I'm going to college!?

[FlightlessDuck]

Stay hydrated during band camp.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Confirm with your professor that a book will be used before you buy it. Try to buy or rent used books. Amazon does a rental program. Only keep books you think will be good reference material after school.

Marching band is a great place to make lifelong friends. But I bet you knew that already.

Seriously, stay away for addictive substances. They are expensive and will ruin your grades. It can also get you kicked out.

Stay safe.

Have fun.

 

[WorldWalker18]

Everyone has already given you great advice, so all I have to say is congratulations!!

 

[dosekies]

Step out of your comfort zone. This is something I really wish I did more of and I graduated in 2015. Talk to the people you normally wouldn't, go to parties (but still be responsible about it!), say yes to hanging out with friends when they ask (as long as it doesn't impede on classes). I'm the kind of person who never went out because I liked just staying in my room watching tv and hanging out with my close friends, but looking back I really wish I branched out more when I had the opportunity!

 

[carlymcqueen]

wow, so many great responses! Thank you all so much! it means the world to me!

 

[tcufrog]

I used to be a college librarian and it was quite an education for me.

1. If you're going away to school remember that you aren't bound anymore by the expectations and reputation, good and bad, that you had at home. This means it's the best opportunity you'll have in your life to discover who you really are unburdened by your past. Take advantage of that and stretch yourself and get out of your comfort zone. You may discover things about yourself that you never knew were true.

2. This is the golden time to learn how to balance work and play and to develop good habits that will stay with you for life. That means learning how to really study, how to manage your time wisely, eat healthy on a budget, etc.

3. Make the right friends. Running with a crowd that will have your back will make or break you in college.

4. Take advantage of the writing center, the health center, the career center, and the counseling center (should you need it). Your tuition is paying for them and they can really help you in unforeseen ways.

5. Learn about safe sex and consent if you haven't already. You don't want to leave college with the unexpected "gift" of fatherhood or an STD.

6. Get to know your advisor and professors. I learned so much about my academic fields and life in general from chatting with them in their offices during their office hours. My sophomore year I lost my financial aid through no fault of my own (FAFSA lost my forms.). I went to my advisor in a panic and he helped me secure financial aid that year. I still had to get an off-campus job instead of a work-study job but he truly saved me. He also helped me obtain two internships. My graduate advisor also helped me land my first job in my field. My dh and I attended the same school. Even though we didn't get married until several years after graduation, we still invited a few professors to our wedding that we'd kept in touch with. One of them at the time was serving at his graduate thesis advisor even though my dh was getting his master's degree at a different university.

7. Get to know the librarians at your university as well. I've saved the bacon of many a college student who came into the library stressed out about a research paper they had to write about a topic they knew nothing about.

8. Meet and befriend people who are different from you. Join groups and organizations that expose you to new experiences.

9. Get involved in campus events. Attend outdoor concerts and symposiums.

10. Have fun and do crazy things that you never knew were possible.

11. Don't be afraid to say no or stand up for your beliefs. Going along with the crowd just to be accepted can get you into a lot of trouble and lead you to do things you may later regret.

 

[tcufrog]

Accidentally double-posted. oops

 

[dish rag]

Major in something that you can find meaningful employment. That should be your highest priority.

 

[mrcase77]

When you’re choosing classes and times, you’re going to se 7:30 and 8am classes and think “that’s close to when high school started. How bad can it be?” Dont do it. It’s a trap.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Great move signing up for band already. Both of my kids did 4 years each of marching band at our large state university.

They immediately had a group of friends. My son found his wife in band.

Their time management skills were good and they both made better grades in the fall.

Neither had to worry about the freshman 15 with band practice.

Enjoy the things the local area has to offer. My kids were near Washington DC and would go in there frequently.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Stay on top of things. If you have a 10 page paper due in a week, do a little each day. It's much better than having to sit down and do it all at once.

