College Survival Guide

[Teallaura]

This is a place for those of us who survived academia to provide some of our serious (and not so serious) survival tips to the young tender freshmen...


If you're a night owl, don't schedule any classes before 10 (preferably 11) am. Your GPA will thank you.

If you're an early bird, don't schedule any classes after 1 pm. Assuming you survive your night owl classmates that ignored the advice above you'll also have a much happier GPA.

Remember how much trouble listening to your friends got you into in high school? College is much worse. Invest in ear plugs - especially if you pledge a frat or sorority.

'Like colors' on the detergent box means the same color. Forget shade - anything red goes in the red pile. Nothing else goes near the red pile. Nothing. Unless you want to wear pink undies guys, pay heed!

Clorox is for white things. Unless you want your black shirt to have white and gray splotches, keep the Clorox far, far away!

When in doubt, wash in cold water. You're unlikely to ruin anything washable in cold water.

'Dry Clean Only' is not a suggestion.

"Line Dry" means don't use a dryer. Wiki can explain the concept of a clothes line but if you live in a dorm it means hang the thing up in the shower until it dries.

Your mom does not live with you. You will have to find the source of that funky smell yourself. Likely candidates include: the fridge you haven't even thought about cleaning out in the last 6 months; the back of your closet (where you have been throwing everything you didn't want to wash); under your bed (ditto); under your roommate's bed (especially if he's a neat freak and you needed the extra hiding space); any one of the twenty pizza boxes stacked in the corner (FYI: if she visits your mom will not buy the "those are for recycling" line); sneakers

[Kelp]

Always take notes and keep them together. I learned this the hard way. Consider using separate folders or buying a multisection notebook.

Begin each class writing with the date on your notes so you can cross check them your with syllabus for easy reference when studying for exams.

[Rational Gaze]

Don't just buy booze. That ain't food.

[Philosophickle]

Don't just buy booze. That ain't food.

heresy

[Chaotic Void]

Speaking of food... Over the summer, I had to fend for myself (my meals during the school year were a part of the fees :yummy:). Here's a couple of pointers:

-If you don't have much cash to spare on groceries, don't hesitate to buy the really cheap generic/store-brand stuff (some of which might even taste better than the brand-name). You'd be surprised how far $30 can go. On a related note, unless you have the money... DO NOT EAT OUT. If you do wind up with extra money and decide to go to a restaurant, pick somewhere cheap and don't order the most expensive thing they've got. Save some of that 'extra' money. You'll thank me when one of your dormmates accidentally leaves the fridge open overnight during a heat wave.

-Remember to keep yourself nourished (taking a multivitamin if you have to). Also, try to get something from every food group in your meal (ie, if you're having Nachos and Cheese, have some salsa [and sour cream] with, maybe even having some Peanut butter on some Oreos for dessert if you don't have any chicken or ground beef to season and throw on top). However if you can't manage four, then go for three of the food groups in every meal.

That's all I can think of for now.

[Scrawly]

...the young tender freshmen...

Don't think so :smile:



If you're a night owl, don't schedule any classes before 10 (preferably 11) am. Your GPA will thank you.

Here's the fun part – I have Sleep Delayed Syndrome: Next to impossible for me to sleep at night, and therefore, utterly sluggish throughout the day. Now, I have 4 courses this semester and all of them start in the morning hours. Rescheduling is not really an option because it is quite a small institution and my courses are only offered at the set times.

Yeah, so...I think I am screwed.

[ApologiaPhoenix]

-If you don't have much cash to spare on groceries, don't hesitate to buy the really cheap generic/store-brand stuff (some of which might even taste better than the brand-name).

One word: Aldi

[TolkienFan]

Now time for an obvious note. On most syllabi the professor will tell you the due dates of major projects/papers. Usually, those due dates are late in the semester. Often the professor tells you on the syllabus what that project/paper entails. If not, they will usually tell you the details around a month before the project/paper is due. That doesn't mean you should wait until the week before to start doing work on said project/paper. Try to get an early start and mete out the work so you don't have to do too much when the due date is just around the corner. This also gives you more time to do any editing or touching up to make your project/paper that much better. As Teal said, your GPA will thank you.

