College.

[Spac3d]

I just finished my freshmen year, it was way different than I thought here it goes.

First week of school: everyone is new, meet as many people as possible. Everyone I hung out with and knew I met in the first week (which included orientation) and I met more friends through them, got to go frat parties, off campus parties, etc. all through the people I met the first week.

-Drinking is good, smoking weed is better, smoking and drinking in 1 nite is a great combo. Don't forget to drink some water if you can remember too before you sleep.

-No matter how good of an idea it sounds, dont start drinking at 6am then goto bed at noon. You can loose an entire weekend.

-Make friends with fat chicks, chances are they have a beautiful roomate (happened like 4 times this year alone)

-Always, always, ALWAYS drink with girls.

-Rush this year. Even if you don't want to join a fraternity, you get to have great food, free alcohol, free strippers, and maybe you will meet a good friend. You may think you may not want to join a fraternity now, but rush can change everything. I delayed a rush for a certain frat, and I am glad I did - I ended up transferring to another univerisity in another state

-Join at least 1 club. It will be nice to meet peopel with same interest, and hopefully older people over 21, who live off campus, and have a car.

-Don't goto Anandtech.com as much as you used too, go do things you have never done before.

-I liked having an 8am class because I was able to get up (I dont really sleep much) and have all of my classes done by noon. I could do whatever I wanted during the day when it was the only time it was quiet in my dorm.

-Put posters on your wall, it gives character to a room. Someone could walk by and see a poster of his favorite band in your room, and boom, another friend.

-Be nice to everyone, you never know who might become a drug dealer and give you the hookup

-Get a digital camera and take pics of everything. When it isnt in use, lock it up somewhere in your room and keep your door locked at all times. I really wish I had a digital camera last year, but I got one now and I am ready for another year.

Spac3d

 

[Schadenfreude]

- depending on the school, it's harder to be active because there's too much things you can do, and it's sometimes hard to find stuff you're interested in.

- it's even harder to juggle your schedule . . . all the activites usually start at aound 7-8ish, compared to stuff in high school where everyon's schedule was the same so it sould star at 3 and end at 5.

-and on "other activities", don't get caught by the cops and be sure o walk in groups . . ..

 

[Koing]

BD2003 I wouldn't advise him taking weed.

Take it easy and go out and have fun. Work and study but don't do it too much which I'm sure your not.

Get confident and get laid thats if you want to get laid. Or get in to a relationship if you want. Do not let her bosss you about and wear the trousers. Do not let yourself pay for everything. If she doesn't offer by the 5th date don't call her, she isn't worth it.

 

[Xenon14]

I'm gonna be a freshman too (University of Maryland - College Park). Just found out I'm living in a quad. 3 other guys besides myself. Any advice?

 

Originally posted by: Xenon14
I'm gonna be a freshman too (University of Maryland - College Park). Just found out I'm living in a quad. 3 other guys besides myself. Any advice?

Definitely call your roommates ahead of time if you can. I am going to be a freshman myself, but I'd recommend you do it, definitely. It saves a lot of hassle if you know exactly what the other is bringing.

 

[wfbberzerker]

The best 4 years of your life - that's for sure. Just don't f$!k yourself up with drugs or too much alcohol that you get kicked out within the first year or so.

hoooo hoo hehehe hahaha.... made me think of a story about my brother...

 

[QueHuong]

3 other guys besides myself. Any advice?

Try 5

 

[Foundation]

wow, thanks for all the advice, lots of helpful info
btw kami, i was the shy type in high school so i will force myself to talk to girls.... and ill keep my computer off for first few weeks
BD2003, great advice :thumbsup:, i like your view, dont study to much, drink some and maybe smoke some, just enjoy myself but still do excellent in classes.. Ive always been this way (btw, what happened to that roots CD?)


I have one problem though.... i have the worst schedule possible!
let me briefly type it out

monday:

First class is at 9:35 AM to 10:25 (math)
After that, the next class is at 3:00 PM (chemistry)
then the next class is at 5:10

SO i have this HUGE gap in between math and chem class ... I have to wake up early go to class and wait around till 3:00 PM


Tuesday is a little better
first class is at 11:45 - 4:55 No gap at all


Wednesday = basically same as monday
huge gap in between

Thursday is the best
first class is at 3:00 PM last class is over at 4:55 PM only two periods of class on thursdays


friday sucks.... math is at 9:35 to 10:25
then the next class is chem which starts at 1:00 PM till 1:40
then another huge gap, art class at 5:10


I chose my major as computer engineering, but maybe I should keep it undecided and register for different classes? other suggestions/tips?
I also have to find a job because of the work-study program but Im still clueless how all this college process works

 

[Burnt]

Yeah, I thought huge gaps were good at first...then I realized that it was so much better to have the day over with...and besides, all I ever did between classes was sleep. My schedule for the fall is nice, except I have 4 classes M, W, F, from 10-2.