Don't open your online access code cards unless you'll actually be using the program. Usually you can't sell the accompanying text if it's open

 

[mom2rtk]

Don't be afraid to ask for help. The good students don't just "get it" on their own all the time. The smart ones take advantage of study groups, help centers and aren't afraid to reach out to professors and ask for help.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Don't be afraid to ask for help. The good students don't just "get it" on their own all the time. The smart ones take advantage of study groups, help centers and aren't afraid to reach out to professors and ask for help.

Just to add on to this... If you are struggling, see your professor for help or advice (during office hours or whenever, don't bombard them right after class). It's been my experience as a student, and with friend who are instructors, that the students who put in the effort are the ones who they remember come grading periods. For example, if you end up with an 89.5 but that professor knows you've worked your butt off, and maybe just flubbed a quiz or test, they are more likely to bump that to an A.

 

[tink1970]

1) Attend class...so much in life is showing up!

2) If you're struggling, go to office hours and ask questions. If that still doesn't help seek out tutoring from someone.

3) Manage your time wisely-especially if you're going to be spending lots of hours with band.

4) Say "yes" to things that aren't illegal or might cause you pain or diseases.

5) Discover what gives you joy--as pp stated, you're not surrounded by the same people who knew you when-you can now be the you you want to be!

6) Communicate with your family-they like to know you're still breathing

Congrats and enjoy this next phase of your life

 

[disneyeveryyear]

1) Don't be afraid to call your parents if you miss them, are homesick, or just need someone to talk to.

2) Go to the school sponsored events. Usually the first week or so they have a lot of activities and it is a great way to get to know people.

3) Attend the Student Activities Fair that is usually held the first week or two. There are lots of clubs out there based on your major, interests, hobbies, sports, etc.

4) Get outside and get some exercise and fresh air. Don't hide in your room with TV, Netflix, YouTube, video games, etc.

5) As mentioned before, keep abreast of your upcoming assignments, tests, projects, etc. I met a girl who used post it notes to do this. She placed them along the wall of her dorm room in chronological order so she was constantly aware of what was coming up, and when they were due. It was easier for her to understand in this linear fashion and she could also see if she had a lot of things due in a short period of time.

6) Don't be afraid to ask for help. Whether it is with fellow students, the study skills center, the librarian, etc. My daughter always sends me her papers to proofread before they are submitted.

7) Have fun (but not too much fun). Be responsible and don't drink and drive, don't have unprotected sex, and don't do something just because your friends are. Peer pressure never ends well.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Really great advice from previous posters. Ive just completed 4 years of part time college, I worked during the day and went to class 2 nights per week.

My biggest advice and yes it's boring, go to class. I averaged 90% attendance for each of the 4 years. You could really see a difference in my classmates who averaged the same attendance as me and those who had low attendance. So much more than just the lecturer teaching the coursework happens whens you attend classes. First you get to socialise with your classmates. This is probably not that major if you are full time, but for part timers like me, attending classes was the only time when we were physically all in the same place at the same time.

When you spend time with your classmates you start to form bonds and friendships. Again this might not seem that big a deal but it actually is. The more you bond with your classmates, the higher the chance for peer to peer academic learning, which is just as important as being taught by the lecturers.

Before and after classes, we did so much more than just gossip. We used those times for peer to peer learning, to help each other with assignments and presentations, and to work on group assignments.

During class time, the lecturers dont just follow the notes they put on the student intranet (ours was called Moodle) The class discussions can sometimes be far more interesting and be really insightful and helpful. Many of my lecturers had or are currently working in the industry and used alot of their real life industry experiences to illustrate the academic theory they were teaching us. Those students who didnt attend classes missed out on a huge amount of extra information.

