Help! i am 16 and going to college and completely clueless. can I have some advices please?Pre-med major.?

Question

I am 16 and I am entering college, its like I'm really freaking out, I need help. Please advise me. All, give me from your experience. And tell me about college. pretty please

How do I impress a professor. I am taking pre-med, and I havent had problems with my state exams in mathematics but I made silly mistakes in Algebra in class, what If I do in college. I never knew the
value of GPA until the end of my high school. Im going to feel really bad if I have a bad GPA for any reason, is there any way I can avoid it(having a bad GPA)?
I am not really good at making friends either. And if I tend to read alone I either fll asleep or feel like eating except if its cramming something like the parts of a skeleton or the elements... How do I socialize, wats the code for all that?
I know nothing about Financial Aid either. Is it advisable for me to work in my freshman year?
Is it possible for me to start a christian group too, with or without the school's approval?
HEEEEL

YES I've graduated. its not the age that matters but the fact that I'm clueless

Answer 1

read, obey and socialize.

Answer 2

keep in mind that premed is not really a major....most people don't ever get to med school, so get a degree in something that you can use when you don't get accepted......if you did poorly at Algebra, there isn't a lot of hope for you, med school requires a great memory and perseverance at things that are tedious and boring. Your GPA in HS doens't matterif you have already been accepted. Chances are, your GPA in college will not be that great since high schools today do not prepare kids for higher learning. About 40% of college kids have to take remedial classes to be able to qualify for a college course. Expect to do poorly until you learn how to study. Remember that college professors don't care if you didn't do your work, they just fail you. It's not HS. No one cares why you didn't get it done!Working your first yr is a mistake and socializing is a waste. Be friendly but realize that your entire future is riding on what you do in college. All night partying may sound fun and great at the time, but it will cost you when you are not prepared for class. Most kids are not mature enough to say "no" to friends, so you will probably be out all night partying and miss a few tests here and there and blow some grades. Financial Aid is designed for people to go way into debt getting a degree that doesn't pay well and be stuck with 50,000 of debt making 25,000 a year. don't do it....get scholarships, do work study, don't run up bills you will never be able to pay. There are plenty of groups on campus to join, no need to start your own. There are many jobs that pay more than those with college degrees, a program for a vocation may be better for you. It costs less and you start making money quickly.

Answer 3

My advise? Most my nieces and nephews entered college at 16. Just turned 17 as I graduated. NEVER try to impress, be yourself. People see right through the 'fake'. You seem to have a lot of fears. Don't overload yourself the first year. This is your time to adjust, make friends, have a little fun. Take fewer classes, take ones that really interest you, and you can and will spend more time studying them, which should help you in the grade department. Making friends isn't hard at all. There will be someone about your age, maybe lots of them, there usually is. I am not saying this in a bad way, but entering college at 16 isn't really unique. My cousin did, and was a lawyer at a very young age, moved to L.A. and is now a big TV producer. Point is, no one expects anymore or less from you because of your age. You are however entering into an adult world. You and only you are responsible for getting things done on time. You can do it. You'll be fine. I'd wish you luck, but I doubt you'll need it.

Answer 4

You are not clueless, but you do have some insecurity about this transition. the term for what you are feeling is called "normal." I am a science teacher, and have a B.S. in Biology. The school I went to pretty much had the entire biology program set up as premed, and I will not lie to you, it is tough. The trick, if you can call it that, is not to try and impress anyone, or do what others have done to be successful, but to do what mkes YOU successful.

That said, take college in little steps. wacth more than you talk at first, so you can see what type of social circles you want to be a part of. I would advise against a lot of partying, though that may be readily available. Keep things small and maybe just join one or two groups on campus. Your school may have a Christian group (I went to a Catholic college, so well, yeah it did) and it is better to join and observe before trying to take a leadership role and start one. If there is no group, try and see if there is a group you are interested in joining, and be a part of it, to see not just what you like, but how it works. The maybe try to get something going next year. Don't pour out too much of yourself in this freshman year, because things can change. Good luck.

