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How Best to Prepare for College?
Hi, this is Tyler, a new member, currently a High School Senior. I've noticed that most of you all have either finished the college process, or are in the midst of doing so. So my question is this: Is there any way to prepare? I've been trying to improve my study habits lately, out of worry that I'll be overwhelmed the first week in, but there's only so much I can do at my, frankly, less than demanding school (it's kinda hard to study for a class in which the students and the teacher sit and talk about last night's basketball game all hour, a type of situation that I'm not speaking in hyperbole when I say happens at least twice a day.) Anyway, to stop whining about my school: I'll repeat my question for the tl;dr folks: How best would a High School Senior prepare for college (and eventually, hopefully, med. school)?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Carl Monster on -
I didn't prep at all. I just assumed because I played the college application game well that I was ready. It was a bit of a mistake. And I was going because it just seemed The Thing To Do. Also not good.
I would advise that you really focus on WHY you are going, what the plan of action will be, with one or two backup plans in place. Freshman year I was surrounded by pre-med students, and most of them changed majors because they just did not like it enough/have the drive to excel in the curriculum. This may or may not happen to you, just make sure you have a backup as well though-out as your plan A.
College is your first big investment, and like any invetment make sure you do your homework.
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Permalink Reply by Tyler Wayne Perdue on -
Thanks for the honest answer, and the high burnout rate for medical students is one of the things foremost in my mind. At the very least, I have my part-time job that I could theoretically make a full-time one, or I could start taking my music as more than a hobby. How would you say the transition between High School and College was? Teachers here tell us horror stories about course loads and the like, but my first reaction is to take them with a grain of salt, as I remember hearing the exact same things when I was in Elementary school and the topic was High School, which turned out to be total baloney.
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Permalink Reply by Carl Monster on
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I heard the same things long ago. Sounds like you will love the change; you'll be surrounded by serious faculty and, hopefully, students. Less baseball discussion and all. Remember, they would have not accepted you if they thought you would not do well.
Relax, college can be an incredible part of your life.
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Permalink Reply by Tyler Wayne Perdue on
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Lord, I hope there'll be less sports discussion. Can you imagine how difficult it is to keep caring about a class in which you never do ANYTHING? Drives me up the wall.
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Permalink Reply by Douglas Aldrich on -
Two years in, the best thing i can say is to NOT go in there all flustered. Take it calm, it's a huge life event for you. Obviously, yes, your mission there is to get a great education, but it's also about learning to break away from your family, live on your own, and expand your mind to see how you fit in this world. This is an independent stage, and it is the age where you truly start to realize how you can make it on your own. Freshman year, not gonna lie, was a huge adjustment for me; I go to a military school, and I was never away from home for such a long time before coming here. Go out, explore the campus, make friends with a lot of people, and see what there is to do in and around the campus. I'm telling you, getting familiar with everything and everyone around you will be an important first step into feeling comfortable at school. I mean, it literally will be your home for many years, since you are thinking about med school. Not knowing what classes you are taking, the best thing I can say about your current situation is just try to keep studying on your own time if everyone just talks about sports or whatever. It is much easier said than done, especially as a senior in high school, but if you hold yourself to a relaxed pace of studying from now to school, summer included, it will make for an equally easier transition academically.
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Permalink Reply by Tyler Wayne Perdue on
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What would you recommend me studying over the summer? I've been trying to expose myself to more difficult literature (before it was mostly trashy SciFi novels and current event books,) but there's only so much I think I can do on my own.
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Permalink Reply by Will on -
There are so many good things to read! Can you narrow it a bit? By interest, subject, something like that?
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Permalink Reply by Will on
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I'm a college professor and advisor. My best suggestions, especially based on the advising dept.'s advice, is
* Yes, get good study habits. Get used to doing more.
* Maybe take a college class over the summer?
* You'll be hit by a new freedom when you get there. Can you not be overwhelmed by invitations to party, and the drinking?
Most who flunk out flunk out from poor study skills, time management problems, or too much partying. If you can manage these, I'd say you're set!
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Permalink Reply by Carl Monster on
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Drinking? But they raised the drinking age long ago...he'll be too young...lol.
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Permalink Reply by Tyler Wayne Perdue on
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Eh, I don't plan on partying. That's not the kind of person I am. Heck, I know for a fact that I can turn down the opportunity for drinking, because I live way out in the boondocks, and since my town literally has one police officer, the prevailing attitude among my class when it comes to parties is: "Alcohol is a MUST." Only went to one party, don't plan on doing it again. That was easily the most harrowing night of my life.
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Permalink Reply by Vytautas on -
Read books; read lots of books. Get used to reading. To sitting down and reading a whole book (300+ pages) in two or three sittings. No computer, no instant messenger, no cell phone, no texting, no iPhone, iPad, no iAnything--just you and a book. This will immensely help your ability to concentrate and you can build your base of knowledge about literature, history, or whatever subject you read in the process.
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Permalink Reply by Tyler Wayne Perdue on
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Well, that's the funny thing...I'm actually going to have the opposite problem...These will be my first years with my own computer and cell phone. I'm more worried about getting used to using those in college than getting distracted from it. I'm pretty used to living without those devices, and I hope on staying that way.
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