University Advice

Rossman92

Alright everyone. Tomorrow morning I move into my dorm to begin my college experience. My emotions are kind of running wild and I can't decide if I'm scared or excited. Since the wisdom on here is second to none and since this is like a 2nd family to me, I figured I'd come on here for some guidance. Does anyone have any helpful college advice? Anything would be much appreciated!! Wish me luck!!

Leuth

Join (or form) some interesting clubs or societies. Don't spend every night drinking. Don't let others exploit you. Do your work. Be kind. That more or less covers it!

North Lower Neil

Agree on joining a society/sports team etc.

I'd say just enjoy yourself and go out loads at the start, you'll mean more people and enjoy yourself more the rest of your time there as a result.

Have fun mate.

Brendan_O_Connell

My advice would be to get smashed every night, have loads of casual sex and cram all your work in at the last minute.

North Lower Neil

Brendan_O_Connell said:

My advice would be to get smashed every night, have loads of casual sex and cram all your work in at the last minute.

Very solid advice.

Fiiish

Learn how to down a pint (if you can't already).

Learn to budget like crazy. Don't go around lending money to people because you will never see it again.

Get a good phone contract and WhatsApp, you will be wanting to call home as well as you will be socialising and texting friends/course mates a lot more now.

Your first few weeks at Uni usually barely matter, use it as a chance to get to know where everything is and what's going on.

Try lots of societies, including things you already like and things you've never tried but wanted to - go to their socials and see if you like what you see, I made some lifelong friends out of societies.

Clean up your Facebook.

Most importantly use this as a fresh start - no one cares about who you were last year or at school so if you want to 're-invent' yourself or parts of yourself go for it.

If all else fails, follow Brendan's advice - drink, shag, sleep, repeat.

bobmunro

You are all forgetting something - all this (very good) advice about getting smashed etc... is ignoring the fact that Rossman92 can't legally drink until he's 21!!

The best advice I can give you is to integrate with as many people as possible from as many different backgrounds as possible. I would assume your life in and around school has been relatively narrow in that everyone you know comes from the same location, shares common experiences and so on. This all changes at university and, for me anyway all those years ago, it was the chance to mix with a much broader variety of individuals with so many different life experiences that educated more than any professor could.

It's a passage in life where you develop from boyhood to manhood - enjoy that transition, embrace it.

northstandsteve

Brendan_O_Connell said:

My advice would be to get smashed every night, have loads of casual sex and cram all your work in at the last minute.

cheers mate my daughter starts uni in a couple of weeks that makes me feel great.

North Lower Neil

bobmunro said:

You are all forgetting something - all this (very good) advice about getting smashed etc... is ignoring the fact that Rossman92 can't legally drink until he's 21!!

In that case, get a fake ID is my advice.

seth plum

Try to spend at least 15 to 30 minutes every day cleaning and keeping clean, students don't always realise how rank they can smell, and they think spraying everything with cheap deodorant sorts it.
Buy actual real food and cook it. Don't blow all your money, and remember that even though you are getting educated you don't know it all and others know as much, probably more, especially your parents.
Do something creative, and enjoy yourself.
Oh and do the work.

Eynsfordaddick

As stated, initially get to know the people on your corridor, join clubs/societies and socialise (especially in Freshers Week). Budget as it's easy to get carried away with spending but relax and enjoy yourself with a variety of people.
Enjoy the course and question lots! Good luck.

Yanntheman

Just say yes to everything at the start. That means everything.

ads

Spray everything with cheap deoderant to mask any smells, and don't bother doing much work in the first couple of years, it's the final year that matters. Learn how to have a massive night out on £15 and still come home with some change.

AFKABartram

Start a rumour on Day 1 that some really hot girl has a sexual disease. By the end of week 2 and her getting fed up being completely shunned, make your move.

Ormiston_Addick

AFKABartram said:

Start a rumour on Day 1 that some really hot girl has a sexual disease. By the end of week 2 and her getting fed up being completely shunned, make your move.

We need to hear more about this strategy.

CHG

Don't get stuck with the initial people that you meet / get on with, make new mates as the weeks go on, you will find some great pals in the next year that you will know for life.

iainment

Always carry a condom (or two).

Rossman92

Well lads as I think drinking culture in college is a bit over the top and unnecessary, I probably won't be spending most of it drinking. I will need to learn how to down a pint properly however.

sam3110

Don't get into the 'hazing' and 'frat boy' scene, spend money on wholesale stuff that doesn't go out of date for a while, eat take out as little as possible, do something sport related (competitive spirit and physical prowess are great to have in college, just don't become a jock) and above else, have fun and learn that people can be awesome one day and a complete asshole the next, but you'll end up accepting that's just how people are

MrOneLung

Don't the U.S. colleges have shared rooms first year?