Answer 5

If you're only 16 and going to college, the professors will be impressed with you from the start. In class, volunteer answers when no one seems to know the answer. Ask questions that shows you've really thought about it from a different perspective. Depending on the professor, try to visit them during their office hours about questions. Instead of worrying about the grade, worry more about what you're learning, and let the professors know that.

Most of the colleges will have the christian group formed already, but if not, you can see the student body officers about starting one. They're located in the student union building.

Classes also assign group tasks and things. It'll be a good way to get to know other students. Be a brain, that helps with others who need your help. Good way to meet people. Hang out where people are, even if your first company is a good book.

Financial aids are mainly grants, scholarships, both of which you don't have to pay back. Then, there's loan, which you do have to pay back. Stay away from loans as much as possible. There's also working on campus option. That's a good way to meet people also.

Good luck! College is a very exciting place. Just don't go out of your way to please others and stand up for who you are. People will respect you more for that, and in the end, you'll have more opportunities because of it.

P.S. Major is very important. Don't do pre-med or pre-law. Go into something definite. Most law schools and med schools like people who have done something definite during undergrad, i.e., bio-chemistry, chemical engineering, etc. If you can try to minor in business as well. Knowledge in business give people more confidence when they get out in the real world.

Answer 6

Congratulations on being able to go to college at 16. If you were able to swing that, my guess is that your GPA isn't going to be much of a problem. I would imagine that you've got the studying/testing thing down pretty darned well at this point.

First of all, relax. College seems intimidating at first, but once you've been there for a month or two you'll get your feet under you and everything will be fine. Those first few months can be tough, though, so expect those few months to be difficult.

Don't worry about impressing your professors. They've seen it all. The last thing they want to deal with is a student trying to ingratiate himself. The first thing you can do is do exceptional work. Try do more than merely get good grades. Try to actually understand what they're trying to teach you.

Also, professors have "office hours". They set aside a few hours each week where they hang around in their offices and make themselves available to students. Amazingly most students never bother to go. Go to office hours and talk to your professors. Don't just talk about this week's assignment or next week's test. Try to genuinely pick their brains about the subject.

You probably won't have to start a Christian group because organizations like Intervarsity and Campus Crusade for Christ are already present on most major campuses. Join up with one of them. That'll probably help you a lot during the initial months at school. That'll also help with the whole making friends thing.

The best way to learn about financial aid is to visit the financial aid office of your school. Ask to talk to a counselor. They are there to help students navigate the maze of financial aid.

I would say that if you can swing not having a job your freshman year, then do it. Concentrate on other stuff. However, if you need the money, get a job. Lots of people do it and survive quite well.

The bottom line is that you'll do well if you put in the effort to do well. Don't allow yourself to become a hermit. Even if it seems awkward and uncomfortable to go to functions and meet people, force yourself. Put in the work to truly excel at your classes.

My guess is that you're going to do just fine, and you'll look back and wonder what the heck you were worried about.

Answer 7

Financial Aid - contact the financial aid office at the college and go in to talk to them, they can answer any questions you have and should be more than willing to help.
Impressing professors - don't brown nose. Do your work. Study. And read a little bit ahead in your books if you can so that you have a basic understanding of what they are presenting in class. This will help you to retain the information and allow you to answer questions in class (thus scoring some brownie points). Also, don't be afraid to communicate with your professors. If they know what's going on they are more likely to attempt to help you or help arrange accomodations for you than if they don't have a clue about what's going on. They will automatically assume in some cases that you haven't come to class all week because you didn't want to, when it might be that you've had a bad case of the flu and been too sick to come to class. They will work with you if you keep them informed.
GPA - Put at least 100% into every class from the beginning of every semester. This has helped me to keep my grades up if something happens later in the semester and you have to miss (I had to have surgery one semester and got A's in all my classes even though I had missed a BUNCH of days. Which I don't advise. lol.) Also, try to avoid late nights with your friends, except on weekends, and don't fall in with a crowd that parties as your grades will suffer for it. Also if you're having trouble in a class don't be afraid to ask your professor for help. A lot of schools have a "learning center" and tutors available to help you if you're having trouble and your professor should know where these are located and how to get involved in them.
Friends - I have social anxiety disorder and never talk to anyone unless they talk to me first. You'll find that you'll start having a few conversations before/after class with the people in your class and should make friends pretty easy. Most college kids are pretty friendly. There is no "code" for socializing. Just be yourself and you'll make friends in no time.
Work - If you are taking a full course load (12 hours or more) I DO NOT advise working. You'll find that you won't have the time you need to study and do your homework if you do and your grades will suffer as a result.
Christian group - In my experience, most colleges already tend to have a christian group of some sort already in existence. Call your school's information office or go by and ask them, they should be happy to help. If they don't have one try to get the school's approval (they should give it to you if you can find a staff member to sponsor you). If not, find a local church and join their youth group/young adults group and get involved with them.

