Making College CountMaking College Count

Tips for Making the Most of Tips for Making the Most of CollegeCollege

Mmm…mmm…MathMmm…mmm…Math

““You are basically screwed if you miss You are basically screwed if you miss a math class.”a math class.”Sophomore, Economics, Williams CollegeSophomore, Economics, Williams College

Calculus Kills: “Even if you place into Calculus Kills: “Even if you place into it, think twice before starting with it, think twice before starting with calculus unless you’ve had it in high calculus unless you’ve had it in high school. Most of the class has, and school. Most of the class has, and you’ll be at a definite disadvantage if you’ll be at a definite disadvantage if you haven’t.”you haven’t.”Junior, Economics, Duke UniversityJunior, Economics, Duke University

Preparing for MathPreparing for Math

““Do practice problems without looking at Do practice problems without looking at the answers first.”the answers first.”

““Look for small classes. The seating Look for small classes. The seating capacity of each classroom is usually in capacity of each classroom is usually in the schedule book.”the schedule book.”

““You can’t cram for math tests. It doesn’t You can’t cram for math tests. It doesn’t work. Keep up with the daily stuff so you work. Keep up with the daily stuff so you won’t have to.”won’t have to.”

““Math opens the door to some great Math opens the door to some great majors. Hang in there.”majors. Hang in there.”

The “Never Fail” Math The “Never Fail” Math FormulasFormulas

““Do not, for any reason, go on to the next Do not, for any reason, go on to the next math level if you barely got through the math level if you barely got through the first one. You’ll get killed. Repeat the first one. You’ll get killed. Repeat the course.”course.” Sophomore, Engineering, Central MichiganSophomore, Engineering, Central Michigan

Before, not after: “Doing assignments Before, not after: “Doing assignments before the lectures instead of after is the before the lectures instead of after is the secret to math. I know exactly where I’m secret to math. I know exactly where I’m having trouble and what I need to learn.”having trouble and what I need to learn.” Junior, Mathematics, Miami UniversityJunior, Mathematics, Miami University

““Never Fail” FormulasNever Fail” Formulas Now, not then: “Don’t wait until you’re Now, not then: “Don’t wait until you’re

totally lost to get help. See the instructor or totally lost to get help. See the instructor or get a tutor right away.”get a tutor right away.” Sophomore, Western Michigan UniversitySophomore, Western Michigan University

All not some: “You have to be a maniac All not some: “You have to be a maniac about math homework. Do all the about math homework. Do all the problems.”problems.” Senior, Arizona State UniversitySenior, Arizona State University

Sooner, not later: “No matter how well I Sooner, not later: “No matter how well I understood things in class, if I waited a understood things in class, if I waited a couple days to do the homework, I was lost. couple days to do the homework, I was lost. Do homework ASAP.”Do homework ASAP.” Junior, Albion CollegeJunior, Albion College

Just GoJust Go

““If you do nothing else in college, at If you do nothing else in college, at least go to class.”least go to class.”Junior, business, Miami UniversityJunior, business, Miami University

““Even if I’d partied all night, I Even if I’d partied all night, I dragged my body to class. Other dragged my body to class. Other people’s notes don’t work…you have people’s notes don’t work…you have to hear it yourself.”to hear it yourself.”Graduate student, English, Indiana Graduate student, English, Indiana

UniversityUniversity

Grinding It OutGrinding It Out

““Of course it’s hard! It’s supposed to Of course it’s hard! It’s supposed to be hard! If it wasn’t hard everyone be hard! If it wasn’t hard everyone would do it!”would do it!”

““It’s not how smart you are – It’s not how smart you are – everyone is. It’s whether you know everyone is. It’s whether you know how to study. I see really bright guys how to study. I see really bright guys that get ‘nothing’ grades and that get ‘nothing’ grades and average guys that get 4-points.”average guys that get 4-points.”Senior, Economics, University of FloridaSenior, Economics, University of Florida

Free TimeFree Time

““It seemed like there was sooooo It seemed like there was sooooo much more free time in college than much more free time in college than in high school – until I realized it isn’t in high school – until I realized it isn’t ‘free.’ You’re supposed to be ‘free.’ You’re supposed to be studying! It’s just that there’s no one studying! It’s just that there’s no one there to tell you to…”there to tell you to…”Sophomore, Washington UniversitySophomore, Washington University