[Da Blonde]

Be careful about relationships. Go places in groups at night.

If you are from a fundamentalist or conservative Christian background and/or attending a college affiliated with such a church body or such, be careful about placing unconditional trust in anyone, fellow students, staff, professors, anybody just because they are a fellow Christian. People affiliated with Christian groups do commit rape, use drugs, stalk, commit domestic abuse, etc. Domestic abuse usually starts while dating. If you feel intimidated and-or you are abused, get out. Never mind if he's "a good Christian". You owe him nothing if he is. Protect yourself.

[NeilUnreal]

All nighters don't work; stay caught up.

Don't be afraid to seek help, either from your professors or classmates.

-Neil

[Sparko]

you can actually live on this stuff:

http://ballyhooligan.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/ramen-noodles2.jpg

[mossrose]

Posts off topic moved to Civics. Sorry folks, for derailing this fine thread. :blush:

[Philosophickle]

Sell your video games.
Do it.
Don't think about it.
Don't make excuses.

[lao tzu]

If you've got a girlfriend who's great in biology
... and a girlfriend who's great in math
... and a girlfriend who's great in chemistry
... and a girlfriend who's great in English

... make sure to keep their names straight.

[Chaotic Void]

All nighters don't work; stay caught up.

Don't be afraid to seek help, either from your professors or classmates.

-Neil

Especially if they're majoring in psychology. :yes:

[ChemMJW]

Branch out, no matter how much you love the major you've intended to study since you were 7 years old. You might be surprised to find something else in the wide world that interests you, and it will become your minor or second major or perhaps only major. I discovered a passion for foreign languages as an 18 year old freshman after I decided on a whim to take German. Since then, everything has been sehr gut.

This one might be controversial, but here goes: make a major effort to associate with people who are not like you. If you are a strict conservative, don't be afraid to hang out with people who are bleeding heart liberals. If you enjoy alcoholic beverages regularly, don't dismiss certain people just because they don't drink at all. College, at its most fundamental level, is about transitioning from the youthful mindset that you know everything and are perfect to the adult mindset that different beliefs and choices do not automatically a bad person make. Be true to yourself, but branch out a little, both academically and interpersonally, and you might be surprised at how interesting and engaging the wide world can be. Don't sit in your one little corner and refuse to engage with other people, especially those different from you.

[Cow Poke]

Don't just buy booze. That ain't food.

But in a college town, beer and toilet paper sell out fast.

[Kelp]

Branch out, no matter how much you love the major you've intended to study since you were 7 years old. You might be surprised to find something else in the wide world that interests you, and it will become your minor or second major or perhaps only major. I discovered a passion for foreign languages as an 18 year old freshman after I decided on a whim to take German. Since then, everything has been sehr gut.

This one might be controversial, but here goes: make a major effort to associate with people who are not like you. If you are a strict conservative, don't be afraid to hang out with people who are bleeding heart liberals. If you enjoy alcoholic beverages regularly, don't dismiss certain people just because they don't drink at all. College, at its most fundamental level, is about transitioning from the youthful mindset that you know everything and are perfect to the adult mindset that different beliefs and choices do not automatically a bad person make. Be true to yourself, but branch out a little, both academically and interpersonally, and you might be surprised at how interesting and engaging the wide world can be. Don't sit in your one little corner and refuse to engage with other people, especially those different from you.
I try to, but they just keep pissing me off! :hehe:

But anyway, yeah. I had no idea I wanted to be a history major until I saw how math intensive computer science was and went looking for an alternative. Being around theater majors and hanging around the fine arts building has also given me a love of the theater, but thats a road I haven't gone down for some reason.

[Sparko]

If you've got a girlfriend who's great in biology
... and a girlfriend who's great in math
... and a girlfriend who's great in chemistry
... and a girlfriend who's great in English

... make sure to keep their names straight.

My nephew had the perfect strategy. Every girl he has ever dated was named Sarah. I think he is with Sarah #4 now.

[Da Blonde]

I try to, but they just keep pissing me off! :hehe:

But anyway, yeah. I had no idea I wanted to be a history major until I saw how math intensive computer science was and went looking for an alternative. Being around theater majors and hanging around the fine arts building has also given me a love of the theater, but thats a road I haven't gone down for some reason.

