Monster's First Day Of College

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

It starts.

I wake up at 7:30. My first course starts at 10:00. It’s a 25-30 minute drive to the campus, and I wanted to be there early so I can make sure I know where to go to get to all my classes.

Gee, college is much bigger than high school.

I look around, noticing that one of the parking lots is bigger than my entire former high school. I also notice that many people have goatees or beards, which wasn’t allowed at my former high school. And people were smoking! Anyways, within the first five minutes of being on campus, I had already seen three times as many people that attended my former high school.

I’m not in high school any more. THANK DEITY!

My first course is Comp Sci 108 (Computer Science Orientation). I walk into my class, and immedietly notice that there are some hot females in my computer class. That’s a first for me! I head over to them and sit down. The professor begins his introductory lecture: “Weelcom to Compuder Scieence one-o-eat. Dose eneeboddy know vut a compuder iz?” GROAN

Monster’s Preliminary Rating: :frowning: :frowning: :frowning:

Comments: I have to take this course (which is three courses behind what I’ve already taken so far) because I wasn’t able to get into Calculus until I’ve taken Pre-Calculus. Comp Sci 110 has Calculus as a corequisite.

After leaving an incredibly dull computer class, I head over to my next class, English 155, otherwise known as Freshman Composition. As I enter, I notice that the class is moderately sized, and the professor is talking amiably with several of the students. I did not know what to think until she said “Ok, we’re now going to have you ask two other people questions about themselves, and write down their answers on these notecards”. CRAP! That’s what I did in HIGH SCHOOL! So, at first I thought I was going to dilike it, but as she wrapped up her introductions, I found her to be interesting and pretty nice.

Monster’s Preliminary Rating: I might like this course.

Comments: This course is the exact same material I did in my college writing course in my second semester senior year of high school. I think this class will not be too difficult.

I wandered around for several minutes before locating my next course, Communication Studies (AKA “Speech”). I was a little confused at first for two reasons: A) My room number on my class list was MZ 111. The sign on the door said MZ 111 B. B? Is there an A somewhere I missed? Next, B) As I walked into the class, not quite sure it was the right room, I notice something odd: There are only three other guys in the room, and 22 girls. Is this some kind of Feminist course or something? Anyways, I discover it is indeed the right class, which is very lucky for me: There are six guys in the class to the 22 girls. Those are some really good odds!!

Monster’s Preliminary Rating: WOOOOOOOO!! :smiley:

Comments: I’m pretty good at public speaking, and am not very timid in large groups. I think I’ll do fine.

After having a one hour lunch consisting of walking around for 45 minutes and eating for 10, I head to my next and last class: Precalculus. NOO! I dislike math quite a bit, and this is also my only 90 minute course. Just great. Anyways, at least I know someone in the class with me, so it’s not all that bad. The problem is, he doesn’t speak English very well, so I have to actively pay attention to get what he says. I hate paying attention. It requires thought on my part, and thought is A BAD THING. The professor seems to be quite the asshole, and his syllabus gives the appearance this class is going to be quite difficult.

Monster’s Preliminary Rating: :frowning: :frowning: :frowning: BAH! BAD MATH! EVIL! [sub]As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no math…[/sub]

Comments: I’ve taken a trigonometry course before, so I know most of the formulas, and I’ve learned vectors and such in Physics.

Overall, College = Good. :slight_smile:

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Welcome to the beginning of the rest of your life.

3

You just started your first year, I just started my last.

My classes:

Software Engineering
Computer Architecture
Computer Algorithms
Networked Operating Systems Programming

My advice: GO TO CLASS!!! Just because noone cares if you go or not doesn’t mean that you don’t need to. You don’t want to learn this lesson the hard way, trust me.

4

I also just started my first year of college. These are my courses:

Acting I (Not a bad course, but not quite as cool as I thought it was going to be.)
Intro to the Theatre (boring as hell right now–will probably be better soon…I hope!)
Psych 101 (A TON better than I thought it would be!)
English 104 (A good English class…I like it.)
Blount Foundations (A mix of history, English, psychology, philosophy, and most of the other arts and sciences. Very thought-provoking…lots of reading. Pretty decent.)
Blount Convocation (Easy, once a week seminar. I go and listen to speakers. Simple enough.)

I’m in the Blount Undergraduate Initiative at the University of Alabama. It’s a relatively new program, designed to create a small liberal arts college within a huge state college. I’d explain more, but it would take awhile. Anyone who wants to know more about it (yeah right) can find it on the official University of Alabama website.

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My first year, too. I"m in my second week o’ classes, though.

Intro to Mass Media: I love this course. Marginally amusing teacher, no real work, a subject I’m interested in… easy A.

French: This is my “fluff” course, since it’s actually two years behind where I was after my high school studies, but it’s at 8 in the morning every day so I’m majorly bummed.

English Honors Composition: The teacher is a feminist Black Panther hippie beotch who misses no opportunity to poke fun at my Yankeeness. I hate it already and I’ve only been there twice.

