Tools and guidelines for surviving in an adult world as a college/uni student.
66 replies, posted
It can be pretty intimidating, I know it was for me and still is to a certain extent. All your life you've lived under your parent's roof, and the most you've had to do in the way of personal responsibility was homework and that part-time job you got only because you were friends with one of the managers.
Then all of a sudden, you're 18. You are expected to go to college, make your own food, get a sustainable part time job all on your own, take care of yourself, make your own schedule, etc.
This is a time period that a lot of us make some really stupid mistakes. Either in life/work/social balance, in our schedule, in applying for jobs, by buying too much fast food, or anything else. Eventually you feel the pressure, feel like shit, and your life get's out of whack. Well it doesn't have to be! I'll try and type up a really loose guide here on some tools you can use to help you jump into the adult world feet first with a bit of intellect and balance.
[highlight][U]NOTE: This is no difinitive guide or anything, and I'm still figuring some things out myself, but hopefully these things will help some people struggling with college life or anyone who's about to jump into the threshold themselves. If you've got anything to add feel free to! Why don't they teach any of this in school?[/U][/highlight]
[release]School[/release]
[U][B]1. Ratemyprofessors.com[/B][/U]
[img]http://www.tjginfo.com/images/RateMyProfessor_Logo.gif[/img]
This website is a must for anyone signing up for classes. For those who don't know, most college/uni schools let you pick your own classes, at your own times to fit whatever schedule you want. This was pretty intimidating for me at first (seeing as all this is done for me in high school), but you'll soon learn how much of a blessing it is. The above website is a great tool for making this as painless as can be.
Basically, being that you choose your classes, you also choose your teacher. If you just blindly choose random teachers, sooner or later you'll get a couple of classes with really really SHIT teachers, or teachers that just don't teach in the way you are best at learning.
To solve this, just plug in a teacher's last name for a class you are looking into at the above website, and see what others have rated him/her. I've found that even at my lowly community college most of the teachers are represented. Avoid teachers who have bad ratings, and try to sign up for classes that have the teachers which are rated well. This will VASTLY improve your experience at school to make it less of a drag and more of an actual place to learn. Great!
[U][B]2. Academic Advisors. Do it (atleast at first)![/B][/U]
[img]http://www.daytonastate.edu/advising/images/Advising%20Logo.gif[/img]
Most schools have some sort of academic advising office. This place is a great tool for freshmen to use in order to get any questions out of the way and get set up with your new college. I don't particularly recommend you have them sign up for your classes for you (they tend to give you random teachers, and they also can give you some random classes you won't need in my experience), but they are great for general advice on what classes you should take first and anything else involving college life.
I really recommend you also ask about financial aid options. Depending on your current financial status, you may qualify for financial aid from the government to pay for much of your tuition (in the US). Many schools also have many scholarship programs that you might qualify for as well. Such as my school has a book scholarship that gives qualified students $400 to spend at the school bookstore each quarter.
Speaking of books...
[U][B]3. Use Amazon.com to get your textbooks[/B][/U]
[img]http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/5706422/untitled-main_Full.jpg[/img]
Never, EVER buy your textbooks from your college bookstore unless you have a scholarship that covers the costs. Yes guys, you have to buy your own textbooks for all your classes. And boy are they expensive. some Physics textbooks can easily [url=http://www.amazon.com/University-Physics-Modern-MasteringPhysics-12th/dp/080532187X/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263846462&sr=8-14][I]run upwards of $200[/I][/url] (many different classes you'll have to take might share the same textbook though). At these prices, unless you are riding on your parent's money, you'll need to find other options.
This is where amazon comes in. Amazon.com makes textbook buying really easy, and really really cheap sometimes. Hell my old art history textbook, valued at "$80" at my bookstore I was able to get for about $5 on amazon.
It's not too hard too. You can always directly input the ISBN of the textbook you need into amazon's search and it will bring it right up. I always recommend you buy a used one, as that's the cheapest. BUT AVOID BUYING FROM SELLERS WITH POOR RATINGS!
