Tips for going off to college - General

Going very soon. Have any important ones? Studying, housing, anything.

Always pick grades and social life above sleeping.

I'm assuming the other guy was joking but in all seriousness just go for grades and sleep. A social life is something you can have any other day but if you screw college up it won't be fun.

Major in something useful, something that will help you even is the shittiest of economic times.

Holy christ, TOUR HOUSING LOOOOOONG before making your decision, if you value comfortable living PLEASE live off campus. Do not value ANYONE'S opinion who is the same age as you, they are fucking stupid. Studying will not take you all night, ever. That is bullshit and if you're studying that much you are not studying effectively or concentrating. Always, ALWAYS avoid paying money for textbooks, often times they are hilariously useless and they are overprice all the time. You don't need a laptop. Save yourself some money and get a nice desktop that runs everything perfectly instead of a lame laptop that runs everything poorly. Most important of all, don't listen to anyone when they say it's going to be the "best time of your life", remain skeptical.

[QUOTE=Errorproxy;36544019]Going very soon. Have any important ones? Studying, housing, anything.[/QUOTE] Join clubs that interest you. I'm moving to Germany soon for a job because of the connections I made in a club.

[QUOTE=POLOPOZOZO;36545032]You don't need a laptop. Save yourself some money and get a nice desktop that runs everything perfectly instead of a lame laptop that runs everything poorly.[/QUOTE] But what about taking notes. We need to bring laptops to the class to type fast.

If at all possible, avoid accounting classes.

[QUOTE=Errorproxy;36552577]But what about taking notes. We need to bring laptops to the class to type fast.[/QUOTE] No you don't If you aren't paraphrasing when you write notes you're doing it wrong

[QUOTE=Errorproxy;36552577]But what about taking notes. We need to bring laptops to the class to type fast.[/QUOTE] I don't know about everyone else, but I type as fast as I write, plus if you are in STEM courses you are going to be drawing a shit ton of diagrams and it is not as easy to do in Word than it is on a notepad hands down.

it isn't going to be like in the AMERICAN PIE.

You can't waltz in, party every night and get drunk. you'll fail the exams and have wasted time/money. Marks and sleep come first (and they are pretty linked, sleep deprivation won't help concentration), then comes social life. Doesn't mean you shouldn't party or have a social life, just that when you have to chose between studying for an exam and a party, study. [editline]29th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=POLOPOZOZO;36545032]Holy christ, TOUR HOUSING LOOOOOONG before making your decision, if you value comfortable living PLEASE live off campus. Do not value ANYONE'S opinion who is the same age as you, they are fucking stupid. Studying will not take you all night, ever. That is bullshit and if you're studying that much you are not studying effectively or concentrating. Always, ALWAYS avoid paying money for textbooks, often times they are hilariously useless and they are overprice all the time. You don't need a laptop. Save yourself some money and get a nice desktop that runs everything perfectly instead of a lame laptop that runs everything poorly. Most important of all, don't listen to anyone when they say it's going to be the "best time of your life", remain skeptical.[/QUOTE] This too. Especially remember that the guys in your age know as much as you usually, even tough they love to try and sound omniscient. As for the studying, yeah if you have a proper study routine that you follow you shouldn't need to pull all nighters. Depends a lot on what you are studying as well.

Don't go to college.

[QUOTE=BloodFox1222;36544213]I'm assuming the other guy was joking but in all seriousness just go for grades and sleep. A social life is something you can have any other day but if you screw college up it won't be fun.[/QUOTE] No, i'm serious. Social life will earn you contacts, jobs, investors, acquaintances, girls, sex, the lot. Socializing in college is as important as grades, maybe even more, specially if you want to entrepreneur later on or do something social-related. [editline]29th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Errorproxy;36552577]But what about taking notes. We need to bring laptops to the class to type fast.[/QUOTE] 4th year into my economics degree. Never missed having a laptop.

1. Join a study group, I have never been the kind of person to really study with others but if you find a group of people (around 4-5) and set a specific place/time to study it will help you stay on course. It helped me a ton not only in the class but also in meeting cool people who share your major/interests. 2. Take at least one fun/easy class, this will help prevent you from burning out 3. Never buy any supplies from the "campus store" you can get it much cheaper online 4. If you are on a smaller campus get to know your professor, if you do the class will be easier and opportunities will open up. 5. You might feel uncomfortable/homesick the first few weeks, DON'T DROP OUT. I had three guys on my hall drop out the first month because they could not handle the change, but the longer you are there and the more people you meet the more you will be glad you stuck with it. I will post more later as I think of them.

