Guide to College Life

As a freshman nearing the end of his term, i've realized reality is not expectation. College is significantly harder than high school and the workload has been increased by tenfold. However, college life is also a lot funnier if you enjoy freedom and choices. Everyday has it's choices which can be from deciding to join a social frat or a party frat or the choice between studying for that quiz or a "project X" party.

I feel as though many people on this thread has spent a signficant part of their childhood playing runescape which means they should or nearing adulthood now which is why i would like to share my experiences and compile your experiences and tips for this transition.

I'm am definitely not experience enough to be able to explain it all which is why i would in return of giving my own experience learn from yours, which is why i left it in this section. Advice for Advice.

Socially:
Tip 1) Do Not Restrict Yourself to Your Cultural Circle or Friends from High School
But why Super? It's comfortable here, we have so much in common.
Staying within your own cultural circle does not allow you to experience everything there is to explore. By coming to a college, diversity is everywhere. Almost all colleges they are proud of their diversity and make sure they have it. It's like the concept of "Never knowing until you try." That girl that sits in class who rarely talks because she a international student, perhaps you can gain great insight from her about her own culture and her feelings about taking college in America. Now engage with her, you'll be open to a world you may have been ignorant too. One example i have and absolutely no malicious intent toward is the Jewish Community in my University. Our university has it own separate building for kosher food, for those who don't know, it a special method of food preparation for the Jewish Culture. Because of this a large portion of Jewish people just hang out with other Jewish people. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but i'm saying it limits yourself greatly since you are not participating in the diverse atmosphere set for you.
Depending on which college you go to this may or may not apply, but i went to my state's college which contained a number of people i knew or were friends with in high school. At first it was great hanging out with people i knew because i didn't want to be that kid that ate his meals alone or take it to my dorm to be the loner. I wanted friends. But i realized that by restricting myself to this i was not able to experience what i need. In a school with a population of around 40,000 there are so many other people i could meet and become great friends with, which is what i did.

2) Do Not Assume You and Your Roommate To Be Permanently Attached
I use this phrase to say that just because you are assigned to 1,2, or even 3 other people, it doesn't mean you should be doing everything with them. I personally feel it significantly better to find friends within your own major and activities in order have commonality you can share.

Academically:
1) The Professors Do Care
Many people assume college professor do not care about the student, False. Professors wants to see students pass their classes and maybe even learn something from it. The reason the phrase professor don't care is mainly due to perspective; the size of lecture classes are huge (in my case 100-200) which of course the professor can't learn names of everyone and take attendance. However, if you personally go in during office hours (which i HIGHLY recommend, even as a freshman) you will see that they will personally go over the topics with you and perhaps even learn your name by the end of the term.

2) Review the Chapter the Night Before
Understandably some (most) of the textbook you have to read has a very extensive and long chapters to read. Now multiply that text by 4 or 5 and that's about what you have to read, or so you think. All my professors told us to skim the chapter, which means look at the diagrams, know the concepts that will be taught, and define key terms. Simply by doing this you will be more prepared for the lecture since you will have background knowledge. However, if it's an english book or anything english related, just read it. To sum it up, if it has diagrams and picture review it. If it is all words, just read it.

3) Studying Versus Cramming
Too study one must know, to know one must study. Basically this sums it up. The best way to study, for me at least, is to learn all the basic concepts and have a clear idea, then be able to study efficiently without having to flip around the textbook too much. Cramming, i know we've all done this and for most this is extremely inefficient. Mainly because i LOVE sleep, but it's also due to the fact our brain simply cannot process all that information that we should have learned from the beginning of the term to the end.

Personally:
1) Gym
You're paying for it, why not use it. That's mainly my motivation for going to the gym . However, the main reason you should be going to the gym to to avoid the freshman 15, which is definitely not a myth. My entire fall semester i did not go to the gym once and i gained roughly 10 pounds. Now in the second semester i go to the gym 4 times a week which is definitely helping. Also, through exercise, you can relieve stress form the day and just generally look and feel better.

2) The Best Word I Know is F-U-N and that spells fun
Even though you are still in college, you must have fun. Otherwise you'll become what my parents always called (ShuDai) which is Chinese for bookworm. The Chinese usage of this is more intense than bookworm since it is believe to lead to too much stress and well, with too much stress we all know what happens. Being in college doesn't mean you have to give up netflix or xbox, you just have to know how to prioritize and limit your hours on those. The best rule of thumb is: If you spending more time loafing around than studying, it's time to to forget how to spell fun.

3) Partying Or Studying
Surprise, aren't ya? Basically this comes down to the significance of the party and the significance of the test. As mentioned earlier if it's between a 10 point quiz that you get weekly or bi-weekly compared to a "project X" type party, i would advise you to not miss that party. Who knows when another chance like that will happen. Also, every class i've taken, at least one of our quizzes are dropped therefore, you don't even miss a quiz. However, if it a exam that is 100 points versus the weekly party that happens on a random weekday, i would definitely skip the party and be prepared for the test. You may be at college and even a party school, your grades should still be a priority.

*If this is the wrong section, please tell me so i can make the change.

 

no idea if this is the right section but I like this

 

"F-U-N spells fun". Sadly this is not already a known fact for many an American in college

 

Very interesting I would say to me college is a lot on expanding your social circle and meeting new ppl

 

The Freshman 15 was certainly a myth for me. Half the time as a college student I am starving.

 

I'm at university at the moment and everyone on campus looks hell bored all the time. Nothing like American movies :l.

 

Nice guide! Nice in College/Uni yet but I heard professors didn't care and you changed my mind about them. Hope you're right ^.^

 

I was never hungry due to me having way too much dining points that i just couldn't finish lol.

I have yet to meet a professor who's not more than happy to see a student espically during office hours, time that is a requirement that is made by all professors strictly for students to come in and receive help. If you do happen to have that one professor who generally hates life, there are always TA, teacher assistants who are grad students working under that professor who are more than knowledgeable in the field to help. Good luck in your studies once you get into univ.

 

Ugh I hate Dining Hall food. It is so easy to get sick of it. It got to the point where I just prefer to be hungry than go eat that crap. And delivery is mad hella expensive so that wasn't viable either. Good food, sure, but not worth it at all.

 

why is it called 'The Freshman 15'? Studying uses a lot of energy, so as a result you eat more, you don't need to be a freshman for it to occur.

 

I still consider it the freshman -15...for me..