Don’t Get BehindDon’t Get Behind

““The biggest difference between high The biggest difference between high school and college is the amount of school and college is the amount of reading. It’s impossible to catch up if reading. It’s impossible to catch up if you get behind.”you get behind.”Sophomore, Biology, Kalamazoo CollegeSophomore, Biology, Kalamazoo College

StudyingStudying

““Read your notes first when studying for a Read your notes first when studying for a test…then go over the readings. Your eyes test…then go over the readings. Your eyes will skim right past the crap and focus on will skim right past the crap and focus on what’s important. If it wasn’t mentioned in what’s important. If it wasn’t mentioned in class, it probably won’t be on the test.”class, it probably won’t be on the test.” Senior, Government, Franklin and MarshallSenior, Government, Franklin and Marshall

““Whether I’m in a lecture or reading an Whether I’m in a lecture or reading an assignment, I always keep asking myself the assignment, I always keep asking myself the same question…’Will this be on the exam?’”same question…’Will this be on the exam?’” Senior, Music, Murray State UniversitySenior, Music, Murray State University

Where to StudyWhere to Study

““Get out of your room! You’ll end up watching TV Get out of your room! You’ll end up watching TV or cleaning out drawers – anything to avoid or cleaning out drawers – anything to avoid studying.” – Rollins Collegestudying.” – Rollins College

““Never study in front of an open laptop – and turn Never study in front of an open laptop – and turn off your cell phone! Stalking friends on Facebook off your cell phone! Stalking friends on Facebook and text messaging are both addictive.” – SUNY and text messaging are both addictive.” – SUNY Stony BrookStony Brook

““Studying in bed is an illusion. After 15 minutes Studying in bed is an illusion. After 15 minutes you’re zonked.” – Macalester Collegeyou’re zonked.” – Macalester College

““The library can be a great place to study – or not The library can be a great place to study – or not so much. The stacks are totally quiet and the 2so much. The stacks are totally quiet and the 2ndnd floor is like a singles bar. It’s your choice.” – floor is like a singles bar. It’s your choice.” – Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown University

Little Tips for Big ClassesLittle Tips for Big Classes

““Sit front and center. I can tell you Sit front and center. I can tell you what every person in class is wearing what every person in class is wearing and not much of anything else when I and not much of anything else when I sit in the back. It’s like private sit in the back. It’s like private tutoring…you get all your questions tutoring…you get all your questions answered.”answered.”Sophomore, Art, Bowling GreenSophomore, Art, Bowling Green

Big Tips for Little ClassesBig Tips for Little Classes

““Don’t be late or leave early. It really Don’t be late or leave early. It really ticks profs off. Besides that’s when ticks profs off. Besides that’s when they usually make announcements or they usually make announcements or get to the point. The entire hour may get to the point. The entire hour may be summed up in the last 5 be summed up in the last 5 minutes.” – DePaul Universityminutes.” – DePaul University

Prof. PointersProf. Pointers

““Don’t call me Mrs…I’m Dr. or Professor!” Don’t call me Mrs…I’m Dr. or Professor!” – Iowa State– Iowa State

““Don’t ask questions that show you Don’t ask questions that show you haven’t read the assignment.” – DePaul haven’t read the assignment.” – DePaul UniversityUniversity

““Don’t ask, ‘What can I do to bring my Don’t ask, ‘What can I do to bring my grade up? You should have been doing grade up? You should have been doing that all semester.” – Rutgers Univ.that all semester.” – Rutgers Univ.

““I hate excuses. Tell it like it is and I’m I hate excuses. Tell it like it is and I’m likely to give you a break.” Albion Collegelikely to give you a break.” Albion College

Classroom CuesClassroom Cues

““You have to READ, READ, READ…and You have to READ, READ, READ…and comprehend! There’s no lecture to explain comprehend! There’s no lecture to explain concepts…you’re on your own.” – Northern concepts…you’re on your own.” – Northern Michigan UniversityMichigan University

““Use your college email for school stuff Use your college email for school stuff and a personal account for everything and a personal account for everything else.” – Georgetown Universityelse.” – Georgetown University

““Instant messaging leads to some bad Instant messaging leads to some bad habits that don’t fly in a professional habits that don’t fly in a professional setting.” – Michigan State Universitysetting.” – Michigan State University

