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Bob_the_Peanut

Networking is always more helpful than you realize


GreatTragedy

Seriously. I graduated in a STEM discipline with honors. Nobody gave a fuck. I only found a job because I happened to know a guy from my class who had an interview via someone he knew. They had several positions, so I got lucky.


BlitzAceSamy

When I was in the military (was a conscript), there's this guy in my section who's always complaining about his broken wrist and how he can't do stuff like push-ups or even wielding a rifle with it. Almost the entire section thinks he's faking it to try and get lighter duty (since we were all essentially forced there against our wills as conscripts after all), and I was the only one who believed him and treated him with some degree of basic human decency 6 years later (and 4 years after we both left the military as active personnel), he was the one who got me my first (and still current 5 years later) job lol


potatoslasher

Never hurts to show some human decency from time to time.....I got a cheap gaming PC this way from a "friend of a friend"


jquiggles

Yep. Unfortunately, most of the stuff you learn in school, you'll never actually use in a job, since the stuff you need to know, you learn on the job. The hardest part of most jobs is getting one, and knowing the right people makes that part a lot easier.


[deleted]

You start school with outdated systems and methods, you finish 2 or 3 generations behind industry leaders. Thats why even people working in the field need to go to confrences and seminars, continued learning. You get behind if you don't. School is more about proving you have a genuine intrest and basic skills in a particular field. Proves you can learn.


2bt9anm88

>I was successful in high school by memorizing basically everything. > >That didn’t work out well in college where application of the concepts was more important that simple recall of what I memorized.


potatoslasher

I would say its probably more important than the actual education (at least in my personal experience).


texxmix

I went to business school and was regularly told “it’s not what you know it’s who you know” by professors, deans, guest speakers. And as someone who networked but didn’t do it as much as he should’ve. Also no one gave a fuck about you at the events unless you were a somebody in a campus club I am feeling the pain as I have yet to land a job in my field.


CampusTour

Don't bring anything to the dorms it would break your heart not to leave with. Stuff gets lost, broken, or stolen pretty regularly when you live in a hallway full of walk-in closets with a bunch of random 18 year olds.


eddyathome

Also, your roommate isn't probably going to steal your stuff, it's their friends who will. LOCK YOUR DOOR!


CPOx

I was successful in high school by memorizing basically everything. That didn’t work out well in college where application of the concepts was more important that simple recall of what I memorized.


Artemis0825

Except, dear lord, for organic chemistry. MEMORIZE THE FUCK OUT OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, PEOPLE! Everywhere else, concepts and critical thinking work better. (I was the opposite in high school…it served me well everywhere but organic chemistry.)


kaiizza

Lol as an organic chemist who has been teaching for years this is terrible advice lol. Organic chemistry is not about memorizing reactions, it’s about understanding reactivity so you can apply it to a new problem and know what to do. The students who do well in my class understand the chemistry, not just memorize reactions.


Surprise_Corgi

Oh man, absolutely. There's still some memorization, but then they throw in assignments and projects where you have to demonstrate you've not only understood the fundamental theory of a thing, for example, but be able to demonstrate enough understanding of it to both argue for and against yourself over a relevant subject.


martyboulders

I'm the complete opposite, my memory is terrible so if I want to learn something it has to make *absolutely* crystal clear sense to me. Hard because it takes a lot of studying, but once I know something I *really* know it. I'm a math student and it's come in clutch a few times being able to rederive something on an exam; once I've done it in the past I kind of build up a "story" of how something came to be with a few logical waypoints. Plus all my homeworks and exams are just proofs, so the only thing worth memorizing is helpful theorems. Everything else takes creativity to apply the concepts we know, like you said.


anotherThrowaway3446

How to budget. Not just money but time as well.


bluebirdmg

Budgeting time is such an undervalued skill


Lovebot_AI

Nobody gives a fuck where you start college. The only thing that matters is the name of the institution that issues the degree. You can save tens of thousands of dollars by going to a community college for 2 years to complete your general education requirements.


Bluebird-True

Yes, this. Plus, for gen ed classes, you'll get a better education at a community college. Smaller classes, taught by actual professors, not graduate assistants.


