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 ). 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

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:

[mossrose]

Moderator Notice

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

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Contact the forum moderator or an administrator in Private Message or email instead. If you feel you must publically complain or whine, please take it to the Psychotherapy Room unless told otherwise.

[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.