[QUOTE=acds;36554684]You can't waltz in, party every night and get drunk. you'll fail the exams and have wasted time/money.[/QUOTE] Nah, I'm not that kind of guy. I just have terrible time management and prioritizing abilities. I pretty much never studied in high school. I'm hoping to change that..

accept the fact that you'll make mistakes a lot of fresh college students fail one course in their first semester, normally english or writing

[QUOTE=Errorproxy;36558478]Nah, I'm not that kind of guy. I just have terrible time management and prioritizing abilities. I pretty much never studied in high school. I'm hoping to change that..[/QUOTE] That's why study groups are awesome, it is so much easier to study when everyone else is doing it.

From my experience study groups are not that good at studying.. I'll try it again.

So who here has studied abroad? Where did you go, and where were you from? Who has experience on how good/bad it is to use student loans? I, too, am getting ready for college, but I would like some pointers on what kind of college I should attend.

Do you know if you are going to be living on campus? I can tell you at least for me freshman dorm life can be hell.

Don't study past 22:00 and try to get into bed at 23:00 if you have scool the next day. It'll seriously fuck up your social life but you'll see such a huge improvement in your grades if you do it like that. It's because after being awake a certain time you won't absorb information as good as you would before that. If you get up around 09:00 that time will be around 22:00.

[QUOTE=LNKFAN;36565504] Who has experience on how good/bad it is to use student loans? I, too, am getting ready for college, but I would like some pointers on what kind of college I should attend.[/QUOTE] Student loans are not great, but are sometimes necessary. Try to get as many scholarships and grants as you can so you do not have as much debt. A word of warning though so you do not end up in my boat, you may be taxed on some scholarships and grants. So plan on owing some money to the government at the end of tax season after your first year. For me it was about $700 in taxes. Picking your college I cant really give you any advice. I would plan based on your goals, income, and location. That said do not be afraid to apply to schools that look expensive, wait until you meet with the college staff and look at your financial aid options.

Participate as much as you can. Scheduale time, when to sleep, when to go up. Don't break it.

[QUOTE=Errorproxy;36552577]But what about taking notes. We need to bring laptops to the class to type fast.[/QUOTE] Get one of these [img_thumb]http://1.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Asus-eee-pad-slider.jpg[/img_thumb] They operate as a tablet yet still have a keyboard. I know some of my high school friend that were sponsered and they are ok, to play and have fun on but that's not your goal now. Shouldn't be that expensive either ([url]http://www.ebay.com/ctg/ASUS-Eee-Pad-Transformer-Prime-TF201-32GB-WiFi-101in-Gray-/112112154?_refkw=asus+eee+pad+transformer&_pcatid=839&_pcategid=171485&_dmpt=US_Tablets[/url] Ebay Link) around 400$ to 700$ or something. Buying a Mac could be worth it but they are mainly too expensive for you unless your parent's or something pay for you (since you are going to live away from home). Good luck man and have fun.

Yeah, my dad says those Windows Surface tablets for college is a good idea. What's the pros of a Mac? I'm thinking I an Alienware laptop and a 24 so inch monitor so I can still play PC games at high end over there like I still do at home.. then again distractions.. but still, I don't find games as entertaining as I used to. Just want to always play DoTA 2 with my high school friends.

[QUOTE=Errorproxy;36569021]Yeah, my dad says those Windows Surface tablets for college is a good idea. What's the pros of a Mac? I'm thinking I an Alienware laptop and a 24 so inch monitor so I can still play PC games at high end over there like I still do at home.. then again distractions.. but still, I don't find games as entertaining as I used to. Just want to always play DoTA 2 with my high school friends.[/QUOTE] Both alien-ware and Mac's are extremely overpriced. They are sexy as fuck though

I'm going off to college as well. I'm going to offer you the same advice I was given. -Study and study hard, but only when necessary. -Prioritize your academic life before your social life. Be social but don't slack off in your studies either. -Find a club or something that relates to your major and/or interests. -Don't eat a shit-ton of food. My campus has an all-you-can-eat cafeteria so i'm probably not gonna abide by this one. :v:

