The_Dude

what could i do that would help me out? what shoudlnt i do?

give tips about making life easier in college, getting chicks, and anything else.

__________________
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

Fallon

For me, it was don't slack off, screwed me my first trimester, but got my ass in gear on the second. The fact that I never went out to get drunk helped me at least, don't know about others. If you want to pass your courses, and you got some lectures, read your notes right after class when it's still fresh in your memory. Meeting women, I'd probably suggest joining a group that is in school. Don't know so much about getting a steady relationship if you join a frat, dunno though because I never felt like joining one. Main thing is don't slack off!

Mael

get to know your professors and gsi/ta's. that's huge.

make sure you go to class and do the work.

party hard, but work harder.

if you have to get a job while at school, try to get one that allows you to study while on the job.

do whatever you can to get along with your roommate, even if you hate him. a neutral atmosphere in the room is better than a tense, negitive one.

drink good beer if you can afford it, but still learn to drink the crap.

to get party girls, join a party frat, and there will be drunk chicks looking to score galore. but if you're looking for quality, well, you'll have to figure that out on your own, i still haven't.

try not to get caught up in the fact that you're on your own for the first time and can do whatever you want (ie. staying up till the buttcrack of dawn every night and skipping classes).

make friends with your neighbors.

play nice.

only drink and do drugs in places you know you won't get caught. last thing you want is an MIP or drug charge. especially if it's from being caught in the dorm.

if it's communal showers, shave/trim your cock and balls. it'll make you look bigger.

don't gamble with more than you can afford to lose.

febreeze is your friend.

what college are you going to?

wraithhibn

If your living in a dorm, get to know the people on your floor, esp. your roommate.

I know you will hear this a lot, but its the truth, get involved in something. I know so many people who only have a couple of friends because they arent involved in anything. Good way to meet chicks too.

Take advantage of your meal plan, eat plenty.

If your gonna go Greek, find a fraternity that accepts you for who you are, not what you want to be. And not all frats are party frats, try to find out the reputations of the ones your interested in.

Go to the big parties and look for hotties. You'll figure out who throws the good parties that everyone goes to, and skip the shitty ones.

__________________
If you won't dress like the Victoria Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

MSD

When you're done with classes for the day, go right back to your room or the library and study/work until you're done, no excuses, stop only for dinner, and finish everything. Then go out and party hard, and limit the drinking if you have a class the next day.

Get on your roommate's good side before you get on their bad side.

warrrreagl

I am a college administrator, so skip past this if you don't want to hear from one of the Straights.

Otherwise, the two most important things you can do are as follows:
1) KEEP UP. Do whatever it takes for you to keep up with the readings, the assignments, the test studying, whatever. Everybody is different, and some people require less effort to keep up. Therefore, you can't judge your ability to keep up in comparison to your buddies that want to blow off the second test. Find out how much prep and studying you need and stick to it. College moves at a breakneck pace, and you CAN NOT EVER catch up if you fall behind. Also, the profs don't give two flying fucks whether you learn the stuff or not; they'll flunk you without losing any sleep.

2) GO TO CLASS. If you are receiving federal financial aid, they may pull your grant/loan if you have an excessive number of absences. Also, research (and my personal experience) shows that the very first sign of a student in trouble is excessive absences. Not every student that misses class is in academic trouble, but nearly all students in distress started out by skipping classes.

Neither of these guidelines will interfere with your ability to party and sow wild oats, but don't let those things interfere with your need to keep up and attend class.

__________________
Living is easy with eyes closed.

chavos

Find a good prof to help steer your course-they know what courses are quality, etc...and what you really need to get out of college. I got hella lucky, and met my advisor in my first term, but don't stop looking until you find a good one. Don't worry about your major until you need to.