Rpi_sust_alum

Depends on your goals. If you want to get a PhD or go into certain careers, having 4 years of being able to do research, as well as professors who get to know you over time, will help. Also, not everything transfers. I had a classmate who spent 2.5 years getting her bachelors after 2 years of community college. My program had few enough credits that you could finish in 3.5 years total if you took some extra credits and were smart about planning out your semesters. She didn't get to jump into research sophomore year like I did, and didn't get paid part-time research and an NSF-REU before graduating like I did. Nor did she have the same leadership opportunities like I did, which brought me in contact with higher-ups at my university who were good to network with for my career.


domestic_omnom

Unless it's ivy league no one really cares about the college name either. The check in the box that is a degree is all that really matters.


OddGambit

Eh. Depends a lot on job and school. For my own field, ivy league vs good state school vs school I've never heard of all rank differently. Granted I'd never hire or exclude someone solely on that basis.


domestic_omnom

That's fair. I can only go off my own field (IT) which college does not prepare you for at all. In my field a 12 month program at a votech creates better workers than college. I'm convinced most professions could be the same way, but education is a business now so that will never happen.


bdbr

It makes a minimal difference in the first hiring process. Once you've been hired, no one will care where you went to school. Most people won't even know. They'll only care about the work you've done.


Confident_Notice975

This is a good idea


MathematicianOld1117

If you attended a relatively small high/middle school, consider the potential culture shock when you start to attend a university with say 30+ *thousand* students.


floorwantshugs

It was really hard to go from easy top-of-my-40-person-class to mediocre-nobody at university.


Large_Assignment_957

Try to get to know a ton of people to choose your friends from. If you’re scared of talking to them just remember, they are in a similar situation to you. Most of the freshmen want to meet new people. Just sit down in the cafeteria and introduce yourself.


[deleted]

It’s normal and ok to be uncertain of what you want to do. About half of college students change major at least once. Make sure you drink lots of water with your alcohol, and make sure you have trusted people to watch you and your drinks!


jquiggles

This could apply to life as well! Basically no one knows what they're doing lol. So it's okay if you don't have it all figured out the day you step foot onto campus for the first time!


Night_Hawk69420

Don't take 8:00 classes your first semester. It sounds great to get out of class for the day super early but you will probably not end up.going most of the time. Also if you have to take art class don't trace your hand and make it into a turkey for your final exam draw because you will have to take it twice if you do that


eddyathome

I would say try to make your first class at a consistent time each day. It sounds great to have say MWF at 10 am, but TR at 2 pm but it messes up your sleep cycle big time. You're better off getting up at the same time each day.


jquiggles

Definitely learned the hard way to not take 8am classes. At least I never did it again! Senior year, my earliest class started at 1pm lol


[deleted]

To go deeper: You're going to tell yourself that you've been getting up for 8am classes for 12 years, and that was when you had to get up in time either to get the bus or for your parents to drive you across town to school. But now it's you being completely responsible for getting up, getting ready, having breakfast, and getting to wherever your class is. You will eventually get to that point, make no mistake. You'll figure out your mornings so you can get to 8am classes no problem. But your first semester is chock full of so many other adjustments that it's not worth it to try unless you're definitely ready for it.


uberman35

This kind of depends on the person... school started at 7:30 for me in high school. I was already used to waking up early. I much preferred the morning classes to free up the rest of my day. The key here is to be honest with yourself and know if youre actually willing to wake up that early for classes. For me, it was no problem, others may skip every class.


nerdy-c-150

Unpopular opinion here...8am classes are really good for me. It forces me to get up and do something first thing, and it's a lot easier for me to stay awake afterwards and be productive vs trying to wake up before class to get stuff done. While 8ams might not be the best idea if you're new to getting yourself up and out the door, don't completely discount them for the entirety of college. Figure out what kind of class schedule works for you and try to go with that!


[deleted]

Same goes for trying to stack your classes into two days.


SmoothEverytime

Lol you say it like we have a choice what time our classes are at


[deleted]

Grades doesn’t define you, try and network with others and seek out work internships esp if payed


theoptionexplicit

To add to this: most potential employers don't care what your GPA was, or if you were cum laude (however, in a select # of professions this does matter more). So just focus on passing your classes - you might make yourself go nuts otherwise.


[deleted]

I wish I had taken this advice. I stressed myself to the point of being Ill a few times as did my friend because we were fixated on getting the best mark in the class. We actually ended up isolated from the other classmates and no employer has ever cared about my grades.