 

[BD2003]

Having gaps in your schedule isnt that big of a deal if youre on campus. Usually isnt more than a 10 min walk back to your dorm. Having gaps is good. I for one cant bare more than 2 consecutive classes in a row.

Computer Engineering is no joke. You can always change your major so start with this. Its going to be hard, and to be honest, some people have the knack for it, and some dont. If you dont, switch majors, because its likely youll be doing this your entire life.

Work study is simple, just go to the work study/financial aid office and get an assignment. Its optional anyway.

Just found out my college didnt bill me for my housing, so I may have to deal with some college office beauracracy....sigh. I hope this has nothing to do with the little airsoft gun incident.

Dont bring a replica airsoft on campus!

 

[Chaotic42]

I went to Ole Miss when I was 16. I hated it more than anything I've ever been through. Worst time of my life. I quit going to class after the 1st semester due to spiraling depression.

It was the closest I had ever been to suicide. Miserable.

I'm 20 now, and I wish I had been better prepared.

No, I don't mean to bring the thread down

I'm sure my instance was very unusual.

 

[Foundation]

BD2003, should I call around beforehand for a work study job (they sent me a list of work study jobs with phone numbers) or wait till the first day and go to the financial aid office??

I already called around few places but most seem filled, the ones that werent wants me to mail them a resume and class schedule... I dont know if I have the patience to wait around, i wish they just give me a assignment because i really don't care which one i get... as long as it pays for some of the tuition

 

[BD2003]

It wont pay for the tuition, it will pay you like any other job. A lot of them are taken from previous year students. Call in if you can, it cant hurt.

 

[Foundation]

Originally posted by: BD2003
It wont pay for the tuition, it will pay you like any other job. A lot of them are taken from previous year students. Call in if you can, it cant hurt.

no, they approved me for the work-study program

it helps pay $800 for the fall term and $800 for the spring term off my tuition

I can only work up to 20 hours a week/40 hours bi-weekly

I also get some spending money from it but not much.

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: Foundation
I basically wanted to make this thread about college but didnt know specifically. Im gonna be a incoming freshmen so I want to hear your stories, things you learned, relationships, just anything that deals with college.

just something college!

Have fun but do work hard and learn something! Make sure you set a schedule (maybe buy one of those big wall calendars), mark when all of your assignments are due and for larger projects set deadlines to meet (e.g., topic selection for paper, location of resources, etc.) Tou'll still have plenty of time to party if you do this.

You'll probably meet some friends you'll have for life, so be sure to reach out and do some social things. If your roomates suck, try and find better living arrangements if possible. Don't live with anyone who is there *only* to party because even if you try to get stuff done they will distract you.

This is a time when you can "recreate" yourself around new people and ideas. So explore!

 

[Alphathree33]

Hmm, this is quite possibly the most useful thread I've ever read. (Going to be a freshman in about one month's time - Computer Engineering, U of Waterloo (Canada))

Lately I've learned to express my geekiness more. Afterall, who really cares? I don't get along that well with people who don't understand me, anyway.

Seeing as I have a laptop and an 18" LCD, I'm not sure that I'll be wanting to leave my dorm room door open when I'm there so that everyone can see them. It's a single room. No roomates to worry about. None the less, I really don't want anyone knowing about all the expensive tech stuff I'll have with me except friends that I make that I can trust. What do you guys think?

Hmm... posters... I have the CLUELESSNESS posted from thinkgeek, a dark age of camelot poster, baldulr's gate two poster, countless everquest things and one joke from offthemark.com that I printed out. Should do the trick. eh?

 

[Maverick2002]

I'm an incoming freshman too (University of Cincinnati, Graphic Design major). I just went to a 2-day orientation about a week ago. My local college buddies (I used to work at the computer shop there) told me it would be boring but I had more fun in those two days then I had all summer long. Can't wait til fall quarter starts!

It's great because although 115 people from my high school are going here (and I saw 5 of them at orientation though I didn't particularly feel like talking to any of them), no one else knows anything about you. Be yourself and don't be afraid to meet people. I met several new friends (all girls, I'm not a "girley man" but 99% of my friends happen to be females, and I don't try to get on each one either so don't think that). Don't know if/when I'll ever see them again, but it was fun.

