[DomLuka] University

[meg]

Hey everyone,

 

I hope everyones enjoying the summer, its like 40 degrees all week up in toronto (i hate heat...unless its sex related), and its the middle of the night, and all i can think about is university. Just graduated highschool this year and i was really excited about uni, most of my best friends that i want to still know will be going to the same uni, and i hope it'll be fun, but my brother (who goes there) is like...its not as fun as you think it will be. and now i'm starting to stress out cause i feel like i'll forget to do something important, or the courses will be hard or i'll have a horrible roommate for the whole year (the ppl at my university that look after resident issues apparently aren't so understanding and just want you to deal with it, even if theres a physical fight.... ) and so i was wondering for everyone that's been or still is in uni, if you've got any advice (u know, the kind of stuff u figure out after being there for 4 years and just figure it out) cause i'm feeling like a ball of stress, excitement and like 5 other emotions.

 

Meg

[Sugarmag]

Take deep breaths and keep thinking positive.

 

I won't lie to you it's not like high school. You have to be responsible for yourself and keep yourself on track. I don't know what you plan to study and I don't know how the higher education systemis set up in Canada, but here in the states it usually is two years of general education type classes. Of course some are harder than others, but you should learn more than you did in high school.

 

It is fun, however. You already have friends going with you so you will have a great start and I'm sure a great support system. You will meet new people and learn new things. Study hard, but make sure you have time for fun once and a while. Enjoy this time in your life because the real world is whole new ball game.

 

Glad to have you back. I was starting to wonder. BTW I am re-reading Flames to Ice right now.

 

Mag

[JamesSavik]

Meg-

 

College/University is gobs of fun. Take it easy sweetie! You're going to have a ball.

 

The trick is that you've got to balance having fun with taking care of business and that is up to you. Where lots of freshmen have troublel is that they go a little crazy with their new found freedom.

 

Have fun, study hard and everything will work out fine.

 

All the best of luck!

 

 

-JS

[BoyNeedsTherapy]

I more or less agree with what everyone's said. Imo, university is so much fun, I really don't think I've ever had a more fun year than this one. Of course the work won't be easy, but it's managable, just don't let it all pile up and you'll be fine. You do have a lot more responsibility for yourself, but with that responsibility also comes more freedom. If your room mate sucks, then that'll be unfortunate, but you'll probably make loads of friends, so you can hang out at their places if your roommate's obnoxious. It's totally normal to be apprehensive, I know I was before I started uni. Just remember that all the other first years are in the same position, so if you mess something up, it's not such a big deal. Relax and try to enjoy it as much as possible

[Masked Monkey]

I still have the occasional nightmare that I have to go back to my undergrad college because I forgot to take one class. It was a private science/engineering (became liberal arts a few years ago) and just about the hardest thing I have ever done in life. The thought of having to take another class there is incresing my pulse rate as I type.

 

That said, I would not change the experience for anything. As I always say: "I cannot express how glad I am that I did it, but I would never do it again." Compared to undergrad, graduate school was like falling off a log.

 

Remeber though, I'm a weird case ... I'm a full combination of braniac geek and loner.

 

The bottom line is that your parents aren't there to either control or help you. Nobody cares if you fail unless you care and seek help. Procrastination is the biggest killer at university, it is so much easier to have a few beers on Tuesday night rather than write that paper or study for that test. Just read "Hearts in Atlantis" by King (not the movie, damnit, read the f-ing book).

 

Being nervous is normal, being scared is normal. You'll do fine.

 

:king: Snow Dog

[meg]

Hey! Thanks for the help in destressing. I'm still a bit stressed but that's normal I guess. I'm trying to relax but I'm still trying to figure somethign out about my courses. i know what schedule i want what courses...but I may not get them, so but there's not much I can do so why worry until i need to? too bad i worry anyways lol. I'll keep in mind everything said, especially balance, balance is good, and i'll keep you guys updated on how uni is going once it starts. and btw, I was looking at the residence computer policy and i think it said no porn sites!!!!!! okay makes sense that they would say that but seriusly? who can survive without porn?! or stories!??!!?!? i'll have to try and figure that one out. damn...