Be creative with your room. If you can get a couch in to a small dorm room, not only will people love you, they'll stay and visit too.

rev_skarekroe

Go to class and take notes.
Get a bike, and try to use it instead of driving as often as possible.
Drugs are for suckers.
Colleges often offer lots of free entertainment and other stuff for students. Take full advantage.
Go on road trips whenever you get the chance. It ain't so easy when you're all grown up.
Get involved with a campus group you find interesting.
Most (but not all!) professors just want you to parrot their opinions in tests and papers. Do so, but don't forget what you REALLY think when you leave class.
If it won't kill you, wound you, or cause you to fail a class do it. You'll avoid a lot of regrets that way.
If you need to get a part-time job, get a campus job. They're cushy.
sk

__________________
"If I could have one wish, as in the fairy tales, I would unmake my past, and rise like Lazarus and stand in sunlight and banish all the dark."
D. Tibet

Slims

Well, here are my (random) thoughts on college. I am a senior who might graduate early next semester, and I have seen perhaps more than most college students.

Be very carefull about drinking/smoking in the dorms. Some RA's are awesome, and some just seem awesome until they bust you. Better to do that stuff at a friends apartment.

If you are nice and outgooing, you will make lots of friends easily enough.

I think EVERYBODY goes through some degree of culture shock when they hit college. Just try to be nice and understand where everybody is coming from. A diverse group of friends is the most interesting kind.

Try to find direction. If you know what you want to do, start focusing on it. Otherwise, take a broad range of classes that will help you decide where your likes and abilities lie.

Take the time to talk to professors, esp. in the department you eventually choose to major in. They will respond well, and can throw many unforseen opportunities your way.

Don't take freshman history your first semester. At least at my school, it is the single most failed course. Wait until you get your bearings and understand college a little more.

I would not recommend taking a huge courseload your first semester...you can get in over your head before you learn how to juggle that many college classes. But if you have to over load on classes, better to do it while they are still easy, because they will only get more difficult.

It is good to take classes that you want/need but are only available at one particular time whenever you can get them. Save some of the general classes that are offered at multiple times so that you plug in gaps in your schedule with them and avoid scheduling conflicts.

No 8 am classes. Ever, for any reason. Even if you get up early. After you get used to the college life, your body clock will probably shift about six hours later, regardless of how late you stay up now.

Pimp our your room, but don't over crowd it or it will become impossible to clean.

Get an apartment as soon as you can. If you move in with some other people, you can probably get a place for as low as 150 / month.

Watch college movies like Animal House and PCU.

Remember quote from them like: "Women. You're a freshman, so they are pretty much out of the question."

Actually, girls are pretty easy to come by in college, they (and guys) come out of their shells and shed most of their....inhibitions. If you are nice, and friendly, you will meet some. If you are creepy, the word spreads like wild fire.

Join a co ed club. They are a great way to meet all kinds of neat people, and the older people in the club will show you the ropes and introduce you to a lot of things. For me, the fencing team has been awesome (Imagine drunken, naked, saber fecing, and huge team orgies. really).

Don't discount anybody who isn't a bad person. Just because someone is a little annoying, or thinks differently from you, doesn't mean you can't be friends with them. Although you are under no obligation to become good friends.

Don't look at too much porn. Focus on school and the real thing.

Start watching wierd movies like: The Substitute, Don't let me Die on a Sunday, Adaptation, Brazil, Rocky Horrow Picture Show, Pi, etc. Appreciate said movies. Get women and dance the time warp with them.

Don't worry about being, or seeming liek a nerd. Nerds are, in many ways, venerated at college.

Party girls are fun, but the nice ones who don't associate w/ frat boys can blow your mind, if you give them half a chance.

Don't join a fraternity until you really know what you are getting into. At some schools, frats are the norm. At mine, the fraternities are hated because they are filled (for the most part) with the stereotypical asshole frat boys who do creepy things to girls. But then again, at my school, something like 2 percent of the student body is greek.

Sority girls are often easy, but if you sit back and watch them as a group, you will probably be amazed at the way they can all act/dress the same.

If you have problems with your roomate , talk to him about them. If his dirty socks really piss you off, tell him to clean them up. If you don't bring up your differences, they will only get worse until you have a huge falling out.

Instant messenger is the only way to keep track of everybody you will meet

Don't smoke shitty weed.

Don't pay more than fifty for 1/8 oz of KB. Make sure it is good.