I know it's a scary experience and feeling nervous about it is completely normal. Heck I went back to college when I was 23 (2 years ago) and it was scary for me then too. Just take a deep breath (remember to let it out, lol) and try to relax. It won't be as bad as you can imagine it being.

Answer 8

1. You don't need to freak out, your pre-med advisor will help you.
2. You impress your professor by studying the material they are teaching.
3. Your school should have a pre-med club. Get together with those students and their advisor because they'll help you.
4. Don't work the first year. Grades are very important for medical school. If you earn a few extra bucks and don't get into medical school as a result, would it be worth it?
5. You don't necessary need your schools approval to start a Christian group, but you may if your group is going to use on campus facilities. You don't need to start a Christian group for pre-med,.there already is one. It's called the "Christian Medical and Dental Society".

Answer 9

Mind over matter. What you fear you draw to you. So, clean your mind's slate.

Focus on the results you want, and the direction. Your mind is more powerful than you think, and capable of more. If you have the will, the desire, then simply "believe" in yourself. Know that you have the ability to do what it takes academically. And as for socially -- don't try so hard. Just be you. As you live and experience life, it will shape who you are. But stay positive no matter what negativity comes your way. Refuse to let it in, and bring you down. You will reach your dreams.

By the way you wrote your question, you sound like you have a great personality -- and the ability to succeed!

Well, do I know it works -- yes -- ask my daughter -- she went to McMaster University, then Western, and now she will attend McGill in September. I told her this stuff too when she was 16 yrs. And she is still going strong.

Let me know how you make out.

Hugs

Answer 10

hey i'm also in premed but i'm not in the states so i dont kno wat a GPA is either.
about impressing ur professor i gotta ask u a Q first. how many student are in ur class cos in my class i have abt 66, so it's kinda hard to be noticed in the first place. but wat i do in my classes to get noticed is to ask Qs (shows u'v bin paying attention too)
secondly abt the algrebra thing, learn from ur mistakes, once u realise the mistakes u keep making and be extra careful next tym.
abt the making friends issue try talking to the person who sits beside u.u could also kill 2 birds with 1 stone by finding out how they study and asking if u can hav a study session together where u ask each other Qs and stuff. i usually eat when im studying cos it stops the hunger pains etc.
abt financial aid yet again im not sure how u would go about it in the states. i personally would advise u not to work in ur freshman year as u need tym to adjust ur schedule and see how ur college works. but if u really feel like u need to get a job dont get one that's too demanding(u'll understand once u get towards ur exam like im in ryt now)

Answer 11

First of all take a deep breathe!! You need to sit down with a good book. I recommend something like this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0768900107/ref=pd_sim_b_4/104-2705391-2327932?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155

Don't sweat the small stuff like silly mistakes in Algebra class or impressing your profs. Do your best, be yourself and RELAX. You might also want to talk to your future school about orientation, financial aid and starting on campus groups. Call the schools advising center and ask them to get you hooked up with some info. They might even have a program to link you to a sr student who will hlep show you the ropes. Good luck and enjoy yourself!