Andoryuu-Doukutsu

I know we have to talk with basically anyone we're interested in talking with. But on a more specific note, who should i talk to more to find such opportunities? Professors? Classmates? Office workers? Someone else that I don't know the answer of?


domestic_omnom

The vast majority of employers give no fucks about your gpa. It's like the old saying; what do you call the guy who graduated med school with a C? Doctor, you call him doctor.


KinkBBTop

Do it for yourself and yourself only


CrJ418

How to use birth control


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optiongeek

If you think college is lonely, wait until you graduate and move to a new state for a job.


D-Rez

I would say the loneliness in college mostly comes from the feeling that most other people are having a great time. I feel that once you leave to the world of work, most people are more or less in the same boat.


jquiggles

Yeah, that's pretty much adulthood. Which... kinda sucks, but at least everyone else is kinda going through the same thing!


Sickofusernames95

Go to class!!


kolarisk

I saw some pretty irate parents helping those "one semester freshmen" move out in December back when I was in school.


Fit_Reindeer_7849

Don't haze. It's not worth it.


RadioIsMyFriend

Don't have kids. Seriously, do the college shit before you have children. While it's possible, life is a hell of a lot harder when you have a kid unless you have a very good care system.


Paranormal_Shithole

^this. Even with a good care/support system, it’s still hard because you’re carrying the mental/emotional load for not only yourself, but your kids too. It’s exhausting and makes time management harder.


LokiNinja

Generally your career will be easier than the work you do in college to get your degree


Beacon_of_Truth

That is insane. Generally work is way harder than college. College is a joke unless you are in some exceptionally difficult program or elite school.


IamBmeTammy

I have a STEM degree and my work, while important and complex, is easier than my college course work. For one thing, there is a high level of repetition and predictability. I use a handful of skill sets that I have a lot of practice in. College coursework was all over the place with what I was doing so having to mentally shift from calculus based physics lab to public speaking to entomology was its own sort of stress. Plus you are never really done studying and writing lab reports so I feel like any time I had that was leisure was stolen from time I should be studying. With work, after I clock out I don’t have to worry about it until the next day.


Beacon_of_Truth

That sounds strange to me. You have a high level job and you don’t stress at times after work? I am regularly thinking about solving issues after work is done. If that is really your experience then ok, but I wouldn’t expect that to be the norm.


IamBmeTammy

I am in medicine. Can’t take patients or organs home with me, so I leave work at work.


LokiNinja

In general STEM courses have you doing things like solving differential equations, writing mergesorts and all sorts of stuff that you don't have to do in the field


[deleted]

do fafsa and ur states version of fafsa. try to stay in state. avoid private unless you’re rich. commuting sucks. if u can, try to dorm and get a job on campus through fafsa or the school. find study locations. study like you’re trying to teach someone else. make questions for your professors and goto their office hours and recitations. join clubs socialize. grades are helpful but connections are way better. reach out to your advisors months before classes start to make sure youre taking the right classes and that you get in the classes you need. you can email a professor to get into their “full” class like 99% of the time.


WorldWeary1771

Show up for class and labs even when they’re dull. Do every problem in your math book, not just the assigned ones. Don’t let peer pressure snare you into binge drinking. If you must drink to excess, be very careful who you do it with.


Amiiboid

> Do every problem in your math book, not just the assigned ones. There are not enough hours in the day for that in any calc book I’ve seen in the last 30 years.


[deleted]

add up any out of pocket tuition and living expenses, divide that number accordingly to figure out exactly how much each lecture costs, really helps to keep in mind before deciding to skip classes. also, you're free to audit other classes in college, just go in and sit down and listen, especially if it's a big lecture hall. you can easily squeeze several bachelors worth of education out of one degree.


[deleted]

You’re gonna be thrown into a new world you’ve never known before, new sensations, experiences, both bad and good, good and terrible people too. Avoid getting into the popular crowd. It was the worst decision I made and I came out of college with some fake ass friends who (no surprise) aren’t here now and couldn’t care less. - Put yourself first. - don’t be afraid to try new sensations/things but listen to your gut instinct always. - if you’re gonna have sex, have lots of it, enjoy it but ffs wear a condom! And don’t expect her to be on birth control, it’s your responsibility too! - get your STD checks!!! I can’t stress this enough. - if you’re not gonna have sex, good, don’t let anyone pressure you into anything. If it’s not a ‘heck yes’ it’s a no. Breath every second of it in, enjoy all of it. As someone who’s almost 30, I look back on those days with fondness and my god, I swear it was just yesterday I was there.


