University/College: How Do You Deal With It?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Whatever you do, don't just stay in university for half your life. Those people are leeches who screw the taxpayers and give nothing back.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Whatever you do, don't just stay in university for half your life. Those people are leeches who screw the taxpayers and give nothing back.

You mean "professional student" isn't a real career?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Rule #1: READ THE COURSE OUTLINE.
Rule #2: DON'T BLOW DEADLINES.
Rule #3: SLEEP WITH YOUR PROF.
Rule #4: SHOW UP MOST OF THE TIME.

fyp

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Icon

You mean "professional student" isn't a real career?

It could be but only if you don't leech off the taxpayers like a POS.

You want to get a BA then go into Law then change your mind and go into Medicine and then go back 10 years later for your Masters? Fine but after the first 2 degrees you pay full price.

We'll see how many degrees these leeches want when they have to pay $25-50k a year.

[DrJ]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

If you're trying to get into Medical school I'll try to give you some personal experience that worked for me... and my classmates.

I find getting into medical school or dentistry or many health related fields very different than say engineering or business. I say this because it's a lot more than having a 4.0, you really, really, really need extracurricular activities. What makes medical school so difficult to get into is you need to show leadership (starting a club or being the president of a club is great), personal achievements (say a black belt in karate or you swam across the pacific ocean), excellent marks (usually nothing lower than 3.7), great MCAT score and be good at interviewing. Oh yeah, sucking up to your prof to get not a good recommendation letter but an excellent one.

A lot about Universities is making proper contacts. Having one good contact can set you up with a whole variety of options - like a great volunteer experience you can put on your resume. You also need to be organized. University isn't that difficult if you are very organized. Most successful people I know aren't the brightest and smartest, but rather they are very organized and don't try to get things done the night before.

In Sciences somehow your exams will all fall within a week of each other, I don't know how this somehow always happens but it does. Start early and find a study strategy that works for you. I liked to study alone for a few days, review all my material then meet up with friends and go through all the information and problem sets. You might think you know everything but that's probably what your friends think too.

On top of studying, you need to start seeing your prof and asking intelligent questions. Also tell them ahead of time that you need a letter of recommendation so they can prepare you a statement.

For the MCAT a lot of medical students have taken a summer off to study for it or at the very least a few months. It's a very difficult test and covers a wide variety of information.

Then if you got that all figured out and are granted an interview, you really really really need to practice this. Different Universities have different interviewing styles. I believe at UC once you get an interview, all students are judged in the same boat all on their interview. They ask you situational questions and you get marked on your response. Others ask you about why you're interested in Medicine etc.

Other than that, enjoy your time. It's a short four years, and in no time you'll be on your next steps to success.

This is a beauty response.

When you get an interview, PM me and I'll help you out. I'm pretty sure I gave you this same advice in another thread but take courses you enjoy once you satisfy your prerequisite courses. Also, with volunteering, stick to something and show commitment to it. That goes a long way. Also, you don't need to volunteer a billion hours in a senior home or a hospital so do things that you enjoy if that isn't your cup of tea. Try to also get a summer job in a research lab. Not only did I make some nice cash, but I learned a lot and got 2 publications out of it. That went a long way IMO. Enjoy the ride and good luck with the semester.

[Shazam]

You're actually a doctor? I thought you played basketball!

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by DrJ

This is a beauty response.

When you get an interview, PM me and I'll help you out. I'm pretty sure I gave you this same advice in another thread but take courses you enjoy once you satisfy your prerequisite courses. Also, with volunteering, stick to something and show commitment to it. That goes a long way. Also, you don't need to volunteer a billion hours in a senior home or a hospital so do things that you enjoy if that isn't your cup of tea. Try to also get a summer job in a research lab. Not only did I make some nice cash, but I learned a lot and got 2 publications out of it. That went a long way IMO. Enjoy the ride and good luck with the semester.

Thank you for the advice and a summer research job seems very interesting and I will definitely have to look into it.

[Cactus Jack]

By banging as many chicks as possible

[Vox]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Just something I have learned, don't buy the text books. The amount of money I have wasted buying books which are no use to me is probably over $400-500 (most of that being during the first 2 semesters).

Going into my 3rd year I still slack off like crazy and wait until the last minute for all my big projects, but that probably won't stop now as I have been doing that for over a decade now.

Maybe if you buy just a few of the books you can get that degree under your belt in a little less than 10 years? But I admire your determination!

[Sr. Mints]

One difference I've noticed between SAIT and the UofC and ULethbridge, is that SAIT completely spoon feeds you EVERYTHING. My first semester at SAIT I bought all the texts, and didn't crack one of them. After that, I didn't by any of them for the next three semesters, always ready to spring for one if I needed it.

[malcolmk14]

I avoid paying full price for a textbook at all costs. If that means buying it 14 days before the midterm and returning it, then buying it again 14 days before the final and returning it again, so be it.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

I avoid paying full price for a textbook at all costs. If that means buying it 14 days before the midterm and returning it, then buying it again 14 days before the final and returning it again, so be it.

Easier to buy in advance of the semester online and save a bunch. Unless it is a brand new textbook you can almost always get a good deal on the current edition or a smoking awesome deal on a previous edition. I tried the buy and return before a midterm and final once, since my daughter had put my text I had originally bought into the recycling bin and they gave me a very hard time at the UofC bookstore.

[Puppet Guy]

The two tricks that got me through university:

- I'd study for two hours, take a 1/2 hour break, do another 90 minutes to two hours and be done with it for the day.

- unless I had an assignment due or was otherwise up against the clock, I'd put down the books at 10:30, go for a walk for at least a half hour and then do whatever.

These kept my mind fresh and let my subconscious mull the questions over, and I'd generally have more of a clue the next day.