Advice to pnms beginning their College/University experience…

[tunatartare]

At the risk of sounding like a PSA, get all your vaccinations, even the ones that aren't mandatory, including meningitis.

[PhoenixAzul]

Wow, very prompt and prudent bump.

Some thigns to add:
+ Study abroad. Do it. Yes, you CAN afford it, hell, I afforded it and now I'm talking iimmigration. Be prepared for it to be the best experience of your life, and be prepared to have a learning curve. When in the country, eat what the locals eat, go where the locals go, and if someone offers you a cup of tea, accept, even if you don't want it.

+ Exercise. It makes studying a ton easier. I usually find that I can plan things out very clearly if I'm out running or on my bike. Add to it that it fights off depression and keeps off the freshman 15. This is all the more important in winter. If you're not keen on the student rec center (i'm not, for various reasons) think about a community centre/church group or find a trail on your own. A healthy body contains a healthy mind.

[KSUViolet06]

*KEEP YOUR GRADES UP. Especially if you know your field will require an advanced degree (Masters or Ph.D) or if you already know you'd like to pursue one. If your grades are laughable, you can pretty much forget it. The admissions committee will look at your 2.0 and laugh you out of the building.

*This is especially true of larger schools. There are lots of of yummy fast food restaurants all over campus, and there's no Mommy/Daddy to remind you not to eat so much junk. And you have your nifty meal plan. It's pretty convenient to go to Chipotle/Quizno's/McD's/Sonic/KFC every single night. But please DON'T. Your arteries will thank you.

*Go easy on your bank account. Try to limit yourself to ONE trip to the ATM per week or so. Constantly running to the ATM for $10 here and $20 there is going to cause you to spend alot more money than you'd like.

*Yes it's okay to drink, but take it easy. Most incoming freshman aren't regular drinkers, so they get to college, go to parties, think they can drink as much as everyone else and be okay. Not so. Don't try to be badass and drink yourself into a coma your first week.

*If you go out Thursday-Sunday night EVERY week, it will get old really fast. You have 4 years to go out.

[flirt5721]

Also:

Go to career fairs. Even as a freshman so you can get the feeling of how it works.

Keep an open mind about co-ops and internships. They help out a lot.

Don't forget that at the end of each semester you can sell back you books to the bookstore (you won't get that much back but its something) or you can sell them to other students.

Find out if there is an escort service if walking around campus late at night.

Don't go out to eat so much. It might not seem like much but it will add up.

[Rollergirl2001]

More Tips:

-Learn to say NO. For instance if you have an exam the next day and you're roommate ask you to go to a party, simply say no. Exams have an effect on you more than parties.

-Abstain from alcohol the night before exams.

-CREATE a schedule. If you do, you are more likely to be organized and more likely to make better grades and stay focused.
Example:
MWF
6 Wake Up Time
8-9 English 101
9:15-10:15 Chemistry
10:30-11:30 College Algebra
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-4:00 Free Time (arcade, go to the gym)
4:00-6:00 Chores (i.e. Laundry on Wednesdays)
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-10:00 Study Time
10:00 Sleep Time

TR
Same Wake Up time
8-9:30 Psychology
9:45-11:15 Spanish
Rest of Schedule same as MWF

-Also AVOID peak times to wash your clothes. Wash before 6 otherwise you will wait all night to wash your clothes. I remember one time that I have to wait until 1 AM to wash my clothes! Don't make that mistake.

-Get plenty of quarters for washing and drying.

-When the fire alarm goes off in your dorm, GET OUT. If you don't, you will be written up.

-If you live at the dorms, make sure you follow the rules (i.e. quiet hours) and do not have illegal stuff (i.e. candles, George Foreman grills, drugs (duh)). If you don't you will get written up and you may be possibly fined.

-If you haven't declared a major yet, don't sweat! Just because your friends have not declared a major, doesn't mean you have to. Wait for at least a year, tops, and take the general education classes first. They include English, Math, Science, History, etc.

-If there is a welcome convocation, ATTEND it! You will meet the president of the univerisity, meet new friends, learn more about activites and clubs.

-If your roommate is homesick, talk to her. Maybe go out with her to a movie or bowling. But ask what her interests are. If you roomate is new to town, but you know the town very well, show her around.

