what the no. 1 mistake you committed in college?

[SpiderGal]

Head on: What was the no. 1 mistake you committed in college?

What piece of advice would you offer college bound teens so they don't get into the same puddle?

[stonemonkey]

Don't lose contact with the friends you make there, because it takes more effort to make friends out in the 'real world'.

[wordsmith]

I don't feel like I had many slipups in college.

I guess I'd say, though that when I look at things I could have done better, one would have been to loosen up on the hardcore academia a touch more frequently than I did and make a little more time for fun. I don't think this is that common a problem with most students, though, I think more tend to go the other way.

Another thing I would say is not to feel badly if you make a choice that doesn't end up working out. When I decided I wouldn't teach (as a second semester senior, in the middle of my student teaching), I was wracked with guilt and feelings of stupidity at the time I'd poured into getting to that point, that could have, in my opinion, been so much better spent. Resign yourself to the fact that in trial and error, making errors is just part of the game.

I guess it's actually easier for me to look at the things I feel like I did right, and give advice from that perspective. Maybe that will be more helpful:

1. Choose your school based on what works best for you. Sounds basic, but many people don't. They go based on somebody else's idea of what would be best for them. Ultimately, though, you're happier if you go somewhere of your own choosing.

2. Do things that challenge you. For me, that was going somewhere far away, where I knew nobody, for the first time in life. Other people's challenges may be different. But if you don't devote some of your college time to placing yourself outside your comfort zone, you're wasting your time.

3. Don't waste your time. Whatever that means to you.

4. Take your academics seriously, take your life outside of the classroom seriously. Learning and growing takes place both inside and outside the halls of academia; don't shortchange either. Finding balance is hard, but it's rewarding. If you don't, you're wasting time and money.

5. Break free from the high school clique mentality, if you ever had it. College may be the final time in your life you've got a certain level of diversity built automatically into your immediate environment, don't waste that resource by hanging out solely with any one crowd.

6. Go abroad, if you get the chance. You're unlikely to be able to do so as affordably later in life.

7. Sit in the front. Participate in class discussion.

8. Get to know instructors when you can.

(Some of these are based on the liberal arts experience, small private college with small class sizes. I'm fully aware that there are graduates of institutions where they had hundreds in a lecture hall, and would look at me like I had three heads for saying, "Get to know your profs.)

[SpiderGal]

Don't lose contact with the friends you make there, because it takes more effort to make friends out in the 'real world'.

Yeah, absolutely.

[Krishna]

#1 piece of idiocy from my college career:
Thinking that if I took a course (and got an A on it) in high school, I could take a course with the same name in college, and get an A without studying at all. Hellooooooo "C."

[zen_mistress]

I smoked an incredible amount of weed and ended up having a panic attack. I was convinced I was going to die and made people drop me at the hospital.

I dont recommend this.

[shimma]

Head on: What was the no. 1 mistake you committed in college?

What piece of advice would you offer college bound teens so they don't get into the same puddle?

See if you can crash and spend 2-3 school days and a weekend with a freshman there. Many schools have this program. That way, you get a feel of the dorms, the classroom atmosphere, the party scene, etc. Just because it's the best school for whatever you think you want to study may not mean it's the best place for you.

Chose your major very carefully. I switched mine twice, resulting in my taking an extra semester to finish, which landed me in a much shittier job market than if I'd finished on time. Before you choose a major, make sure you have a clear understanding of what jobs said major will make you a desirable candidate for and the ensuing lifestyle said jobs would provide you. If you don't like what you hear or think there is a chance something would pose an issue for you down the road (ie in the next decade), study something else.

Speaking of extra semesters, student loans are no joke. Strongly consider taking the "good deal" to make your early 20s less miserable.

Study abroad for at least a semester to beat that "Oh I suck I never ever left Iowa" or wherever feeling some people seem to get.

[shimma]

I smoked an incredible amount of weed and ended up having a panic attack. I was convinced I was going to die and made people drop me at the hospital.
.

That reminds me.

Do NOT, under any circumstances, mix any of the following with alcohol:

1. Antibiotics
2. Antidepressants
3. Painkillers
4. Pot

Take my word for it.

[SpiderGal]

I would rather stay away from any alcohol. :googly:

[grneyedmustang]

Paying too dayum much. STUDENT LOANS HAVE TO BE REPAID...

[TinyDancer]

Hmmm. . . I don't have anything that I would really consider a mistake. Anything stupid that I may have done, taught me something so I don't think I would change anything.

Some things I learned though. . .

I found out that keeping busy actually helped me to manage my time better. I got my best grades when I was working more hours and was more involved in outside organizations. I didn't start working right away my freshman year so that I could focus on school. I should have worked because I totally could have handled it.

It can be really difficult to get an internship when you have zero experience. I worked really, really hard to get one sending out hundreds of resumes and finally got a company to take a chance on me. Start looking early!

Start thinking about your end goals early. I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, but the jobs available to me with my major didn't jive with what I really wanted in terms of the level of responsibility and variety. I don't think I really realized this until my senior year when I started looking hardcore for a job. Ultimately, I decided to go to grad school in the same field and expanded my job search out of state (which I hadn't given much thought to initially).

I was pretty much a townie, but made the decision to NOT live at home. Very good decision. You meet and bond with a ton of people at the dorms. . . these are the people that I'm still closest with from college.

[GoogleGirl]

Don't decide to start making out with all kinds of guys (or girls) when your long-term h.s. bf/gf or just any bf/gf of an extended time breaks up with you. Gawd....whatever you do, don't do that! You will feel worse for it. And you'll end up making some really bad decisions if you aren't careful. Break ups happen, and it hurts so bad! But don't go jumping into something that you can easily find(which is definitely the case in college) just to cope with the pain. First hand experience on that one. bad bad idea.

[stonemonkey]

I would rather stay away from any alcohol. :googly:

There is, however, a side to uni life that can only be accessed through alcohol. It's not for everyone, I'm just saying...

