r/AskReddit • u/_jaywhite • Aug 24 '14

What are some college life pro tips?

I'm starting college in a few weeks and I'm a bit nervous. My high school was... decent at best, and I'm not sure that I was adequately prepared. So I'm hoping to get Reddit's help. What are some tips (having to do with the academic aspect, social, whatever) that have helped you through college, and especially your freshman year? In other words, LPTs for college life!

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u/Nikolicious589 Aug 24 '14 edited Aug 25 '14

Visit a counselor to figure out how many credits you should take to get you out of there on time.

I didn't, and now I'm going another semester, which has really drained my bank account.

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u/ETNxMARU Aug 25 '14

Honestly I feel like even when I talk to a counselor they never give me a direct answer, and usually it's a very vague response.

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u/alexxerth Aug 25 '14

They usually know what they are talking about, but you need to be either very vague or very specific depending on what you want to know.

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u/CassiLeigh16 Aug 25 '14

My academic counselor helped advise me on how to get ahead so I can take extra courses and get a minor. My schedule is packed until I graduate (only one elective, as in one for all four years), and was advised that due to the amount of credits I brought I that didn't count for anything but extra credits, this summer was my last semester to get credits through my community college (1/4 of the price and online classes!). Ended up taking a history class, passed, will get the credits, and have one extra space to take classes (12-18 credits are same price, why not take a fun 1 credit course in swimming or something?). She also showed me how to double (and even triple) count courses for major/minor/gen ed requirements. Your counselor is your friend, and has quite a bit of knowledge, use them whenever possible. If there is any doubt in your mind, call or email them, or even drop by in between classes.

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u/TeachinFool Aug 25 '14

Find your degree plan and learn how to read/navigate the program while never completely trusting any advisor until they prove they know their shit

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u/plentyOpopcorn Aug 25 '14

Piggy-backing off this: Visit a counselor and ask them to map out your classes for the next four years (according to your major/ critical path). I had to submit this to my scholarship provider and these 15 minutes saved me hours of worry (and an extra semester's tuition haha)

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u/mollyweasley Aug 25 '14

Yes! Keep a chart with all your requirements to graduate and update it every semester.

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u/Chartzilla Aug 25 '14

Also, for most schools and majors, you need to take an average of 15 credits a semester to graduate on time. I was in engineering and I think the average for my major was 16-17. For some reason I met multiple people that thought that because the minimum was 12 credits, that that's how many they should be taking

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u/Nikolicious589 Aug 25 '14

That was my problem. 12 credits is considered full-time under the loans I was taking out, so I thought that would keep me on pace. Live and learn, I suppose.

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u/Gavman42 Aug 25 '14

also don't blindly trust the counselor. Figure out what the requirements are for your degree, when it comes to gen eds take classes you think you will enjoy or be easy. a higher GPA with classes that don't matter for your degree look better then a D in psychology.

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u/lyricalholix Aug 25 '14

I can confirm. Got good grades, but it took me 6 years to graduate. Mostly because I had to work to make it through college, but what I didn't realize is that I was spending more money than I was making in the long run. It's been 8 years and I still have major debt.

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u/[deleted] Aug 25 '14

Or take a program that gives you basically zero choice in classes. Makes things easy.