-If possible, get the name and phone number of your roommate before you move in. Discuss with her what you would bring and compromise with the room situation.

[Ocalagirl]

Another good rule of thumb is to talk to you people you know about which professors to take. And take their advice! It will make taking classes easier and less painful on you! If you do not know anyone like me, go to http://www.ratemyprofessors.com or the professor grading system on Myspace.com until you meet people at your school.

Don't make the mistake to slack around the first two semesters. I made that mistake and it takes sooooooo much more work to pull up my GPA now and I could just kick myself for it!

Look closely at your syllabus!

For me I tried keep two calenders, one for homework, papers, etc. and the second one is just for social events. Just use one! It may sound like common sense to use one, but it is a lot easier.

Don't be over involved at your school, but don't be under involved. You have to find that happy balance between school (1st priority by the way), work (if you choose), and clubs and organizations.

Have FUN and meet NEW people, not just the ones you live with or have known since high school.

This advice is coming from a college junior so I know the game.

[Drolefille]

Actually George Foremans were allowed at my school. They don't have an "open heating element" like a toaster.

[Rollergirl2001]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Actually George Foremans were allowed at my school. They don't have an "open heating element" like a toaster.

You're lucky! At my school, they weren't allowed.

[Jimmy Choo]

* Go to the programs put on in your residence hall! Some may be stupid but others can be quite helpful. We had a course on self-defense which was great b/c I had a lot of night classes and did not always have a buddy to walk back with.
* And on that note, pay attention in your class to look for familar faces. Not only could you find a study buddy, but you could also find someone you can walk home with from a night class. Aviod being alone if you can. If you can't, find out where the public safety phones are or if your campus provides rides for students walking back late at night.
* Move in as early as you can so you can just wander around. This goes for your campus and your city/town. You'll find some cool places and probably some places to avoid as well.
* If you do get a credit card you only need one, not 17. And if you find you can't pay it, call the company and try to work something out. Also at that point, cancel the card and cut it up!!!!
* Most importantly, keep an open mind! You may meet types of people you have never encountered before. This is what the real world is like.

[Stef the Pef]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

5. Don't sleep with married men.

...OR PROFESSORS! No matter what the perks are, that's just a bad idea. Sure, it's okay to flirt, especially if they're towards your age or especially charming. But for the love of bob, don't pursue a relationship if he's in your major or minor! Good grief, you don't want your dirty laundry running around your major profs' minds when they're handing out grades, do you?!

Originally Posted by Dionysus

16. Explore the underground tunnels, but tell someone you're going.

Better yet, bring someone who knows the tunnels (or spires, if you're at a college who loooooves to put towers on every building). Our tunnels have an alarm system in them, so it's best to bring someone who knows where those alarms are, how to spot them, and how to avoid them. Do explore things like tunnels and towers, though, if for nothing else than the graffiti is a fun read.

Originally Posted by Dionysus

17. KNow the history of the dorms you're moving into. We have one that used to be a mental institution

Good grief, where is that?

Other assorted advice:
*It's okay not to drink. Most college students (aside from a few "whooo! no parents!" freshmen) will respect that if you don't because of religious reasons, because you know how you get when you're smashed, or if you'd just rather not risk it. It's better not to be trashed at parties because there are so so many things that can go wrong there! If you're the type of drunk who's prone to dancing on tables and hooking up, wait to explore the wide world of alcohol with a small group of trusted friends and not at parties. Your sorority's standards board will appreciate that.

*Pay attention to your health! Eat right, take breaks away from the books from time to time, and get some sleep. Developing problems like anemia or migraine headaches due to that academic perfectionism isn't worth it, and will ruin your grades. Taking the time to eat, sleep, or work out won't ruin your GPA if you manage your time well.

*Save your doctor's notes! They come in useful for challenging grade decisions or missed work.

*Be friendly! Don't be afraid to say hi to people in your classes or your other activities. Keeping to yourself all the time is no fun.