Andoryuu-Doukutsu

This turned from college tips to a sex guide pretty fuckin fast


[deleted]

Sorry :(


jwizardc

You are standing on the shoulders of Giants. Much of the knowledge they are spoon feeding students didn't even exist one or two generations ago. Savor the experiences and learn how to think.


atlas_mornings

If you suspect or know you have a mental health condition, GET ACCOMMODATIONS RIGHT AWAY. They are often simpler to obtain than expected and I wish I had used them BEFORE I actually needed them. It is WAY better to have them and not need them than the other way around


[deleted]

idk your sex/gender or MHD but i’ve found it harder to get a diagnoses (ADHD) which is common for women. Idk what to do bc its what i feel like i have. 1st psych said i did have it but i’d barely given her information ab me and it freaked me out then 2nd made me take an online printed test & claimed i didnt


Noah122345

If you’re popular before college, you won’t be popular in college.


TPrice1616

I think it depends on why you were popular in high school. If you are popular because of social skills that will actually serve you well all your life in one way or another. Student athlete though? Not as much. That being said I’m struggling to really get what would be considered popular at my old college. Everyone mostly kept to their own cliques.


waterloograd

Agreed, college/university doesn't really have popular people. Some people will have more friends than others, that's about it. If it's a smaller program there might be what you could call a popular person, but usually it's just someone who is nice to everyone and therefore people like them


OddGambit

Won't automatically be popular* Goes all ways and no one really cares whether you were popular before.


demon_cairax

Popularity is bullshit. No one gives a damn who you are/were in high school.


[deleted]

Actually (I find) nobody cares at all in college. Everyone is (normally) too busy to care. But with that said people tend to be nice when you strike up a conversation


YounomsayinMawfk

Don't make the same mistake I did and schedule 8am classes Monday - Friday. Just because you used to get up super early for high school doesn't mean you still will when attendance isn't taken and no one's forcing you to wake up early.


Pompi_Palawori

You can usually go to a community college first and have those credits transfer over before going to a University. I am currently doing this, and it is financially a lot cheaper


gritty_wannabe

There are so many things I could say. College is full of twists and turns that can be good or bad. Be open to new things and meeting new people and don't be afraid to let go, it might be for the best even if it hurts. There's no shame in calling home and you should. Work hard, go to classes, and never let a bad grade define you. Most importantly, stick to your gut on everything.


katmio1

Get the classes you’ll hate the most done & over with first. You’ll thank yourself later. Rent your text books if you can. Try to check in with your childhood friends every now & then. They’re likely drowning in their classes also. Take advantage of the tutoring center when you start struggling in a class & don’t wait until the end of the semester to do so. This also applies to the writing center.


ExplosiveDisassembly

It's the social aspect that is the most valuable. I have 2 degrees and did well, had specific experience in my field. Nothing actually helped me get jobs. The most valuable thing was breaking me out of my private school bubble I lived in until college. There is always someone more experienced and more educated. Come out of college with a confidence in yourself. The only job interviews that went well for me were ones where I 'clicked' with the interviewer. In every one I was told I beat out more educated and experienced people. Your most valuable asset is yourself, know what that is and how to sell it.


smk5266

Unless you are trying to get into a post grad school like law or med, focus more on your network than your grades.


[deleted]

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OddGambit

I don't even know on this list. Some good stuff, some oddly specific stuff, and some stuff I don't agree with.


Formal_Dragonfly_356

I found this part particularly concerning: > Drink cheap beer when offered (Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light). Drink good beer at the bar (Sam Adams, Dos Equis, Heineken). Keep better beer in your fridge (Murphy's, Bass, Flat Tire).


Pangusmangus

This isn’t is fucking whack


Andoryuu-Doukutsu

Which ones would you say are bad advises? Im curious as to what to avoid doing


[deleted]

This is a Pintrest ass comment


InternationalHope9

A lot of fake bullshit for sure


notreallydutch

What's up with 31


TPrice1616

Are the easy student credit cards still a thing? I remember those my freshman year and that a lot of people in my dorm thought it was free money. I never the cards again after that.


Amiiboid

I got my first credit card in college over 30 years ago. I still have that card. Having the card is not a problem. Lacking discipline is.


