Any Tips for a Scrub going to University?

[Sly]

Originally Posted by Locke

I'm going to tell you something that is very important, it will challenge everything you have come to believe in in your life but its a sad and simple fact of life.

The Calgary Flames are a good hockey team. They will be in the playoffs.

The playoffs tend to coincide directly with final exams.

The Flames dont win the Cup every year, and you can always re-write a final.

Yeah, no way I'm missing the playoffs this upcoming season.

[Ren]

My first year English course was a breeze. It depends a lot on the prof, some are pretty easy-going and genuinely want to help you learn the fundamentals, others are just there to get on your ass about every little mistake and will punish you for anything they can get away with.

[KTrain]

If you can, don't schedule any classes for Friday afternoon. If you do you, probably won't be going to too many of them.

[flip]

Originally Posted by troutman

If you have essay courses, do your essays as soon as they are assigned. Too many students try to do it all the night before they are due. By then, I hid all the good books in the library.

People still use books from the library?

99% of the students I know use nothing but internet sources nowadays.

[Ren]

More importantly, try not to schedule anything before 10:00 if at all possible, especially if you don't live on campus. Getting up at 6:30 to be at class by 8 in the winter when it's freezing cold outside, traffic gets backed up, and dark as all hell is *not* fun. I made the horrible mistake of scheduling my freshman bio lab for 8:00 and I learned to loathe Wednesdays because of it. Totally miserable.

[troutman]

Read the calendar. I thought anything better than "F" meant I was passing.

[Sly]

Originally Posted by Ren

More importantly, try not to schedule anything before 10:00 if at all possible, especially if you don't live on campus. Getting up at 6:30 to be at class by 8 in the winter when it's freezing cold outside, traffic gets backed up, and dark as all hell is *not* fun. I made the horrible mistake of scheduling my freshman bio lab for 8:00 and I learned to loathe Wednesdays because of it. Totally miserable.

Yeah, the earliest classes I got are at 9:00 am, and I guess I'm fortunate to live right across the UofA hospital.

[troutman]

Don't take Friday classes. Thursday night is party time.

[habernac]

LOL! I want to go to university when I'm 40 just to be the old codger a-hole in the class who annoys all the kids.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by habernac

LOL! I want to go to university when I'm 40 just to be the old codger a-hole in the class who annoys all the kids.

We can just hang out at The Den with our turtle-necks, tweed jackets with elbow patches, and a pipe. Speak with a fake British or New England accent.

[Sparks]

Originally Posted by flip

People still use books from the library?

99% of the students I know use nothing but internet sources nowadays.

Yeah, computers are pretty handy for searching academic journals, which really are just about the only reputable internet source as far as I know. In any case, I much prefered a real book whenever possible. Easier on the eyes, and you can read it anywhere you like.

I went to university recently - from 2000 to 2008 - and the libraries were still busy every year.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by Sparks

Yeah, computers are pretty handy for searching academic journals, which really are just about the only reputable internet source as far as I know. In any case, I much prefered a real book whenever possible. Easier on the eyes, and you can read it anywhere you like.

I went to university recently - from 2000 to 2008 - and the libraries were still busy every year.

Well that's interesting. For us, we use articles on specific websites or we reference textbooks. Those books you see in the library, they're so out of date it's not even funny.

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by Sly

In about 3 weeks, I start University at the U of A.... pretty nervous and excited at the same time. I don't know what to except really for the first year, other than 'studying'.. seeing if I screw around/getting drunk= waste of $$$ and time. (In addition, a beating from my parents) So if any of you guys went to University, what tips do you have for a fellow like me as a freshmen and is it worth partying hard to be 'first priority' over studies?

People tell me that the first year of University is probably the best times of their lives with all the drinking and partying, yet I really want to do well in my studies to get into the business faculty in the second year.

It's not a choice; it's a lifestyle.

You won't know which way it's going to go until you get there.

(Of course, if you're still living at home with your parents, that will help significantly with falling in the "do well in my studies" camp.)

[Sparks]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Those books you see in the library, they're so out of date it's not even funny.

That's a great point - I guess some of it depends on the faculty you're in. I mostly used the library for philosophy, history, statistics (methods), etc. For something like science courses, I bet those books are more than outdated.

[DrJ]

Forgot to say - you will be with lots of Flames fans on campus!

Try to befriend some upper years. They can tell you about some bird courses if you need 'em or help you with old assignments.

You're gonna have a blast.

For residence, probably the best thing that I brought was an extra table (one of those plastic fold ones). They double as an extra table for studying or can easily be converted to a flipcup/beerpong table.

Also, I brought really dark curtains b/c from my experience, the ones in rez are horrible. I had an East facing window and if I wanted to, the blinds let me sleep all day or just darken the room for a nap or for extra curriculars

[VladtheImpaler]

I have exactly the same experience as Troutman apparently (engineering ---> law)... Here is some advice from an old man...