[Priya]

Live in the dorms (if you can) at least for the first year. And when you move into an apt/house, be careful who you live with. Some friendships get ruined this way.

[GoogleGirl]

Live in the dorms (if you can) at least for the first year. And when you move into an apt/house, be careful who you live with. Some friendships get ruined this way.

yep, as in my last roommate. The girl is freaking psycho...and apparently i found out her whole family is dysfunctional. what a friend, lemme tell ya.

[wordsmith]

I totally advocate living in the dorms/on campus (I lived one of my four years in college owned apartments on campus, just as good, IMO). You meet way more people when you live with other students.

[wordsmith]

In terms of roommate situations, few people will admit to this, but having a bad roommate/bad roommate situation actually teaches you a lot. I had a shit roommate (two, actually, but the second one was in a multiple roommate housing situation, so it wasn't just she and I, there were other people around to bond with at least). Though it's less than fun, there's something to be said for learning to get along with people you wouldn't necessarily choose to surround yourself with (it's translated for me over to the professional environment, where you don't get to choose your coworkers, either. It's good to know how to handle people who aren't your cup of tea.

[yankeeyosh]

I should have made a more concerted effort looking for internships. I think that might be a reason why my career path is so lethargic right now.

[eastcoaster782]

I wish I would have more money to study overseas. The college I attended was an expensive private school. So I had to commute to class (lived at home--another thing I regret, but it did save a little $). Unfortunately though I just couldn't take that one semester off to go study abroad. But I do look on the bright side because even though I couldn't go then, I have a full-time salaried job now and if I wanted to vacation in Europe I know how much money I have and how much I would still need to save. In college, my part-time min. wage job just wasn't enough. Basically, I can budget money better now.

[Krishna]

I totally advocate living in the dorms/on campus (I lived one of my four years in college owned apartments on campus, just as good, IMO). You meet way more people when you live with other students.

And nowhere else in this world is it socially acceptable to barge into someone else's living quarters at 3am and say "dude, let's order a pizza!" I rather miss the atmosphere sometimes...but not enough to go back to it.

[SmilesSoSweet]

The term "AP" (Advanced Placement) in high school has a totally different meaning in college (academic probation). LOL

Also I should have been more careful with the whole "freshman 15". I know I gained about 15 lbs freshman year. Then there were the other four years I spent in college gaining weight. :rolleyes:

[wordsmith]

Also I should have been more careful with the whole "freshman 15". I know I gained about 15 lbs freshman year. Then there were the other four years I spent in college gaining weight. :rolleyes:

I actually dropped 40 that year, on the "Depression, anxiety, and homesickness" diet. I don't recommend.

[Krishna]

I fluxuated between the "homesick" diet and the "cookies, cakes, ice cream, all you can eat buffet" diet.

[LaFille]

think twice before drunkenly making out with locals or creepy guys from class at the bar... in relation to this advice, be aware of the abundance of digital cameras and other event-recording devices.

[SmilesSoSweet]

I actually dropped 40 that year, on the "Depression, anxiety, and homesickness" diet. I don't recommend.

I probably gained at least 40 lbs in the five years I was in college. A lot of it had to do with the buffet-style commons in the dorms and the late night runs to any fast food place. Also I didn't excersie at all that year except for walking to class. I didn't have a car, but I still managed not to take advantage of walking and stuff.

Also I my parents' house was only 40 miles from where I went to school. So I went home at least every other weekend. I never got homesick. I'd go home just to do laundry.

[wordsmith]

I fluxuated between the "homesick" diet and the "cookies, cakes, ice cream, all you can eat buffet" diet.

I avoided the latter because I was too homesick and miserable to brave the cafeteria and the thought of eating by myself, so I spent many nights my freshman year skipping dinner. I didn't feel like I had any friends close enough to say, "Hey, can I go to dinner with you guys?" or to approach in the caf and say, "Hey, can I sit here?" and I didn't have a car, so I couldn't go anywhere and eat off campus, either. Good thing I got over that.

[Krishna]

I avoided the latter because I was too homesick and miserable to brave the cafeteria and the thought of eating by myself, so I spent many nights my freshman year skipping dinner. I didn't feel like I had any friends close enough to say, "Hey, can I go to dinner with you guys?" or to approach in the caf and say, "Hey, can I sit here?" and I didn't have a car, so I couldn't go anywhere and eat off campus, either. Good thing I got over that.

I was in the dorms for 2 years. My sophomore year I stopped being dependant on going to eat with my friends. I started running experiements at the caffeteria. I'd pick one guy that was sitting by himself and sit down across from him. About 50% of the time I was successful in starting a convo. The other 50% of the time I was left looking like a doorknob because the other person literally picked up and moved. It was hysterical for me.

[wordsmith]

I was in the dorms for 2 years. My sophomore year I stopped being dependant on going to eat with my friends. I started running experiements at the caffeteria. I'd pick one guy that was sitting by himself and sit down across from him. About 50% of the time I was successful in starting a convo. The other 50% of the time I was left looking like a doorknob because the other person literally picked up and moved. It was hysterical for me.

For me, it was the second semester of my freshman year that was the turning point. After four months of college, I went on an interim study abroad program, and was the youngest person in my program, and one of the only ones from my school, so it was all total strangers and mostly much older people. After I got back, having spent my time making my way by myself around a foreign country, flying solo in the college cafeteria was laughably easy. It's all in perspective.

[stonemonkey]

Oh yeah, that reminds me. The one piece of advice I always give to anyone younger than me. Take the opportunity to travel, if you can. Get lost in a foreign country and expand your horizons.

[wordsmith]

I put that, too. I'm glad I went abroad when I did, when I could get student lonas to finance it, because it made it way more affordable than it will ever be again.

[AshleyJordan]

I second that! I got a grant to do research in Jerusalem and the West Bank, which was an amazing experience, and something I would never have done without the financial incentive (Ramallah is hardly a vacation destination.) Barring a couple of trips to Canada and the Caribbean, that was my first trip abroad, and I learned a tremendous amount. . . later vacations to more popular locales in Europe have paled in comparison.

