I'm officially a college student

IconBasser · #1 07-06-2009, 07:38 PM

registered for classes today. I'll be attending Cal-State Fullerton as an Economics major.

my classes:

-1 World Civilizations up to the 16th century.

-2 Introduction to music [I'm gonna talk to the dept. head, see if I can take a more advanced course and get GE credit]

-3 Oral Communications "Theory and practice of interpersonal communications"

-4 Principles of Microeconomics

-5 Fundamental Physics:Mechanics "Classic Newtonian mechanics, linear and circular motion, energy, linear/angular momentum, systems of particles, rigid body motion, wave and sound motion

the hardest will probably be physics, as I'm taking a course that is really only supposed to be taken by engineering & physics majors. I took physics in High School, and really liked it, and I actually covered most of the things that'll be in this one because my teacher taught us WAY more than what was required [we were studying quantum mechanics by the end of the year], so I don't expect this course to be outrageously overwhelming.

oldrocker · #2 07-06-2009, 07:46 PM

No Math?

IconBasser · #3 07-06-2009, 07:53 PM

from my AP thread:

Quote:

because of these tests [and the US history test I took last year], I'm exempt from:

-4 college math courses [because of my major (economics), I don't need to take any more math courses

]

-2 english classes [still have to take oral communications, then I'm done with GE english]
-2 history classes [US & government]
-1 economics class [principles of Macroeconomics]

spalatalatan · #4 07-06-2009, 07:54 PM

Titans eh?

i love the college world series

hopefully they'll make it back to the finals soon.
Good luck with the "academic part", ya know, the part that doesn't matter

5StringBlues · #5 07-06-2009, 07:56 PM

Good luck. Hopefully we won't be seeing an "I'm officially a college dropout" thread in a few months.

TOOL460002 · #6 07-06-2009, 08:00 PM

here is my humble advise, as i started off my freshman year coming out of highschool with a 3.8ish gpa, having put zero effort into it:

the library is your friend.

seriously, i had never once studied in a library. on my first three chemistry tests, i got some combination of C's and D's, because i didnt know how to study. people less intelligent than you will outperform you when they put in more time. i started following my girlfriend into the library 2-4 hours a day, because she was one of those people who puts in tons of time, and finished off my chemistry course in the top three (out of 180 or so) on every test after that.

also, while mini-fridges can be cool, you will throw it away or craigslist it fairly soon. i regret buying bulky items that i hauled around to various apartments and dorms and stuff. travel light. i have spent hundreds of dollars over the years on crap that i gave away or threw away. buy big stuff later. that is one of my big regrets.

the rest are no-brainers: never miss a class, ever. read every chapter twice and do every problem at the end of every chapter. make a notecard/cheatsheet thing even if you cant use one. it will organize the important points.

my transcript is pretty much all A's W's and some F's. i know how to do college well, and how to do it wrong. four years or less, nose to the grindstone. have fun, but not too much.

tplyons · #7 07-06-2009, 08:06 PM

Go to class. That's all there is to it.

What microeconomics book are you using? I see a lot of people using the book by Leeds and von Allmen. I studied economics under Peter von Allmen... and am looking to get my MBA in economics or marketing.

I find economics simply fascinating.

IconBasser · #8 07-06-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

Go to class. That's all there is to it.

What microeconomics book are you using? I see a lot of people using the book by Leeds and von Allmen. I studied economics under Peter von Allmen... and am looking to get my MBA in economics or marketing.

I don't know which books I'm using for any of the courses yet. I assume I have to contact the professors who teach each course to know which one to purchase [please correct me if I'm wrong]

Quote:

I find economics simply fascinating.

likewise, which is why I'm majoring in it. I applied to colleges as a music composition major, then changed once I took AP macroeconomics this past year.

tplyons · #9 07-06-2009, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IconBasser

I don't know which books I'm using for any of the courses yet. I assume I have to contact the professors who teach each course to know which one to purchase [please correct me if I'm wrong]

Depends on school policy. Most of the time you'll find out when you're handed a syllabus on the first day of class. But you can generally ask your professor so you can get your books beforehand. I always did this so I could shop around... saved $50-100 a semester buying ahead of time.