1) Unless you have your heart set on engineering, or something similarly nerdlike, take liberal arts (history, poli sci, etc) - (a) the books are actually interesting to read in their own right, (b) you can get all your studying done while taking public transit to/from school, (c) the atmosphere is really relaxed, and (d) the best looking women are in liberal arts. You can always take Law or MBA later, once you want a real job - alternatively, you can stick with Liberal Arts all the way to PhD, become a professional student and then a professional slacker (professor).

2) Study the calendar, plan well and register early - after I left Eng, and switched to History, I was able to limit my classes to Mon/Wed/Fri, and generally to mornings (I am a morning person)

3) This part is ethically questionable - you can choose your paper topics in such a way that your papers, with minor or no alterations, can be used in 3-5 courses. To wit: I wrote a paper on Soviet foreign policy in the Far East leading up to WW 2. I was able to use this paper in History of World War II, History of the Soviet Union, History of Foreign Policy, Development of Foreign Policy (poli sci course), expanded into my Honours Thesis, and in a tour de force, expanded it a bit more into my Master's Thesis.

4) I was able to get by with writing all my papers the night before. This is not for everyone, but if you are actually interested in the subject, are a good writer and reasonably smart, it's not hard to knock off 2000 words.

5) Life advice that I didn't follow myself - whatever you, don't waste any of your limited money on "stuff" - use it on women and booze. Get your furniture, TV, stereo used for cheap because once you become an adult, you will realize it's all crap anyhow, and you'll need new "stuff".

[Sly]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

I have exactly the same experience as Troutman apparently (engineering ---> law)... Here is some advice from an old man...

1) Unless you have your heart set on engineering, or something similarly nerdlike, take liberal arts (history, poli sci, etc) - (a) the books are actually interesting to read in their own right, (b) you can get all your studying done while taking public transit to/from school, (c) the atmosphere is really relaxed, and (d) the best looking women are in liberal arts. You can always take Law or MBA later, once you want a real job - alternatively, you can stick with Liberal Arts all the way to PhD, become a professional student and then a professional slacker (professor).

2) Study the calendar, plan well and register early - after I left Eng, and switched to History, I was able to limit my classes to Mon/Wed/Fri, and generally to mornings (I am a morning person)

3) This part is ethically questionable - you can choose your paper topics in such a way that your papers, with minor or no alterations, can be used in 3-5 courses. To wit: I wrote a paper on Soviet foreign policy in the Far East leading up to WW 2. I was able to use this paper in History of World War II, History of the Soviet Union, History of Foreign Policy, Development of Foreign Policy (poli sci course), expanded into my Honours Thesis, and in a tour de force, expanded it a bit more into my Master's Thesis.

4) I was able to get by with writing all my papers the night before. This is not for everyone, but if you are actually interested in the subject, are a good writer and reasonably smart, it's not hard to knock off 2000 words.

5) Life advice that I didn't follow myself - whatever you, don't waste any of your limited money on "stuff" - use it on women and booze. Get your furniture, TV, stereo used for cheap because once you become an adult, you will realize it's all crap anyhow, and you'll need new "stuff".

I'm more of a person who is interested in space and galaxies.. thus I booked two of my opinion classes in astronomy. I'm pretty much sick of WWII, Cold War, Foreign Policies, etc... as Grade 12 Social Studies was a class I skipped the most.

I hate essay's, don't want to talk about em. lolol - my G12 English teacher was a b!tch and made me hate essay's I guess?

Yeah, I'm pretty fortunate that I dont need to bring any furniture except my bed and a drawer, since my roommates are bringing everything... and the only thing I guess is essential for me to buy is protein powder. lol

[JoseCuervo]

I am in my last year at University in Lethbridge and the system that I have worked out is a 1 on 1 off deal.

Drink 1 day, study 1 day, drink 1 day, study 1 day. When you get your body into this system it works out quite well.

This works out well as once the season starts you will be watching the game every two days, presumably with a few beers.

Leave Sundays for recovery and studying and you will be just fine.

With this system you will be able to enjoy University, but also will have the marks required to get you into second year.

Have fun!

[Sly]

Originally Posted by JoseCuervo

I am in my last year at University in Lethbridge and the system that I have worked out is a 1 on 1 off deal.

Drink 1 day, study 1 day, drink 1 day, study 1 day. When you get your body into this system it works out quite well.

This works out well as once the season starts you will be watching the game every two days, presumably with a few beers.

Leave Sundays for recovery and studying and you will be just fine.

With this system you will be able to enjoy University, but also will have the marks required to get you into second year.

Have fun!

Haha, hows your liver?

[Ren]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

3) This part is ethically questionable

This part is also considered plagiarism (even though you originally wrote it) and will get you expelled if caught.