Notes on NotesNotes on Notes

““I always check to see if lecture notes are I always check to see if lecture notes are posted online so I can print them out before posted online so I can print them out before class and use them to take notes on. It class and use them to take notes on. It makes the lecture easier to follow and makes the lecture easier to follow and there’s no guessing as to what the major there’s no guessing as to what the major points are.” – Univ. of Virginiapoints are.” – Univ. of Virginia

““Not everything a prof says is important. Not everything a prof says is important. But if you haven’t read the assignments But if you haven’t read the assignments before the lecture you’ll end up writing before the lecture you’ll end up writing down every word anyway because you down every word anyway because you don’t know what is and what isn’t” – Univ. don’t know what is and what isn’t” – Univ. of Michiganof Michigan

Test TipsTest Tips

““In high school, there were zillions of In high school, there were zillions of tests, quizzes, reports…you name it. tests, quizzes, reports…you name it. In college, it might be just a midterm In college, it might be just a midterm and a final. If you mess up on one, and a final. If you mess up on one, your grade’s shot!” – Univ. of your grade’s shot!” – Univ. of TennesseeTennessee

Applying the PrincipleApplying the Principle

““High school is memorization and High school is memorization and regurgitation. Here you have to think. I regurgitation. Here you have to think. I remember bombing the first test after remember bombing the first test after studying my brains out. Some of that studying my brains out. Some of that stuff I swore I’d never seen before. It’s stuff I swore I’d never seen before. It’s called applying the principle. You have called applying the principle. You have to understand the concept well enough to understand the concept well enough to see how it relates to something to see how it relates to something you’ve never discussed in class. That’s you’ve never discussed in class. That’s where most kids get killed.” – Notre where most kids get killed.” – Notre DameDame

Gaining the EdgeGaining the Edge

““It’s weird, you’re the one who’s only It’s weird, you’re the one who’s only 18, but it’s up to you to make the 18, but it’s up to you to make the effort to walk with Ph.D.s if you want effort to walk with Ph.D.s if you want them to get to know you. I always try them to get to know you. I always try to find out what they’re into, what to find out what they’re into, what research they’re doing. If it’s research they’re doing. If it’s monkeys…I ask about monkeys.” – monkeys…I ask about monkeys.” – Michigan StateMichigan State

Attitude is Everything…Attitude is Everything… ““If you go in thinking If you go in thinking

‘this sucks, the prof’s a ‘this sucks, the prof’s a dork’, you’ll hate the dork’, you’ll hate the course. Just sit there and course. Just sit there and figure you’re gonna figure you’re gonna make the most of it. I make the most of it. I aced a really nasty aced a really nasty course that way. I course that way. I stopped by the prof’s stopped by the prof’s office once a week just office once a week just to talk. He loved me. to talk. He loved me. Too bad I didn’t figure Too bad I didn’t figure that out in high school.” that out in high school.” – Lansing Community – Lansing Community Coll.Coll.

Prof. PointersProf. Pointers

““Before asking a Before asking a prof for help, read prof for help, read the assignment. the assignment. It’s obvious if you It’s obvious if you haven’t, and she’ll haven’t, and she’ll resent you wasting resent you wasting her time.” – her time.” – Western Michigan Western Michigan Univ.Univ.

MORE PROF POINTERSMORE PROF POINTERS

““It’s a dead giveaway It’s a dead giveaway when students ask when students ask questions designed to questions designed to find out how little they find out how little they can get by with. ‘How can get by with. ‘How many pages do I have many pages do I have to read?’ tells me that to read?’ tells me that you’re not very you’re not very interested in a subject interested in a subject that is my life’s work.” that is my life’s work.” – Michigan State – Michigan State UniversityUniversity

The Major DilemmaThe Major Dilemma

““Until the day he Until the day he flunked out, my flunked out, my roommate insisted that roommate insisted that he was an engineering he was an engineering major – completely major – completely ignoring the fact that ignoring the fact that he was pretty bad in he was pretty bad in math and science. If math and science. If he’d been realistic he’d been realistic about his major, he’d about his major, he’d still be here.” – Indiana still be here.” – Indiana UniversityUniversity

The Major DilemmaThe Major Dilemma

““My advice is don’t My advice is don’t wait until your senior wait until your senior year to find out what year to find out what the job prospects are in the job prospects are in your major. If it’s highly your major. If it’s highly competitive, there are competitive, there are things you need to do things you need to do along the way to make along the way to make yourself more yourself more marketable – pick up a marketable – pick up a minor, learn a minor, learn a language, volunteer…language, volunteer…whatever it takes.” – whatever it takes.” – Univ. of Conn.Univ. of Conn.