*Find student or school-related websites. Talk to existing students. Get to "know" other students or alums before coming to school and you'll be less nervous about the transition. My honors program had a message board set up for us that let us find out a little bit about each other before we even showed up. We kept meeting each other in person and going, "oh! you're so-and-so from the BIC boards who likes blahblahblah." Ask older students and alumni questions, too! We don't bite, and we've been in your shoes before and know a thing or two about many of the questions you ask.

*Go to your school's Orientation and Welcome Week programs. You get to know a lot of useful information through those.

*Go to athletic events! Tailgates are wonderful and games are usually a welcome break from stressing the heck out of yourself. Go with friends, and be loud!

*HUGE AMEN to not going home every weekend. Eventually your mom has to undo the umbilical cord, and at college, you need to start learning how to be independent. Unless there's a good reason for going home at every opportunity like a family member with a terminal illness, going home that often is just lame. You miss out on important things to do with friends if you're not there for the weekends.

*Don't over-pack--the move-in crews will thank you, and so will your roommate!

*If you have roommate issues, apply to switch. Sometimes there are singles reserved for people with certain health issues that aren't used every year, and you can go into one of those if you're lucky. Just remember that it's better to get out of a bad roommate situation than stay there.

*Community appliances SUCK. Out of the two microwaves in my dorm, both got broken on a regular basis and were unusable for about a week afterwards. If you can bring your own (or if your roomie can bring one to share), bring it. Same goes with things like TVs, computers, coffee pots--it's just better to know that you can have access to them when you need them. Another option would be getting a computer with a built-in cable TV hookup--it saves a lot of space and you won't have to worry about your required watching of political debates/____ documentary/whatever strange assignment your get that might involve TV conflicting with the masses' Desperate Housewives hour.

[AGDLynn]

All this talk about dropping classes if they are really hard, you are flunking, etc., keep in mind that some orgs./individual chapters may have a policy that the member must COMPLETE (NOT attempt) a certain number of hours to be in good standing the next semester.

Yes, make sure that your New Member Coordinator, Scholarship/Academic Coordinator, etc. knows that you are struggling and need help so at the end of the semester when grades come out, there won't be so much shock.

Most chapters try to have Initiation during the semester you pledged, but if it is delayed to the next semester, you want to make sure that you have a high enough GPA to be initiated.

After all, the chapter is expecting EVERYONE to make the required GPA EVERY SEMESTER. One low GPA can cancel out 3-4 high grades of other members for the overall chapter GPA.

[flirt5721]

Also check to see if any mid-semester courses are offered, in case you need to drop a class. I don't know how many colleges offer them but they are only worth 1-2 credits and will help you maintain fulltime status.

[Sailboat Sis]

Invest in a Pick-A-Prof account. Do it with a few friends to spread out the cost. It's well worth it. Don't just look at the grade distribution though. Read the reviews (with a grain of salt) to see if a professor's style of teaching is similar to your style of learning.

Set a GPA goal for yourself each semester, in each class. Having a "carrot" in front of your face is a great way to stay motivated throughout the semester. I'm aiming for at least a 3.6 this semester.

For the love of God, use Academic Advising and Career Services! Keep in mind that the top internship programs have early application deadlines. Start thinking about what you want to do in the summer in the fall.

Keep your Facebook profiles clean and neat! Don't have "drinking" under your interests, sloppy make out pictures of yourself, etc. Your profile is accessible to everyone and reflects you and your sorority.

Don't avoid the library. It's a great place to study, you just have to find the right spot.

After rush is over and done with, don't bother waking up bright & early to look cute for classes. You don't need make-up, a blow out, etc. for your 8 or 9 AM class.

Credit cards: only have one. Pay off your balance every month. Do not graduate with c/c debt and a bad credit rating... you'll be screwed. For purchases under $10, pay in cash ONLY.

MAJOR IN SOMETHING YOU LOVE. Your GPA will thank you. Concentrate on a high GPA, a great resume and good internships. It will get you and interview where you can really sell yourself. So many people in hiring have told me this. Also, don't feel like you have to major in political science to work in D.C. or in biology for med. school. DO WHAT YOU LOVE!!

[Stef the Pef]

So, what is Pick-A-Prof? Address? Link? TIA.

[Munchkin03]

One thing that I thought about when writing out rush recommendations--

After you graduate from high school, NO ONE cares what clubs you were in or what your parents did. Really.