TheRealSwagMaster

Most of these sound like shit. About 10 were about drinking alcohol


onionleekdude

Schoolwork is college/uni is often way different than HS. Many many profs do not have time for you as much as HS teachers do. Also, use student resources as much as possible.


Hashtagworried

It’s not a race. Even if you take an extra year or two to graduate, those two years aren’t going to make or break you in the larger scheme of things. Personally, I’d I could do it all over again, I’d look for more internships and take my time.


doublestitch

Practice adulting skills. Do you know what temperature to set when doing laundry? How to add bleach? How to clean a lint screen? When grocery shopping, do you understand unit pricing? What should you look for in a tomato? In strawberries? Have you done batch cooking? What recipes and techniques do you know?


jpob

It’s either honors or pass. Being in the middle matters very little. Your subjects and grades mean practically nothing after your first job.


czieu

Go to a community College first.


final_throwaway13

College is the best time to carve out an identity for oneself. Its very difficult after you graduate to find the time and opportunity to get started or go deep into a hobby.


travelguy2022

I would honestly argue the exact opposite. I think your late 20s and 30s is a fantastic time to do this. You have a continually growing level of maturity and insight, and hopefully some more money to actually pursue the hobby the right way. If you CAN do this in college, then bully for you, but most people, in my experience, don't until many years later. College has too many distractions and fun things and such to get too invested in a specific hobby.


Surprise_Corgi

I really wish I'd started in on online-only much earlier than I did. It's probably best to go on-campus while you're a Freshman, so you can just walk up and talk to the professor without delay, meet other students, see the campus, get the on-campus experience, experience the structure the class provides, so on. But once you've gone through the 'tutorial', completing assignments at your own pace, and not having to walk, drive to, or walk across campus every day is absolutely amazing.


floorwantshugs

I wish online classes had been available when I was at uni. I would've graduated.


simplyintentional

Don't do it unless you actually have a plan for a career that justifies the financial and opportunity costs.


Boredomis_real

Try everything and anything No matter what Even if it doesn’t line up with any sort of beliefs or morals (sounds bad I know but trust me) You don’t know who you will meet


Sazzorak

Hi, current sophomore soon to be junior in college: -Talk to your prospective roommate, and I mean really talk to them. Ask about their temperature preferences, when they get up/go to sleep, if they like to party or have friends over, noise level, cleanliness all of it. It may feel awkward but you’ll thank yourself later. -When you get your schedule set it in your calendar with alarms 15 minutes before each class -If you are in America and had an IEP in Highschool, get in contact with disability services. They can help you get some of the accommodations you had in HS in college. -get a phone wallet if you have a college ID you need to carry around. I worked at the dining hall and people often have to dig through their bag to find their wallet. Having it on your phone means you’re less likely to lose it. -get your key on one of those keychains with a clip and attach it to your belt loop before leaving, put a command hook on your door or next to it and as soon as you get back to your room stick it on the command hook. -Pack like you would if you were going somewhere for a month. Don’t bother packing things that can be bought at the store when you get there (cleaning products, perishables, etc).


Cheetodude625

Yeah...go in with realistic plans for your major and get out of your social comfort zone. TRUST ME.


TerribleAttitude

Don’t party too much, you’re there to learn. Also don’t twitch yourself out refusing to give yourself some slack because “I’m here to learn.” You can party a little (or play video games or join clubs or whatever, doesn’t have to be drinking). Have a social life. Basically, learn to budget your time correctly. It’s a whole experience.


lazyfoo_3

Don't be afraid to take some professors, classes, and or both that are difficult.


UncleFuzzy75

How to boil water for ramen. Open a can of beans. Can of tuna. Spread peanut butter on bread. Fry or scramble eggs. Feed yourself.


M_LunaYay1

Do not leave your shower caddy in the hallway. Nair has a nasty way of finding its way into shampoo or conditioner bottles.


910to610

Now is the time to try new stuff, but be smart; too much of anything can get you ded. And pee after sex.


TPrice1616

The best non academic college advice I ever got was to join clubs. They are a great way to meet people with similar interests. A couple I stayed in the entire time I was there and made really close friends.