[Kitty]

I don't regret anything I did in college - made me who I am and boy did I learn a lot from some of the dumb shit I did. Although, some of the stuff I did was pretty dangerous, and I wouldn't exactly recommend anyone else do it.

[wordsmith]

I second that! I got a grant to do research in Jerusalem and the West Bank, which was an amazing experience, and something I would never have done without the financial incentive (Ramallah is hardly a vacation destination.) Barring a couple of trips to Canada and the Caribbean, that was my first trip abroad, and I learned a tremendous amount. . . later vacations to more popular locales in Europe have paled in comparison.

Exactly...later-in-life foreign vacations (which I will prob. never be able to swing anyway) would probably not see me, or most people, really, in the townships of Johannesburg in South Africa, so I'm really glad that I got to do that as a student.

[SmilesSoSweet]

I was able to study abroad for one quarter (11 weeks). It was great. I never thought during my freshman year that in my senior year I'd be studying in Italy. It was great. I'm still paying for those student loans from that study abroard program, but it was all worth it.

When will I ever have a chance to spend three months in Italy without having to worry about bills, work, etc. ever again? I doubt I'll have that chance and I'm glad I took that opportunity when I did.

[wordsmith]

Exactly my thoughts.

And lest people think I was a pampered, well-off, spoiled student and that those are the only students who can do study abroad programs, let me set the record straight. I come from a low-income background, and was able to do it ONLY through the grace of grants and scholarships that I applied for to make it possible. There ARE options to go abroad even if you can't afford it out of pocket, and it's a good thing, because it was the most valuable education I got.

That said, there WERE plenty of pampered, well-off, spoiled students who did the study abroad thing, for sure. I roomed with one such girl most of the time I did one of my programs. There are definitely people who treat the opportunity as an extended spring break trip on mommy and daddy's platinum card, and don't get any more out of the experience/appreciate it anymore than if they'd just spent the term on campus.

[GoogleGirl]

geez, the farthest i've ever gotten to go via exchange student in college was Colorado. I guess that' better than nothing. And I didn't have to depend on extra grants and scholarships. I went through my college and paid my college tuition, not the colorado university. Guess that's better than nothing.

[PenforPrez]

The only study-abroad program my alma mater offered was a semester in London. I never pursued it; I never thought I could afford it. It was mainly for the liberal arts majors; engineers rarely study abroad while in undergrad.

My mistake was not more seriously pursuing career options. I was at enough of a disadvantage being at a college where BA's are kept in the closet. :frustrate I explored several ideas, but the thought of the real world scared me too much to really look at it and make the hard decisions. Several years later, I still have that problem.

I was too worried about quiz bowl in college, as college quiz bowl players tend to do. But I knew where I was in the state of things there. It gave me security when I was confused about everything else. I still have that problem too. :idea: It's the only thing I've ever been good at, so I don't sweat it.

Paul

[dostoy]

I probably could have gone abroad, my professor was in charge of that, but I was too scared like a wuss, that's a regret for sure. Also I regret not getting better grades, GPA really does effect the kinds of jobs you can get, plus getting into grad school or not. I had fun all in all though.

[WorkInProgress]

In terms of roommate situations, few people will admit to this, but having a bad roommate/bad roommate situation actually teaches you a lot.

I agree. My first year, I had a terrible roommate. It made me appreciate the stellar roommate I had after much, much more (and helped me realize what things are important, what aren't, really, in a roommate and friend).

[WorkInProgress]

Exactly my thoughts.

And lest people think I was a pampered, well-off, spoiled student and that those are the only students who can do study abroad programs, let me set the record straight. I come from a low-income background, and was able to do it ONLY through the grace of grants and scholarships that I applied for to make it possible. There ARE options to go abroad even if you can't afford it out of pocket, and it's a good thing, because it was the most valuable education I got.

That said, there WERE plenty of pampered, well-off, spoiled students who did the study abroad thing, for sure. I roomed with one such girl most of the time I did one of my programs. There are definitely people who treat the opportunity as an extended spring break trip on mommy and daddy's platinum card, and don't get any more out of the experience/appreciate it anymore than if they'd just spent the term on campus.

Through my school, there were a whole bunch of study abroad programs. There are also zillions not affiliated with my school (which makes transferring the credits dicey). However, some were significantly less expensive than a semester at my (IMO) moderately priced school, so for the cost-conscious, it would have been less expensive to study abroad for a year than to stay put.

Sometimes I wish I had studied abroad, particularly since that was a goal of mine when I applied to schools. But I have travelled before and since college, and I was so happy where I was at the time that I didn't want to give it up to be somewhere else. In my case, my goals changed, which I don't think is a bad thing.

[old_school_soul]

My biggest mistake was having a girlfriend for my entire college career. What a fucking waste. Also, I never partied. I clearly am over compensating for the lack of partying and dating now :).

[SmilesSoSweet]

geez, the farthest i've ever gotten to go via exchange student in college was Colorado. I guess that' better than nothing. And I didn't have to depend on extra grants and scholarships. I went through my college and paid my college tuition, not the colorado university. Guess that's better than nothing.

I did the same thing. I went through my college for tuition (so my tuition was paid for because of my dad's disabled military benefits). I just had to pay the school in Italy's room and board fees, plus my plane ticket and spending money. Had it not been for the free tuition from my school, I probably wouldn't have been able to travel abroad. But like I said earlier, taking out the loans was all worth it. I even told my parents that if this study abroad program delayed my graduation, I would still do it. Fortunately I still graduated on time.

[wordsmith]

Through my school, there were a whole bunch of study abroad programs. There are also zillions not affiliated with my school (which makes transferring the credits dicey). However, some were significantly less expensive than a semester at my (IMO) moderately priced school, so for the cost-conscious, it would have been less expensive to study abroad for a year than to stay put.