Perhaps some cognizance of the economic prospects of that course of study. For every Brad Pitt there's 10,000 waiters and valet parking guys who can barely afford their SAG dues but still go out on auditions.

[Kelp]

Perhaps some cognizance of the economic prospects of that course of study. For every Brad Pitt there's 10,000 waiters and valet parking guys who can barely afford their SAG dues but still go out on auditions.
I was more thinking more of stage, but yeah....

[Teallaura]

Two words: dual major. If your first love has a high likelihood of resulting in employment that involves inquiring whether or not someone would like a serving of tubers which have been briefly immersed in exceedingly hot vegetable oil and then salted liberally find a second major you can live with which will pay bills sans the need to wear a hair net.

[Kelp]

Two words: dual major. If your first love has a high likelihood of resulting in employment that involves inquiring whether or not someone would like a serving of tubers which have been briefly immersed in exceedingly hot vegetable oil and then salted liberally find a second major you can live with which will pay bills sans the need to wear a hair net.
Good idea.


For me though, I'm two semesters away from graduation, and never got round to taking the intro theater classes I'd need. I just want to be done and graduated :hehe:.

[odis]

Don't think so :smile:

Here's the fun part – I have Sleep Delayed Syndrome: Next to impossible for me to sleep at night, and therefore, utterly sluggish throughout the day. Now, I have 4 courses this semester and all of them start in the morning hours. Rescheduling is not really an option because it is quite a small institution and my courses are only offered at the set times.

Yeah, so...I think I am screwed.

i suffered from some pretty major depression my first 2 years of college. i may have gotton 3 hours of sleep a night if i was lucky. so i came up with a strategy that i never liked but it worked. get up at 4 am to eat breakfast. go to classes as normal and then eat lunch at 10. continue on with your day and have dinner 2 to 3 hours earlier than normal. then go to bed at 8 pm. if your anything like me, you'll actually end up passing out at 12 and being able to sleep for 5 hours skipping breakfast.



you can actually live on this stuff:

http://ballyhooligan.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/ramen-noodles2.jpg

i tried that, didn't work out as well as i thought it would. try mixing in other things with it as it gets pretty bland fast (both adding things to it and not eating pasta/soup for a night).


Two words: dual major. If your first love has a high likelihood of resulting in employment that involves inquiring whether or not someone would like a serving of tubers which have been briefly immersed in exceedingly hot vegetable oil and then salted liberally find a second major you can live with which will pay bills sans the need to wear a hair net.

or have a big backup plan. nothing is more important than knowing someone who can do something. if you know someone who knows something or can do something, then in a pinch you can be resorceful by going to that someone. get to know everyone and keep them as friends. do favours for them and they wont mind helping you out when you need it.

i always did homework the night it was assigned and attempted the hardest problems but never bothered to finish them without seeing the professor. it helped me to get to know the prof and let him see that i was working without wasting massive amounts of time doing the homeworks.

i always finished the projects a week early and turned it in. a couple times i had it returned to me because of a small critical error that the prof caught and handed it back to me.

i always figured i can be lazy after i'm done with my work rather than before i start it.

stock up on courses and drop them as you need to... nothing is worse than having to stick around for one more semester because you couldn't take 1 course your last semester.

[Da Blonde]

Don't be too proud to shop at the day-old bread store or bakery outlet or whatever. Also, be aware of this sign in grocery stores, and its equivalents: "Whoops, we baked too much".

[QuantaFille]

Don't be too proud to shop at the day-old bread store or bakery outlet or whatever. Also, be aware of this sign in grocery stores, and its equivalents: "Whoops, we baked too much".

The Walmarts here have a cart from the bakery that generally hangs out at the back of the grocery section, with stuff that is very close to its sell-by date. I don't think all Walmarts have them, because when I told my mum about it she said she'd never seen any such thing at her Walmart.
I bought a pack of creme horns from one for pretty cheap, they were past the sell-by date (I bought them on the expiry date, actually) and took them home and put them in the freezer. I had perfectly good creme horns to have with my tea that week.

Also, Walmart sells bags of frozen stir-fry vegetables that are pretty good in ramen noodles.

