I am about to enter my first year of college in the fall. I will be attending UNLV. What I want to know is, is it really all that its cracked up to be. Some people tell me the work is hard, some say it is easy. My theory is that you make your experience however you choose. What I mean is that while I was in highschool I never really tried that hard, I mostly just cruised through the day and I had a good time. I remember people telling me that highschool was going to be hard. I thought it was easy. I am sure that other people in my school thought it was hard. I think they chose to make it hard on themselves. Well anyway I just want to know some simple things like, how is it being left with so much free time? I’m sure the whole athlete thing, you know how they are always presumed to be cool and popular just for being one, is still present? How is the work, will I have to honestly study every chance I get?(If so I’m not really looking forward to this). How is the enviroment? I’m assuming that it is a pretty safe and positive one since everyone there made the choice to further their education? Well I am just taking up liberal arts right now because life is full of too many choices. And just in case anyone thinks that I am against athletes, I’m not because I used to be one. I just can’t believe how much people will look up to you for being able to play a game. Well thanks for any assistance you can provide.
First off, I sense that your topic might get moved in the near future, so don’t be suprised. But anyway…
Generally speaking, unless you intentionally load yourself down, the first semester of college isn’t very difficult. At least the classes themselves aren’t as you’ll probably find English 101, French 101, Art History 101… etc less than difficult. Of course, if you load down with honors courses and the like, your milage may vary.
That said, you will need to do your homework and study (exactly how much depends on you and your classes) so try to stay in a few nights per week and find out where the library is. There’s no saying how hard this is going to be for you since it all depends on your own level of maturity and dedication to doing well. The old saying of “your teachers aren’t going to be asking you for such-and-such” finally holds true though (after being a lie throughout the previous 12 years of your life) and so don’t expect any special favors if you don’t hold up your end and do what you came to college to do.
When I went to school, and where I went to school, the old cliques fairly fall apart. I’m certain that the football players and the cheerleaders still got along well with each other, but given how many people were at the school and how many people are on a football team, the influence of the “jocks” is about nil in everyday life. In five years there, I can’t say that I ever met a one. One of the great things about college is no matter what you’re interested in, there’s bound to be a fairly sizable group of people who are interested in it also, so there’s no excuse to be a loner and complain that no one understands your unique ways unless you just want to wallow in self pity (I’m not saying you do, but am speaking generally).
It’s hard to say exactly how hard it’ll be for you. Hopefully, you’ll go after a major that you enjoy and so the work you’re forced to do will seem a challenge rather than a hardship. Good luck to you.
I think it depends on each individual college, and each individual person. When I got out of high school I went to UWM and fell flat on my face. I stayed sober, went to all my classes, and studied, but the course work & expectations were far above what I encountered in high school. (In my last year of h.s. I was drunk, stoned, cut classes & rarely studied, and cruised through like the teachers were bribed). I dropped out, worked for a year, then went to a smaller, private college. I never got less than a B there. Why did I succeed there, when previously I failed elsewhere? To be honest, I’m not really sure. Maybe I was burned out after 13 years of school and needed that 1 year break. Maybe the smaller class sizes were a factor. You’ll probably have more answers to your question AFTER your first year than you’ll get before. Either way, I wish you luck & success!
I guess a lot of this depends upon what you wind up studying, but speaking as a person who did well in high school and beyond, and went to a private college (albeit one that didn’t have a reputation for being particularly difficult academically), my sense is that it isn’t the work in college, but exercising the discipline to get it done, that is the key. There are simply so many more distractions in college.
Compare. In high school, generally you’re living with at least one authority figure, and most of your friends are at least a couple of minutes away from you. Even if you’re able to go out frequently late at night, chances are there’s some sort of check on your behavior. Fast forward three months. You’re basically the same person you were before, but your environment is completely different. If you’re in a dorm, or even in an apartment building inhabited by other students, the options to procrastinate via socialization are huge. There aren’t people around to exercise even implicit pressure to go to class, stay in and do your work, etc. For most people, it really is the first taste of only having to answer to yourself for your behavior. And, the best part is, at a large school, you’re surrounded by thousands of people in the same situation!
My point, such as it is, is that it is very easy to exercise that newfound freedom and let classwork fall by the wayside. Some people do this to the extreme and don’t hack it more than a semester or two. Some people shut themselves up and study constantly. Most people seem to find a happy medium. You say you’re studying liberal arts; I would think, if UNLV is comparable to other schools, that you should be able to keep up as good an academic track record as you like and still have plenty of free time. I make no promises on this score if you decide to go into hard science or something at a later date.
(I suspect the thread might get moved, too, but since this is the only forum I regularly read, I figured I’d answer it now.)