 

Meg

 

and to you all

[Masked Monkey]

Hey! Thanks for the help in destressing. I'm still a bit stressed but that's normal I guess. I'm trying to relax but I'm still trying to figure somethign out about my courses. i know what schedule i want what courses...but I may not get them, so      but there's not much I can do so why worry until i need to? too bad i worry anyways lol.  I'll keep in mind everything said, especially balance, balance is good, and i'll keep you guys updated on how uni is going once it starts. and btw, I was looking at the residence computer policy and i think it said no porn sites!!!!!!  okay makes sense that they would say that but seriusly? who can survive without porn?! or stories!??!!?!?    i'll have to try and figure that one out. damn...

 

Meg

 

and  to you all

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I suggest you find out in detail what their blocking/monitoring/logging policies are. It would always be best to know if that post you put on a message board or that IM conversation you had is going to remain in some file at the university for a long time, only to be brought out again after someone decides to 'leak'it. You never know what the future may bring and what one stupid comment from 10 years ago may cause.

 

As for courses ... freshman = screwed. For some people this is a good thing

 

:king: Snow Dog

[Mark Arbour]

Meg,

 

You got some great feedback. Let me add to or amplify it, if that's possible.

 

The balance thing is really the key. Most freshmen do have a bit of a rough time with college, primarily because there are no constraints and you really are responsible for yourself. This is a good thing. I remember that I had to make a conscious decision to get "Bs" and party like a fiend or be a studyholic geek like Snow Dog and get "As". I still remember the fun I had, but I forgot all the crap I was supposed to learn.

 

Herein lies the truth about college. It's not so much about remembering things, it's about self-discovery, both on a personal and professional level. This is your time to develop into who YOU are, not who your parents have molded you to be. Don't even worry about a major right away. Explore topics, find ones that interest you, and follow that path. So often I see students specialize in fields they don't really like just because they'll make more money. Will that really make you happy?

 

Most Freshmen are completely different people by the time they become Sophomores. That's one of the reasons why high school derived romances almost universally fail when exposed to the world of college. You'll find that in a year you'll be a whole new person, and you'll probably be pretty happy with yourself. If you're in a relationship, brace yourself. It's going to be rocky.

 

Finally, Freshmen tend to end up in those massive, impersonal lecture hall classes. That doesn't mean you shouldn't make every effort to get to know your TA or professor. I'm not saying you should f**k someone for a grade, I'm talking about developing a simple rapport. Why? In the days of Louis XIV's court at Versailles, if someone wanted something from the king, he had to be around the king. The most damning response from the king was "He is a man I never see." Moral of the story: You have to make yourself known. That means that you may need a favor, some help, whatever, and if those people don't know you, they won't help you.

 

Many profs are in academia for the research and aren't overly concerned with students, or so you would think. If you run into one of those, show passion for their subject. After all, they've devoted their life to it, so it's obviously important for them. The others are there because they like students. These profs are easy. They want to help you.

 

Finally, it's really easy to blow off classes. You can do it at will. But, contrary to what your peers may tell you, profs know who's there and who isn't. We stand up there and ramble on, and the faces become familiar. Those who aren't there don't register. During a lecture, try very hard to make eye contact with the speaker, and smile or nod approval. They'll remember you, and they'll remember your non-verbal support.

[lurker]

I agree with much of the advice given. Here's another tidbit, especially for your first semester:

 

Do NOT schedule any classes before 10:00 AM at a minimum.

 

But I get up early already for school...

But I like getting up...

But I really want to take this class...

But, but, but...

 

NO!

 

But...

 

NO!

 

Don't do it. You will regret it.

 

Sleep patterns change, and depending on rooming situations, you may not have much choice about going to bed early anyway. Peak socializing hours tend to be late at night.

 

Once you have a semester - or maybe even a year - under your belt, you'll have a better idea about your scheduling, your rooming, and your social life. Then you can decide whether you can honestly pull off the early morning class routine and what classes are so important to you that you must endure it.

[Mark Arbour]

I agree with much of the advice given. Here's another tidbit, especially for your first semester:

 

Do NOT schedule any classes before 10:00 AM at a minimum.

 

But I get up early already for school...

But I like getting up...

But I really want to take this class...

But, but, but...

 

NO!

 

But...

 

NO!

 

Don't do it. You will regret it.

 

Sleep patterns change, and depending on rooming situations, you may not have much choice about going to bed early anyway. Peak socializing hours tend to be late at night.