Surviving the SystemSurviving the System

““When you first When you first start college, you start college, you don’t even know don’t even know what questions to what questions to ask because you ask because you don’t know what don’t know what you should you should know…” – St. know…” – St. Mary’s CollegeMary’s College

Surviving the SystemSurviving the System

““There are all kinds There are all kinds of people on of people on campus that get campus that get paid to do random paid to do random stuff to help stuff to help students…it’s their students…it’s their job! You just have job! You just have to find them.” – to find them.” – Michigan StateMichigan State

Smart MovesSmart Moves

““EVERYONE WE EVERYONE WE INTERVIEW HAS INTERVIEW HAS AT LEAST A 3.0. AT LEAST A 3.0.

SO WHAT SO WHAT MAKES YOU MAKES YOU

DIFFERENT?” – DIFFERENT?” – JOB RECRUITERJOB RECRUITER

Smart MovesSmart Moves

““As an undergrad I As an undergrad I joined a lot of ‘low joined a lot of ‘low commitment-high commitment-high resume groups.’ The resume groups.’ The reality is that when it reality is that when it comes to paring your comes to paring your resume down to one resume down to one page, that stuff goes. If page, that stuff goes. If you’ve done zip in the you’ve done zip in the group – there’s nothing group – there’s nothing you’re proud of – then you’re proud of – then it’s a waste of time.” – it’s a waste of time.” – Weber StateWeber State

$$$$$$

““I can still hear my I can still hear my dad’s voice after dad’s voice after my first semester, my first semester, ‘What the hell are ‘What the hell are you doing with my you doing with my money?’” – SUNY / money?’” – SUNY / Stony BrookStony Brook

Partying & StuffPartying & Stuff

““College towns are College towns are exciting. You meet exciting. You meet people from people from different different backgrounds with backgrounds with different values. different values. Know what yours Know what yours are and stick to are and stick to them.” - Duke them.” - Duke Univ.Univ.

Ah Ha!Ah Ha!

““College was what College was what I wanted to do I wanted to do socially, not socially, not academically. I academically. I wish I’d taken it wish I’d taken it more seriously.” – more seriously.” – Rutgers UniversityRutgers University

Words from the Wise…Words from the Wise…

““Going to college was Going to college was for my parents. It for my parents. It wasn’t until I realized I wasn’t until I realized I was there for myself was there for myself that I got serious. that I got serious. Unfortunately, that Unfortunately, that was pretty late in the was pretty late in the game. Somehow it has game. Somehow it has to become your goal…to become your goal…the sooner, the the sooner, the better.” – Michigan better.” – Michigan StateState

Ah Ha!Ah Ha!

““College is the time to College is the time to struggle to learn a struggle to learn a formula or a concept…formula or a concept…it’s supposed to be it’s supposed to be hard. That’s how you hard. That’s how you learn to think, to learn to think, to problem solve. Your problem solve. Your boss probably won’t boss probably won’t be as lenient or as be as lenient or as helpful as your helpful as your professors.” – Notre professors.” – Notre DameDame

What It’s All About…What It’s All About… You don’t get “get it” when you’re in college. It’s You don’t get “get it” when you’re in college. It’s

not about what you major in or which classes you not about what you major in or which classes you take…you won’t remember most of them anyway. take…you won’t remember most of them anyway. It’s really about learning to think and to It’s really about learning to think and to communicate. Wherever you end, you’ll need to communicate. Wherever you end, you’ll need to be able to analyze and solve problems – to figure be able to analyze and solve problems – to figure out what needs to be done and do it! “Doing It” out what needs to be done and do it! “Doing It” takes being organized, having the ability to takes being organized, having the ability to express yourself effectively, and a lot of other express yourself effectively, and a lot of other skills you didn’t realize you were learning in some skills you didn’t realize you were learning in some of those “boring, senseless” courses. You can of those “boring, senseless” courses. You can definitely scam your way through college without definitely scam your way through college without developing those skills…a lot of kids do…but in the developing those skills…a lot of kids do…but in the long run, you’re only limiting yourself. And believe long run, you’re only limiting yourself. And believe me, that can make your first job a little scary.” – me, that can make your first job a little scary.” – Ohio UniversityOhio University