Also, split the cost of a Costco or Sam's Club membership with your roommate. Each membership comes with two cards. You can save a lot of money buying things in bulk. I shop for myself at Sam's, even buying produce in large bags.

I have also figured out how to make my own frozen dinners for about 60¢ per meal. I will make an entire week's worth of food all at once and freeze most of it, and thaw it in the fridge the day before I want to eat it. I don't eat meat much so that keeps my costs low, but making your own food is still cheap even if you do eat meat.

[Sparko]

Also, Walmart sells bags of frozen stir-fry vegetables that are pretty good in ramen noodles.

Kroger also sells these. Frozen stir fry vegetables and some with noodles already in there. about $1 per bag. I like to get some chicken on sale and I will fry all the chicken up, then freeze it. Then when I want chinese stir fry, I open a bag of cooked chicken, and a bag of the veggies and stir fry them for about 5-10 min, and it's done. usually makes about 2 meals for me.

[Jin-Roh]

If I could do Undergraduate all over again, there are three books I would have read during/while I attended.
1. Seven Habits of Highly effective people By Stephan Covey. This book teaches the basics of time management, teamwork, goal setting, and communication. These skills are actually more important than your grades when it comes to finding a job.
2. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Carneigie. This again is the basics of communication and charisma. It is another good "dealing with people" book and it really will win you lots of friends.
3. Irrestible Attraction by Kevin Hogan. Most people do go to college enter into relationships at some point, or at least really want to. Relationships are important romantic or otherwise. The stuff in this book actually really helps an individual become aware of how who might present yourself and how you communicate. It really, really, helps guys get over the "I don't know what to say to a girl" question that prevents them from actually asking one out.

[Da Blonde]

If I could do Undergraduate all over again, there are three books I would have read during/while I attended.
1. Seven Habits of Highly effective people By Stephan Covey. This book teaches the basics of time management, teamwork, goal setting, and communication. These skills are actually more important than your grades when it comes to finding a job.
2. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Carneigie. This again is the basics of communication and charisma. It is another good "dealing with people" book and it really will win you lots of friends.
3. Irrestible Attraction by Kevin Hogan. Most people do go to college enter into relationships at some point, or at least really want to. Relationships are important romantic or otherwise. The stuff in this book actually really helps an individual become aware of how who might present yourself and how you communicate. It really, really, helps guys get over the "I don't know what to say to a girl" question that prevents them from actually asking one out.

I'm going to dispute you somewhat on 1 and 2 a little.

We had an intern who wanted to use Covey in a group therapy setting with domestic violence offenders. The providers as a group all agreed, no. It can be valuable for some but not all. It demands middle class values somehow from people who did not necessarily grow up with those. It's kind of, just like The Purpose-Driven Life an empty and soulless marketing tool. Since we have a strong antiMormon contingent here I cannot refrain from adding Covey's a Mormon and to me the whole thing promotes the "tapioca of world religions" schtick of soulless optimism and obedience.

Same with Carnegie. At face value, he's good - a positive demeanor and assertive confidence can work wonders. But take it with a grain of salt.

But if you're going to read those, read this one as a corrolary:

. res://ieframe.dll/dnserror.htm#javascript:void(false) Barbara Ehrenreich, Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America

As for the last, that sounds reasonable. Many college-bound folks were not exactly popular in high school and have not mastered managing relationships and it sounds like that book could help some with that.

[Jin-Roh]

I'm going to dispute you somewhat on 1 and 2 a little.

We had an intern who wanted to use Covey in a group therapy setting with domestic violence offenders.

Wow that is really not the right crowd for a book like that. I am sure that there was a better option out there.


The providers as a group all agreed, no. It can be valuable for some but not all. It demands middle class values somehow from people who did not necessarily grow up with those.

Can you elaborate on the "middle-class values"? (though I would add, going to college is pretty middle-class)


It's kind of, just like The Purpose-Driven Life an empty and soulless marketing tool.

Well, I certainly wouldn't describe as "souless" though I do appreciate it when people who are offering business/communication/time management advice are selling it as business/communication/time management advice and not as Christianity or the Gospel.


Since we have a strong antiMormon contingent here I cannot refrain from adding Covey's a Mormon and to me the whole thing promotes the "tapioca of world religions" schtick of soulless optimism and obedience.