Keep control. When many of my friends hit college, they went overboard and flunked out within a year.

Don't sleep with a girl for the first time if she is drunk!!!! It might not seem like a big deal, but just don't go there. If she is interested in you, she will fuck your brains out when you are both sober. If not, and it's the alcohol talking, then you are an instant rapist.

If you experiment w/ other drugs like acid/ mushrooms be very carefull and do it for the first time with someone who is experienced.

Don't bring a girl you are interested in to a frat party unless you are in that frat. Trust me, it's just the wrong atmosphere.

If you are under 21, just don't try to buy alcohol. Instead have an older friend pick it up for you. It sounds stupid, but it's relevant anyway.

Get a bicycle. Ride it places.

If you have a car, take it to school with you, even if you have to park it way off campus. It is a road trip enabler.

Don't get wasted unless you are around people you trust.

Debt is a college students worst enemy. trust me on this one, it can really sneak up on you.

Your professors can be awesome, dynamic people. They are free to express their thoughts and feelings, unlike in high school. Some of them even smoke up w/ the students.

If you don't do drugs, don't feel pressured by their constant presence. That's one of the great things about college. You can do what you want.

People can go to the same school, but live in completel different 'worlds'. They are all there for you to explore as long as you keep an open mind. One of my friends can't understand why everybody just sits around and plays video games in the dorm all day. Most people don't, but those are the kids he hangs out with.

Have fun

__________________
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence

HiThereDear

Damn good advice from all of you. Wish I had this info back in the day.

Plummie

My best advice is GO TO CLASS. Skipping is tempting but it will put you -that- much more behind. If you have to miss, make friends with people who are good note-takers and ask if it's alright if you make a copy for that day. Make sure you have notes from all your lectures and study until you are comfortable with the material. Don't cram for exams!

If you have a rough start in a course, especially a large lecture, don't hesitate to contact the professor or your TA (GSI). They will be more than happy to help you. Take advantage of office hours they give.

College is a lot of fun and a lot of responsibility! Good luck!

__________________
Kim

VirFighter

Lots of good stuff. I just finished up my first year.

Important thing to remember is that college is what you make of it. Things don't just fall on your lap. If you want something to happen you've got to cause it.

Besides that here a couple of good habits that helped me:

- Leave your door open if you are in it and maybe hang some interesting pictures on your door/wall. You'd be amazed at who you meet and the type of friends you can meet just invoking a conversation at your door way.

-Make friends with those who you live with. This is important.

- Talk to upper classmen as far as class choice, good professors, and stuff like that goes.

Other than that, have fun.

__________________
"The South is gonna boogie again"
- Disco Stu

sngx1275

Decent advice by all that I have read thus far, I just graduated myself from college so I'll toss some more advice your way, mostly whats been said before but I'll say it maybe a bit differently.

Never take a class before 9:30 if you can possibly avoid it.

Don't take physics/any form of math/any form of chemistry the same semister. (take 2 of the 3 or 1 of the 3 but never 3 of the 3)

If your school has respectable frats look into them, most rewardign expierence of my life - but the greek system where I went is not the norm from what I gather from friends that went elsewhere.

Class is important, you'll soon figure out how often you have to go though. - I got by without going to a lot my senior and 5th year (no I didn't dick around and drop classes and thats why I took 5 years, I graduated with 140 hours and no one that was in my department finished in 4 years).

Watch your finances, you will spend a shitload more than you expect your first few weeks.

Don't be shy about going out and having fun - meet a lot of cool people that way.

BigBlueWrecking

Go to class and do the little homework assigned. It may seem like a pain, but three hours of class is nothing compared to actual real world work.

Get to know bartenders. I don't care what college you go to, bartenders are cool. Be one if you can handle it and class.

Have LOTS of sex. It is fun

Party your ass off, they will be your most fun years of your life...so don't waste them.

Use a condom.

Date tons of women when you are younger, but try and settle down in your senior year. Most people meet their future spouse in college.

VirFighter

Better hope he's not going into engineering.

