Keerock
Footballguy
So my oldest starts college in the fall. He "knows everything", but I wanted to impart the wisdom of my years/life experiences to him. I'm sure I'll get the rolling eyes when I tell him these things, but I know some, if not most of it will stick and be in the back of his mind when certain situations arise. He's a really good kid, and I'm not really "worried" about him. Just want him to be ultra prepared.
In before "you should have been talking about these things before now". We have. I just want to a) make sure all the bases are covered and b) reiterate everything so it sticks.
The major topics I'd like to cover:
School/Studies
[*]Schedule classes as early as you can, and leave an hour between if possible. Use that hour to start/complete assignments from the class just finished or prepare for the class coming up next.
[*]Get as much of your studying/homework/projects done before dinner as possible. Too many distractions in the evening.
[*]The first year is BY FAR the most important to make sure you get good grades. It's much easier to start out strong and take a few hits here and there over the next few years. It's very hard to start out in the hole and work your way up.
[*]If you show up to every class and turn in all the work, you will always pass. Unless the prof is a #### and someone will tell you that early in the year. Sit in the front row, I know it sounds lame but your profs will remember you.
[*]If you know you won't be able to drag yourself out of bed for an 8:00 am class (a common problem), then don't sign up for one.
[*]Actually do reading assignments ahead of time. It's amazing how much more you'll understand what's going on in a lecture when you've seen the material before, even if you didn't grasp it all on your first pass.
[*]If you're having academic problems, talk to your professor. Most profs are actually pretty accessible and can give students good pointers. If your prof isn't accessible (the kind of guy who doesn't have office hours), go to your academic advisor. He or she can point you to tutoring or other services available for freshman-level classes on campus. Don't put off asking for help if you need it.
[*]In some classes, there's no substitute for breaking out pencil and paper and grinding through some stuff. Reading along with a solved calculus problem in the textbook is fine, but you need to do at least a dozen or so similar problems on your own.
[*]Take good notes. Review them weekly.
[*]Essay exams are the easiest tests in the world to prepare for. After reviewing your notes, you should be able to identify a small number (3-5) major topics that you might be asked about. Write up a detailed outline of how you would answer generic questions on those topics. Then memorize the outline. Practice the outline like you would practice a speech -- by pacing around saying it out loud to yourself in your dorm room. Even if the questions on the exam aren't exactly what you guessed (and often they will be), you can usually just tweak or merge these outlines to answer anything that would come up. I'm honestly not sure I ever got less than a 95% on these sorts of exams when I prepared this way.
[*]School comes first. the party you missed on Wednesday night will happen again on Friday.
[*]Study the same two hours every day. Or at least schedule a specific two hour chunk on each week day.
[*]Do some legwork to find out which classes and professors are the easiest. You're going to want a high GPA, so take classes from the easiest graders.
[*]Get to know your professor. You're just a number to him. If he can put a face with that number it will help.
Extracurriculars/Volunteerism
[*]Make sure "school" isn't the only thing on your resume when you graduate. Join a club that interests you. Get some friends to volunteer with you to help out a charity.
Social
[*]The friends you make in college are different from your other friends. This is really the first time you will meet people with whom you really have a common bond. There is nothing at all like spending all night in the computer lab working on a final project with a few friends. It sucks at the time, but 20 years later you will still remember those times. And those friends will be lifelong friends.
The Wimmins
[*]Don't get "involved" with a girl who's not smart. Your life (short term and long term) will be much easier if you stick with girls with a head on their shoulders.
[*]Don't be a #### to any chick. Word travels fast.
[*]Recognize that there are some girls who only want sex. Take advantage of that, and don't try to get involved with those types.
[*]ALWAYS wear a condom! No matter what she says! You and all your siblings were conceived while your mom was on the pill. Smoking hotties and nerdy girls that spend all their time in the library can carry the VDs too!