Public Speaking: Teacher is from the Albany area, so I get to hear my own accent reflected back to me twice a week. I might not forget how to talk, after all. Other than that, I am ambivalent.

Sociology: The teacher is Jamaican and hard to understand due to her accent and the speed at which she dictates notes, but the coursework is extremely interesting to me.

Honors Forum: This isn’t really a ‘class’ at all, it’s just an hour a week that I’m forced to go to because I’m in Honors Society and must remain a member of same to keep my scholarship. BORING BEYOND BELIEF.

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All this talk of women - methinks monster doth protest too much.

:wink:

Congrats!

Esprix

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I start my Junior year of college on Sept 23, I’m a little nervous see, cause I transfered to this damn school (Ucla <-shameless-self-plug) from a junior college, which was pretty much High school with ash trays. I hope my first day goes as well as yours. Congrats on the whole college thing

my classes will be:

Upper Division Linear algebra (I took lower division at the JC and it was pretty easy, I’m hoping most of the concepts will be repeated)
Econ 11 (Micro-econ, with calculus. stupid 8:00 class but I need it to take basically all the classes in the coming quarters)
Pic 10A (some pansy C++ class that I couldn’t get anything to transfer for from my JC)

yea, yea, only 3 classes but give me a break this is my first experience with the qurater system, and I’ve transfered enough units to take some light quarters and still graduate in 2 years.
For the record I’m a Math/Econ major. That pre-calc class should be a breeze and if you have any problems ask on the boards, there are lots of helpful friendly math people

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So, Monster…

Whatcha majoring in? :smiley:

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Good for you Monster! :slight_smile:

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I’m disappointed.

No history?

No classics?

No Latin?

I shall go cry in the corner.

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What Airbeck said: GO TO CLASS! Treat college like a job. Whenever you just don’t feel like rolling into class, think about what you are blowing it off for and really, seriously, try to justify it. Other than that, join ski club. Even if you don’t ski, this is almost always the biggest party club on campus and you’re gauranteed to have a great time.

[ul]-ThinkSnow, Vice-President- The Ohio State University Ski Club (1996-1997)[/ul]

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<sniff> My little jailbait, all growns up.

Nym - with a hunk of degrees and no job. But college was fun. :smiley:

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You have to remember, lno, that not everyone can be as cool as us. It’s a hard, lonely road.

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Man, the first classes always have tons of repetition from highschool. Dont let it fool you, they just touch on it, then race off into the ‘hard stuff’. Good luck :slight_smile:

Airbeck said DO TO CLASS. I’d like to add: ASK QUESTIONS.

15

Excellent.

I start first-year university next week. My first semester courses:

Structures, Materials and Design
Fundamentals of Computing
Calculus: one and several variables (a very theoretical course)
Linear Algebra (also very theoretical with a lot of proofs)
Engineering, Society and the Environment

Oh yeah. Only 23 hours of class per week.

Studi

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I too am starting my first year of college, at a community college:

*Western Civilization I: by far my favorite class. Also, it’s on Mondays, Wednesdays, and certain Fridays and is my only class for those days.
*Comp and Reading I: This is an OK class. I think my teacher is a real nervous fellow, but maybe not.
*Basic Math 20: I hate, hate, hate this class. I hate, hate, hate math. But I like the teacher, and there are fewer students in this class than the others.
*General Psychology: I like this class for it’s content, but it’s weird being taught by someone else. In high school, Psych. was taught by my favorite teacher and now I must be taught by someone different. This is by far the largest class I have, with almost every seat taken.

On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the other Fridays, I have a two hour 1/2 break, which I come home for (I’m on my break now as I am typing this). It’s nice.

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Well, welcome to college, Monster. From what I’ve seen of you on these boards, I’m assuming you’re going to be a CS major. As a senior about to graduate with a dual major in math and CS, I’m thinking you’re in for a good time. Your courseload doesn’t sound too bad (especially with all the girls ;)).

One piece of advice: Learn to like math. A lot of upper-level CS classes are very math heavy, and if you manage to not hate that part of it, you’ll have a much easier time.

Best of luck to you.

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add: GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFs

Especially in the subjects you are most interested. They can provide a lot more depth and guidance that you won’t get from the texts.

add: Don’t ignore the liberal arts just because you are a tech major (excuse my assumption based on course load).

They’ll make you a more balanced person and more interesting to the ladies.
Good Luck, enjoy the ride!

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Bathe. Regularly. The less you look like a CS major, the better. :smiley:

If you have a pony tail, get rid of it. For the love of God.

Don’t start mainlining sugar, no matter what your friends tell you. That way lies chaste disaster.

Moisturize. Moisturize. Moisturize.

Hope this helps.

MR

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Yeah, what everyone else said: make sure you go to class! I learned that the hard way. :wink: Got my degree but I don’t have much to show for it. Plus, I’d give my left arm to be able to go back and do it all over again. Best of luck!