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College Freshman
So I'm about to start college, in ten days to be exact, and I'm incredibly nervous. It isn't the social aspects that I'm nervous about though. I have no idea what to expect for actual school. What do I take notes with? Paper? Laptop? How should I organize my notes? Binders? Spirals? What should I typically take to class?
What should my study habits be like, etc etc. Should I carry a backpack?
I'm stressing myself out about stuff that people usually aren't stressing about. HELP!
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I'm a college sophomore, so I can say that I went through all that anxiety last year, and I'm pretty sure that I know what you're feeling right now.
Supply-wise, I did the same for college that I did in high school.
I kept spiral notebooks (with pocket dividers) for each class. I took notes with a pen (easier to read and doesn't fade in time) on college ruled paper (more lines per page). I also used different colored pens for different major topics... I'm just weirdly organized like that...
I also date all of my notes. I write the date at the top of the paper so I know when I took the notes (it helps if I miss a day of class or if there's a test on everything covered from one section to another (it also helps if your final exam is cumulative).
I carry a backpack - most people do. It's a lot more convenient to have one, I think.
As for a laptop - don't bring it on your first day. Your professor will usually let you know their opinion on laptops, tape recorders, etc. If they don't mention it, don't be afraid to raise your hand and ask.
90% of professors will kick you out of class if you're on your cell phone... it's rude and they have every right to tell you to leave or to grade you low because you're a pain in the butt.
I had one professor who, if your phone rang, would take it and talk to whoever called (if it was a text, he would send them a message back). In turn, though, his phone once went off in class and he put it on speaker and held it to the mic so we could hear the conversation.
Well, obviously I didn't cover everything here, but I tried to address your questions. In my opinion, college classes were a lot like high school (a little more work, but you catch my drift). I suggest showing up about 5 minutes early the first day. There are no assigned seats (however most people are creatures of habit and will stick to the seat they grabbed the first day).
Any other questions? Feel free to shoot me a message to my inbox. I love college and I'm sure you'll do excellent. Congrats on getting accepted and having goals for your like, unlike most people in our generation :].
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It may not seem like it at first, but when you look back on it you'll realize that college wasn't nearly as hard as you made it out to be on your first day of class.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, TURN YOUR CELL PHONE ON SILENT MODE BEFORE CLASS!
As far as what to take notes with, it depends on entirely on your professor. I would show up to the first day of class with paper and a pen, and your professor will probably let the class know if he's okay with you all using laptops during class. If he doesn't explicitly say it then make sure to ask. If you can bring a laptop make sure to turn your wi-fi off when you're in class so you'll focus on your work. Your professors aren't stupid: they'll know whether or not you're paying attention to them and it could reflect in your grade if you get on their nerves.
I didn't have a laptop during my undergraduate work, so I took all of my notes on paper. I felt that I wasn't very organized though, and when I took an extra class last spring with my laptop I found that I was much more organized and that I was able to record more information because I type much faster than I can write.
One more thing about note-taking: don't feel like you have to write down every word of Powerpoint presentations. Professors usually post them online after class, so writing down the words from the powerpoint won't help you. Write down what the professor is saying: the slides normally introduce the ideas that the professor goes into in greater detail afterwards, so make sure to be taking that information down.
If you can see yourself using one, you might want to get a tape recorder. I've always had a very good auditory memory so they've never been helpful for me, but some people get a great deal of help from them. Every MP3 player that I've owned and my last two cell phones have had the capability to record for more than an hour at a time, so that may be a good use.
TURN YOUR PHONE ON SILENT DURING CLASS!
Study habits depend on the way that you learn and what your strengths and weaknesses are. I've heard people say that you should read the material that is supposed to be discussed during class before you go, but I never gained anything from it. Read when you like, but make sure that you stay relatively caught up on your reading so that you aren't scrambling before a test. I usually stayed within 1-2 classes of the reading so that I could make up the time when an exam was approaching.
You'll have a lot more work to do than you've had in the past, but you'll also have a lot more time and the freedom to do your work as you want. Just remember: you're in college to learn, and you need to budget your time effectively to make sure that you won't waste four years of your life in a drunken stupor.
TURN YOUR CELL PHONE TO SILENT BEFORE YOU GO TO CLASS!
I'm sure I didn't cover everything you wanted to know, so send a question to my inbox if you think of anything.
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