During your first year in college, how did you get along with of the students?

Question

Please describe your first day, first class, first essay assignment or anything else.
Also, if you can, give me tips on what to do and what not to do.
Tell me about meals, students and weekly/daily work that you had to do.
Thank you everyone. I am just trying to get ready for college.

Answer 1

Its a little unsettling at first, its a whole new environment, lots of new people, new rules, but you get used to it real fast. You will make some great friends if you live in a dorm or co-op or fraternity or sorority. Do your best to prepare, read the catalog to understand what the requirements will be for the course of study you want to take.

Try to be early for registration if possible, you have a better chance of getting the classes you want. If you are in a structured living arrangement like a fraternity or sorority by all means ask the upper class people who are the professors to avoid and what the flunk out classes are. A lot of colleges lay a mine field of required courses, some of which are there for no reason other than to flunk people out. You must avoid these classes. Happily, there are almost always alternatives to the flunk out courses. You must find these.

You will sort of automatically have a lot of fun in college. It is kind of unavoidable: go for it! Enjoy yourself! But balance fun and studies. Keep your eyes and your mind open to fantastic wonderful new fields of study that might totally fascinate you for the rest of your life. You may finish with the same major that you start with. (Sorry about that preposition) More likely you will find new fields of study that interest you more.

One of the most important things is to know the proper form for submitting papers. Try to find a style guide for writing. Its not that hard, but it is sometimes absolutely necessary for some professors that papers be submitted in a precise form. Oh, and on the topic of papers, I cannot stress enough--start them as early as you can and finish them early, too, because almost everybody puts them off until the last minute and then resources are very strained or unavailable. Meals? Dorm food is nothing to write home about, except perhaps to compare forlornly to Mom's cooking. Student Union food is a step above.

Answer 2

Don't listen to anything that anyone else tells you. You will never be prepared.

I work as a residence director in a hall of 150 freshman. These students are first year, first time, right out of high school, freshman. On that first day you can anticipate the anxiety. Remember this ... everyone is in the same situation ... the guy/girl that is living down the hall knows just as many people as you ... 0.

Leave your door open, smile and nod at everyone and say hello. You will be surprised that when you say hello to someone, 20min later they will be in your room asking if you want to be the best friends forever ... well not that drastic ... but they will see a friendly face and want to talk with them again.

Keep your door open and visit those who do. My first night at college my entire hallway was in the hall talking and getting to know each other ... because ... we left our doors open and talked.

Just remember ... most people will be in your same position.

Inquire if your college has a SOAR or summer orientation program. This is a great way to get accustom to the college community before classes start.

Answer 3

Well for me that was a long time ago. I think it is different for everyone. Your first day will seem overwhelming, college classes are huge, a lot less interactive the high school. You will basically need to get the campus down pat, where your classes are and so forth. It isn't easy meeting people unless you are in a smaller college or in a faternity/sorority or in a social club. Meals, that depends. Most have cafeterias that are all different. Each class has it's own work load. A lot more is expected of you and there isn't individual attention like in high school, professors are busy people and expect you to listen, take notes and complete the work. It is a great thing college, just time to be a grown up.

Answer 4

First year:

My first class was English at 7:40 in the morning. I do not suggest doing a class that early, I thought I could handle it because of high school but I was wrong (It was also Monday, Wednesday, Friday). My first day was weird because I didn't know where I was going and I was under the impression that no one else did. I sat on a bench until 7:30 and decided to head into my firs class only to realize I was one of the last people there. The teacher made us join up in groups for the semester so we could get to know each other, everyone was nervous, but after a while the tension or what have you subsided and it was all good.

First essay wasn't too bad, I can't remember whether it was in English class or not. Just treat it like high school (at least for your first semester), and go with the flow until you get the hang of everything.

Don't hesitate to change your major if it wasn't what you thought it would be. Seek out your academic adviser for any questions. Utilize the school resources (such as health, etc.) and at least know where they are. Get used to your school.

I didn't live on campus but from what I hear the meals were alright. You could also use your money from the meal plan at places that accepted them on and off campus such as Burger King or places exclusively on the campus like a pasta place or something.

Weekly/Daily work? First semester:
-English was pretty much just listening to my teacher (professor) talk about stuff about the next paper and us going into our groups to discuss articles and magazines that we had to write about.

-Math........was math, basic thing where the teacher teaches and we listen

-This one class had it where we learned about the school itself (where we learned about the school resources). It was alright. Mostly just listening again and having class discussions

-A design class which was boring, like watching a long movie about something that almost had nothing to do with what you're supposed to be learning.

-Another design class, basic lecture class with a lot of guest lecturers.

Most work was homework, which was mostly papers or group projects. Easy enough, for me at least.

Like I said, just take advantage of whats there to help you and guide you. Get used to your surroundings.

Answer 5

First day - Try and do a "dry run" of where your classes are in relation to your dorm and other buildings so you have your bearings and know how much to carry with you (or not to carry).
- Listen carefully to your professors the first day and keep all handouts (syllabus - schedule) and read them carefully. Some of these may be accessable online as well.
-If you have a question but don't want to ask it in class - wait until class is over and approach the professor. If there isn't time e-mail your question.
-Make sure to introduce yourself to someone else in class the first week and exchange email addresses or phone numbers in case one of you is ever absent. Be careful here because you don't want someone who is chronically absent to pick your brain the whole semester!
Meals - they are okay and I think they are getting better all the time. Just watch what you eat --- especially late at night. Otherwise, you'll get fat.
Words of Wisdom - You know right now you have things sort of figured out as far as the kind of person you are. You have some character and you know right from wrong. Please - please - please --- don't change the good things because other people want you to "try something different."

Take care of yourself and call your parents and/or siblings often.

Answer 6

What you are describing when you discuss the loss of Mother and Grandmother are known as feelings of abandonment. These feelings are quite common and are to be expected. Also, the distance you feel from your Father stem from the loss of the Maternal images in your life. Your desire for a g/f to talk to are a good thing. Even a friendship you could form with a young lady would be healthy outlet for you. I would recommend that you seek some counseling from a licensed therapist to help you sort through your feelings that you may understand and accept them and ultimately move forward in your life. The schoolwork will pay big dividends, but, if you are overwhelmed, talk to a curriculum counselor to trim some classes or postpone a course or two. May God bless you.

Answer 7

My first day had 4 classes back 2 back, had no time 2 eat and was sooo focused on getting good marks that devoted entire attention to absorbing info in class. Socialization consisted of 5 minutes b/f proffesor entered class and ended abrubtly when said entered. spent about 8-10 hours out of class studying every day.

Answer 8

enjoy the first day itself your total college life will be beutiful and also one more suggestion any college is just reflection to yourself thik positve be positive

Answer 9

WHY DOES COLLEGE HAVE TO DO WITH HOW YOU MAKE FRIENDS? you should just be yourslef and be a nice person. (don't be yourself if your an asshole... just telling)