[*]Stay single and have fun. Enjoy the experience and freedoms of being a single college dude. Don't hole up (no pun intended) with one girl for 4-5 years. And for god's sakes DO NOT bother trying to make a long-distance thing work with a present gf.
Money
[*]Never loan money to your friends, if you want to keep them. You'll resent it the next time you needs some and they don't have it.
[*]Do not sign up for a credit card. Do not sign up for a credit card. Do not sign up for a credit card. We will sign up for one credit card (together) that you can use for books/supplies/emergencies, and I will pay it off for you. This will help establish a good credit history for you. Be advised that all charges will need to be explained (to me).
Work/Jobs
Ask the upperclassmen what the best jobs on or near campus are and go apply. You are only in class 2-4 hours a day. Wimmens like guys with money and I'm not paying for your beer, drugs, or wimmins.
Other/Misc
[*]College can be an awesome experience. But stay in touch with your good HS friends... those friendships can be rewarding/important for a lifetime. In the same vein, it's time for you to be independent, but you better make sure to communicate with your parents regularly (weekly...).
[*]Don't drive drunk or ride with a drunk. Call me if you ever need a ride home! I promise I'll call you a cab or come get you without yelling because I love you and I went to college once a long time ago.
[*]Make sure to include fitness in your weekly routines to stay in shape. With all the late night drinking, eating and fast food the extra pounds can pile on fast. And just like with the studies...it's very hard to let yourself go and work your way back, than to start out on top and let a few lbs slide here and there.
[*]The internet is written in ink - don't post stupid stuff on FB or Twitter. Likewise, texts and emails can come back to bite you. Careful what you write.
In before "you should have been talking about these things before now". We have. I just want to a) make sure all the bases are covered and b) reiterate everything so it sticks.
The major topics I'd like to cover:
School/Studies
[*]Schedule classes as early as you can, and leave an hour between if possible. Use that hour to start/complete assignments from the class just finished or prepare for the class coming up next.
[*]Get as much of your studying/homework/projects done before dinner as possible. Too many distractions in the evening.
[*]The first year is BY FAR the most important to make sure you get good grades. It's much easier to start out strong and take a few hits here and there over the next few years. It's very hard to start out in the hole and work your way up.
[*]If you show up to every class and turn in all the work, you will always pass. Unless the prof is a #### and someone will tell you that early in the year. Sit in the front row, I know it sounds lame but your profs will remember you.
[*]If you know you won't be able to drag yourself out of bed for an 8:00 am class (a common problem), then don't sign up for one.
[*]Actually do reading assignments ahead of time. It's amazing how much more you'll understand what's going on in a lecture when you've seen the material before, even if you didn't grasp it all on your first pass.
[*]If you're having academic problems, talk to your professor. Most profs are actually pretty accessible and can give students good pointers. If your prof isn't accessible (the kind of guy who doesn't have office hours), go to your academic advisor. He or she can point you to tutoring or other services available for freshman-level classes on campus. Don't put off asking for help if you need it.
[*]In some classes, there's no substitute for breaking out pencil and paper and grinding through some stuff. Reading along with a solved calculus problem in the textbook is fine, but you need to do at least a dozen or so similar problems on your own.
[*]Take good notes. Review them weekly.
[*]Essay exams are the easiest tests in the world to prepare for. After reviewing your notes, you should be able to identify a small number (3-5) major topics that you might be asked about. Write up a detailed outline of how you would answer generic questions on those topics. Then memorize the outline. Practice the outline like you would practice a speech -- by pacing around saying it out loud to yourself in your dorm room. Even if the questions on the exam aren't exactly what you guessed (and often they will be), you can usually just tweak or merge these outlines to answer anything that would come up. I'm honestly not sure I ever got less than a 95% on these sorts of exams when I prepared this way.
[*]School comes first. the party you missed on Wednesday night will happen again on Friday.
[*]Study the same two hours every day. Or at least schedule a specific two hour chunk on each week day.