Sometimes I wish I had studied abroad, particularly since that was a goal of mine when I applied to schools. But I have travelled before and since college, and I was so happy where I was at the time that I didn't want to give it up to be somewhere else. In my case, my goals changed, which I don't think is a bad thing.

You also were in the position to have already seen various other parts of the world, too, which makes a diff.

My school also had stellar study abroad opps. We had inhouse programs and ones that we partnered with a consortium of other colleges. We also had a 4-1-4 calendar, which is a four-month fall semester, a one-month interim where you took just one course intensively and daily and for the entire day, and a four-month spring semester. They offered a lot of study abroad programs during that interim term, which were super affordable and were better for people who couldn't swing an entire semester abroad, and had the advantage of not throwing your academic schedule off or requiring you to get behind in your major coursework, etc. if you chose to study abroad.

I did one stint of studying abroad through a consortium program, one through an exchange with a school in Ireland, and also got to do an international choir tour in Africa, where I wasn't studying, but going all over the country performing with my ensemble for all kinds of audiences.

[WorkInProgress]

You also were in the position to have already seen various other parts of the world, too, which makes a diff.

My school also had stellar study abroad opps. We had inhouse programs and ones that we partnered with a consortium of other colleges. We also had a 4-1-4 calendar, which is a four-month fall semester, a one-month interim where you took just one course intensively and daily and for the entire day, and a four-month spring semester. They offered a lot of study abroad programs during that interim term, which were super affordable and were better for people who couldn't swing an entire semester abroad, and had the advantage of not throwing your academic schedule off or requiring you to get behind in your major coursework, etc. if you chose to study abroad.

I did one stint of studying abroad through a consortium program, one through an exchange with a school in Ireland, and also got to do an international choir tour in Africa, where I wasn't studying, but going all over the country performing with my ensemble for all kinds of audiences.

You're right, it does make a difference (and it did in my decision-making). I wasn't trying to imply that it doesn't.

The 4-1-4 seems like it is really conducive to short term studying abroad. If my school had a schedule like that, I probably would have studied abroad during at least one of those "1"s. My school had regular semesters, and going away for one of them would have thrown my course schedule out of whack. I think I was taking at least one course for my major in every semester I was in college, even before I declared (some of that is because of what my major was, and how difficult it sometimes was to get into classes for it). If I'd chosen a different major, it would have been easier to sqeeze it in, but, like I said, my priorities changed.

Anyway, I do think that studying abroad is a fabulous idea, and something that would be good for lots of people, especially if they've not had the chance to travel before or don't foresee that later in life. I would certainly encourage anyone in college (or starting college soon) to consider it.

[wordsmith]

You're right, it does make a difference (and it did in my decision-making). I wasn't trying to imply that it doesn't.

No, I know, I was just observing. For me, I would never have gotten the opportunity without, say, going into the military.

The 4-1-4 seems like it is really conducive to short term studying abroad. If my school had a schedule like that, I probably would have studied abroad during at least one of those "1"s. My school had regular semesters, and going away for one of them would have thrown my course schedule out of whack. I think I was taking at least one course for my major in every semester I was in college, even before I declared (some of that is because of what my major was, and how difficult it sometimes was to get into classes for it). If I'd chosen a different major, it would have been easier to sqeeze it in, but, like I said, my priorities changed.

I loved 4-1-4, it seriously was one major selling point of my alma mater (right up there with free laundry, hah). But like you, there's no way I could have sacrificed a term for which I wouldn't have gotten full reciprocity. For three of my four years, I was on a tight course sequence, as all teacher prep coursework was...classes had to be taken in a nonnegotiable sequence in order to be ready to student teach as a senior, and most people by that point had to take an extra term to teach, anyway. I couldn't, because my aid only went for four years, I couldn't have afforded an additional term at full tuition just to teach. The add in my major and minor, as well as my teacher cert stuff...yeah, three interims abroad was doable, a regular term was not.

[WorkInProgress]

I loved 4-1-4, it seriously was one major selling point of my alma mater (right up there with free laundry, hah).

FREE LAUNDRY?!?!?

You know, it occurs to me that I wouldn't care about having to pay a little extra in order to NOT have to pay for laundry, at school.

[wordsmith]

I'm not kidding about it being a MAJOR SELLING POINT they always played up. High U.S. News and World Report ranking, meh...home to the international Nobel Conference, big deal...Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Beta Schmappa...FREE LAUNDRY, THOUGH, MAN!!!!!!

They may not still have it. Sigh, end of an era.

[CTGirl]

We had "free laundry" at my undergrad, cuz you paid a little fee in your room and board charges for it. You came out on top in the end though, cuz the fee you paid was never as much as you would have paid for all the laundry you did, plus it was so much easier that way!

[WorkInProgress]

We had "free laundry" at my undergrad, cuz you paid a little fee in your room and board charges for it. You came out on top in the end though, cuz the fee you paid was never as much as you would have paid for all the laundry you did, plus it was so much easier that way!

I think I'd rather have gotten slightly ripped off and paid a laundry fee upfront and not have had to worry about quarters, etc. I certainly would have loved to get charged a laundry fee that was less than the money in quarters I spent.

[wordsmith]

Free laundry has a downside...it's nearly impossible to get a machine, ever. I loved the year that I lived RIGHT next to the laundry room.

[WorkInProgress]

I'm not kidding about it being a MAJOR SELLING POINT they always played up. High U.S. News and World Report ranking, meh...home to the international Nobel Conference, big deal...Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Beta Schmappa...FREE LAUNDRY, THOUGH, MAN!!!!!!

They may not still have it. Sigh, end of an era.

Hey, it's something tangible that affects every student. Like decent food.

[cache]

Wow, another school with 4-1-4, I thought my school was unique.

...a little piece of unique me just died :sad:
JK

[wordsmith]

There's a handful of them. Also some 4-4-1's that I know of...where they have a May term instead of a J-term. Where'd you go?

[WorkInProgress]

Free laundry has a downside...it's nearly impossible to get a machine, ever. I loved the year that I lived RIGHT next to the laundry room.