Martin Luther was once confronted by the RCC. They asked him how he could teach something that was similar to what a condemned heretic had previously taught. Luther said that he did not care whether a heretic said it or a saint it. If something was true, he would believe it.

In the same way, I do not really care if Covey is Mormon. It is not as if he is commenting on any of the disputed claims between Mormonism and Christianity. The philosophical roots of 7 Habits don't have their beginnings in mormonism either.


Same with Carnegie. At face value, he's good - a positive demeanor and assertive confidence can work wonders. But take it with a grain of salt.

I think that is certainly true.


But if you're going to read those, read this one as a corrolary:

. res://ieframe.dll/dnserror.htm#javascript:void(false) Barbara Ehrenreich, Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America
I'd be happy to check that out sometime. Is there a place where I can read a more thorough review?

As for the last, that sounds reasonable. Many college-bound folks were not exactly popular in high school and have not mastered managing relationships and it sounds like that book could help some with that.

That was the case with me. I was a lot more outgoing/confident in college than the average "uncool kid," but relationships still eluded me (or I eluded relationships).

[Rational Gaze]

I've been at uni for 4 weeks now. I have a meal card, which covers 2 meals a day during the week, and 1 meal a day during the weekend. Except for breaks, where I just get 1 a day. I'm telling you now, Rustler's microwavable burgers, Walker's crisps and 1.25 litre bottles of coke were purposely designed for university students. It has been going well so far, although there is this creepy dude on the second floor of my university halls whom nobody in my block likes who weirds me (and everybody else) out. Iceland is probably the best supermarket for uni students (in the UK) there are tons of deals. I bought a 10 pack of Hula Hoops for £1. Pro tip: try to buy enough food in advance. I had the midnight munchies the other day and I had run out of food. I went to the communal kitchen area, and the only food there was some cheese that was going hard and some actimel. They tasted delicious but I was still hungry. I looked up the nearest 24 hour McDonalds, but then I fell asleep. Still there is an Iranian guy in my block who is an excellent cook who cooks everybody in the block (apart from the weird guy) a meal every now and then.

[Rational Gaze]

Most people do go to college enter into relationships at some point, or at least really want to.
I went to univeristy to learn and get a good qualification so I can get a job in a field I enjoy. But yeah, a girlfriend would be nice. I'm incapable of a number of rudimentary tasks, such as cooking (strangely this inability does not prevent me from being able to make bread and homemade pizza), I get easily depressed, and need someone to help me become a better person.


Relationships are important romantic or otherwise. The stuff in this book actually really helps an individual become aware of how who might present yourself and how you communicate. It really, really, helps guys get over the "I don't know what to say to a girl" question that prevents them from actually asking one out.
I can guarantee you now, it won't help me. I'm a recluse with Asperger's Syndrome, who spends inordinate amounts of time by themselve and gets easily annoyed by other people.

[Da Blonde]

Can you elaborate on the "middle-class values"? (though I would add, going to college is pretty middle-class)

Optimism, getting ahead, and so forth.

BTW I would highly recommend this deligtful tome by Paul Fussell: Class: A Guide Through the American Status System for further elaboration.


I'd be happy to check that out sometime. Is there a place where I can read a more thorough review?

Ehrenreich has a website that's her name dot com.

[Jin-Roh]

Optimism, getting ahead, and so forth.

It sounds like those values over-lap with most college students I know. Is your objection with Covey's book that it is bad for the people in the recovery group you mentioned, bad for college students, or bad in general? I can totally see how it is not the right book for people in situation that is like recovering from PTSD.


BTW I would highly recommend this deligtful tome by Paul Fussell: Class: A Guide Through the American Status System for further elaboration.

I read one non-fiction book a month, but I have so much on my plate right now I do not know if I will have a chance to get to something like that. :-(


I can guarantee you now, it won't help me. I'm a recluse with Asperger's Syndrome, who spends inordinate amounts of time by themselve and gets easily annoyed by other people.

One of the things mentioned in "Irresistible Attraction" is that it is a good idea to avoid appearing whiny. Also, you have to learn to be someone who is genuinely interested in other people. Even my most strongly introverted friends have learned these things.