"But wait Korjax, my physics textbook still is going for $150 used on amazon? Can't I save more?" Yes! Many times textbooks will release new editions every year, in order to keep their profits at their highest. And many times, the differences in these editions are hardly worth noting. For instance, in one textbook I had, the only difference between the current edition the class was using and the old edition I had, were the margins and some of the page numbers. Everything else was more or less the same. And yet it cost me $80 less. Score! Some books you have to be careful for this though, so it's always a good idea to look into your class and ask your teacher if an older edition would be allright to use.
Make sure you take care of your book though. If you want to sell it after classes are over, it helps if it's in good condition!
[U][B]Never buy your books before the first day of classes.[/B][/U]
[img]http://image.orientaltrading.com/otcimg/48_2487.jpg[/img]
You might be bewildered by this statement, but trust me. Don't do it. Many times the books you need will be completely changed from what they are listed on the course website, and many times teachers will flat out say that they won't use the book at all. So if you spend $150 on books only to find out you don't need that book, you just dropped a good chunk of money into nothing.
Most classes will never do anything from the book on the first day, even if it's a studio/lab class that is 3 hours long. And those that do, you can almost always borrow the teacher's book or buddy up without anyone caring too much.
You might be wondering "Uhhh if I'm going to get my books on amazon how the F will it get here on time?". Like I said, most classes won't do much if anything from the textbook in the first class, let alone the first week. And those that will, the teacher's won't get too upset that you don't get your book in until the second week of school ([I]unless your teacher sucks, which means you didn't follow step one![/I]). There's also the option of rush shipping. Pay for it if you need to!
[release]Work[/release]
Lets face it: you need a job. Either to pay for your classes, your rent, or to build up a savings (HAHA), or simply just to have money, a job is important. Here's some (quicker) tips:
[U][B]1. Glassdoor.com[/B][/U]
[img]http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/glassdoor11.jpg[/img]
This website is a job hunter's best friend. Think of it as a review website where employees will rate their employers. You can also gain insight into salaries, interview questions, etc that the job you are applying for has given to others who have worked there.
This is an [U]invaluable[/U] tool in figuring out what place is best for you. Sometimes though you can't be picky. But when choice arises, feel good knowing you avoided working at Kohls (rated 2.2/5 on the website and shows shit hours/pay), versus working at a place like Best Buy (rated 3.3/5). You can also use the "interviews" section of the site to prepare for job interviews by learning from those who already had the interview at the job you are applying for.
[U][B]2. Apply EVERYWHERE[/B][/U]
[img]http://serc.carleton.edu/images/NAGTWorkshops/careerprep/jobsearch/application.jpg[/img]
This is pretty self-explanatory. You need a job, and you need a job now. No one is hiring, what do you do?? Apply everywhere! This will increase your chances of landing a job. Make sure all your information is accurate and truthful on the application, and start giving them to businesses around. Most places will let people turn in applications even if they aren't hiring. This puts you in the que, and once they do begin to hire they'll see your application already on hand.
While you can't be picky, if you get a job offer/interview offer between two places, use your best judgement to choose where to work (see #1).
[U][B]3. Try to avoid working department store retail outside of a seasonal position part-time.[/B][/U]
[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2566372562_9026ddd337.jpg?v=0[/img]
Take this advice from someone's who been there. While the pay isn't bad for a starting job, and it's generally better work than foodservice, and it works well as a second job... avoid it (unless you have no choice). The reason being, [I]you will not make money or get hours off-season.[/I]
Pretty simple. Department stores always want to be making the same amount of high-dollar money 365 days a year. During the season (fall/winter before christmas), business is booming and as such you get lots of hours. They also tend to offer temporary seasonal positions (good for a secondary source of income) during this time too, which I suggest as a good option to bring in extra cash.
However if you get a job here as a part time college student and you do not work seasonal, expect to make almost no money once the christmas season is over. They want to maximize profits and the best way they do that is by cutting hours. You'll go from having 25-30 hour work weeks to 5-10 hour ones in a flash.
[release]Life/balance[/release]
Alright I'm gonna cut this one short cause this is getting pretty fucking long. But here's some basic tips at getting the most out of college life and life/work/school balance:
[U][B]1. Doitfuckingnow.com[/B][/U]
[img]http://www.conferencenotebook.com/media/blogs/confnotebk/.evocache/do-it-fucking-now-get-the-pdf.jpg/fit-400x320.jpg[/img]
This is a pretty neat website I like. Basically, it lets you know to do whatever you need to do, fucking now. Wither that's homework, house cleaning, exercise, etc. Do it, fucking now! You can also choose to subscribe to the guy via e-mail for some productivity tips. I've not noticed any real spam come from him so it's fairly safe. He doesn't send e-mails out too often though, but it's nice to get some inspirational stuff every now and then.