That doesn't change just because you have to pay. *sigh* My freshman year, I seriously stayed up late on random weeknights to get a load or two done. And the biggest fights always seemed related to cutting in the laundry line, and what constitutes "saving your space." I hope to NEVER again have to rely on crap like that. I think part of the problem was an insufficient number of machines.

[CTGirl]

We had a ton of washers and dryers in every dorm on campus, so as long as you didnt try and do your laundry on sunday like everyone else, it wasnt hard to find a machine or two available - especialy if you happened to be staying in on a Friday or Saturday night, cuz no one else did laundry then, lol.

[cache]

There's a handful of them. Also some 4-4-1's that I know of...where they have a May term instead of a J-term. Where'd you go?

Depauw Univ.

Yes, that's Depauw, with a "w", not DePaul. (That's the standard line everyone has to use because the response to DePauw is typically "Oh, DePaul, Chicago is a great place." :rolleyes:

[wordsmith]

Indiana, then. I know the diff.

But I have you beat on alma mater names requiring explanation.

[SmilesSoSweet]

Wow, another school with 4-1-4, I thought my school was unique.

...a little piece of unique me just died :sad:
JK

A few of the California State University schools had this system too, but the winter session was optional. My school (though a CSU school) was on the same schedule as the University of California schools (with the exception of Cal) being that we were on the quarter system. Four 11 week quarters (that's including one week of finals). Summer term was optional and it was actually a full quarter (which is where you get the fourth quarter term in.)

I liked the quarter system only because every time I had a break in class (winter, summer, and spring) my classes were done and when I'd go back to class after break, I'd have new classes. My friends that went to semester schools always had homework to do over their spring breaks.

[CTGirl]

We had an optional winter month-long term too I think, and a couple terms during the summer as well. I know a couple people who were either doing multiple majors, were overachivers, or just didnt want to ever go home, who just stayed there year-round taking classes.

Business and Psychology were easy majors though, so I never felt the need to do this myself, lol.

[wordsmith]

A few of the California State University schools had this system too, but the winter session was optional.

The rules for our interim session were that you could only take one of the four off/use it for internship time. The remaining three, you had to be enrolled in an approved class.

It was awesome, because it was a good time to do nontraditional coursework, and a lot of people took advantage of it that way...a time you could do something you might not otherwise have. It was designed for exploratory study/enrichment, really.

[Krishna]

My biggest mistake was having a girlfriend for my entire college career. What a fucking waste. Also, I never partied. I clearly am over compensating for the lack of partying and dating now :).

You're saying that having a girlfriend all through college was a mistake? How so?

[Kitty]

I traveled all over europe for three months before going away to college..and I never really wanted to study abroad while in college because, like WorkinProgress, I was really happy with my life and didn't really want to go away. I do think the whole back-packing across europe thing is only something you can do when you're young, though - I can't imagine doing that now.

[wordsmith]

I can definitely imagine doing it now. If I could afford to take the time away from a job, I would in a heartbeat.

[Kitty]

Not me...I could easily get 6 weeks off at my job now, but I can't imagine doing it back-pack style. No freakin' way.

[cache]

Indiana, then. I know the diff.

But I have you beat on alma mater names requiring explanation.

Well? .

[wordsmith]

Not me...I could easily get 6 weeks off at my job now, but I can't imagine doing it back-pack style. No freakin' way.

I never did the backpacking thing. I was in pretty heavy coursework and/or a rigorous performance schedule most of the time I was abroad.

[old_school_soul]

You're saying that having a girlfriend all through college was a mistake? How so?

Yeah. I should have been focusing on enjoying my youth and the multitude of women rather than thinking I was going to get married to the girl I dated all throughout college. Big mistake.

[wordsmith]

I had one serious boyfriend when I was in college, and even that lasted within the realm of an academic year. The rest of the time, it was idle interest and crushes here and there, but I didn't really date.

Of course, that was just the norm for where I was. Nobody dated at my college, it just was a place where people kind of hung out (not even necessarily a hookup-heavy place - outside the smallish greek system, anyway - though that for sure occurred), but actual dating life just wasn't a really big scene, and the only people in relationships were for the most part the people who came to college with them. My alma mater seems to have a really high rate of alums who eventually marry, but they typically get together when they're already alumni.

[CTGirl]

I had one bf all through college, but I dont regret that (maybe the person I chose to date, and dealing with what he did, but that's another story, lol). For me, I think having a bf throughout college allowed me to focus on myself more, and my studies rather than worrying about dating and trying to meet guys.

[Winter Storm]

My biggest mistake was having a girlfriend for my entire college career. What a fucking waste. Also, I never partied. I clearly am over compensating for the lack of partying and dating now :).
I've been trying to think of what I have regretted about college and this has to be it. Not that I was in a serious relationship, but that I was so caught up in it and wrapped up in my ex that I let my entire social life revolve around him and hence never went to any parties, never got drunk, never let loose and just be a wild, free college kid. I never dated anyone else or had any wild times which is why I am also making up on all those lost times.

People now wonder why I'm now partying like mad and all over the place and it is because I feel like I've been sheltered for many years, walking the straight and narrow and never allowing myself my time to just run wild. I need to get this out of my system now that I have the chance.

College to me was just taking classes. I worked full-time, I had a serious boyfriend and every weekend, I was at home with him. My social life then is what I regret. I didn't have one.

[sondra_finchley]

Not attending UW-Madison- I got in, I got in the honors program, but they werent handing out any sort of financial aid to me at all ( even though I was a legacy). Dad sat me down at the kitchen table and said I could go to UW or I could go to the university instate where I paid $13 a credit as an undergrad because hes a professor in that system and all family members pay reduced rates. He explained student loan debt and this and that. So.... I went with the cheaper option and stayed in state. I hated it- I hated the town I was in, hated the people, hated the lack of classes and lack of atmosphere, basically hated my college experience. I still feel like I missed out on a lot of things that I wanted to do that would have been available at Madison, but were unheard of where I was. I had to go to therapy for a year to try and get over the anger at myself of that decision. But... what can you do- I was 18 and my decision making research isnt as up as it is now. Going there would have helped a lot more with making lasting networks of people who WERENT going to stay in Madison. The people at the school I went to? Pfffff they still cant comprehend why i always wanted to leave "such a great place to live".