If so, be the alpha male of your room (but in a nice , not gonna take no shit way not a bullying way )

razil

Have fun but also remember this is the time to show your potential, so a measured approach. I think not doing that was my biggest regret at uni altho I still scraped a decent grade.

AddicksAddict

northstandsteve said:

Brendan_O_Connell said:

My advice would be to get smashed every night, have loads of casual sex and cram all your work in at the last minute.

cheers mate my daughter starts uni in a couple of weeks that makes me feel great.

How would you feel if it was your son?

AddicksAddict

Accept that you're probably going to make mistakes. Don't beat yourself up about it, but do learn from them.

Practice safe sex, if having sex is on your agenda. You don't one one of those mistakes to be getting a girl pregnant (assuming you're heterosexual).

Work hard, have fun, learn to budget.

iainment

AddicksAddict said:

Accept that you're probably going to make mistakes. Don't beat yourself up about it, but do learn from them.

Practice safe sex, if having sex is on your agenda. You don't one one of those mistakes to be getting a girl pregnant (assuming you're heterosexual).

Work hard, have fun, learn to budget.

Safe sex is just as important for gay men.

PL54

Just see what happens

Rossman92

sam3110 said:

Don't get into the 'hazing' and 'frat boy' scene, spend money on wholesale stuff that doesn't go out of date for a while, eat take out as little as possible, do something sport related (competitive spirit and physical prowess are great to have in college, just don't become a jock) and above else, have fun and learn that people can be awesome one day and a complete asshole the next, but you'll end up accepting that's just how people are

I've actually considered the frat scene a little bit. Was over at a house to watch an American Football game tonight. Why do you suggest that I stear clear?

McBobbin

Rossman92 said:

sam3110 said:

Don't get into the 'hazing' and 'frat boy' scene, spend money on wholesale stuff that doesn't go out of date for a while, eat take out as little as possible, do something sport related (competitive spirit and physical prowess are great to have in college, just don't become a jock) and above else, have fun and learn that people can be awesome one day and a complete asshole the next, but you'll end up accepting that's just how people are

I've actually considered the frat scene a little bit. Was over at a house to watch an American Football game tonight. Why do you suggest that I stear clear?

He's seen the film "animal house"

Chunes

Try lots of different drugs but not that regularly

sam3110

Rossman92 said:

sam3110 said:

Don't get into the 'hazing' and 'frat boy' scene, spend money on wholesale stuff that doesn't go out of date for a while, eat take out as little as possible, do something sport related (competitive spirit and physical prowess are great to have in college, just don't become a jock) and above else, have fun and learn that people can be awesome one day and a complete asshole the next, but you'll end up accepting that's just how people are

I've actually considered the frat scene a little bit. Was over at a house to watch an American Football game tonight. Why do you suggest that I stear clear?

I wouldn't steer clear in terms of being in one etc. But I had a friend who got into some pretty serious trouble due to the initiation stuff and he said sometimes, if you get into the wrong kinda crowd etc, you end up doing some pretty screwed up stuff, so I'd just be wary of it after hearing some of his stories. Of course he could just be lying but it didn't seem like the kind of thing to lie and joke about

Bostonaddick

Rossman92 said:

sam3110 said:

Don't get into the 'hazing' and 'frat boy' scene, spend money on wholesale stuff that doesn't go out of date for a while, eat take out as little as possible, do something sport related (competitive spirit and physical prowess are great to have in college, just don't become a jock) and above else, have fun and learn that people can be awesome one day and a complete asshole the next, but you'll end up accepting that's just how people are

I've actually considered the frat scene a little bit. Was over at a house to watch an American Football game tonight. Why do you suggest that I stear clear?

The main reason I wouldn't recommend it is the pledge process. It is all consuming from a time perspective. You had better really see the fraternity brothers as your potential closest friends because you will have very little time to develop other friendships during pledging. I have had friends who went through the process only to find out that they didn't really like their frat brothers and they felt like they missed out on a variety of non frat experiences.

Rossman92

sam3110 said:

Rossman92 said:

sam3110 said:

Don't get into the 'hazing' and 'frat boy' scene, spend money on wholesale stuff that doesn't go out of date for a while, eat take out as little as possible, do something sport related (competitive spirit and physical prowess are great to have in college, just don't become a jock) and above else, have fun and learn that people can be awesome one day and a complete asshole the next, but you'll end up accepting that's just how people are

I've actually considered the frat scene a little bit. Was over at a house to watch an American Football game tonight. Why do you suggest that I stear clear?

I wouldn't steer clear in terms of being in one etc. But I had a friend who got into some pretty serious trouble due to the initiation stuff and he said sometimes, if you get into the wrong kinda crowd etc, you end up doing some pretty screwed up stuff, so I'd just be wary of it after hearing some of his stories. Of course he could just be lying but it didn't seem like the kind of thing to lie and joke about

My school has a strict no hazing policy so hopefully that wouldn't be a problem. I will however remain aware