Why might this thread get moved? Did I post it in the wrong place? Well I certainly hope that I will be able to find a happy medium. I keep trying to tell myself that I will try hard to keep up with the work. I know I will never be one to just stay in all the time and do my work. Everytime people hear that I’m going to UNLV they always ask if I’m going to Vegas to learn or party. I don’t know why they find it odd when I say I want to do both. Well thanks for the replies, but please tell me why this might get moved. I don’t want it to get moved to the pit because people start flaming on me for something. Thanks.
I’m still a relative newbie, but if it gets moved, I’d guess it’ll go to IMHO, not the Pit. Don’t sweat that.
As far as the upcoming college stuff…
[ul]
[li]Decide beforehand if you are a morning person or afternoon person. If you like to sleep in, do not register for any class before noon–11 a.m. at the earliest. I never got above a “C” in any class before 11.[/li][li]Make study time and make play time… and never the twain shall meet. Don’t be intimidated by people who want you to go partying when you know you have a test/paper/speech/whatever coming up. When it’s time to work, work hard. When it’s time to play, play hard. Know the difference.[/li][li]At the beginning of every semester, after you get all your syllabuses (syllabi?), get a calendar. Write in each day what you need to prepare for the next class. Mark tests/papers/speeches/etc. 3-5 days in advance. Doing a little every day is much easier than doing it all at once. After you’ve prepared for the next day… it’s playtime. Always worked for me.[/li][li]Take 1 “fun” class every semester. Something not on your degree plan. Something you are interested in, not something the admin tells you you have to take. Yes, I know these are called “electives”. The point is, don’t take soap carving just because it fits in your schedule. I still regret never taking “History of Rock and Roll”. Take something you want, and rearrange everything else if possible.[/li][li]There is no shame in taking time off after a semester or 2. More than likely, you’ve been going to school for 12 or 13 years at least already. If you’re sick of it, tell M&D you need off time. Going to college because you want to is much easier than going because you have to. I got pushed into it (“Everyone else in the family went to college right after high school!”) and flunked out not once, not twice, but 3 times!! All because I wasn’t ready. It’s your life, make that decision if you feel the need.[/li][/ul]
Everything already said is also good wisdom. I just put in my own experiences and what I learned from them. Good luck!
And, yes, I did get a degree…13 1/2 years after I started. 
No flames, chicaku, and no harm done. It’s just that questions of this nature, which seek input and opinions rather than “an answer” are best located in our newest forum, In My Humble Opinion. I’ll shoot the thread over there now.
I was an honor student all through Elementary, Junior High, and up until my Sophomore year in High School. Then, I said, and I quote, “Fuck it.” and quit trying. I failed lots of classes my last two years in the pen. I got a 29 on my ACT, and wrote a few essays, and suddenly I’m up for full scholarhips with gobs of cash left over for me.
So far, I’ve blown through my first year, it wasn’t hard at all. I’m fulfilling all my A&S requirements before I go into my major, so the next semester should be easy, too.
I work full time, and take a 12 hour course load. My hardest class so far has been Spanish 101. I could have taken Spanish 201, but I hadn’t spoken it in about a year, so I didn’t feel comfortable.
I think it only gets hard once you get to work on a major.
But, I’d say, the first year is only hard for dumb people.
–Tim
First semester not that hard? Fuck that. I gots English 101, Chemistry 101 (and a lab), Biology 103 (and a lab), Math Science 106, and Packaging Science 101. No freakin electives for this farmer. 
Homer. Bite me. I got a 34 on the ACT. The first year can be hard. if you do it right. (HonorsPhysics, hon. engineering, hon. Calculus, Organic Chemistry, A grad level philosphy class, not to mention a few life threatening illnesses and surgery.) A 12 hour course load (I can’t get out in 5 years taking 18-23 credits a term in my degrees program. Chem Eng and Philosophy) and breezey classes make it easy. Not brains.
I love it though. I can’t wait to get back. (this year I get to take Latin.)
Chicaku, Definetly make sure you are taking classes you like. Preferably classes you love. No one makes you go but you, and its easier if you can’t wait for the next lecture. I had a class that I adored (Physics if you must know) that I scheduled surgery around because I couldn’t stand missing it. Its gotta be like that for me, my philosphy class that I hated I figured out the scheme and stopped attending by midterms. Some classes you can do that with, some you can’t. Figure out the difference.
All the free time is good. Get a hobby or Nintendo will eat yoru life. Learn to take care of your time, there is some work that must be done, occasionally. Learn to cook and find somewhere to do it, all the food sucks and man does not survive on McDonalds alone. Make friends when you get there, everyone is in the same boat together.
No one cares about your grades, learn that now. If you don’t give them attention no one will question it until you flunk out. Or, alternatively, if you are going to flunk out of your major, at least take classes you like.
Even if its just a one credit evening class in Judo or Ballroom Dancing do it! Try to get some friends together for a fun class. It gets even better if every Tuesday night four or six of yoru best buds are all goofing off together, paid for by your higher education.
College can be the most fun you will ever have. you only have to worry about a minamal effort in keeping up with 30 hours of work a week total. Love it.