[U][B]2. Exercise[/B][/U]
[img]http://www.roxanneriojas.com/cooking/jogging.jpg[/img]
Seriously, do it. It makes you feel better, it makes you more productive during the day, gives you energy during the day, etc. It doesn't have to be anything crazy, even a jog around the block a couple of times will do the trick if you have no time. But it can seriously improve your mood :)
[U][B]3. Look into getting an apartment with some roomate friends.[/B][/U]
[img]http://www.tacomacc.edu/upload/images/internationalstudents/Apartment%20Complex%20Photo.jpg[/img]
I can't stress this one enough. Dorms suck. You want to know what also sucks? Random drug addict roomates. Avoid both, by getting an apartment off-campus that you split between roomates. Your quality of life will be much better. It doesn't have to be your best buds either. Hell I roomate with my older sister and her fiance, and life's pretty damn good. Between the three of us, I personally pay about $200 a month in rent, with all utilities included except electricity and internet. Score!
It's also important to consider the neighborhood. While you obviously can't be too picky considering prices, you really want to try and get an apartment/townhome in a good neighborhood. An easy way to decide this is to see the quality of cars most people have in the neighborhood. If the complex has a bunch of drug-addict banged up cars infront of the residences, avoid.
[U][B]4. Don't get all your food from fast food.[/B][/U]
[img]http://www.diabetespharmacist.com/Fast-food-obesity-big%281%29.jpg[/img]
First of all, it's bad for you, and secondly, it costs a fuck tonne after a while. Learn to cook and make your own meals. The meals' don't have to be anything crazy or time consuming. My favorite is pre-cooked chicken and rice, with some cheese/spices on top and maybe an egg. It's cheap, it's healthier, and quick to make.
There's whole blogs on how to eat well (and fast) as a college student so I'm not going to get in that here. Just know if you get most of your food you eat from the grocery, you'll be healthier and richer. Saves a ton of money.
I suggest you also look into alternative grocery stores in your area, ESPECAILLY if you happen to have an Aldi's nearby. Aldi's is a food market that sells good quality food DIRT CHEAP. Perfect for college students. $1.60 cereal boxes? $0.69 eggs? $1.50 Milk? Hell yes! I do get some stuff (like poptarts and bread) at major grocery stores though since there's a few things that aldi's sells that simply isn't as good compared to major brands. But the basics and stuff like chips/meat/cereal is just as good as name-brand.
[U][B]5. Mix things up! Have fun![/B][/U]
[img]http://www.integritystudios.net/Integrity_Productions_Site/admin/entertainment_images/IMG_dance%20party.jpg[/img]
By this I don't mean "drink all the time lol", and I don't also mean "sit around on computer all weekend when you have time".
I just mean... go with the flow! Don't be afraid to try new experiences, join a club at school, or go to a dance club/bar/etc. Hang out and enjoy any company you might bring over or your friends might bring over. Don't be afraid to go to a party or two even if you're introverted like me (don't go overboard with partying though, key here is balance).
Don't get too caught up in doing homework 24/7 if you can, and remember that playing video games all day makes you feel like shit. Mix things up in your schedule, so you can do chores one hour, homework another, games another, any hobbies/drawing in different day/hour, hanging out and having fun, etc.
Expand your bounderies! Try to do something new EVERY DAY.
[release]:love: Don't forget to add any other advice, etc you have! :love:[/release]
[I]
If you're and introverted and intuitive person like I am you might appreciate some self-esteem/life advice in this blog I found: [url]http://thinksimplenow.com/happiness/the-secret-to-self-loving/[/url]
If you are anyone, this blog has some really great advice too (especailly those who are pursueing creative degrees): [url]http://thinksimplenow.com/creativity/7-habits-of-highly-innovative-people/[/url][/I]
And that's about it. Damn I can't believe I wasted my precious day off writing this guide in the middle of the day. Better than sitting around doing nothing at all eh? I've had enough time off during the weekend anyways :v:
This is pretty handy!