I've been in college. Here's the experience I can lay on you -You will run into people who think it's cool to skip class every once in a while. These people are idiots. Do not emulate. -Laptops are a bigger distraction in class than needed, even without internet. You don't need to copy every single note you're told in class, so just keep a notebook. -Always keep spare change on you for vending machines. -Avoid people who do not do their work. Avoid anyone who skips class. Basically, avoid anyone who is a bad influence and is there to have fun instead of getting a degree. Eventually extended exposure to them [I]will[/I] rub off on you. -When scheduling for classes, always have at least one class in your semester that is easy for you, whether it be one with less than usual work or a topic you already know well. It'll boost your morale when you get good grades from it and make the semester less stressful. -Schedule harder courses for the summer by themselves if you plan to take courses then. It'll allow you to focus on them better. -Always put the better part of your focus into more difficult and more important courses. Prerequisite classes are more important than electives. And the most important I think for freshman: -[B]You will be very tempted with your new found freedom to not work as hard because professors will not go after you to complete work. Do not let yourself fall to that.[/B] [editline]30th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Errorproxy;36565474]From my experience study groups are not that good at studying.. I'll try it again.[/QUOTE] The concept itself works only if everyone participating actually tries to do it. Easier to study with people you barely know than close friends, because with close friends the topic easily degrades into usual gossip/chatter/goofing off that is usually done with friends. [editline]30th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Black Milano;36556787]No, i'm serious. Social life will earn you contacts, jobs, investors, acquaintances, girls, sex, the lot. Socializing in college is as important as grades, maybe even more, specially if you want to entrepreneur later on or do something social-related. [/QUOTE] I think there's a difference between general networking and making friends all over. Networking is good, but friends should be abandoned in a heartbeat if school demands your attention. [editline]30th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=cqbcat;36544735]Major in something useful, something that will help you even is the shittiest of economic times.[/QUOTE] Major in something that you actually like. When I started college, I went for accounting because all I thought about was the big paying job. I hated it. The business courses made me either bored or gave me a headache. After my first year, I changed my major to what I loved most - history. It made college extremely more enjoyable and easier to deal with. With any degree, there are jobs out there for it. Some degrees have more options than others and more jobs in others, but if you are extremely good at networking and at your chosen field, finding a job with even the most "unimportant" degrees out there will land you something both well paying and enjoyable.

Haven't been to college or university (I'm intending to go to university next year though) but I guess there are some things that I could share. DON'T get a laptop/tablet to take notes with. I was in the first year that got the netbooks in the Australian Digital Education Revolution, and they are the biggest forms of distraction you can get. If you have internet access you are more than likely going to get distracted with that, if not then you'll probably have games on the device anyways. I've pretty much dug my own grave in Mathematics because of my netbook, smashed the battery of it a few weeks ago and now there's no reason to not do the work in class. Besides, if you need a computer to write notes down fast you're doing something wrong anyways, because you should be simplifying (or paraphrasing, same shit) everything anyways. It won't hurt to write rather than type, if anything it will probably be better for you anyways. With writing again I've started to use cursive as well, which can be faster than print writing and looks really nice and readable if done properly. I'd recommend practicing at cursive if you don't because it can be better than print. Don't join study groups, or have study sessions with multiple people. Don't study by yourself either. I've always found it good to study with just one other person. With this you won't get distracted (if by yourself you may decide to do something else, if in a group you may not get involved in the actual group and end up procrastinating). Good for discussing the topic at hand and working out things together. Opens up your mind a bit as well. Oh yeah with note taking, get a mechanical pencil (is a pencil with an extendable/retractable tip, you should know what I'm talking about). If you make a mistake you can erase it, better than a pen for doing diagrams, and of course with pressure and writing you can place emphasis on certain words which you can't really do with a pen. Feels better to use than a normal pencil, and you don't need to sharpen it. Some even come with replacement pigment as well in a small case thing which is really good if something goes wrong. [editline]1 July 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Errorproxy;36569021]What's the pros of a Mac?[/quote] The people I know who do have Macs find them very satisfying, but I would probably attribute that to placebo. Regardless, if you are going to be satisfied with a Mac then it doesn't matter why so. If you're doing a Multimedia related course then you probably won't actually require a Mac (as many professional programs such as the Adobe Creative Suite are cross-platform), but just get what you think will make you happy. If you can afford a Mac then I don't see why not because you'll probably enjoy using it.