lisaviolet
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2002
I used to be a college librarian and it was quite an education for me.
1. If you're going away to school remember that you aren't bound anymore by the expectations and reputation, good and bad, that you had at home. This means it's the best opportunity you'll have in your life to discover who you really are unburdened by your past. Take advantage of that and stretch yourself and get out of your comfort zone. You may discover things about yourself that you never knew were true.
2. This is the golden time to learn how to balance work and play and to develop good habits that will stay with you for life. That means learning how to really study, how to manage your time wisely, eat healthy on a budget, etc.
3. Make the right friends. Running with a crowd that will have your back will make or break you in college.
4. Take advantage of the writing center, the health center, the career center, and the counseling center (should you need it). Your tuition is paying for them and they can really help you in unforeseen ways.
5. Learn about safe sex and consent if you haven't already. You don't want to leave college with the unexpected "gift" of fatherhood or an STD.
6. Get to know your advisor and professors. I learned so much about my academic fields and life in general from chatting with them in their offices during their office hours. My sophomore year I lost my financial aid through no fault of my own (FAFSA lost my forms.). I went to my advisor in a panic and he helped me secure financial aid that year. I still had to get an off-campus job instead of a work-study job but he truly saved me. He also helped me obtain two internships. My graduate advisor also helped me land my first job in my field. My dh and I attended the same school. Even though we didn't get married until several years after graduation, we still invited a few professors to our wedding that we'd kept in touch with. One of them at the time was serving at his graduate thesis advisor even though my dh was getting his master's degree at a different university.
7. Get to know the librarians at your university as well. I've saved the bacon of many a college student who came into the library stressed out about a research paper they had to write about a topic they knew nothing about.
8. Meet and befriend people who are different from you. Join groups and organizations that expose you to new experiences.
9. Get involved in campus events. Attend outdoor concerts and symposiums.
10. Have fun and do crazy things that you never knew were possible.
11. Don't be afraid to say no or stand up for your beliefs. Going along with the crowd just to be accepted can get you into a lot of trouble and lead you to do things you may later regret.
What a fantastic list, tcufrog!
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I can't add much more OP. That is a such a great list. Covering virtually everything.
Find your balance, not what makes sense for another. For me, when I went out more - went to more parties my grades only improved. Strange but true. Everyone is different.
If you study - and go to class - exams can feel exhilarating. Truly. It was a natural high for me to flip through an exam, and go "Yep, got it, boom".
Try flipping through an exam from beginning to end first and timing each section, taking in the points structure. A lot of people just start at the beginning. I used to start where I felt the most confident and where the grade structure was high.
Have fun. It goes by so quickly. Then and after! Cherish your memories and your friends.
Congratulations Carly. And enjoy camp.
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