On the other hand, since it wasnt that rigorous and having a British boyfriend with a job- I went overseas a lot and moved over a week after I graduated to work for 6 months. Then we broke up and I moved back with no money and not much self-esteem. Man was that fun.

[PenforPrez]

I've been trying to think of what I have regretted about college and this has to be it. Not that I was in a serious relationship, but that I was so caught up in it and wrapped up in my ex that I let my entire social life revolve around him and hence never went to any parties, never got drunk, never let loose and just be a wild, free college kid. I never dated anyone else or had any wild times which is why I am also making up on all those lost times.

People now wonder why I'm now partying like mad and all over the place and it is because I feel like I've been sheltered for many years, walking the straight and narrow and never allowing myself my time to just run wild. I need to get this out of my system now that I have the chance.

I never partied, and I don't regret it for a moment. I went to a huge party school, and the arrogant suburban kids that dominated the campus had no concept of enjoying the outdoors. There was no girls; as I've said before, it was 65% male and half the girls didn't speak English. So the only thing to do (in their minds) was drink. Not my thing; never has been.

I've never had the urge; I don't know if I'm dull or what. I just want somebody special I can be wild with. :)

Paul

[cache]

Partying was all there was to do at my school. It really wasn't an option if you wanted to do anything social. Plus, 75% of all students went Greek, so if you weren't in a fraternity or sorority, you were even further limited.

[Kitty]

I definitely got partying out of my system while in college.

[WorkInProgress]

I definitely got partying out of my system while in college.

Me too, for the most part. Although I was never a party-hardy kind of girl.

[wordsmith]

I partied just enough to feel like I wasn't missing out. But most of the time, I had my head in books.

[Kitty]

Me too, for the most part. Although I was never a party-hardy kind of girl.

I wasn't really in HS, then got to college and went craaaazy.

[wordsmith]

I didn't party in high school at all. I was AT parties, but I was always the token "good influence," and the one who made sure people didn't get fucked up and got home okay. I never even drank until I was 18 and studying in a country where I was legal to drink.

I never have gone wild. I'm okay with that. It's not really in my nature. It would just be weird and not me.

[WorkInProgress]

I wasn't really in HS, then got to college and went craaaazy.

I'm still not sure what I did in HS...because I sure as hell wasn't social, and I don't really recall doing much homework at home (except for math, but I didn't take that every semester). I think I was reading. For 4 years. And you wonder why I am the way I am.

In college I did a lot of hanging out with friends. (And I went to class and did hw when I had to, and partied some.)

[Kitty]

My friends and I would get drunk in HS. It was so lame - we'd get alcohol and then get drunk in someone's bedroom and then go to the mall or something. I guess are parents weren't on to us because we were all pretty goody-goody, straight A types. We also smoked pot when we could get it (also in our bedrooms or at the park). I don't really consider it partying though...

[weary]

I never partied, and I don't regret it for a moment. I went to a huge party school, and the arrogant suburban kids that dominated the campus had no concept of enjoying the outdoors. There was no girls; as I've said before, it was 65% male and half the girls didn't speak English. So the only thing to do (in their minds) was drink. Not my thing; never has been.

I've never had the urge; I don't know if I'm dull or what. I just want somebody special I can be wild with. :)

Paul

so sweet. :)

[wordsmith]

I'm still not sure what I did in HS...because I sure as hell wasn't social, and I don't really recall doing much homework at home (except for math, but I didn't take that every semester). I think I was reading. For 4 years. And you wonder why I am the way I am.

In college I did a lot of hanging out with friends. (And I went to class and did hw when I had to, and partied some.)

Hah. I was:

-Reading constantly for four years
-Acting in every play, so at play rehearsals when I wasn't reading.
-In fifteen million music ensembles, so rehearsing those when I wasn't doing the two above.
-Writing for the literary magazine somewhere in there, too.

I still hung out with my friends and random little boyfriends a lot, b/c they were in all the same stuff. I was MISS extracurricular (just not sports).

[WorkInProgress]

Hah. I was:

-Reading constantly for four years
-Acting in every play, so at play rehearsals when I wasn't reading.
-In fifteen million music ensembles, so rehearsing those when I wasn't doing the two above.
-Writing for the literary magazine somewhere in there, too.

I still hung out with my friends and random little boyfriends a lot, b/c they were in all the same stuff. I was MISS extracurricular (just not sports).

Come to think of it, I once spent a month or so protesting the county's summer reading program (which blew, btw, and the only person who took me seriously was my HS principal, before they fired him). Or I was fighting with the guidance department about classes/schedules (fun times...I'm sure they were so happy for me to graduate). It looks like I stuff, extra-curricular-wise, but not much that took extra commitment, beyond doing well in school. And I went camping.

I was (am?) such a dork. Them's the breaks, I guess.

[wordsmith]

My extracurriculars were all massive time commitments, but since all my friends did them, it was social time as well, so worthwhile.

It also taught me at an eary age how to juggle and manage my time in an academic setting, which was invaluable when I got to college. I already know how to best organize my time, I'd been doing it for years around all my activities.

[Trillian42]

I wouldn't say it was a mistake, but one thing I really wished I had done was internships in my field of study during the summers. It would have helped me better determine if this was the field for me. (Still not sure on that one, but work is getting slightly more interesting.) Also, I would have had more of a network when I graduated, which I think would have made it easier to find my first job.

[Kitty]

I wouldn't say it was a mistake, but one thing I really wished I had done was internships in my field of study during the summers. It would have helped me better determine if this was the field for me. (Still not sure on that one, but work is getting slightly more interesting.) Also, I would have had more of a network when I graduated, which I think would have made it easier to find my first job.