 

Once you have a semester - or maybe even a year - under your belt, you'll have a better idea about your scheduling, your rooming, and your social life. Then you can decide whether you can honestly pull off the early morning class routine and what classes are so important to you that you must endure it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Great advice! I'm currently teaching two sections of the same class. The 11:30 section filled up FAST, but the 9am section still has openings.

[Masked Monkey]

I remember that I had to make a conscious decision to get "Bs" and party like a fiend or be a studyholic geek like Snow Dog and get "As".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I will agree with everything Mark said (particularly since he is an expert from the profs point of view) I only disagree with one thing that Mark said. I was not (relaively speaking) a studyholic geek and I ended up with a (wait, checks his resume which is right here on the desk) 3.3/4.0, of course, I went to a real college where grade inflation was something they did at CalTech and Stanford. I was drunk almost every Friday afternoon, my dorm had a keg every Friday and I lived in the door all 4 years (I bought them when I was a sophomore, aged 19 , the dorm had an account and we never got carded). Friday and Saturday nights were for "lettin' off steam", Saturday afternoon, and Sunday were for working.

 

The philosophy of my particular dorm was "work hard & play hard." In fact, at Freshman orientation, the Dean told the group of students and parents "I would rather have your child smoke pot than have them get drunk. When someone smokes too much pot they are easier to deal with and create fewer probelms than the drunk person puking in the gutter. However, if your child does either one to excess, they will fail and no longer be our problem." I was sad when he left, but his replacement was treated to an office FILLED with bunched up newspaper the morning of his second day .

 

Mark is also right in the context that my 'learning about myself' was more difficult due to the academic rigor of my college, but with a Freshamn class of 142 and a 6 to 1 prof to student ratio, if you didn't get to know your prof. you were screwed if their was a problem (and there always was) because it showed you just didn't care.

 

:king: Snow Dog

[Sugarmag]

Finally, Freshmen tend to end up in those massive, impersonal lecture hall classes.  That doesn't mean you shouldn't make every effort to get to know your TA or professor.  I'm not saying you should f**k someone for a grade, I'm talking about developing a simple rapport.  Why?  In the days of Louis XIV's court at Versailles, if someone wanted something from the king, he had to be around the king.  The most damning response from the king was "He is a man I never see."  Moral of the story:  You have to make yourself known.  That means that you may need a favor, some help, whatever, and if those people don't know you, they won't help you. 

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Do NOT schedule any classes before 10:00 AM at a minimum.

 

I agree with both these statements. I took an Art History class at 8:00. It was very hard to stay awake when the professor spent most classes showing slides with the lights off. It wasn't a boring class just hard to stay focused. I know there was more than once I actually did fall asleep. However, I took the time to talk to him and express my interest in art. Although I did well on the tests I didn't pass many of the quizzes he gave each week. I was more than shocked when my grades came in to find I was given an A in the class.

 

Mag

[meg]

 

That's some invaluable advice!

 

Snowdog: I will definetly try to do that! Although I'm not ashamed of reading what I do, I don't like the thought of my privacy being invaded or sold...or anything. I'm a bit stupid at reading the "policies" because I get bored or I dont' really know...I'm confused between my ResNet and the University network, on the uni network you for sure can't go to porn sites (understandably) but then I'm not sure about what the ResNet policy is saying, and if they say no too...but honestly, do they really expect ppl to NOT go to those sites? I don't go to porn sites, just like...erotic story sites but I'm going to guess that those are considered porn sites too? lol i don't know. but i'll ask around cause i'm sure other ppl are wondering too, so even if the ppl I'll ask will consider it a messed up question, i'm sure they all wondered about it too. and it sounds like you had some good drunken times and lots of stories you might want to share, if you want to

 

Mark Arbour:

 

I forgot that you were a professor! bWhat do you teach?

Fortunetly or unfortunetly depending on how ppl think, I'm not in a relationship right now... don't want to be right now for various reasons, and i'm still working out some things in my head about it.