Just because a lot of things are legal, doesn't mean you can go ballistic. I bet getting into a relationship is a lot simpler in college but there are also a lot more responsibilities. And yes, the people here are a lot cooler (well, the girls that I met anyway). Then again, I'm the kind of guy who doesn't get drunk or smoke anything. I just feel like there's so much more to life than that and I'd rather spend every moment of it fully conscious.

I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Alphathree33]

Just because a lot of things are legal, doesn't mean you can go ballistic. I bet getting into a relationship is a lot simpler in college but there are also a lot more responsibilities. And yes, the people here are a lot cooler (well, the girls that I met anyway). Then again, I'm the kind of guy who doesn't get drunk or smoke anything. I just feel like there's so much more to life than that and I'd rather spend every moment of it fully conscious.

I'm like that too. I'll usually just have a couple of drinks which is just enough to loosen me up. I'd never try any drugs of any kind.

And if it makes you feel any better, most of my friends are girls, too. I do try to get together with a few of them

 

[Maverick2002]

I'll usually just have a couple of drinks which is just enough to loosen me up. I'd never try any drugs of any kind.

I thought alcohol was a drug? Hmm, guess I was wrong all this time ...

<-- already has a GF, but she's still stuck in high school

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: Maverick2002

I'll usually just have a couple of drinks which is just enough to loosen me up. I'd never try any drugs of any kind.

I thought alcohol was a drug? Hmm, guess I was wrong all this time ...

<-- already has a GF, but she's still stuck in high school

Well, light alcohol consumption is hardly going to have you addicted after a few tries. It also doesn't cause brain damage. You figure it out.

 

[Michael1897]

get ready to have fun
get ready to read more than you have ever read in your life.
don't get caught up in trying to please people
work out it helps you feel good and make it through some of the crappy days
don't drink too much during the week
never pay for porn unless you are going to a strip club
play IM sports its fun and keeps you active and you meet a sh!t load of people that way
If there is a chapter of sigma pi on your campus go by their parties they are cool guys and you'll probably like them.
find people that are smarter than you and study with them

 

[The Wildcard]

Despite what people say, lack of sleep is BAD for you, lol. Trust me, try to get as much sleep as possible and you'll find that sitting through a boring lecture will not nearly be as bad as sitting through a boring lecture with only 3 hours of sleep.

I of course, learned this the hard way, by getting no sleep for my first two years, but i have since wised up.

 

[JoeKing]

notes from a Chico State student

-if your living in the dorms, leave your door open
-be nice to fat chicks cause they always have good looking friends
-become friends with professors and department heads. Makes life really easy
-pay tuition on time (sucks getting dropped from all your classes 1 week into the semester)
-take some fun classes during the semester
-if you've got somthing to say, say it
-taxi cab drivers rule
-find a 21 yr old friend asap
-prepare for tons o' roadtrips
-stay away from Credit Cards...no matter how cool the free t-shirt looks
-caffiene good
-prepare for post dorm dinner bathroom breaks
-don't get caught in the girls bathroom

have a blast and play music you like LOUD. That attracts people that are interested in the same stuff as you, uhh and watch for the freshmen 15.

 

[Bkas]

Some of you guys are annoying me.

You can't always pick what tiem you want to schedule your classes...some classes are only available at like 9 a.m. It's not always under your control.

 

[jemcam]

If you have a car, don't loan it to anyone no matter how much they beg and plead or how good of a friend they are. I got in the habit of doing it, and the next thing I knew bunches of my friends were asking to borrow it. It got wrecked twice and all I got was an apology. If they don't have the money for their own car, they're not responsible enough to take care of yours. Trust me on that one.

Most of the partiers and other dumb asses will be gone after the first semester.

Don't give up on it or consider another school like communicty college at home until you've been there a year.

Don't join the party fraternity, join the one with the best looking little sisters.

Don't ever room with a good friend, you won't stay that way for long.

Don't ever date another friend's ex.

Stay away from the potheads, they won't be there long anyway.

Go on road trips with your buds. Jump into an open box car with a case of cold beer with a couple of friends. Just make sure you have arrangements with someone to pick you up when you decide to jump off in a couple hundred miles and you're out of beer.

Live in the dorm as long as you can stand it.

Avoid sorority chicks. They really are as shallow as they act.

Random one nighters are fun. Lower your standards and "go ugly early". YOu'll end up with the ugly horny chick at the end of the night anyway.


Those are some random thoughts and lessons I learned in college. It was fun and I had few regrets.

good luck!