It's so funny because my friends and I all did internships in the careers we *thought* we wanted to go into - and we all decided not to go into those careers as a result of our internships.

[wordsmith]

Student teaching, "my" version of an internship, for SURE taught me I didn't want that career track. There's tremendous value in finding out that you don't wanna do something, IMO.

[Kitty]

Also, my internship in journalism did help me get into marketing. So, it was a valuable experience.

[Krishna]

Yeah. I should have been focusing on enjoying my youth and the multitude of women rather than thinking I was going to get married to the girl I dated all throughout college. Big mistake.

I guess while I understand what you're saying, I would say the exact opposite. I wish I hadn't given in to peer pressure when I broke up with my boyfriend from high school. Sure, we're back together now, but I wasted 3 years on guys that were only interested in getting into my pants vs. actually caring about me.

[wordsmith]

Yup, I definitely used my ed training during the years that I worked in nonprofit youth work/ tutoring & mentoring, and for sure use it in journalism, which is also educating.

[weary]

Student teaching, "my" version of an internship, for SURE taught me I didn't want that career track. There's tremendous value in finding out that you don't wanna do something, IMO.

absolutely. i found out i didn't want to do what i'd been dreaming of for all of my childhood in one summer. much cheaper and easier than the 5 years it would have taken to get the degree, and lord knows how long to figure it out in the real world. i'm so grateful for that experience.

[shimma]

I guess while I understand what you're saying, I would say the exact opposite. I wish I hadn't given in to peer pressure when I broke up with my boyfriend from high school. Sure, we're back together now, but I wasted 3 years on guys that were only interested in getting into my pants vs. actually caring about me.

Originally Posted by old_school_soul
Yeah. I should have been focusing on enjoying my youth and the multitude of women rather than thinking I was going to get married to the girl I dated all throughout college. Big mistake.

Which brigs me to another point - it's OK to ask others' advice but don't compare yourself to others. Just because it's right for someone else, doesn't make it automatically right for you.

[mishl982]

I don't regret anything I did in college. Any mistakes I made, I learned from. Overall, college as a whole was a great turning point in my life (a good turning point) so how could I regret that?

However, something I wish I had done was study abroad, after hearing you all talk about it!

[wordsmith]

However, something I wish I had done was study abroad, after hearing you all talk about it!


I know it can be totally annoying when people talk about "When I was abroad..." like it's this mystical thing you just wouldn't understand. But the truth is, it probably represented the best learning experiences I ever had and probably ever will have. I do know, though, many people who in my opinion really kind of wasted the experience, so, like anything, you only get out of it what you put in.

[EmberMae]

I wish I had studied abroad. Unfortunately with my major, it probably woudl have led to me graduating late since most of the classes would not have counted toward my degree plan. So that's one reason I didn't do it. I thought I would just go visit Europe one summer but I never did.

I wish I had spent more time on things other than academics. I have a hard time doing bad work so I worked my butt of in college and make almost all As, it did me no good though.

i'd like to say I wish I had been more social, but then and now, it's so hard to find people who are interested in other social activities besides drinking, which I'm really not interested in. I'd say that was the most disillusioning experience of my freshman year, I was looking foward to meeting people who were interested in cultural and academic pursuits and all I found were people who wanted to get drunk every weekend and nothing else.

[wordsmith]

I'd say that was the most disillusioning experience of my freshman year, I was looking foward to meeting people who were interested in cultural and academic pursuits and all I found were people who wanted to get drunk every weekend and nothing else.

One thing I definitely noted about my alma mater was that it was chock full of really intensely academic kids who partied like rockstars. There was a handful slacker partiers who got wasted and did nothing else, and there was your subgroup of harcore academics who very rarely let loose (I was probably close to that end), but for the most part, it was people who were equally devoted to both working extremely hard and playing extremely hard.

[dddork]

twins are more important then your chemistry lecture..

its okay to take 12 credits and save some cash for faishonable clothes and expensive dates.

don't need to get an A in every class

you get spring breaks only 4 times in your life.

its okay to get rejected..

take something for fun.. like yoga/salsa/scuba diving.. not everything has to be academic!..

[embrassezla]

I am one of those annoying people who managed to have a totally kick @ss time in college and not really do anything that I regret.

I was straight edge and went to Penn State (imagine!). And had a freakin' blast.

[wordsmith]

Yup, apart from the time I sunk into my ed coursework that I will always feel could have been much better spent, I don't have a regret in the world about college.

[SpiderGal]

wah....so may replies :eek: , it will take me a while to read it all.

[ocean24]

Being in relationship all four years was not the best idea.

I lived off campus and the college experience was strictly business. Sure, it helped me stay focused on my degree and getting really good grades, but it also gave me an excuse to avoid socializing. I didn't have those late night fast food runs with roommates. I didn't participate in school activities or take the time to get to know classmates/professors. I didn't take advantage of the wealth of cheap services, events, etc. that only college provides. In retrospect, I feel like I missed out on developing independence and self-sufficiency, which is probably contributing to a bit of a QLC in my post-collegiate years...

[ToughButch]

Not taking advantage of my academic and social opportunities. I was depressed at the time and wanted to be in a different place. Had I been able to go back and do it differently, I would've taken a better variety of classes, concentrated on those, socialized, and would've done better academically so I could transfer to a school in the bay area.

I live in the bay area now so in the end it worked out, but not taking advantage of my resources was my biggest mistake in college.

[Fashionista]

Probably not doing enough to leg work and research on how to make my major work for me post college. I just went along with my advisors said and now I see that they were totally wrong and don't have much of a clue of how the current job market was or what realistic opportunities were available.

I also think I could have done better with taking advantage of social and academic opportunities. Although I was involved, I could have done better if I didn't have to work so much my last year of school.

[wordsmith]

I live in the bay area now so in the end it worked out, but not taking advantage of my resources was my biggest mistake in college.

This was the thing I was most afraid of doing, actually...wasting the opps at my disposal. I feel like I did a good job of milking the whole experience for all it was worth. I just knew I didn't wanna graduate and be left going, "How come I didn't ever..." if I could help it.