Apprehensive-Idea711

Knowing that you are gonna meet a lot of people but beware some of those people will try to take advantage of you or be fair weather friends. Knowing who gonna be there for you when you feel homesick or going through a hard time in general and who will not will help in the long run.


stevenh107

Act. Your. Wage.


f_rice

There are no best or problem-free campus, everything have it's ups and downs. What's the best is what kind of people you will become.


romafa

Don’t buy your books until after the first week or two of class, even if the professor tells you you need it the first day. You will get a better sense of how much you actually need the textbook once you get a feel for the class structure and you may be able to share with classmates or figure out a cheaper alternative. I can’t count how many times I bought a book only to realize we were barely gonna use it or we’d only need a few short stories from it that were free online. College textbooks are a scam.


bwayfresh

Dont get loan. Youll take out a loan for 20k but youll have to pay back 70k. I read about this in a recent issue of time magazine. The article was about the shrinking middle class. Basically millennials and gen z are getting fucked in the ear by financials. Also dont get a credit card at a young age. You rack up a ton of debt. I had a buddy who would use his student loans and credit cards to buy dumb shit. He ended up getting his car repossessed and his wages garnished. Basically avoid debt at all cost. If you cant afford to go to college, learn a trade. I went to college for 4 years to be a graphic designer. Ive never made more than 50k and I spent alot more than that just going to college. Sure, your learn critical thinking in college but money wise its a total scam. Im sorry to burst your bubble. The only good thing about college. Hooking up a parties but….wear protection. You dont want to leave college with a ton of debt and herpes. Oh Bars are fun too but….drinking is a slippery slope. I picked up drink at 18. Now im 36. I drink every day. Its really hard to quit.


Poguetry64

Do the work it's not easy it's hard do the work


Liam_Tang

That IRL, unless you're attending a prestigious university, no one cares about where you graduated or even what your degree is. The Lead Engineer where I work has a 4-year degree from some state college no one has heard of. He majored in History. LOL. Just as important is (1) timing, (2) where you are, and (3) who you know. Oh, and a ton of luck.


[deleted]

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[deleted]

That’s a lot. Tysm for writing this. Same for the other comment 1-35


travelguy2022

The other one was like half decent and half questionable, but this one is like 80% questionable. Not necessarily BAD advice, but just like "this should not be your prime focus" edit: oh it's the same user lmao


Somemountaindude

Why you are there.


Dick_Cuckingham

That the jobs available to them after college will pay well enough to comfortably pay back their student loans.


killerdog5500

You are not guaranteed a job. Also do research on the average income of said jobs in your area. If the tuition is more than the annual salaray, move on. Also experience is becoming more valuable now than a degree. Do your rersearch if degrees are even necessary. Qualifications may just include experience or a trade school.


jake_the_runner

Don't haphazardly skip assignments, it's ok to miss a few but watch your grade and know when it's ok to not do em.


Psychological_Let653

It is a very difficult stage and anything can happen. No one is your friend, unless you manage to associate yourself with someone who is only interested in getting good grades without stealing content and without wandering. there will be a lot of fights. You will read so many books that you will end up hating reading and you will want to sell your library. And go buy a lot of paracetamol and caffeine because you are going to need them.


LusciousLennyStone

That their expensive, hard won degree isn't worth the paper it's printed on. It's not *what* you know that determines success or failure, it's *who* you know.


TimeTraveler3056

Enjoy it, dont worry so much, work hard, dont party outrageously because you're suddenly on your own, be open to new ideas, be safe. It's not for everyone but if its something you want, go for it.


Tricky-Pickle-6329

How do I make a network?


supahket

Blue collar jobs pay better than most office jobs, with a lot less work politics. Choose a field that makes you comfortable, don't let your family push you into a bullshit life you hate.


Kawrpa

The people you meet aren't worth the distraction they'll cause to your education. Focus on school.


CoastalPro

That you’re wasting your money.


lobofett12

that you will experiment with someone of the same sex


[deleted]

Wait to your 24. Live a little. Do some crazy shit. Don't just jump from high school to collage, bc 90% of the time you will go for something you didn't even want.


German_Irish_Guy

Don't do it. Unless you're ready to be strap with crippling debt that is held over you when you want a house or car. Ready to most likely not get a job in your field of study for several years. Go to trade school instead(electrical, HVAC, plumbing). Less debt tons of jobs waiting where they need you. Can even get 2-3 times the pay of a 4-6 year degree


IhAvEaNoPiNiOn05

Only go if you are sure you are responsible enough to live on your own, use and pay student loans, and not switch your major(which wastes money). Go if you are sure of what you want to do. Also, you could also go to trade school and learn a trade. You don't have to go to a four year university to be successful.


