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Rodney · 01-17-2004, 08:35 PM

I did the whole college thing a couple of dozen years ago, but now I'm back... so I've got a little perspective.

In the dorms, go to bed by the same time every school night. Call it at 11:30 or midnight or whatever makes sense and turn in. No matter what's happening out in the hallway. Close the door and turn out the lights. My dorm was great, a party in the halls every night. And some guys just couldn't make themselves leave it -- until maybe 3 or 4 in the morning. They didn't do so well.

Like others have said, ask around with the sophmores about profs they've had for classes you'll have to take, too. Avoid the losers.

If you're even thinking about going on to grad school, save every class syllabus you get. Some grad school credentials admins are real assholes; sometimes they won't count a relevant course toward grad school admission requirements because the course title is a little vague. If you're in the right and you've got the syllabus to shove in their faces, they'll back down.

Save all the course catalogs, too, the ones that talk about requirements for each major. In case requirements change in midstream, you want to be able to show whoever gives you flack that you did fulfill the requirements _as they were when you entered._ Most of the time, this will work; not always.

Find out where else you can buy textbooks besides the college bookstore. An off-campus bookstore can save you some money. The mark-up's always higher on campus.

Dorms are one of the best places on earth for making a lot of friends quickly. Enjoy yourself, but note that having a serious relationship inside a dorm is kind of like getting it on in a fishbowl. Everybody knows _exactly_ what you're doing.

Woody Allen said 90 percent of success is just showing up every day. Don't forget to do that. Do your assignments. You'll get by.

01-17-2004, 08:35 PM	#80 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	I did the whole college thing a couple of dozen years ago, but now I'm back... so I've got a little perspective. In the dorms, go to bed by the same time every school night. Call it at 11:30 or midnight or whatever makes sense and turn in. No matter what's happening out in the hallway. Close the door and turn out the lights. My dorm was great, a party in the halls every night. And some guys just couldn't make themselves leave it -- until maybe 3 or 4 in the morning. They didn't do so well. Like others have said, ask around with the sophmores about profs they've had for classes you'll have to take, too. Avoid the losers. If you're even thinking about going on to grad school, save every class syllabus you get. Some grad school credentials admins are real assholes; sometimes they won't count a relevant course toward grad school admission requirements because the course title is a little vague. If you're in the right and you've got the syllabus to shove in their faces, they'll back down. Save all the course catalogs, too, the ones that talk about requirements for each major. In case requirements change in midstream, you want to be able to show whoever gives you flack that you did fulfill the requirements _as they were when you entered._ Most of the time, this will work; not always. Find out where else you can buy textbooks besides the college bookstore. An off-campus bookstore can save you some money. The mark-up's always higher on campus. Dorms are one of the best places on earth for making a lot of friends quickly. Enjoy yourself, but note that having a serious relationship inside a dorm is kind of like getting it on in a fishbowl. Everybody knows _exactly_ what you're doing. Woody Allen said 90 percent of success is just showing up every day. Don't forget to do that. Do your assignments. You'll get by.