[butr]

I was going to just reply to the other thread but wanted to make one on its own.

I'm going to offer a little advice from someone who recently graduated.

When I graduated highschool, they averaged your top 6 OAC (or grade 13 courses) to get your marks. I think I was in the mid 80s. Now this is the key, I wasn't a bookworm or a guy who put in really big effort. You know, study the night before a test. Do a reasonably big essay no earlier than a few days before it's due. In other words it came pretty easily.

When I got to U of T, I was in for a shock. I was not prepared to deal with the workload.

Because there are so few Profs and TAs (teaching assistants who you will deal with in the big classes), you only will have a few assignments and a handfull of tests/exams.

Thus the importance of doing well increases. One really bad test/essay can really hurt you, unlike highschool.

I had a really ****ty first year. Some would have given up and dropped out, I had to pull it together.

So my advice to all of you, before it hits you is to organise. Change your habits, before the system bites you in the ***.

As soon as you get your course outlines, mark down everything in the free day planner you will find around campus (if they are not obviously lying around in boxes, ask your student services centre if they have them)

As soon as you get a due date, mark it down and plan for it immediately. Take books out, do a rough outline for your essay. etc. Just get it going.

Now if you are rolling your eyes, things have a way of piling up in UNI. Every prof asks for their assignment the same week as the rest. How the hell do you get 4 or 5 term research papers done, especially if you have to commute and want a social life AND try to get solid marks?

If you begin to organise from day one, life will be a hell of a lot easier.

I went about it the hard way. Learn from my mistake. I went from the dregs to graduating with a mid 3 GPA.

[ballafromthenorth]

Wow, yea thanks for the advice, it is much appreciated, anything else you could suggest would be very valuable to many people I'm sure

[speedythief]

I've got some, too.

When I graduated HS I didn't know what I wanted to do. I went to Queen's and took arts & science trying to find something that interested me, and nothing I took in that programme was enough to keep me motivated.

If you are in university and find yourself in a position where you don't like what you are doing, don't hesitate. I know university is expensive but don't try to force yourself. Change right away.

Not a lot of people know exactly what they want to do with their lives out of HS so don't feel ashamed. And don't do something you hate because you think you would be wasting money if you jumped-out.

[butr]

A few more points.

Don't let big classes and general, maybe uninteresting classes get you down in first year.

In your first year, you will take classes with 200+ people. These classes may have little to do with where you think you are headed with the area of study.

These may get you to question your desire to stay with a program.

A good Idea is to look into the course calendar and map out your 4-5 year school career. You have to take those crap 1st and sometimes second year course to get to those small and often really interesting courses.

If nothing excites you in the small classes in 3rd ant 4th year, then maybe you should switch.

______________

Also, there is a difference beteen the course calendar and the courses actually offered. There was a course I always wanted to take, was listed in the book, but was not offered once by the school in my 5 years. If there is something you are set upon, make sure it is in the schedule. They may not have a prof for it, or there might never be enough interest.

__________________

When you see those 3rd and 4th year course you want. Highlight any prerequisites you will need. This will save headaches. 1st year is a great time to get all your pre's out of the way. If they are all from the same program scheduling won't be a problem.

____________________

Be aware of the drop dates. I am speaking purely academically. Forget refunds. If you don't like the direction a class is taking for you, a real bad mid-term or whatever, do not be afraid to drop it. I know you don't want to pay for a course with no credit, but if your mark goes crazy low or maybe even fail, you will have preferred to have dropped it later.

You may not see these courses coming, but for example, if you are not a math person, and have to take a stats course, don't be afraid to drop it the first time and try to improve the second time around.

Don't think after a really bad mid-term that things are going to get way better. If the midterm was that hard, the final will be twice as bad, not to mention the final assignments.

I'm not trying to scare you, just don't waver, or sulk. Try to be objective. After a really bad 1st test, see if you can realistically make your goal of an A or B. If you can't, don't hesitate. Don't think about the lost money. Especially if you plan to go post-graduate some how. The mark is more important than the lost money.

______________________

[MonkeyBallZJr]

Thanks for all the advice man, I know that University is a big step from Highschool, I'm not there yet still in grade 11 but university is definitely on my mind and I'm worrying about it a lot. From what you wrote I can definitely compare to you, and I am trying to change my work habits and organizational skills but the thing I'm really lacking is that motivation and determination, I'm about an 82 average student and I just assume that will be good enough to get me into most universities. I'm thinking about majoring in Political Science and then mayb law school.

[Turkish Delight]

Originally posted by Original ScarFace!
Thanks for all the advice man, I know that University is a big step from Highschool, I'm not there yet still in grade 11 but university is definitely on my mind and I'm worrying about it a lot. From what you wrote I can definitely compare to you, and I am trying to change my work habits and organizational skills but the thing I'm really lacking is that motivation and determination, I'm about an 82 average student and I just assume that will be good enough to get me into most universities. I'm thinking about majoring in Political Science and then mayb law school.

That's exactly where I want to go. I'm in grade 12 and my average right now is around 76 or 77, which would be good enough to get me into York.

[McFurious]

I have some advice for you guys going to Collge/University
Go and get laid by as many girls as you can.

Thats the best possible advice someone can give you... you'll thank me when you done.

[c_dog]

i wish someone would have told me that uni would be this tough. oh wait, they did, i just chose not to believe them because marks always came so easily in high school.

[kirk_2003]

for those who is graduating this yr... how many 4U's do you have? im kinda worried because im going to have 3 and a lot of 4M's...

[butr]

Originally posted by McFurious!
I have some advice for you guys going to Collge/University
Go and get laid by as many girls as you can.

Thats the best possible advice someone can give you... you'll thank me when you done.

You can call and thank him when you get VD.

[trick]

as a senior in uni this year that'll be graduating this april, i'd just like to say:

"i wish i could've prepared better right off the bat"



and also it's been a kick-*** experience as far as meeting people is concerned. just sad to see some go off to get started on their careers.

[butr]

Originally posted by c_dog!
i wish someone would have told me that uni would be this tough. oh wait, they did, i just chose not to believe them because marks always came so easily in high school.

I feel you. It's one thing to hear it from adults who have never been and are lecturing. Its another to hear it from someone who's been through it.

If you are reading this stuff (lurkers too) try not to think too big of yourself.

I had a friend who was real smart, got 1500+ on his SAT's and my history dept head said he could have gone to Harvard he was so bright. Kid went to the same college as I at U of T, and he went spastic.

He took 5 completely unrelated courses and went about them like a chicken without its head. He was then a marginal student on probation after 1st year. When he realised that he was still 4 years from graduation since all classes were completely separate, he dropped out in 2nd year and just kept working at his summer office job.

When you get to Uni, the warmth of highschool is gone from those that mark you.

The TAs see you as a burden. They are underpaid and overworked. If you have spelling mistakes and crap grammar, your paper is crap. They, for the most, don't care. You might get a flyer for the writing centre stapled to your paper if you're lucky. If not, just a low mark.

[NeoSamurai]

hehehe, yep, getting started early on assignments are key...

last sem i learned that lesson when i found myself having to put in at least 60 hours on my last week of school leading up to Christmas break to finish up 2 essays and study for an exam worth 20 percent of my mark...

another piece of advice I'd give is to always set time aside every day to do a little reading or research, something school realated, even if its only for an hour b/c thats better than nothing....use your breaks during classes to do your readings rather than fooling around so that you'll have that time to use on the weekends....b/c although you'll think you'll be able to do that stuff after school when you get home- think again, b/c usually you'll procratinate on that stuff with TV, friends, or napping...