I'm taking a gap next year, but definitely can't wait for Uni to start.
[QUOTE=KorJax;19708822]
[U][B]3. Use Amazon.com to get your textbooks[/B][/U]
blah
[/QUOTE]
[url=http://www.collegeteensbookbang.com/?wm_login=teranet&cf=y]but then you'd be preventing this[/url] (nsfw)
[QUOTE=iamgnome;19708899]This is pretty handy!
I'm taking a gap next year, but definitely can't wait for Uni to start.
Also, how hard is it finding a job wherever you're at the moment?[/QUOTE]
Pretty fucking hard. The economy mixed with my area makes it hard for anyone who doesn't personally know people who work at said job to get a job.
I live south of Dayton in Ohio, and this place is just full of failing businesses/economic depression. I'm finding it hard to even get jobs at a pizza huts.
I'm kind of over-dramatizing things though. I've applied at just about every non-mcdonalds buisness in a 10 mile radius and I've not gotten anything back. Of course no one is hiring right now at this time of the year, but I hope once buisness picks up in the spring time and positions open up I'll get a call.
I don't have to go to college for another two years. Bookmarked this post anyway.
[QUOTE=KorJax;19708990]Pretty fucking hard. The economy mixed with my area makes it hard for anyone who doesn't personally know people who work at said job to get a job.
I live south of Dayton in Ohio, and this place is just full of failing businesses/economic depression. I'm finding it hard to even get jobs at a pizza huts.
I'm kind of over-dramatizing things though. I've applied at just about every non-mcdonalds buisness in a 10 mile radius and I've not gotten anything back. Of course no one is hiring right now at this time of the year, but I hope once buisness picks up in the spring time and positions open up I'll get a call.[/QUOTE]
I'm south of Cincinnati
sup
I found some books to be alot cheaper on [url]http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/[/url]
UK only I assume.
[QUOTE=BAZ;19709180]I found some books to be alot cheaper on [url]http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/[/url]
UK only I assume.[/QUOTE]
It has an option at the top right corner to pay in USD so I'm thinking that they may also ship to the US.
It also says "Free shipping worldwide" on the top of my tab so yeah, they ship everywhere apparently.
Good advice, I've done most of this and it has worked for me so far.
Good, except you forgot one thing.
Ramen noodles, for the people on the go.
Try it with ketchup, mustard, chilisauce, or your own spices and flavourings.
actually an amazing thread thanks very useful
I can't stress enough on the (do a variety of things).
When you first go to college, you can be really lonely if you're all alone there because friends aren't just made in a day. If you mix up your experiences, you're bound to find someone that you like enough to hang out with.
Worked for me. :)
Just came back from a college visit, this will be useful. (Bookmarked =D)
I'm 16 years old, and I'm currently enrolled in all college classes at a community college.
I go to a high-school that allows me to attend college classes and get college credit, along with real degrees/certificates, FOR FREE.
I consider myself to be very lucky.
Hopefully this'll give me a leg up/save me some money in the long run when i enter the real world.
Good guide, only thing that is missing is put down never have a house party.
Ever, it makes the house look like shit among other things.
[quote]I can't stress this one enough. Dorms suck. You want to know what also sucks? Random drug addict roomates.[/quote]
This. It would be terrible to have to room with some drug addict. Being a year away from taking college, this is seriously worrying me. Luckily tons of my friends have also applied to similar places, so I'll probably be good in terms of roomates.
I'm subscribing to that "do it fucking now website" right fucking now.
Do you think Ratemyprofessors.com has teachers from Norwegian Universities listed?
[url]http://lifehacker.com/5450264/textbook-price-comparison-helps-you-find-the-cheapest-textbooks[/url]
Saw that and even though I'm not going to university for a while, I thought it might be of use to the guide.
I'm falling into the "Eventually you feel the pressure, feel like shit, and your life get's out of whack" category, but i like your attitude. The moment idleness sets in you're fucked. With a bit of luck things will improve, as you say, when i move into a flat with friends rather than damn halls of residence.
[QUOTE=Ccharlton;19710600]Good guide, only thing that is missing is put down never have a house party.
Ever, it makes the house look like shit among other things.[/QUOTE]
The best parties are ones you don't have to clean up after
Nerd parties are cool because things tend to not get totally messy after though
Not that I'm a party expert, I've just been to a few around since I started college :P
Fine thread. Useful information I didn't know about.
