FlightlessDuck
Y kant Donald fly?
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2006
Stay hydrated during band camp.
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.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.
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.
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.)
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..
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.
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- 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.
- 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.
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.
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.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.
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.
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.
Major in something that you can find meaningful employment. That should be your highest priority.