I'm starting college in a week... any last minute tips?

Question

They can be about anything... I'm so nervous and don't know what to expect. I'm going to be a science major also, how much of a difference from liberal arts will it be?

Answer 1

go to class...try not to stress too much. just relax and think

"these are going to be the best and most interesting four years of my life!!" focus on your goals, make friends, join clubs and activities, keep an open mind, don't fall behind in your work (it will be hard to catch up), don't take on more than you can handle, don't be afraid to talk to and ask your peers and professors for help when it is needed!

just have fun!!!! but don't forget your ultimate goal and why you are there.....to GRADUATE!!!

Answer 2

15 credits in college should require about the same as a full time job: 35-40 hours a week. This includes classes, studying, reading, writing, and researching. Keep this in mind and "go to work" every day.

1. go to class - some faculty get really bent out of shape when you miss class.

2. READ the syllabus! On it you will find all the info you need to know what you have to do to get high grades.

3. Buy the books and other required materials. When I was a prof, my biggest problem was when a student told that they need extra help and can they borrow my textbook? (or my metal meterstick)

4. READ the books! Use the table of contents and index: dont ask the prof "what page is that on?"

5. get in to see the prof during office hours to clarify the course objectives. do NOT wait till the day before the exam (I used to suddenly get ill that day....<grin>)

6. If you are assigned to an academic advisor, get to see them about 2 weeks in, unless you need to do an Add/Drop in week 1, when you will see them but they will be swamped and you wont get much time. See your advisor regularly to discuss progress or other issues.

Science is considered to be a liberal arts discipline, as are the humanities and social sciences. If you take too much science in your first semester, you will have too much. For example, while you might need to take Bio (w/lab) and Chem (w/lab), unless your degree plan requires these to be taken together, it might be better to spread them out. Tack on calculus and Comp 1 PLUS Freshman Seminar and you will need to work overtime!

Steer away from TOO many INTRO classes in one semester, especially the first.... lots of reading, sometimes boring lectures, large classes, and tests PLUS paper (some profs dont do papers).

Nothing to be nervous about..... a lot of what you see and hear will be simply profs and upperclassmen posturing.. (I used to come on like a real hardass on day 1... got the non-serious students to drop. It usually worked)

Good luck, remember to take a breathe every so often, it really helps!

Answer 3

Sit in the front row because this makes you stand out to the professors.  They'll think you're serious about your education, they'll know who you are by first name, and if you do well in the course, they can help you later on when you need letters of recommendation for further schooling or job placements.

Do not try to write down and take notes over every single word your professor says.  This is a BIG mistake, because while you're writing, they'll still be speaking and you'll miss the bigger picture.  Instead, listen for the key points- write those down and then go see your professor once every couple of weeks during his/her office hours to make sure that you understand the material.  This is far, far more effective!

Unless you truly are too ill to attend, go to every class, even the boring ones.  You will not do as well if you do not attend and you will not be well liked by your professors if you only show up periodically- even if you do pull off an A.

Limit your drinking and/or drugging to just the weekends.  It is near impossible to retain any of the information taught in class if you are hungover or still under the influence.

Do not work anymore than 25 hours in a week.  You need to make sure you have adequate amount of time to devote to studying and participation in clubs or sports.

Do join at least one club on campus and be a very active member- this will provide you with leadership skills which look great on resumes later on.

Do not spend all of your free time studying- you'll get burn out and start to dislike college.  Remember, college is all about a balancing act- make sure you schedule time for fun activities too.

Answer 4

Go to class! A lot of people skip out on class and it really hurts them in the long run.

Attend office hours! The professors are there for you to ask questions to! Take advantage of it so you can get one-on-one help with the professor. This is also helpful when/if you're looking for letters of recommendation later on.

Don't stress out! It's your freshman year - you'll be fine. Don't worry about majors, but it is a good idea to start looking around.

Good luck!