I know that some of you are in college now. I know that every college is going to be different, but there probably are still some similarities.
How is college different than high school?
What are the dorms like?
How is the food?
Is it a huge major change not being at home?
What are some college necessities?
Is there a ton of homework?
Are the classes long?
Anything else I should know?
Speaking of college, I watched Revenge of the Nerds over Christmas break. I watched with my parents. During part of the movie, my dad asked if it was too late for me to join a convent...
Now about the book stuff. For Christmas, Amasis and I got $20 each for books. Originally, it was to but e-books...for the nook I was supposed to get...which I didn't get. I got a TV instead. I was sad. Anyway, on Thursday, my dad took us to the mall. To Barnes and Noble. I was a very happy little bookworm. :) I saw a few books that I wanted, and I couldn't decide which one to get. While I was still looking, my dad gave each of us another $20. I was an even happier little bookworm. I ended up getting a box set the first three books of the Mortal Instruments series and the Rise of Hannibal Lecter. (originally $28. I got it for $3.49)
My box set is all paperback. I don't want them to get ruined. Is there something I can do with them? I'm probably going to reread it a few times, so the spines will probably get pretty bad. Same with my Harry Potter books. They're all paperback...except for the one I dropped in a lake...oops...
Au revoir. Je m'en vais.
-Amarantha93
Hey, Amarantha! :) Congrats on the college acceptances! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a college junior--first at a local community college and now at a small private school.
How is college different than high school?
I was homeschooled through high school, so I don't have firsthand info on this. People I have talked to have said that college is more in-depth than high school.
What are the dorms like?
They're not horrible, but they can be interesting. We have tiny old dorms. Living in them is not as bad as I had imagined. It's sort of a shared experience, so you'll always find someone to sympathize with you when the shower suddenly loses all hot water--it only happened twice this semester! :D Having a roommate isn't too bad, either. My first roommate and I were total opposites, but we didn't fight. But this semester I have a good friend and fellow nerd as a roommate. It's wonderful! :D
How is the food?
This really depends on the college. Our food isn't bad as far as cafeterias go, but it will get monotonous after a while. If you can break it up with the occasional take out meal, some cooking in the communal dorm kitchen, and snacks in your room, you'll find it easier to eat the cafeteria food. Granted, I work in the cafeteria, so that skews my view.
Is it a huge major change not being at home?
Yes. But chances are you'll be too busy to get really homesick, at least that is how it was for me. You'll probably relish your independence, too. I can and will eat Oreos at 1 am because there is nobody here to stop me. As long as you keep in touch with your family--through email, calls, and visits--you should be able to balance staying in contact and being independent.
What are some college necessities?
Headphones if you want to listen to music when your roommate is asleep, a fridge and microwave so you'll have food when the cafeteria is closed, flip flops for the shower, laundry sheets as opposed to laundry detergent--saves space and hassle, good shoes because you'll probably be walking a lot, and some good books for days when you want to read anything but homework. :D
I had to break my comment up into two parts . . .
Is there a ton of homework?
ReplyDeleteDepends on the classes. With your general ed classes, it will definitely depend on the professors. Some are more lenient than others. In my experience, I've found that I usually have 1 class per semester that is super easy, 1-2 classes that are not really hard but require effort, and then 1-2 classes that require a lot of studying. Just prioritize your studying accordingly. I've found that, based on discussions with most people, courses like English, history, science, or math are regarded as harder than more elective type stuff, like sociology or art appreciation, but then again, individual professors can make a huge difference, as does whether or not you have an aptitude for the subject. As you take upper-level classes in your major, the homework loads will get larger, but some of the classes will still be easier than others.
Are the classes long?
Both of the colleges I have went to have a rotating schedule with Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes being 50 minutes long and Tuesday/Thursday classes being 80 minutes long. Night classes meet once a week and last nearly three hours. Therefore, M/W/F classes usually go by pretty quickly, provided the subject or professor is not really boring. T/Th classes can be tedious but not always. Night classes can be hard to sit through just because of the length. I enjoyed my two English Comp night classes but my speech night class was an exercise in futility. It was interesting for the first hour, but not for the whole class! If you have any say in your classes, schedule them based on whether you're a morning or afternoon person. I'm a morning person, so having morning classes automatically makes me more alert, regardless of the length of the class.
Anything else I should know?
I think you'll enjoy college. It's a great experience. Take advantage of any opportunities your college offers, whether it's concerts or travel or theater or sporting events. Also, have fun with your general eds. That will give you a chance to explore subjects that interest you and they may get you interested in subjects you never had found interesting before . . . maybe even a new major. Also, if you're looking for likeminded friends, in my case people who do not party and act like idiots, join a club or other activity that interests you. You'll meet people with similar interests, in addition to people from your classes and dorm.
