What is college like? And tips pls!

[chanyeolears]

Hope you give me a long comment ^^

 

EDIT: I'm an introvert so it's kinda difficult for me to get out of my comfort zone. I was really comfortable with my friends and classmates in high school :(

[sammydee]

Much easier than highschool only if you want it to be.

-Make friends

-make friends with nerds

-make friends with the cool kids

-make friends with the staff, they can help you sometimes

-study well! Have all the fun you want but your grades are still most important

-Just enjoy, it's one the best phases of your life

 

I guess that's the starter pack

[north]

Hmm I honestly find it a lot more easier than high school. But then again it's my first year and I'm not taking too many classes. I feel like your experience can be really affected by your professor so I'd tell you to go on ratemyprofessors to find a good professor.

 

Sent from my SM-G930T using OneHallyu mobile app

[chiirbii]

Get involved in all that freshman stuff, even if it seems uncool. The first month of college is magic cause everyone is new and wants to make friends. Afterwards everyone's jaded college students, so it's not as fun.

 

And enjoy your first year, or first semester, cause it's likely that your class load will be on the light side. But at the same time, don't slack off. Midterms arrive faster than you think and if you're not prepared you can really botch it. I saw a lot of people drop out at midterms because they didn't take school seriously and had too much fun elsewhere.

 

If you plan on going to parties, be smart. Watch your drink, keep tabs on your friends, etc.

[DiOda]

organization

paper

minimum 80% attendance

[Seeker Of Slaanesh]

It feels liberating. Don't be scared to explore diffrent areas.

Remember to improve your cv and don't waste your time just staying at home or apartment.

Also, please look into your professors and the courses provided by them. Some might not be up your alley.

Keep track of your work and assignments. Procrastinating is not a good thing and will only let things become more messy at the end of semesters.

It is also a very good time to think about what you really want to do in life, whether going down the academic/research path, joining some organisation for work, etc.

[VP Dayoung]

College, imo, is pretty easy given the right conditions.

 

Make sure to maximize your time during your freshman year. Be involved. Make new friends (include some seniors too, they'll be helpful later on.

 

For the succeeding years, make time to organize everything, deadlines, exams schedules, etc.

 

If possible, wisely choose a professor that suits your way of learning (I've almost failed a course because of an incompetent professor).

 

Just enjoy your stay in the university!

[tsaglaglal]

Starting from the 3rd year the amount of work starts to become overwhelming, and in the 4th year you start getting worried of what you're gonna do afterwards. It's very hard but do not leave your coursework for the last week bevause then you end up with 4 exams and 5 projects due the same week and you're gonna want to just give up. Also your marks will suffer. Good marks mean more chances to scholarships... which help more than you think.

 

You can study and get by with only the minimum and necessary amount of work but what's gonna differentiate you from the others is whether you actively study and read more than what's needed for class. Also try to make some extracurricular activities such as extra credits or volunteering to fill your cv with.

 

The relationship with the professors is different from highscool, not as close. They feel less attainable and warm.

Your classmates are gonna have a lot in common with you, in the way you see life. It happens to me that when I go outside of my uni bubble, my old highschool friends don't have the same values as me, and I get kind of a culture shock.

 

There can also be drama in uni... your friends in the first year might be very different from the friends you end up with when you graduate.

[pace]

If you're introverted, it would be good to join clubs and/or sororities if you want to bond/make close friends. You can also use your gap periods to socialize with your classmates.

 

TIPS:

-you don't have to buy all the textbooks for all your classes (check with your professors on the first day if it's required)

-probably best to not buy from your school's bookstore

-check for online pdf versions of your textbooks

-check your school's library (your classes freshman year are general ed, so you don't actually need to keep those books so see if you can just check them out long term from the library)

-familiarize yourself with school events (free food-the godsend of struggling college students)

-also your school fees are paying for them anyway, so you might as well take advantage

-if you are commuting, and parking at your school is crap, give yourself enough time so you're not late for class

-morning classes are terrible if you're not a morning person (you might believe you'll be fine because you've been waking up early all your school life, but it's a struggle in college)

-when you plan for classes, keep in mind the location of your classes (college campuses are huge; make sure you give yourself enough time to walk from class to class)

-it would be beneficial for you to visit office hours if you're struggling (also networking because you never know when you'll need letter of recs or if that professor can help connect you with a job--legit has happened to people)

 

When you're in college, you have a lot more freedom--you don't have to attend all your classes but keep in mind you're paying for that education. You also don't have six/seven classes a day anymore, and they're typically every other day. Keep in mind that professors for the most part aren't spoon-feeding you, so it's up to you if you want to do well in your classes. You have to remember on your own when assignments are due (it'll be in the syllabus, so you have to constantly refer to that for due dates). The classes get harder once you start taking classes towards your major. Exams aren't as frequent, and the grading scale doesn't really allow you to use homework as a buffer in case you mess up. 