[MercurialMere]

I live in the bay area now so in the end it worked out, but not taking advantage of my resources was my biggest mistake in college.

That was my biggest mistake in college, too! Three years after graduating, I am still kicking myself for not taking advantage of the career center at my school (Quinnipiac University in CT). It might have spared me a lot of the job-related woe I've experienced in recent years. Because I didn't take advantage of that resource (I always had an excuse not to go, whether it was my two jobs, having to study, having other appointments, etc.), I never had an internship during college and ended up miserable in retail management for 2 years before finally landing a minimum-wage book publishing internship. Luckily, that internship led to a steady freelance gig.

My other major regret in college was not taking a foreign language. I was already fluent in French when I got to college, but I really wish I had taken Mandarin Chinese. Now, if I want to learn, I'm going to have to pay a tutor a steep hourly rate.

[kdhmps]

My biggest regret is not having an academic major that would have been more practical for a career. You don't find out a whole lot until you are in the real world, paying bills, and wanting a home of your own.

[MercurialMere]

My biggest regret is not having an academic major that would have been more practical for a career. You don't find out a whole lot until you are in the real world, paying bills, and wanting a home of your own.

What was your major, if you don't mind my asking? Mine was English, and I was afraid I might never find work with that kind of degree. Luckily, I was able to land a freelance gig after a few years of trying to get my foot in the door.

[kdhmps]

I was a political science major with pre-legal concentration. Had I have gone to law school, it would have worked out well.

I went onto graduate school and studied public services management with public policy concentration---the MBA of the government/nonprofit sectors.

I wish I would have chosen something more practical at the time... I did not have much guidance, and not going to law school really through me off and into a fit of confusion for the past four years... I reconsidered law school, but the debt and time scares me...so earning my CPA designation is next.

[g8ergal83]

my advice to high school seniors and college freshmen:

dont loose sight of why you're in college. for most of you, it'll be to find a job once you graduate. so do good in all your classes, do as many internships or related jobs as possible. if you want to be in journalism, try not to be a waitress. if you want to work in engineering, try not to volunteer as a bus boy at the theatre. you get the point. and NETWORK. with as many people as possible. keep in touch. not all of them will help you when you graduate and are looking for a job, but you dont know which ones will, so treat them all the same. write them at least once a month. call them. send b-day cards. whatever. and when the time comes, dont be afraid to ask them for help. i didnt network with enough people apparently and none of them are willing to help, even though i kept in touch with all of them.

and make sure whatever you're majoring in has lots of different options for jobs. you dont want to go into music where you can only be an orchestra member or a music teacher and thats it. you need to give yourself plenty of options, god-forbid one of them falls through. and make sure you're going for something where eventually you'll be able to reach your monetary goal. if you go for journalism, and want to be in news, but eventualy want to make over $40k a year, you're in the wrong field, unless your last name is Brokaw or Couric. a good safety net if you're not sure what to go for is business. (just beware there's a lot of math - thats why i did journalism = no math) you'll know a lot of stuff when you get out and you'll have lots of different options. you can be a manager anywhere. you can do accounting, finance, etc. (financial planners make tons of money if they're good at what they do) just decide what is important to you - money, the actual job, quality of life... and go from there. talk to all kinds of people who are in the field you might choose, too. they are probably the best resource.

my biggest mistake:

thinking that my love for what i wanted to do would allow me to achieve my long term goals of being financially stable, eventually making at least $100k/year and being at the top of my game. i was totally nieve.

[kdhmps]

my biggest mistake:

thinking that my love for what i wanted to do would allow me to achieve my long term goals of being financially stable, eventually making at least $100k/year and being at the top of my game. i was totally nieve.

I think I was naive, too. I wanted to "save the world," yet I feared law school debt and questioned my capabilities. A professor told me I did not have to go to law school to help people.

He was right. However, he forgot to tell me that I wouldn't be earning any money! I think colleges, particularly those small schools, need to do a better job in educating those with liberal arts degrees about the real world... I did not give much thought to financial stability or home ownership. These days, I don't care so much about saving the world---although I like to help people. I think more about my personal responsibilities and providing for my future as well as for my family's future. So I am moving onto something I like that is a bit more lucrative... Even if I am a few years "behind." I am feeling better and less stressed being proactive towards making a change. I feel if I don't make the change now, three years from now I will be in the same position---just wanting to make a change.

[wordsmith]

Really, though, you should know by researching a particular field what the general income you should expect is, give or take some extenuating circumstances. That info's not exactly classified. When I was studying teaching, it was the easiest thing in the world to find out the going rate for high school English teachers in various settings. Maybe I'm old and crochety and intolerant, but I feel like there's really no excuse to not research the field you'd like to go into...and the first thing you'd check out would be things like demand, job security, and what type of salary to expect.

[kdhmps]

I don't think that was the problem per se... I just don't think there was enough focus on "reality." I think sometimes we just assumed we would be "okay" while we are in college... and once we were out, we realized how difficult it really was to live on 30k. ha ha

[wordsmith]

I grew up pretty low income, so I didn't have any illusions, really. I still think 30K would be pretty sweet.

[kneedrag32]

The first is my F-up, 2-4 are good tips.

1.on college applications, be sure to illustrate why that school will help you succeed, why you are a good fit. Seems obvious, but I didn’t have any help back in the day and wrote about how cool the college was and how fun it would be. I didn’t get into UW Madison after being on the waiting list. I’m convinced that my essay sucked. I had great grades and should have made it.

2. If you don’t know what you want to do, do pick a major.... go undecided. If you go undecided, don’t just take GDRs... dabble in things you might go in to.

3.Take business courses that will help you run your own business. I’m getting ready to shed the corporate life to live my own dreams.

4. Don't get anyone knocked up. Don't get married.

[wordsmith]

I dunno, dude, business courses would have been a massive waste of my time, considering that I have no interest in running a business.