Im sure at some stage you will have group assignment work. This is where the bonding with classmates is so important. It was interesting to see the progression of the groups over the last 4 years. In year 1 people didnt know each other and assignment groups were formed from desk mates, ie who you were sitting beside. After year 1 the groups shifted. People formed groups according to their work standards / work ethics / academic ambitions. People got dumped from some groups and had to find new assignment groups. Other groups tightened up and would not work with any one else. In a group you are only as strong as your weakest link. Its important that everyone in the group can work together, at the same standard and that the work is divided equally. Communication is essential and the group needs to work to their strengths, as the same grade is awarded to each member of the group.

If there is a class WhatsAp group or Facebook group, make sure to join it. There were approx 100 people in my class, and our class Facebook group has been a really good resource. When people emailed lecturers with questions about coursework or assignments or exams, they would then share the information in the class Facebook group. If anyone didnt understand a topic, was unsure how an exam question should be approached, or needed any kind of help with study, it was all posted in the class Facebook group.

Finally dont be afraid to be your own person. You will find that unlike school, being a nerd, having academic ambitions, preferring to stay in studying to going out partying etc will actually get you respect among your classmates. You will find people you connect with, whether thats the gang that always sits in the same place in the library, or the gang that turns up early to class, or the party people, or the ones whose assignment presentations are always fun to watch etc etc etc.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I graduated in 2005 so it's been awhile but my advice is sit in the FRONT of the class! I went to a huge university and a lot of my classes the first few years were ENORMOUS. I didnt figure this out until my 3rd year or so and I wish I had done it sooner.

totally agree, dont be afraid to sit at the front. My first year was in an auditorium, class size approx 100 students. Even though the lecturer had a microphone, the sound got worse the further back in the auditorium you sat. Also many in the back section would not even be paying attention, watching sports on their phones and laptops etc. Dont get caught behind the timewasters and be distracted and miss important information

Group study doesn't work for everyone. Sometimes you have to pull away from the crowd and study on your own in order to really learn the material. Good friends should understand. (That was from DD20, who just finished her sophomore year.)

totally agree. I enjoyed group study and benefited alot form peer to peer learning BUT there were classmates who never once set foot in the study hall at the library and did all their study on their own at home. You do what works for you , dont just follow your classmates to the study hall if you find it easy to study by yourself.

.
While there you'll learn not only from books but from and about new people, ideas, surroundings; be a sponge and keep the good and discard the bad.
.

Exactly, college is all about new experiences. Over my last 4 years in college for example I had conversations with people from so many different backgrounds that I would not have met if I had not been in college.

• Get on top of your time management early. Get a day planner or a giant whiteboard calendar, or whatever. It seems silly but you'll settle into a routine and then forget what the date is. I went back to school as a full blown growned up and would walk into class only to find out that my paper is due this week instead of next.

Omg, this exactly. This was me too in first year, I had no time management and was all over the place. I learnt my lesson (pun intended ) Then from 2nd year on I had a diary and wall planner and made sure all important dates were marked. It was so much easier and I became less stressed about due dates.

• Sit up front, ask questions when appropriate, show up early, make a point to talk to the prof. every now and again. Being a human face s/he will remember makes asking for a favor, like an extension, easier.

6. Get to know your advisor and professors. I learned so much about my academic fields and life in general from chatting with them in their offices during their office hours.

Just to add on to this... If you are struggling, see your professor for help or advice (during office hours or whenever, don't bombard them right after class). It's been my experience as a student, and with friend who are instructors, that the students who put in the effort are the ones who they remember come grading periods. For example, if you end up with an 89.5 but that professor knows you've worked your butt off, and maybe just flubbed a quiz or test, they are more likely to bump that to an A.

Totally agree. This is especially important in large classes. One lecturer I had, in the first class of the year in his opening / introduction lecturer actually told us this. He said turn up to class, participate in class, show me you have an interest in my subject. Fast forward 6 months later to assignment presentations. Those he knew from class, he gave positive and helpful feedback to. Those who never attended class got neutral or negative feedback. Lecturers are only human, and many will favour those they know and recognise, which in turn could make a difference when a grade is in dispute.

