party hard?

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I'm in my third year of University and I (stupidly) decided to do a joint degree of Sociology and Criminology (worst decision of my life, neither class respect the fact that some of us have other work to do/lectures to go to, I miss out on loads of guest speakers as I'm in another lecture, exams are always badly timed, assignments at the same time, It's absolute hell).

University breaks down like this, for partying.

First year - Party hard.
Second year - Only party for the first term.
Third year - Wonder what 'party' even is anymore. I haven't been out all year.

And after this Ive signed myself up for a further two years and I'll be doing a masters in social research for Sociology, focusing on social identity and body modifications where I'll be writing a 30,000 report of my own research. I have a death wish.

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Originally Posted by Zeldy

Third year - Wonder what 'party' even is anymore. I haven't been out all year.

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Should've gone on a foreign exchange, easiest 30 credits I've ever got for going out 3 times a week.

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Originally Posted by Zeldy

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Originally Posted by Rebellious Eagle

Talk about your college experiences. Did you go to college/university? What did you study? Any tips for an incoming freshman? Did you party hard?

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I'm in my third year of University and I (stupidly) decided to do a joint degree of Sociology and Criminology (worst decision of my life, neither class respect the fact that some of us have other work to do/lectures to go to, I miss out on loads of guest speakers as I'm in another lecture, exams are always badly timed, assignments at the same time, It's absolute hell).

University breaks down like this, for partying.

First year - Party hard.
Second year - Only party for the first term.
Third year - Wonder what 'party' even is anymore. I haven't been out all year.

And after this Ive signed myself up for a further two years and I'll be doing a masters in social research for Sociology, focusing on social identity and body modifications where I'll be writing a 30,000 report of my own research. I have a death wish.

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Brave person. I wouldn't dream of doing a masters in my subject.

You can still find time to go out drinking and letting off steam even in third year though, be it even 1 day during the week. :D S'what I did near the weekends.

Had I gotten into my University of choice, I would of been doing Sociology & English Literature with a year in Finland. Imagine :cry:

And me and Sociology go back a long time. Third year of Uni is my 7th year of doing the subject, so after my masters it'll be 9. I have an unhealthy love for the subject. And apparently the masters is wrote in a way that I may be able to get it published, when I told the head of department about my idea, his face lit up; how people identify themselves through body modifications in contemporary society, how it's similar to changing your avatar in a game, but that it is your own body, cosmetic surgery, tattoos, piercings, hair colours. I'm super super excited.

And I would get opportunity to go out if I didn't have a job as well.

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Originally Posted by Raistlin

Psychology is a liberal arts major because it's all made up.

(SPOILER)/nik0tine

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As someone with a BA in psychology... basically.

Whats so terrible about psych majors exactly?

Im going to uccs in the fall.
My dads giving me 7000 for college, tuition is 8000, and i can live on home while working on campus. This minimizes any and all cost.
I want to get a BA In psych, a masters in counseling psychology, and then strive to become a family counselor. Its not a well paying job, but if i can manage my money well i can make it work. It also helps that counselors in general have a very high growth expectation.

Id like to hear feedback on this idea of mine. How viable is it?

My one piece of advice is to enjoy it. It will be over before you even know it.

Man, it feels like 5 seconds ago I was a fresher!

But really, the best advice I can give to you is:
1. Get work done on time - early is even better. That is the golden rule for me.
2. Get a job as soon as you can. Having extra money is never a bad thing.

I do Media and Journalism. For my first year I loved it. I loved doing radio the most on the journalism side, and analysing media for the media side. I partied a little - I still lived with my parents so I would commute which meant socialising wasn't my priority really. I didn't mind though. Towards the end of they year though I was smurfing broke as trout. I searched fro a job and got a pretty decent one at a fashion store near the Uni.

My second year was... bad. My depression kicked back in after living away from home in a horrible situation and my boyfriend didn't exactly help either. I also started to really dislike Journalism and started considering a career teaching film and television studies instead as that's where my passion was.

Now I'm in my last year and my God I LOVE Journalism again. Writing for EoFF is probably the reason for that, but for a long time at Uni I felt I was a bit trout at Journalism, but really I was just paving my own way and realising my strengths, weaknesses and style. I also love my housemates again. I'm a couple months from Graduating and I'm starting to feel confident about it. I've had a lot of trout on my this year, and Uni isn't just about Uni, it's about everything else that happens to you in that time and how it makes you grow as a person.

As for my personal growth, I think I've done really well. I've gained so much confidence - that part time job I got in first year? I'm now in a Managerial position and I love it! I feel like I've matured a lot, going through depression will do that to you - I'm slowly starting to learn to not take things to heart too often. I get stressed a lot, but I'm learning not to, and I deal with it a lot better also.

So really Reb, take every oppurtunity that is put in front of you - grasp it with both hands. Because yeah, college/uni is not like the movies, but you get to make it whatever you want - so make it good.

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Originally Posted by TrollHunter

Whats so terrible about psych majors exactly?

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Because it's an over-saturated degree field, and you really can't expect to do anything with it unless you go for you PhD.

Well, I went into Stony Brook University knowing full well that I wanted to go into medicine. I was originally a Health Science major, but my classes have led me to switch to Biochemistry. Now, I'm about to switch to Biology, which in all honesty isn't all that much of a change.

My life here has had its ups and downs; I'm busy climbing out of a down after a less-than-stellar semester last fall. SBU isn't for everybody; the campus is practically dead on the weekends, and the classes, particularly the introductory science courses that nearly everybody has to take, are overcrowded. The lack of transparency and accountability of professors and administration here is also infuriating at times. However, the people I've met here have made dealing with all the bulltrout worth it.

My general advice boils down to the following:
-Don't kill yourself taking too many credits, especially if you have AP credits coming in. Few things can kill your interest in your classes and in your passions than being in way too far over your head.
-Take some classes you enjoy outside of your major. For example, I'm taking a Mythology in Literature class right now that is a ton of fun. It's not too much work, and the professor cares about the class and is hilarious.
-Grades are not everything. Don't freak out just because you fail one exam; many classes will give you a chance to redeem yourself in one way or another. Learning from your mistakes is just as important as learning the material.
-For pre-medical students and other hard science majors, don't take biochemistry with a lot of other classes unless the professor is really, really good. The material is difficult enough on its own; you'll be absolutely miserable if the professor you have for the subject sucks.