few tips for new college students ...

[3grands]

worked in the education field for couple of decades so here's a few tips -

The syllabus is the legal document between the instructor and the students. He/she can't add assignments, etc. If they make changes, discuss it with them. Then you have to decide is it worth going to the dean about. Bear in mind this instructor will determine your grade. Talk with students about their previous instructors to get to know them better - pet peeves, etc.

Often students don't realize just how much material has to be covered to prepare for mid-terms or finals. Helps to set up a schedule so all that material is studied beforehand and just a review prior to tests.

Reserved materials will not be available a few days before the deadline - either someone will steal them or they'll be checked out when you need them.

Your catalog is the legal document between the institution and the students. What is required for your degree is specifically stated as well as any time restraints.

If you change your mind about your major, advise the Registrar's Office. Shadow/interview/search on the internet - someone in your intended field to get a better idea of job expectations - both theirs and yours.

If you have roommates, agree to have weekly meetings about things so resolutions can be worked out. Protect your social security number, etc. Credit card debt is a major decision - not a temporary fix.

Hopefully, someone can benefit from this info.

[alfrodull]

Originally Posted by 3grands

Your catalog is the legal document between the institution and the students. What is required for your degree is specifically stated as well as any time restraints.

Actually, I would caution you against relying on the catalog when planning your courses. What the catalog may not tell you (my school's certainly doesn't) is that some courses are only in the fall, others only in the spring, others every other year...Generally, you can only get that info from someone in the department. The catalog also doesn't state other departmental scheduling rules (here, science classes start on the half-hour and English classes start on the hour, making it nearly impossible to take classes in both subjects on the same day without a wide gap in the middle; English classes are never scheduled on Fridays; labs are numbered but don't strictly have to be taken in order.)

I say this because as a freshman, it was clear that, on paper, that the double major I was contemplating is very possible, and my departmental advisors, who knew no specific knowledge of the other department except the catalog, told me this. Only when I put the knowledge gleaned from both advisors together did I discover that the combination was basically impossible because of scheduling conflicts.

[3grands]

Perhaps clarification is needed - the catalog states what classes are required for your major, minor, and details within what time restraints = successful completion of classes have to be achieved in order to obtain a degree from that institution.

Why not contact the Registrar's office and ask them to put in the catalog when classes are planned? Remembering it takes months to put together the catalogues through to publication.

Discussion helps clarify points. Thanks.

Also, I'm sure others can offer advice as well.

[EgonTowst]

Good advice! I didn't know that about the syllabus ... is that suppose to be true for every school? Where I go to school usually there's a line at the bottom of the syllabus in most classes that says "I reserve the right to change any of this at any time without any prior notice blah blah", and very rarely do my professors follow the syllabus exactly through the semester.

A couple more really important things I suggest as well ... join some Christian groups and stay focused in the Word of God daily. The importance of this is sadly so under-noticed in college. It's so easy to give into temptation and just start going with the flow of college life, especially if you live on a public university campus. 80% of Christians teens today lose their faith in college. 80%!! Don't get lazy about it. This is the time when you want to get more focused on God.

Also, don't always take your professors word for what they say. It might sound disrespectful toward professors, but one thing I learned very quickly in college (especially in philosophy and religion courses) is that professors are not always as smart as they sound sadly. Professionals can have their biases too. I've believe it or not ended up teaching a couple of professors a thing or two about their own field. The disappointing thing is that teens these days, in general, don't seem to learn how to think for themselves. We go into class, take notes, study and take the tests, all while usually just assuming that what we're hearing is true. And most of the time it is I'm sure ... it's not like professors are running around telling lies. But what most students don't realize is that professors have underlying assumptions in what they teach. Unlike high school, professors are much more free in what they teach and how they teach it. Sometimes they will have presuppositions and biases that influence what they may teach as "fact". For example my Old Testament lit professor thinks it has been undeniably proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that the earth is billions of years old and that Genesis is mythical. He says it's "absolutely rediculous" to think the earth is only 6000 years old, and that "no one actually believes that anymore". You will run into people like that! Listen to what they have to say of course, and answer their tests the way they teach the class so you can get the grade ... but don't make your decisions based on what they say. Take what they say as another perspective, and then research it for yourself and come to your own decision.

[3grands]

That?s the reason why the statement has been added "I reserve the right to change any of this at any time without any prior notice blah blah",

posted: "and very rarely do my professors follow the syllabus exactly through the semester." Are they adding to or deleting? Again if they make changes with the statement above there's not a lot that can be done about it. Also, the student has to weigh is it worth them getting mad about and affecting your grade.