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match000 · 02-22-2006, 02:39 AM

So I've posted some thread similar to this kind of stuff before.

Well, when I started college I always had the mentality of grades/learning first, but I also knew I should be social and have more fun. When will you get 4 years again in life to have this kind of freedom?

As I progressed through college, I lost track of the social side after my first year (never had it big in first year anyways) and the 4.0 challenge became an obsession. I found myself having a totally minimal social life but a beast of a study life.

In my 4th year, (now), having achieved good grades, I have looked back and regretted not having developed more socially: making more friends, making closer friends, making more girl-friends, etc.

I think either extreme is bad: super studier or super socializer. Like many people (wisely) say, everything in moderation. The most successful people I have noted study their butts off when they have to, and use their time wisely to socialize to the max when they can.

Its all about time management and efficiency.

I think alot of it (falling into these kind of tunnel-vision traps) has to do with getting too focused and not stepping back and looking at the big picture. Sure, in hindsight its always easy to point out mistakes, or to criticize too strongly (heck without having studied so hard I wouldnt be able to go to a good grad school). But, really, it is just as easy to not appreciate your opportunities, and to just sit back and let certain things slide.

I disagree with treating college/university like a trade school. I am an engineer, and at times it certainly is a fact that most of us engineers all study and work on projects nearly 24/7, except for maybe friday nights. But after seeing the flip side and how socially awkward many can be, its just as important to develop your people skills. And college is the most convenient and important time to do so.

Also, while there are certainly great teachers and professors out there, college is also just as much about learning to how to study on your own. Noone is going to hand-hold you through the material. I go to a huge university, where I learned that to succeed I have to rely on my own persistence. That means reading, going to office hours for help, etc. Noone is going to spoon-feed me this shit.

I have also realized that its never too late to start to do anything. So if you have bad grades, then even if you're a senior, start studying! If you have a minimal social life (like me), then even if you're a senior, start socializng! Get out there, meet people. Its never too late. Only when you're 95. Then maybe...

02-22-2006, 02:39 AM	#22 (permalink)
match000 Psycho	So I've posted some thread similar to this kind of stuff before. Well, when I started college I always had the mentality of grades/learning first, but I also knew I should be social and have more fun. When will you get 4 years again in life to have this kind of freedom? As I progressed through college, I lost track of the social side after my first year (never had it big in first year anyways) and the 4.0 challenge became an obsession. I found myself having a totally minimal social life but a beast of a study life. In my 4th year, (now), having achieved good grades, I have looked back and regretted not having developed more socially: making more friends, making closer friends, making more girl-friends, etc. I think either extreme is bad: super studier or super socializer. Like many people (wisely) say, everything in moderation. The most successful people I have noted study their butts off when they have to, and use their time wisely to socialize to the max when they can. Its all about time management and efficiency. I think alot of it (falling into these kind of tunnel-vision traps) has to do with getting too focused and not stepping back and looking at the big picture. Sure, in hindsight its always easy to point out mistakes, or to criticize too strongly (heck without having studied so hard I wouldnt be able to go to a good grad school). But, really, it is just as easy to not appreciate your opportunities, and to just sit back and let certain things slide. I disagree with treating college/university like a trade school. I am an engineer, and at times it certainly is a fact that most of us engineers all study and work on projects nearly 24/7, except for maybe friday nights. But after seeing the flip side and how socially awkward many can be, its just as important to develop your people skills. And college is the most convenient and important time to do so. Also, while there are certainly great teachers and professors out there, college is also just as much about learning to how to study on your own. Noone is going to hand-hold you through the material. I go to a huge university, where I learned that to succeed I have to rely on my own persistence. That means reading, going to office hours for help, etc. Noone is going to spoon-feed me this shit. I have also realized that its never too late to start to do anything. So if you have bad grades, then even if you're a senior, start studying! If you have a minimal social life (like me), then even if you're a senior, start socializng! Get out there, meet people. Its never too late. Only when you're 95. Then maybe... Last edited by match000; 02-22-2006 at 02:45 AM..