[*]Do some legwork to find out which classes and professors are the easiest. You're going to want a high GPA, so take classes from the easiest graders.
[*]Get to know your professor. You're just a number to him. If he can put a face with that number it will help.
Extracurriculars/Volunteerism
[*]Make sure "school" isn't the only thing on your resume when you graduate. Join a club that interests you. Get some friends to volunteer with you to help out a charity.
Social
[*]The friends you make in college are different from your other friends. This is really the first time you will meet people with whom you really have a common bond. There is nothing at all like spending all night in the computer lab working on a final project with a few friends. It sucks at the time, but 20 years later you will still remember those times. And those friends will be lifelong friends.
The Wimmins
[*]Don't get "involved" with a girl who's not smart. Your life (short term and long term) will be much easier if you stick with girls with a head on their shoulders.
[*]Don't be a #### to any chick. Word travels fast.
[*]Recognize that there are some girls who only want sex. Take advantage of that, and don't try to get involved with those types.
[*]ALWAYS wear a condom! No matter what she says! You and all your siblings were conceived while your mom was on the pill. Smoking hotties and nerdy girls that spend all their time in the library can carry the VDs too!
[*]Stay single and have fun. Enjoy the experience and freedoms of being a single college dude. Don't hole up (no pun intended) with one girl for 4-5 years. And for god's sakes DO NOT bother trying to make a long-distance thing work with a present gf.
Money
[*]Never loan money to your friends, if you want to keep them. You'll resent it the next time you needs some and they don't have it.
[*]Do not sign up for a credit card. Do not sign up for a credit card. Do not sign up for a credit card. We will sign up for one credit card (together) that you can use for books/supplies/emergencies, and I will pay it off for you. This will help establish a good credit history for you. Be advised that all charges will need to be explained (to me).
Work/Jobs
Ask the upperclassmen what the best jobs on or near campus are and go apply. You are only in class 2-4 hours a day. Wimmens like guys with money and I'm not paying for your beer, drugs, or wimmins.
Other/Misc
[*]College can be an awesome experience. But stay in touch with your good HS friends... those friendships can be rewarding/important for a lifetime. In the same vein, it's time for you to be independent, but you better make sure to communicate with your parents regularly (weekly...).
[*]Don't drive drunk or ride with a drunk. Call me if you ever need a ride home! I promise I'll call you a cab or come get you without yelling because I love you and I went to college once a long time ago.
[*]Make sure to include fitness in your weekly routines to stay in shape. With all the late night drinking, eating and fast food the extra pounds can pile on fast. And just like with the studies...it's very hard to let yourself go and work your way back, than to start out on top and let a few lbs slide here and there.
[*]The internet is written in ink - don't post stupid stuff on FB or Twitter. Likewise, texts and emails can come back to bite you. Careful what you write.
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I would add to major in something you can actually use for a job, not history or some other BS.
ing this because some of it is what we all still should know, but mostly because I loved college so much and it's been fun to cruise through this today.
![[icon]](/data/avatars/m/5/5167.jpg?1660313464){kind=avatar}
o EVERYTHING you can to avoid an 8am class. Trust me on this. As much as you tell yourself you will, you WON'T go. 9am at the earliest. In the summer, shoot for 10am. Late classes in the summer are bad because you'll already be drunk and will skip more. If you can be out of class by 1-2pm then you're golden in the summer. During regular school semesters... just try to avoid very early or very late classes. ALSO, for ONE semester, try to load up your classes on a TUE/THUR schedule. If you can pull this off, then you will have a tough go of it 2 days a week, but then you'll have 4-day weekends every week. If you can get 2-3 buddies to pulll this off then that will be your road trip semester. Junior Year is good for this.PRIORITIES IN COLLEGE:1) PARTY and have fun2) GET good enough grades to acheive what you need to
Got through school by reading the synopses, then dropping/adding any class/professor that based more than 10% of the grade on attendance.I'd buy the notes and study before exams.. much more efficient than class.