 

In short, you get to make a lot more decisions on your own.

 

Let me know if you have any questions. Also, I'm basing this on college in the US...not sure about other school systems elsewhere.

[chanyeolears]

If you're introverted, it would be good to join clubs and/or sororities if you want to bond/make close friends. You can also use your gap periods to socialize with your classmates.

 

TIPS:

-you don't have to buy all the textbooks for all your classes (check with your professors on the first day if it's required)

-probably best to not buy from your school's bookstore

-check for online pdf versions of your textbooks

-check your school's library (your classes freshman year are general ed, so you don't actually need to keep those books so see if you can just check them out long term from the library)

-familiarize yourself with school events (free food-the godsend of struggling college students)

-also your school fees are paying for them anyway, so you might as well take advantage

-if you are commuting, and parking at your school is crap, give yourself enough time so you're not late for class

-morning classes are terrible if you're not a morning person (you might believe you'll be fine because you've been waking up early all your school life, but it's a struggle in college)

-when you plan for classes, keep in mind the location of your classes (college campuses are huge; make sure you give yourself enough time to walk from class to class)

-it would be beneficial for you to visit office hours if you're struggling (also networking because you never know when you'll need letter of recs or if that professor can help connect you with a job--legit has happened to people)

 

When you're in college, you have a lot more freedom--you don't have to attend all your classes but keep in mind you're paying for that education. You also don't have six/seven classes a day anymore, and they're typically every other day. Keep in mind that professors for the most part aren't spoon-feeding you, so it's up to you if you want to do well in your classes. You have to remember on your own when assignments are due (it'll be in the syllabus, so you have to constantly refer to that for due dates). The classes get harder once you start taking classes towards your major. Exams aren't as frequent, and the grading scale doesn't really allow you to use homework as a buffer in case you mess up. 

 

In short, you get to make a lot more decisions on your own.

 

Let me know if you have any questions. Also, I'm basing this on college in the US...not sure about other school systems elsewhere.

 

wow, thank you that's such a long comment and helpful tips/advices.

Anyway what major are you taking? And what semester are you in?

I'm taking psychology and today is actually my first day so I can't see how college is yet. And since I'm an introvert, I think being in psychology major is not easy or a little bit harder for me coz being in this major is very related to being socialize. I think that's why my mom wanted me to take this major. But I, myself, also find it interesting to learn about people's behaviour and mind, etc. But yeah being socialized is my main concern tbh.

I got a few friends, they're all kind. But once again, I am used to my high school class environment, so I haven't feel comfortable enough yet to this new college environment. And my friends also said that at least I need to participate/join an organization or community in my college years. But I never even joined any club back in high school  I thought joining a club would make me busy and distracting me from school works (coz I'm a lazy person lol), and now that they said I would need to join one and college years seem a bit tougher than school, I'm in a dilemma  I think I might join one if there was any korean languange/culture community or something like that, something that I actually like so I wouldn't feel burdened.

 

Hope you understand coz my english isn't that good

[pace]

wow, thank you that's such a long comment and helpful tips/advices.

Anyway what major are you taking? And what semester are you in?

I'm taking psychology and today is actually my first day so I can't see how college is yet. And since I'm an introvert, I think being in psychology major is not easy or a little bit harder for me coz being in this major is very related to being socialize. I think that's why my mom wanted me to take this major. But I, myself, also find it interesting to learn about people's behaviour and mind, etc. But yeah being socialized is my main concern tbh.

I got a few friends, they're all kind. But once again, I am used to my high school class environment, so I haven't feel comfortable enough yet to this new college environment. And my friends also said that at least I need to participate/join an organization or community in my college years. But I never even joined any club back in high school  I thought joining a club would make me busy and distracting me from school works (coz I'm a lazy person lol), and now that they said I would need to join one and college years seem a bit tougher than school, I'm in a dilemma  I think I might join one if there was any korean languange/culture community or something like that, something that I actually like so I wouldn't feel burdened.

 

Hope you understand coz my english isn't that good

Oh my goodness. Aw, I hope your first day of college has been great. I've graduated with a degree in English. Joining clubs isn't necessary. You can definitely still socialize without them, but it's a lot easier to make friends with people with whom you already have a shared interested. It might be difficult to make friends with classmates from your general ed courses because you probably won't see them next quarter/semester, but it is a lot easier once you enter your major courses since you'll see the same classmates a lot more frequently. Study groups are a good way to socialize and help you learn in school. You can make friends through that.