I will keep in mind that I do need to balance. I think I'll do a good job of it, but I might also just...not. I've always had a i'll do my work but i want fun time as well when it comes to work. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I need to do okay, although ppl at uni keep saying that if you get 80's or 90's in highschool prepare for getting like..60's. THAT'S SO DEPRESSING. But I am interested in the field that I'm thinking of going into (like i'm taking the required courses that I need to get into that major) so hopefully that will help me in wanting to do the work and reading up on what I have to. I want to do the joint specialist program of International Relations and Peace and Conflict studies, and what I really like about it is that it incorporates many different subjects like history, politics, economics, etc. and some language (which i'm sadly, horrible at, and yet I'm taking intro to spanish next year. sigh). I will most definetly try to become known to my professors. In addition to all the benefits that you stated, I find it neccessary to know my teachers or talk to them about things that i found interesting or about questions I have. I always feel weird if I don't. I feel that it stunts my growth because I wouldn't be "interacting with the material" (lol i have NO idea if that makes sense to anyone but me, but i hope it does) Someone suggested to me that I find out teachers office hours so that I can talk to them, which I will try and do too. And regarding the non-verbal support, i agree! Especially during my english classes (in highschool) I was pretty much one of the v. few ppl that actually always looked at the teacher and i kept finding that when they were talking to the class they would be looking ("talking") to me most of the time. and I find that it tends to make them more animated because maybe they know that they have someone interested? (although I have to admit, I may not be listening all that well, I just look at them by habit, lol...not good). Thank you so much, I hope the school year goes smoothly for you this year, you probalby have a lot of planning and organizing to do right now , unless you like doing that because that is kind of fun when it isn't stressful.

 

 

Lurker: my earliest class is.......10! I would have liked it later in the day since i'm so not a morning person, but it was either 10am for 3 days a week or a lumped 3 hour class at night (5-8pm) and its not suggested that I take evening classes (either you can get attacked, or mugged or something, and in toronto, winters are not cool). and it's my spanish class! the one i know i'll do bad at, so i have to wake up , but it's still better than earlier, so I think that will be okay. I think the only class I'd wake up early for (although I'd probalby still choose sleep over it) is the Philosophy of Human Sexuality course which sounds interesting to me but can't take it for a few different reasons / . Anyways, I hope I'll have good reason to stay awake very late at night. I'm not so sure that there is a lot of socializing at my uni, everything I hear about it is like...ppl study a lot. and in my college (I'm not sure if all uni's work like this but my uni is seperated into 6-7 colleges on one campus and each student belongs to a college) it's known as the more studious ppl's college........... lol fun fun. but at least a few of my friends from highschool will be in different colleges and i'll be able to meet more ppl that way. and if it isn't very social i'll just have to MAKE it more social. I believe I requested on my res application a room/floormate(s) that didn't want to study all the time. we'll see what happens. Besides, who really don't want to have fun?

 

Mag: WHAT? why would you take an 8am course. you would have to wake up at like...6? That couldn't have been fun, but great job on the A! :ranger: (pretend that he's holding flowers, not a bow and arrows)

 

 

 

Meg

[rknapp]

Yes, I am responding to an old thread, get over it.

 

Haha, I don't find my 8:30AM Bio Lab class to be TOO straining, although I am supposed to be there from 8:30AM to 11:00AM, labs usually let out earlier (my 5:30PM-8:30PM Chem Lab let out at 7:00PM last class ), although my labs only meet once a week. Otherwise my earliest class is my freshman seminar at 10:30AM on tuesdays and thursdays. I only started to have sleep complications when the school finally assigned me a roommate. The first two nights weren't so hot, since for some reason I kept waking up, probably due to the a-holes talking loudly in the halls and neighboring rooms of my dorm floor. I'll let you know what the third night is like when it comes around after the weekend, I went home

 

My college is a suitcase college, so I brave the Garden State Parkway every friday and sunday to go home

 

My only regret is having six courses in my first semester, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry 1 Lecture/Lab, Biology 1 Lecture/Lab, and my freshman seminar. My goal now is to have a cap of five courses each semester . Hopefully I can pull that off being undecided (although the school has me down as a Natural Sciences and Mathematics major), I hope in two years to transfer to Rowan University and enroll in their engineering program. When you name a school after a guy who donated millions into an engineering department, it has to be worth something, right?

 

Haha GL Meg, perhaps we can whine to eachother as incoming freshman when things go wrong

[meg]

You are taking sciences?! I feel so bad for you. all my friends over here that are taking sciences well..i've hardly seen any of them cause their course load is so brutal. I was really worried about my roommate, but my college did a realy good job matching ppl cause we get along really well and i hope it lasts. i'm so apprehensive about spanish tho. during our first tutorial we were doing numbers 1-30 and some colours and i was already like, i'm going to fail.