CamMcIntyre · #10 07-06-2009, 09:13 PM

When I was at Roosevelt, we'd take our schedule to the book store and get the ISBN numbers for the books. Then it's time to hit Amazon.com, Textbooks.com, and that fun stuff.

College is fun. Are you living in the dorm? I learned a lot about myself by living with a roommate for two years. The big thing? I don't like living with people.

best of luck.

Stumbo · #11 07-06-2009, 10:03 PM

Best thing I did was to mark up a calendar with all the due date for tests, papers, etc and work backwards into when I needed to start the papers, studying etc. YOu always know where you are.

IconBasser · #12 07-06-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamMcIntyre

When I was at Roosevelt, we'd take our schedule to the book store and get the ISBN numbers for the books. Then it's time to hit Amazon.com, Textbooks.com, and that fun stuff.

College is fun. Are you living in the dorm? I learned a lot about myself by living with a roommate for two years. The big thing? I don't like living with people.

best of luck.

no, I'm commuting, living at my parent's house. I can't afford college any other way at this point...

Kenbuntu · #13 07-06-2009, 10:12 PM

This is what i have my first semester:

Chemistry
Calculus 1
Engineering Mechanics
Engineering and Design
Introduction to Programming

I'm especially looking forward to the design course!

TrooperFarva · #14 07-06-2009, 10:34 PM

College isn't anywhere near as difficult as most people would have you believe. It's okay to miss a few classes, tests are what really matter.

Example: I took an economics class as part of a course requirement. The very first class, the professor laid it out for everyone. There was a weekly quiz, based on the previous weeks class. At the end of the semester, there was a final. Your semester grade would be 80% quizzes, 20% final. Alternatively, you were allowed to skip all the classes and all the quizzes, and just show up the day of the final, in which case, your score on the final was your score for the semester. I took off. I was the only one. I was able to spend 6 more hours per week on my design class, which made for a much better project. I took the econ final, and got an 87, B+. Definitely worth it.

College will not necessarily teach you what you want to do with the rest of your life, but it will definitely teach you what you're capable of.

And the Design classes are definitely the best. Practical applications of classroom knowledge.

TOOL460002 · #15 07-07-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

College isn't anywhere near as difficult as most people would have you believe. It's okay to miss a few classes, tests are what really matter.

some classes do allow for missing some classes. as a rule of thumb, the fewer missed the better, but i will say that i once had a professor who had tough tests, but who was the worst lecturer i have ever encountered. i stopped attending that and spent the exact hours of lecture reading the text and i think i was better off for it (i also had a semester with all english as a second language teachers, which isnt bad i guess, but it was really annoying to me). i like learning on my own and just showing up for tests/quizzes, but you have to pick and chose. not all colleges/classes allow for this.

xtorrak · #16 07-07-2009, 11:58 AM

I'm a CpE (Computer Engineering) major.

The library is your friend.

Physics sucks.

That is all.

bwv1013 · #17 07-07-2009, 07:46 PM

on the first day of class i always tell my students EXACTLY what is expected from them, how i operate, test schedules, what assignments are worth, etc. most good professors i had did the exact same thing. once you get into a groove as far the mechanics of each class, you will know how much time you need to devote respectively, but pay close attention the first day of class and you'll work more efficiently.

best of luck, although based on your AP scores it looks like you'll do great. don't forget to have fun, it goes by FAST.

Pilgrim · #18 07-07-2009, 09:49 PM

I've worked at universities for 29 years. Here's what I told my daughters (who have 3.4 and 3.86 grade point averages) about how to pass classes:

1) GO TO CLASS. EVERY CLASS. NO EXCUSES. Many students never figure this out.
2) Sit in front, and TAKE NOTES. Taking notes actually aids in retention because it adds motor memory to cognition.
3) Before every test, READ YOUR NOTES. It helps to actually read the text as well, but much of what you'll be tested in in most (not all) classes is in the notes.
4) TURN IN all your assignments, and do it on time. I'm amazed at how many students don't turn in work, or do it late.

I have told many students these four simple rules, and every one that has listened and put them to work has done well.

Of course, reading the text and doing other work will improve your grades....that's obvious. But all too many students don't do the four things above. Remember, college IS your job. Treat it like a job and do the work. After all, you're paying for every minute of every class.