I'm sorry for the gigantic comment. Hope this is helpful to you! :)
WHY ARE BOOKS SO NOT EXPENSIVE THERE!?
ReplyDeleteAnd I loved Mortal Instruments :D
Wow, Zella is very accurate, as usual, yep. College for me felt kind of like high school, except for the difference that classes are 200 people lecture halls instead of 25 people classes (thats if you go to a big university. one of my friends went to a small one and her biggest class is only like 40 people), the campus is a LOT bigger than a high school campus, plus you live there. Dorms are decent, but you do have very limited space so you have to figure out what you really have to bring with you and what can stay...one room in my building the people brought in a keyboard, guitar, and drum set, which apparently is because they like music and are willing to make the space for it, but clearly that takes a lot of space. I made room for a small TV and a fishtank, which I find relaxing. Basically most dorms just give you a desk, a bed, and some closet space, and it's up to you to work out all the spacing issues. Roommates generally you'll get along with no matter what kind of person you/your roommate are, because, well, you're forced to live together and most people are willing to be tolerant in order to live peacefully. Yeah, there will have to be some quirks you'll have to get used to, like my roommate likes death metal but he's nice enough to always use headphones, for example. Food...well, imagine eating your high school cafeteria's food three meals a day. Yeah, any time you can get off campus you're going to enjoy it. :) For the homework/studying load, the general rule of thumb is 1 hour of studying per week for each unit of class, so if you're taking say, 20 units, set aside about 20 hours of studying time each week...though of course that varies for people. For me some classes it's more like 2 hours per unit, others maybe half an hour for each unit. Classes here for me are the same as Zella's, actually, so I don't know if maybe the MWF/TuTh class system is pretty common. You'll end up having more free time because you're only taking about four classes, and each class only meets 3 (or 2) times a week, but the rest of the spare time, especially the first few months, will be you figuring out what to do and building a routine. Sleep, naps, exploring the school, eating, doing laundry, other household chores you've never had to think about, lots of getting to know people and just talking, perhaps some partying, (please take my advice and stay away from drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol!), and hopefully, a fair amount of studying. :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, I think I might need a two-part comment too, but Zella is very accurate again, as usual. :) College is definitely a new experience, a good one. To me it just feels like a lot bigger high school (like 200 person lecture halls instead of 25 person classes), plus you live right there. Dorms are decent, smallish, but livable. Basically they give you a desk, some closet space, and a bed, and it's up to you to decide how you want to use the alloted space. I made room for a few Pachirisu plushies, (you probably want something comforting like that that you like,)a TV, and a fishtank, which I find relaxing. Another person in my building has a keyboard, guitar, and drum set. So basically, you have to just pick what means more to you and what you want to keep with you. Roommates you'll generally get along with well, because, well, you're living together for the whole year. Most people are decent enough to tolerate others, but there are quirks you'll have to get used to, for example, my roommate likes death metal, but he's decent to me by wearing headphones when he listens to that. You'll end up building like a second family with your roommate/other people in your building, so Zella's probably right that that, combined with the new bit of independence, you probably won't be insanely homesick. (but still, vacations going back are going to be good.)
ReplyDeleteFor the homework/studying, the general rule of thumb is one hour of studying per week per unit of class, so, for example, if you're taking 16 units of classes, you'd leave about 16 hours of studying per week. Of course, this varies from person to person, teacher to teacher, and class to class, but this gives you a general idea when you're trying to come up with a schedule. You'll end up having more free time than in high school, because (if you have the same MWF/TuTh class system as me and Zella have) because classes meet only 3 (or 2) days a week. But most of this free time you'll spend just adjusting, especially in the first few months. Figuring out a routine, sleep, naps, computer time, hanging out time with a bunch of new friends, eating (which actually takes a bit of time if the closest dining hall is far away), perhaps partying, (take my advice and stay away from drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol!), hopefully not too much partying, and hopefully, a fair amount of studying. :) The most annoying thing about living away from home though? ALWAYS needing one of those toilet liner things when you have to go to the bathroom. But whatever. Good Luck! :D
ReplyDeleteright now, at my high school, we kinda have block scheduling. we have A and B days. 4 classes each day. they're 92 minutes long. so I'm used to having an extra day for homework.
ReplyDeleteand I will stay away from cigarettes because they make me cough and feel sick. I'll stay away form alcohol because I hate them smell of it. and drugs I'll stay away from drugs (especially if it involves needles. I'm afraid of needles)
Hey, I thought google ate my first comment. It told me it was too long. Then I had to somewhat rewrite the whole thing. Gosh, this is worse than Gary.
ReplyDeleteAnd good!!! Drugs smoking and alcohol are probably the worst things of college ever. Young people abusing their new found independence... These substances can ruin you if you're not careful. Everyone knows this, but sadly, not everyone cares. :P