 

one thing thats stupid is that the internet in my res has been out all week, and my room ad been like spider infested which was like WTF. and they came to spray it eventually but did a really bad job so they have to come again. but anyways... you go to NYU? it sounds like so much fun to be in new york, how do you find it?

 

 

Meg

 

 

 

Yes, I am responding to an old thread, get over it.

 

Haha, I don't find my 8:30AM Bio Lab class to be TOO straining, although I am supposed to be there from 8:30AM to 11:00AM, labs usually let out earlier (my 5:30PM-8:30PM Chem Lab let out at 7:00PM last class ), although my labs only meet once a week. Otherwise my earliest class is my freshman seminar at 10:30AM on tuesdays and thursdays. I only started to have sleep complications when the school finally assigned me a roommate. The first two nights weren't so hot, since for some reason I kept waking up, probably due to the a-holes talking loudly in the halls and neighboring rooms of my dorm floor. I'll let you know what the third night is like when it comes around after the weekend, I went home

 

My college is a suitcase college, so I brave the Garden State Parkway every friday and sunday to go home

 

My only regret is having six courses in my first semester, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry 1 Lecture/Lab, Biology 1 Lecture/Lab, and my freshman seminar. My goal now is to have a cap of five courses each semester . Hopefully I can pull that off being undecided (although the school has me down as a Natural Sciences and Mathematics major), I hope in two years to transfer to Rowan University and enroll in their engineering program. When you name a school after a guy who donated millions into an engineering department, it has to be worth something, right?

 

Haha GL Meg, perhaps we can whine to eachother as incoming freshman when things go wrong

[rknapp]

... you go to NYU? it sounds like so much fun to be in new york, how do you find it?

Meg

 

 

haha no, other end of the parkway at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. if i lived in the city i wouldn't last a day my goal in two years is to attend Rowan University, a half hour from here, or Penn State University at their Altoona campus, depending on which major i eventually choose (yea some people take two years to choose a major, im taking six if you count high school )

 

anyways, yea my school finally assigned me a roommate, for the first two weeks i had a double to myself :king: , but he's cool, same interests (fast cars, he drives an SRT-4 where i drive a Grand Prix) his old roommate was "i cut myself for fun" psychotic, so he got himself switched out lol.

[Bardeara]

haha no, other end of the parkway at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. if i lived in the city i wouldn't last a day my goal in two years is to attend Rowan University, a half hour from here, or Penn State University at their Altoona campus, depending on which major i eventually choose (yea some people take two years to choose a major, im taking six if you count high school )

 

anyways, yea my school finally assigned me a roommate, for the first two weeks i had a double to myself :king: , but he's cool, same interests (fast cars, he drives an SRT-4 where i drive a Grand Prix) his old roommate was "i cut myself for fun" psychotic, so he got himself switched out lol.

 

 

I think the intresting part is the fact that you have had a double all to yourself until this new room mate joined. So You are now sharing a double bed huh. not bad. Got to love College.

[rknapp]

I think the intresting part is the fact that you have had a double all to yourself until this new room mate joined. So You are now sharing a double bed huh. not bad. Got to love College.

 

"Double Room" perv. roflmao

 

a double bed would be way too uncomfortable to fit two people, so i would kick him out since i was there first

[Bao]

what are the point of dorms?

[rknapp]

what are the point of dorms?

 

place to sleep besides the backseat of my car....

[Bao]

cant you rent out an apartment?

[JamesSavik]

cant you rent out an apartment?

 

 

Sure- if you can aford it. A lot of university towns have vastly overpriced apartments to cash in on students who don't want to share athletes foot and the flu with everybody on their floor.

 

Some Unis have a policy about freshmen staying in the dorm unless they are local commuters. Depends on where you go and how stuffy they are.

[rknapp]

cant you rent out an apartment?

 

 

Not as a freshman, and before you say anything about living off campus, the nearest aparment complexes are in Atlantic City, which isn't happening on sooo many levels.

[Bao]

why wont they let you get an apartment as a freshmen?

[Mark Arbour]

why wont they let you get an apartment as a freshmen?

 

Some Universities require freshmen to stay on campus.