 

Your English is perfectly fine! You'll be fine. It's a bit weird transitioning, but you'll get accustomed to classes and the environment soon enough. 

[chanyeolears]

Oh my goodness. Aw, I hope your first day of college has been great. I've graduated with a degree in English. Joining clubs isn't necessary. You can definitely still socialize without them, but it's a lot easier to make friends with people with whom you already have a shared interested. It might be difficult to make friends with classmates from your general ed courses because you probably won't see them next quarter/semester, but it is a lot easier once you enter your major courses since you'll see the same classmates a lot more frequently. Study groups are a good way to socialize and help you learn in school. You can make friends through that.

 

Your English is perfectly fine! You'll be fine. It's a bit weird transitioning, but you'll get accustomed to classes and the environment soon enough.

Yes, I'll be presenting a presentation about 2 weeks from now with my group. Only 3 people but hope I'll be fineã… ã…  thanks for the advice xx

[chanyeolears]

Oh my goodness. Aw, I hope your first day of college has been great. I've graduated with a degree in English. Joining clubs isn't necessary. You can definitely still socialize without them, but it's a lot easier to make friends with people with whom you already have a shared interested. It might be difficult to make friends with classmates from your general ed courses because you probably won't see them next quarter/semester, but it is a lot easier once you enter your major courses since you'll see the same classmates a lot more frequently. Study groups are a good way to socialize and help you learn in school. You can make friends through that.

 

Your English is perfectly fine! You'll be fine. It's a bit weird transitioning, but you'll get accustomed to classes and the environment soon enough.

 

Ah, and anyway, tell me about time management. I always hear people, my seniors, and my lecturers talking about time management but I don't quiet get what they mean? I feel like I have more free time now than when I was in high school (at least for now I guess), and back in high school even if I had much homeworks I still could get enough free time. What about in college?

[pace]

Ah, and anyway, tell me about time management. I always hear people, my seniors, and my lecturers talking about time management but I don't quiet get what they mean? I feel like I have more free time now than when I was in high school (at least for now I guess), and back in high school even if I had much homeworks I still could get enough free time. What about in college?

That's the tricky thing about college courses. On a daily basis, it doesn't feel overwhelming, but when deadlines approach, it's another story. In college, you mainly get big assignments/projects to do which will take time to complete unless you have certain science/math classes in which case expect lots of assignments. Also, some of your professors might assign large amounts of reading (again, it's up to you if you actually want to do that and if your professor actually cares/checks for that). Since you already have the class outlines from your professors, you know all the deadlines for your readings/projects. They all tend to be due around the same time too so things get hectic if you're one of those last minute/procrastinator types. The level of easiness of your assignments depends on your professors (I've had professors give one-page essay assignments while others give research projects with analysis) and whether you're in the quarter or semester system. Semester system usually means bigger projects since you have more time to work on them. 

 

Also, watch out for midterms/finals. The library/computer labs were always full when midterms/finals week came around of students rushing to study and/or complete their midterm/final projects.

[sleety]

I was afraid at first but now college life is the best thing what happened in my life
I was about "highschools friends are the best etc.," it wasn't true, here I met really great ppl

Generally you have a lot of freedom till the time when exams are coming T.T

[Zroi]

College is what you make of it. It's honestly a very good opportunity to reinvent yourself, personality wise. Maybe even appearance wise, if there's a certain look you wish you could go for. No one knows you when you start out, so go for it - you have a clean slate. 

 

Social Stuff

 

I was introverted like you when I started, but I consciously made the decision to push myself out of my comfort zone and forced myself to approach people. I'm glad I did, because it somehow ended up becoming second nature and I became more confident. You're not the only one who's going to be nervous so might as well push yourself to put others at ease along with yourself! 

 

Also - get to know your professors/lecturers. Classes are a lot more fun when you're actually on a first name basis with each other, plus the lecturers then go out of their way to help you. I'm not sure where you're studying, so maybe the dynamic might be different but it's like that here in the UK. 

 

Study Stuff

 

DON'T PROCRASTINATE. Sincerely, from a could-be-professional-procrastinator. Seriously, don't. Draw up a timetable if you have to, and stick to it. Study a little bit of what you've learnt each day, because college exams are hell in terms of content and it will NOT be possible to cover everything if you start studying for exams a week or two before. 

 

Get any coursework done early on. If your professors give you an option to send them practice work that they'll grade and give feedback on, take it. Students like that do very well. You'll also have a better idea of what to expect in exams and you'll be better prepared.  

 

Your time management has to be on point. You need to be able to get your work done in adequate time, but you also need to have time to let your hair down, otherwise you'll get burned out very quickly. You'll figure out the best way to do this probably about a month into starting.