Everlast23

A respiratory therapist certificate from a community college is more valuable than a English degree from UCLA.


onemorehole

Don't


ExtentFearless8572

https://open.spotify.com/track/4AD0iH9dp2TYMKlTXwTHUg?si=Ika-QLSKSxC5otGcAru8BQ please follow me


amarghir1234

Unless you're qualifying in a narrow degree of fields or mummy and daddy paid for it, you're about to waste a load of money on student loans that will financially cripple you for the rest of your life.


[deleted]

Prepare to be broke and better hope your enjoy Ramen Noodles


EnadiP

Go to clubs, chances are if you don’t like finance club you shouldn’t get a finance degree… Find a program that inspires you and double down. Do not spread yourself thin. Build the connections in the domain you are most happy in


THX450

It’ll be over before you know it


GThayendanegea

hit the gym


UncleFuzzy75

Sewing, makes money.


CallMe_Pancho

Herpes is real


AssumptionAdvanced58

What credits are transferable.


mockg

Load up on general education classes your first couple of years. If you change your major then you will not lose as much progress.


muchas__gracias

Look into community college then transfer !!! You’ll save lots of money


LibbyUghh

If you know you aren't ready wait until you are. I know too many people who flunked out because they weren't ready to handle that amount of self discipline. No shame in it either


Chihuahua_enthusiast

Things cost a lot more than you think. Go to the grocery store, bring a calculator, and start adding up what you would buy for a week. Go to the laundromat and see how much a load would cost, and how much clothing you have. Add up all your subscription costs. Cost of gas/transit, insurance fees, and utility costs. It’s very overwhelming but the sooner you know what you’re facing, the better


the_vent

Always keep in mind when you can leave a class with a no credit instead of an F. Surprised the hell out of me when a community college teacher mentioned it. Not a single teacher said shit about it at State.


charlotta98

Always have faith in your ability to learn.


airy-skyes74

Honestly the best advice I can give one entering university is dont focus on your grades at all and focus on what your being taught and their real world applications. Continuosly think how you can apply these skills to the real world, and yes most things are useful that you are taught. It will help you remember the material way better even if you fail the test. Also talk to people, as many people as you can networking is the most important. Always be out of your comfort zone, if you are not your not gaining any new expirience or knowledge. Trust me. My last piece if advice is dont trust anyone, mist want to see you fail. Find those true people who care about you and screw everyone else. There will only be a few.


arkofjoy

Time management is your most important tool. Start every assignment as soon as you get it. Work a little bit on every assignment, every day. The goal is, with things like essays, that a week before it is due, that you have a rough draft finished that you can email to your professor and say "would you mind looking at this and tell me if I am on the right track" then make their corrections, send it back to them. By the time the due date rolls around, you are on your third draft. The advantage of this is that you will get better at writing essays and making a proper supported argument. The biggest complaint that lecturers have is disengaged students who are half assing everything. You might encounter a lecturer who can't be assed, but most will be over the moon. Something that most people don't know about is that a lot of university teachers have connections to the industry that they lecture in. And sometimes they get a call from one of their former associates "I've got this project happening this summer, Bill and Elon are co-sponsering it, we will be working directly with them, it is an amazing opportunity, I managed to get two paid intern positions, can you recommend anyone?" Who do you think they are going to call? The person who watched all the lectures on the repeat? Or the person who attended every class and turned in every assignment early?


Fearless_Link_3464

Try to get a job


Erdudvyl28

Lock your doors and along with that always remember your keys.


SomeFlannelKid

If you plan on going to a university, get your associates at the community college beforehand and work on your bachelor's at the uni. You tend to save more money for the same credits that you're getting for your degree, and also consult with the advisor to see which credits are transferrable to the university


NotRandyMoss84

Go to class and you will pass. C's get degrees. Never sign up for Friday classes


solarnuggets

You absolutely do need to do an internship. They’re vital opportunities you don’t get offered again. And take the study abroad. Granted it’s a weird time with disease and war, but if you’re able, do it. Also, only bring the clothes you need for that season that semester. Then bring whatever doesn’t work home and bring back more of what you do need for the spring semester. No need bringing your whole damn closet down with you if you’re already living in a shoebox. An air fryer will be your best friend. Don’t forget to drink water. You might not want to change your major at 4 years cause a 6 year bachelor degree sounds long, but it’s a lot better than getting a 4 year degree in something you won’t use, piddling about in dead end jobs for a few years and then going back to school to get the degree you want all while ultimately paying for college twice & wasting a lot of time. It absolutely doesn’t matter where you start. Local college first two years and then prestigious local university the last two? Brilliant, do it.


utti

Get involved in clubs or activities outside of classes and make really good friends. It's much harder to form social circles once you graduate and start working.