7. Get to know the librarians at your university as well. I've saved the bacon of many a college student who came into the library stressed out about a research paper they had to write about a topic they knew nothing about.

OMG, yes. After 4 years I will miss my college library, its much more than just shelves of books. On the morning of my last exam, I found the head librarian and thanked her and said goodbye. So many times when I was stressed out and writing papers and my befuddled brain just couldnt figure out where to find a particular journal article in the databases, the librarians saved the day.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. The good students don't just "get it" on their own all the time. The smart ones take advantage of study groups, help centers and aren't afraid to reach out to professors and ask for help.

So very true. For example some of the module on my course were based on software packages I use at work. As a result I had working real life knowledge and experiences which most of my classmates didnt have. I offered to hold study sessions and give help to my classmates. Those who took up my offer of study sessions had a much better understanding of the topics than those who didnt.

5) As mentioned before, keep abreast of your upcoming assignments, tests, projects, etc. I met a girl who used post it notes to do this. She placed them along the wall of her dorm room in chronological order so she was constantly aware of what was coming up, and when they were due. It was easier for her to understand in this linear fashion and she could also see if she had a lot of things due in a short period of time.

Thats kinda like what I did. I had a monthly wall planner stuck up on my bedroom wall. I kept ontop of my class notes in a meticulous fashion. I had a ring binder folder for each module. The front page of each folder was a contents page, which listed the date of the class and the topic of the class. Then weak by week I filed each class notes. Each class notes were dated and filed in chronological order. Any handouts given by the lecturer were also dated. Then at the end of the year , for exam preparation, I could easily find the exam topics. Being organised helped me focus.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I used to be a college librarian and it was quite an education for me.

1. If you're going away to school remember that you aren't bound anymore by the expectations and reputation, good and bad, that you had at home. This means it's the best opportunity you'll have in your life to discover who you really are unburdened by your past. Take advantage of that and stretch yourself and get out of your comfort zone. You may discover things about yourself that you never knew were true.

2. This is the golden time to learn how to balance work and play and to develop good habits that will stay with you for life. That means learning how to really study, how to manage your time wisely, eat healthy on a budget, etc.

3. Make the right friends. Running with a crowd that will have your back will make or break you in college.

4. Take advantage of the writing center, the health center, the career center, and the counseling center (should you need it). Your tuition is paying for them and they can really help you in unforeseen ways.

5. Learn about safe sex and consent if you haven't already. You don't want to leave college with the unexpected "gift" of fatherhood or an STD.

6. Get to know your advisor and professors. I learned so much about my academic fields and life in general from chatting with them in their offices during their office hours. My sophomore year I lost my financial aid through no fault of my own (FAFSA lost my forms.). I went to my advisor in a panic and he helped me secure financial aid that year. I still had to get an off-campus job instead of a work-study job but he truly saved me. He also helped me obtain two internships. My graduate advisor also helped me land my first job in my field. My dh and I attended the same school. Even though we didn't get married until several years after graduation, we still invited a few professors to our wedding that we'd kept in touch with. One of them at the time was serving at his graduate thesis advisor even though my dh was getting his master's degree at a different university.

7. Get to know the librarians at your university as well. I've saved the bacon of many a college student who came into the library stressed out about a research paper they had to write about a topic they knew nothing about.

8. Meet and befriend people who are different from you. Join groups and organizations that expose you to new experiences.

9. Get involved in campus events. Attend outdoor concerts and symposiums.

10. Have fun and do crazy things that you never knew were possible.

11. Don't be afraid to say no or stand up for your beliefs. Going along with the crowd just to be accepted can get you into a lot of trouble and lead you to do things you may later regret.

Wow. Excellent advice that I will be forwarding on to my youngest who is starting university in the Fall. Thank you.

PS . I'm going to omit #10 because I'm a mom. lol

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

Major in something that you can find meaningful employment. That should be your highest priority.

Exactly. Art History and Theology come to mind.

 

[low-key]

hey, good luck