__________________
"The South is gonna boogie again"
- Disco Stu

Leviathan[NCV]

Finishing my second quarter all out on my own, I can tell you one thing, GO TO CLASS. And, when your done with class, finish your god damn homework!

It's a lot harder than it sounds, especially when you find a good source of booze.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have another 9 hours of work to do to make sure I pass my math class. God I wish I had done this shit a month ago.


-Leviathan

Randerolf

This is a life saver. (two words?)

http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/index.jsp

Instead of asking around at the end of a class, go online and look up information on possible prefessors that you cna take. Choose wisely, it will make the difference in having a good balance of easyness/ learning, instead of having shity profs.

TrollInvestigtr

screw every good looking chick you have the opportunity to. if you dont, you will be kicking yourself for years after college. probably for the rest of your life it will be "what was i thinking?!" as you load up titty forum and begrudgingly look at your hand.

just use a rubber.

dont get arrested. nothing is worth your loss of freedom

guthmund

Everybody has posted some real good advice.

My only suggestion would be to keep up on your paperwork. If you're on financial aid it's important to make sure you keep the wheels greased. Get in touch with your advisor and ask if there is anything more you can do to make it easier.

And you can't emphasize enough GOING TO CLASS AND KEEPING UP.

I would also advise take a course you're sure to like that first semester. I know sometimes you don't have a choice, but mixing good classes with the bad classes helps the whole experience.

__________________
No signature. None. Seriously.

MacGnG

do your homework then go party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

other wise u just fuck yourself

dan

although it's not my post, I just wanted to say thanks to everybody who's replied to this, being an incoming freshmen next year myself

oblar

As some people have stated before..

Learn about the professors you are taking.. find out the good and the bad about each professor.. A good professor can make even the worst subject enjoyable, and a bad professor can ruin even the most interesting of subjects.

(and be wary of www.ratemyprofessor.com ... I had a teacher that actually logged in there and "rigged" his own stats...)

__________________
"All that we can do is just survive.
.All that we can do to help ourselves is stay alive." - Rush

nydiva

Lots of great advice here. I think the only thing that I would add is that while college is designed to be academic learning, be prepared to learn a lot more than just what comes from a text book. Be open to new thoughts, ideas, and adventures, and have a lot of fun while meeting new and interesting people. Congratulations!

Unoriginal

I agree with what Dan said

cheerios

Here's one no one's said. Don't be a fraid of change. I switched my majors halfway through college. 2 years of courswork, largely wasted. Why? 'Cuz i was BORED. I was uninterested in something i thought was gonna be great. But, I found something better, so all is well. Don't be afraid to explore new areas. If nothing else, it'll get GE's out of your way! And, even as far set back as I was... I'm STILL gonna graduate on time!! So, good luck, guys.

illdeviant

yea. keep up. dont pullsome slacker bullshit like myself. bad stuff. study the material as u get it. no last minute crap. be prepared to invest 20x more effort in college than HS (at least for me. i didnt' do anything in HS).

avoid bad blood in your hall or w/your roommate. unecessary drama is no fun at all.

learn reps of each greek. everybody's out for themselves. watch your ass. realize that everyone you meet is wearing a facade. dont relax your guard till you know wat you see of em is wats true.

JStrider

www.pickaprof.com

its the same kinda thing as ratemyprofessor.com except it gets its statistics from the school... and has a place for comments from students...


go to class... EVERY DAY its half the battle... if not more...

all you can eat cafeterias are awesome... but beware the "freshmen 15" try to go to thE RECreaTION center its a great way to relieve stress and meet people (or just watch the chicks on the tread mills :P)

__________________
-=JStrider=-

~Clatto Verata Nicto

annie1

make it a point to visit your professors during their office hours... even if you dont have any questions of problems... just them seeing your face outside of the classroom will help you out tremendously, theyll know yo ure putting in the extra effort and come grade time youll find yourself with a better grade (usually)

Hedgehog

Gotta agree with most of what's been posted, but to boil it all down to 4 academic items:

1. GO TO CLASS - it's 10 times better to go to class in sweats with a ballcap on and snooze in the back row and not take notes than it is to skip.