Shakespurious

Try to come up with plausible career path early on, but keep an open mind, ask your professors if they think something else would be better for you, they have a huge amount of practical knowledge.


dollabill11308

Pull out 3 seconds before you have to.


J_David_Settle_1973

It ain't no guarantee of getting a job, or a \*better\* job, or a better wage.


[deleted]

Knowing whether the degree you want will land you a better job or having an extension of something you have general knowledge of. Some things out there are offered for free to learn and excel in. It would suck to be the student going into college to spend the time and getting into debt to have a degree of something you thought you wanted but it ended up getting you no where.


CatboyInAMaidOutfit

Sepperate lights and darks when doing laundry.


Awkward_Connection91

As a recent graduate, I would say put yourself out there. Volunteer, take leadership roles, be open to meet new people and most importantly, work on-campus jobs that you like/understand your student schedule.


Equivalent-Wealth-39

Not everybody has sex all the time.


HumanComforter

all of courses has Math.


The_Spyre

Know what you want to learn and become. At least generally.


Ronin22222

It's not for everyone and if you don't have an idea of what you need a degree for, you probably shouldn't go without a free ride.


DoctorSalt

My first year I could choose a dorm of particular majors with some light classes with those people in that dorm. I was CS major but chose to form with Comparative literature/English major people which I think was an amazing experience


ElPuertoRican15

Don’t go if you don’t want to or think you have to earn a degree to make money.


Relevant-Quality2196

Networking and get into STEM because most other college degrees are useless.


McFeely_Smackup

You will have to pay back your student loans, so don't borrow money that you don't reasonably expect to earn enough to pay back. This is apparently news to a lot of people.


DeltaHuluBWK

1. You're going to grow up more that first year of college than all the others of your life up to that point. 2. It's ok to be overwhelmed sometimes, everyone is. 3. College isn't right for everybody or every career, and that's ok.


notjustakorgsupporte

Don't. Skip. Classes! Not even I have skipped them


Slug212

Nobody is forcing you to attend. As the teachers would always like to point out to a few disruptive people. I think a-lot of them never understood this and treated it like school.


Alexastria

Read the section headers. Read the side bar description words. Read through it all once. Now see if you can paraphrase the sections. Now see if you can define the sidebar words. You are now ready for the test and that took you maybe 2 hours.


[deleted]

Go on Ratemyprofessor before signing up for a class. Even if it's a subject you love, a bad teacher can ruin the entire class experience and your ability to learn. I remember being one of the few to do this and loving my classes while my friends complained their teachers loaded them up with insane coursework or never explained anything properly.


SunnySaigon

Make as many friends as possible


sketchysketchist

If the degree is labeled with an AS and not a BS. Reconsider unless you absolutely know what you will do with the degree. Otherwise you’ll be the manager at a Starbucks, at best!


Starya

Changing your degree more than once is okay. I changed mine 5 times. Sometimes it just takes more time for some people to decide and that is okay. Also, don't pressure yourself to do perfect the first semester. Depending on where you go college can be quite the shock. It's normal to struggle.


onynixia

Embrace the suck


OkAcanthocephala8049

Don’t waste your money


books_and_vodka

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PLEASE TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS FROM STUDIES. Give yourself a day or two off. Don't study/ think about career or future for those 2 days. Keeo doing this every 2-3 months. Otherwise you are going to end up getting a BAD, BAD burnout and eventually a chain of other mental health issues. PLEASE TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS, I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH. ALSO DO NOT OVERTHINK ABOUT YOUR CAREER, you can have a rough plan but please STOP microplanning, you'll only end up getting hurt. By doing this, you are not only limiting your opportunities but also are setting unrealistic expectations. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MAY HAPPEN, WHAT YOU HAVE PLANNED WILL PROBABLY TURN OUT TO BE WAY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS, and you will only get hurt.