[QUOTE=KorJax;19708822]
[img]http://www.diabetespharmacist.com/Fast-food-obesity-big%281%29.jpg[/img]
[/QUOTE]Is that Gabe? :v:
Most useful indeed.
Should i bookmark!? Shit i'll do it later.
I kinda wanna go uni, but I don't know what I'd take, and I know I'd work for a few months before slipping into alcoholism. or something.
I got some tips, I'm 22 and did the whole University Shebang. I'll have a go.
[b] 1. Get your books second hand [/b] Not just ebay, but any form of classified ads, you may find your local student union may do a second hand book exchange. You'll find books at 40, 50.. hell up to 70% off. Even if it's dog eared and smells of beer the words are still the same.
[b]2. If you're living on campus for your first year (or beyond) get snug with security[/b] Security are not your enemy, depending on how you treat them they will be your best friend or the bane of your fucking life. They have seen hundreds of blue nosed students who barely know how to wipe their own ass but think they have the world on a shoestring, and if you can treat them with respect and play fair to differentiate yourself from the retarded masses. You will find you can play your music louder, bend room regulations that little bit further, their eye's a little bit blinder when they walk past and your room reeks of weed.
[b]3. Side note, fuck the residency administrator (The guy who is just there to 'solve problems and be your buddy')[/b] He's usually a pussy you can shit all over. Use him to vent your frustrations by making his life unpleasant. He's like a giant squeeze toy.
[b]4.Learn 4, 5 recipies and learn them well.[/b] Hell you may be eating Chilli every 2 weeks, but you'll save a fuck ton of money. You don't have to be a 5 star chef but try learn a meal for special occasions even if it's something like wrapping a chicken breast in bacon and stuffing it with cream cheese, the variation will do you good. Make sure the bulk are Italian. Seriously, italian food is a students fucking wet dream. It's tasty, full of flavour. Based majorly on pasta which is cheap, light, quick to cook and healthy. It [b]KEEPS[/b], you can leave that shit in your fridge for days and it will only taste better. Fuck you've all microwaved pizza the next day, as long as you do fresh spaghetti, it's the same all round. It's [b]CONVENIENT[/b]. Make the sauces then freeze them in tupperware, you can whip that shit out at 1AM when you're studying like fuck and haven't eaten yet today.
Also make sure one recipie is comfort food, it could be a really simply 15 minute brownie recipe, or some weird cheese, hot dog and chilli sauce combo that your mom always used to make. You'd be amazed how good things like that are when you're feeling homesick.
[b]5. Follow your finances[/b] I'm not saying keep a damn spreadsheet, even if it's a shitty piece of paper that gives you a rough idea of what you have in your account along with an estimate of bills and shit, at least then you can be confident you're covered that month, and if you absolutely HAVE to blow a shitload of money on something, you can bother your parents in advance to cover it.
[b]6. Pick your friends [/b] That might sound devious, but you are going to be spending upwards of 3 years in close proximity to some of these people. This isn't high school and you don't have shit to prove to anyone. If someone is a complete fucking wastoid, a leech or just a total asshole, don't hang out with him/her. Unless you're some preppy fuckwad who got there on a sports scholarship, cliques aren't an issue any more. Maintain mutually beneficial friendships and your life will be a lot easier.
[b]7. Get to know your tutors[/b] Your professors and tutors are usually pretty cool people to get to know anyway, but if you do know them and submit an essay to them. If you weren't to clear on a subject you will often find them giving you the benefit of the doubt because they learn your thought processes.
Ok I'm out of ideas, I'll post if I get any more.
This makes me scared.
HEY I'LL LIVE AT HOME UNTIL I'M 40!
Oh god. :ohdear:
I didn't buy [b]any[/b] books. :smug:
And I'm already half way into my first year.
Half way through my second year right now, the advice given so far is totally sound...very useful.
Be especially aware of your timing, don't bunk off doing some work because the deadline is 3 months down the line, get started on it as soon as you fucking can...there is no time like the present and the [b]last[/b] thing you want is to be there on deadline day shitting a brick because you didn't take the initiative.
I'm still 2 years away from College and sometimes find myself thinking about these kinds of things. Informative.
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