Oh, before you leave make sure you know how to do laundry. A large number of freshman wear funny colored socks and underware because they have no clue.
Ok, HomeSlice, I have to ask – what on earth is “Packaging Science”? No offense, but it sounds like a class you take during your UPS training.
Hopefully, no one took my bit about the first semester generally having easy classes the wrong way (I did try to say if you take honors courses, it might be different for you). When I wnet, we were urged to keep it at 15 credit hours or under (down to 12, of course) and you couldn’t take over 18 without special permission until you were a sophmore. As I recall, my first semester was like:
English Lit 1001 (we had some goofy xxxx numbered courses instead of the traditional xxx style)
Art History 1001
Three Dimensional Design 1020
Freshman Orientation 1000 (talk about your easy classes)
French II 1030
Needless to say, I didn’t work too hard that first few months and still got an A average. Everything people said about taking fun classes holds true. One of the great things about most “hobby PE” classes such as ballroom dancing, fencing, target shooting, aerobics, etc is that they are little 1 credit hour courses that meet once a week and don’t eat up too much of your time, but still give you something to look forward to. Plus, if the class just sucks, you can drop it and not have to sweat throwing off your entire schedule since the class was only a single credit hour anyway.
My first year I never went to class, I didn’t try, I mainly kept to myself, and ended up getting kicked out for the following year.
Now, I just finished a class a few weeks ago, and I loved it. I adored my class, made some new friends and passed with distinction.
What the experience is - is what you make it.
Woah Woah, seems I missed this the first time:
University was an absolute hell for me my first year, but hell if I’m dumb.
I just didn’t want to be there. I wanted to take a year off before going back to school but my parents said they’d pay for the year, if I went.
I wasn’t lacking intelligence, but motivation.
I could be quite long-winded on this subject, but I’ll keep it down to the main thing I try to impart to my nieces and nephews as they head off to school:
Go to class!
Every damn one of’em. I worked and partied with the best of them, and I went to class. It is so much easier that way!
First off, you’re not trying to fathom out 6 weeks of material from the textbook the night before a midterm if you’ve been in class. The instructor has been revealing the stuff to you and gradually building your understanding of the subject.
Go to class no matter what condition you’re in. The instructor would rather have you there hungover than absent, and just listening to the lecture does make it easier to chew on the textbooks. And, if it’s not a huge class, your instructor will likely be more willing to work with you if you’re a face he or she recognizes.
There’s lots more that could be said about scheduling, homework, research papers and the like, but I’ll leave that alone because I truly think going to class is that important.
I had a few friends who had mega the roo’s experience (freshman bomb-out) and got past it (as it sounds like mega has - hear! hear!). And I had a roommate for a couple of years who was a bright guy who just wanted a B.A. with minimum fuss. He took all the gut courses, showed up for the first day and got the syllabus with exam dates, showed up for exams only and bought his research papers and got out with his English B.A. with a 2.0 GPA (IIRC, he got a C in every single class he “took”). He’s gone on to have a very successful career in advertising. So maybe I’m full of it.
Good luck!
Same here. I quit after 2.5 years and will be going back part time this fall after being away for 6 years. This time it’s my decision and I’m looking forward to it!
–tygre
Its my major. See that Pepsi bottle on your desk? We basically design those. We figure the dimensions, decide on the materials; we do stress tests, vibration tests, impact tests, ect to make them more perfect. Big $$$. Clemson Grads avg. 45K a year STRAIT outta college.
I’m gonna be a farmer.
My college did not graduate a deaf person before me & they didn’t know much at all about what to do. Even their sign class wasn’t accessible to the deaf. Once you learn the few tricks of college life, its much easier. You do get a more mature type of classmate compared to high school.
Today’s college is far more expensive then when I went to school.
“what on earth is “Packaging Science”?”
Designing food packaging so that one oz. of product can look like 2 lbs of product by putting it into a huge box stuffed with air.
the first year is what you make of it… I went to a relatively rigorous college with an academic atmo… MANY of my freshman hall pals were in for a rude awakening when they got the first B’s & (gasp!) C’s of their lives. Don’t let it throw you. You don’t have to show your grades to anyone (not even your parents if you are 18 or older).
Some of the most fun things I did in my freshman year were bypassing the “prerequisites” and heading straight to the 300-level fun stuff (that’s Junior class level technically). Buddhism! (intro to religion? Who needs it?) Political philosophy! (intro to philosophy? piffle!) Lots of colleges don’t even check the so-called prereqs and you can always get a friendly prof to sign you in (hint: if you beg a prof to let you into a class, you’d better show 98% of the time).
The temptation to skip is huge. Try not to skip without a really good reason. Its only an hour out of your day…
Do’nt make the mistake I did. Everyone told me high school would be difficult and it never was so I assumed when I heard college would be difficult that everyone would be wrong again and the first semester didn’t disprove that, but my second semester was about three times as much work as the first and I was completely unprepared because I didn’t expect it.