2. TRADE YOUR NOTES - study using yours, your study partner's, that girl in the front row's, etc. Somebody wrote down that crucial fact that you missed.

3. GET THE OLD EXAMS - Professors re-use their old exams 90% of the time.

4. STUDY IN THE LIBRARY - too many distractions in your room.

platypus

Damn! I thought this thread was gonna tell how to get your willy wet on campus.

You know...tips for <b>entering</b> college freshman. ;-)

__________________
Out the 10Base-T, through the router, down the T1, over the leased line, off the bridge, past the firewall...nothing but Net.

shadrock

You want tips for getting your willy wet? Here's the biggest secret: TALK TO GIRLS!!!

Seriously!! Talk to every girl you see. Flirt with the lady in the luch line, the librarian, the girl sitting next to you in class. I don't mean overtly, just have fun and try to make every girl you interact with smile. It gives you practice so when it counts it just flows naturally and you don't build up this barrier in your mind when it is time to approach a girl.

Second biggest tip to get girls in college? Be seen with girls. Nothing raises the interest level of girls like seeing you with a girl. Walk into a bar with a female friend who just happens to be hot and all the girls suddenly gain interest in you.

Now, my one real college tip. Study something you love. Find something you really WANT to study that you will be eager to learn about and major in that. Don't worry what anyone says about job market or what your parents want you to do. Chances are your major will have nothing to do with your job anyway. Soak up knowledge like a sponge! There is nothign wrong with university studies until you figure out what you want to do, or even not entering college for a year.

Last bit of advice, get a minor or double major and tack on an extra year. Best 5 years of your life!

Frowning Budah

Find a senior or beter yet a graduate student and get close to them. They can tell you wich professors to avoid, what kind of test etc. Also they may be able to get you in for earlier appointments so you can snag the classes at the times you want
Nothing worse than missing a class you need because they are full up.
See if your school allows you to audit classes. You can find out if you like a course before having to pay for it, or maybe take a course you want but don't need to graduate and don't want to pay for.
Find a major and stick with it.
Good luck.

Cynthetiq

damn.... lots of these things can be applied to just hanging out here on the TFP.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

HiThereDear

Randeroff,

Thanks, I'm just about to register for my first semester!

FallenAvatar

Don't fuck off, parties are cool, but study when you need to, pass your shit or it will kick you in the ass. Trust me I know. I lost a full ride to a $24000 a year school, now I'm playing out of pocket.

sngx1275

Thats my point - when I was going through I was in Engineering, and that will kill you - spread it out over as long a period as prereqs will require.

Nikilidstrom

Just go and have fun, thats all college is about. You can study your ass off, never go out, work work work, and at the end of hopefully 4 years, you'll have a degree that you realize did nothing to prepare you for real life. But whatever you do, do not, and i repeat, DO NOT, get a girlfriend until senor year, if at all, and never one back home if you are going away to college. There is just too many women and too much going on to be tied down. Sit back, relax, enjoy the experience for what it is, your last chance to laugh and be semi-carefree before real life slams into you like a mac truck.

Oh yeah, and listen to shadrocks first 2 tips, little pearls of wisdom those are.

Jaseca

Don't get all your generals out of the way immediately like many advisors tell you to. Take them over the years spacing out your harder courses if the University you attend will allow it.

The first 4 weeks of college can set you up for the semester so work your ass off. Starting out with A's makes life nice. I drank and took the intro classes like the advisor said and screwed myself by not trying hard.

Another nice thing about spacing out the generals is you meet new people every year. When you're in engineering or comp sci female interaction in your upper level classes tends to dwindle.

krwlz

Lookin at my first semester, and I AM engineering, so I have all 3....And one of them may be an 8 or 8:30....

blackdas

What do you guys recommend me to do? I'm not going away for college (I'm staying in NYC), and my ex-girlfriend who is also my best friend is still in the city because she is a senior in highschool. What should I do with this situation? Is it worth talking to her still? Is it worth still trying to get some once college starts?