Yellow, as you can see right here in this thread, there are folks who believe in free thought and can recognize it, and those who neither support free thought nor understand what it is. Bryan, Political Science classes are going to present more information than you year in Dubya's speeches. That's a bummer for folks who think Dubya's speeches are all that exist, but in reality Michael Moore's movie exists, and so do Palestinian home videos. In certain classes, you're going to be exposed to the stuff that teaches open-minded students what the controversies are all about. That means looking at things which are disturbing to folks who wish the worlds of politics and international relations were as simple as our "president" appears to think they are. International relations, for example, to many of us, is more complicated than a simple military viewpoint. I seem to recall you are studying Economics, or perhaps it is your significant other who is an Econ prof. I really don't mean to be disrespectful, really. It's just that Economics is not one of those "factual" courses you say you prefer. Economics, like Poly Sci, is a social science. Requiring circumspection, as opposed to tunnel-vision.

Anyway, Yellow, you need to relax. You're a good student. You'll do just fine. My best piece of advice: Read the chapter BEFORE you go to class. If you don't the prof's lecture will not make sense. If you do, the prof's lecture will cement the material into your brain.

And watch the prof. Sometimes they darned hear just come out and say "This will be on the test." If he says a term and then hesitates.....he's giving you time to write that term down. If he writes it on the board, expect to see it on the exam. Read the chapter first, listen to the lecture carefully, and you will not even need to study the night before an exam.

This is going to be probably the finest time of your life. When a group goes rafting, go with them. Hiking, yeah. Hang at the Student Union Building. See the movies, and go to the special engagement speeches. Read the bulletin board. Surf, ski. Do creative things with water, and toilet tissue and butcher paper. Oh, and study a little.

dude, dont listen to bryan. i went to college twice as two different people. the first time, i was mr negativity like bryan. i got nothing out of it. the second time, i opened up my mind. not just for the learning, but for all the stuff going around. i learned and love diversity. i found out how different people from around the world looked at things. i would pick up foriengn phrases, eat different food, learn new sexual positions, learned to drink scotch....haha. you bastard! you are about to enter into some fun schit. college is not only a degree, but a whole lot more. you WILL get back what you put in.

sorry bryan, you missed out.

My best experiences in college:
- 8 hour stints in the bowels of Doe Library. Working on math problems all day deep into the night (I was a math major). Exhausting but taught me discipline.
- Writing a paper on Allied strategic bombing of Germany during WW2. Studied volumes of records about USAF bombs dropped and German industrial production. Learned the importance of analyzing the facts versus believing what you read.
- Skiing 30+ days a year. Joined the Cal ski club, skiied most of the great resorts in the Rockies and nights sleeping in my car in the Squaw Valley parking lot.
- Lots of friends, quite a lot of partying. Got most of that out of my system, without going overboard.
- Learned enough physics (almost 2 years of it) to have a sense about how things work, what questions to ask, and what sorts of claims about new technology make sense and what ones are fishy.
- Took a variety of classes and got a bit of exposure to a lot of things. History, literature, architecture, military history with the ROTC boys, psychology, German, economics, etc.

My biggest regrets:
- I learned absolutely no biology or chemistry. This is a sad hole in my understanding of the world.
- I got no exposure to finance, business, or accounting. Again, a big hole.
- I didn't plan much for my career after college. Things worked out fine because I went on to law school, but basically I just lucked out there.

College - good times . . .

Yellowline - I can guarantee you an A in any class if you do the following steps:
1) Attend every class
2) Take copious notes
3) Do the assignments
4) Retype your notes, add to them from the text where applicable
5) Meet with your Prof or TA at least once a week to review your notes and clarify any topics that have mystified you.
6) Get into a study group that is composed of kids that want to kick arse not glam off of the smart kids – classes are filled with these types. One great dynamic that you can do in the group is for each of you to take day’s notes and try to teach them to the rest of the group. When you have to teach something to somebody you end up knowing cold.
7) Pick a time everyday to do these things and absolutely stick to it regardless of anything.
8) Do not study on Saturdays.
9) Try to get to know others that have taken the same class. The tests may have changed but the general style and content of what the Prof is looking for may not have.
10) Do not pull any ‘all-nighters’. They are a waste of time

Take full advantage of Brown Univ and Salve Regina Univ. The girls that go to Brown may be liberal but they are smart and most likely from cash – good source for “marrying up!” The Salve girls will be very hot, somewhat bright but normally very rich. Salve is considered the “Rich Kids Second Choice” school. They come in handy for winter trips to Daddies fun place in Aruba or Skiing in Vale or a romp out on the Ketch.

Thanks, guys. I'm a little more confident that I can adjust. The OT crowd comes through again. :)

And you're all welcome for being given a non-political thread that was semi-interesting without the use of grid girls. ;) haha jk

FYI, there was no USAF during WW2. ;)

I had similarly long nights at Leyburn Library doing engineering problems. When I first got to school I thought it was cool that the library was open 24 hrs/day. Then one day I understood the implication: sometimes you will need to be there at 3 in the morning. :(

Wasn't the Air Force part of the Army during WWII? They became a separate branch in 195? - still was called the Air Force I thought...

Yeah, you're right. I forgot about that.

Army Air Corps became the US Air Force in '47.

Well, I brought this thread back, since I just had my first day of classes.

Development of Western Civ is a 2-year core course for all students, regardless of major. Seems alright.

Haven't had Logic (philosophy core), meets tomorrow.

Biblical Theology seems alright. Prof isn't the greatest guy, but whatever.

Calc ("business math", actually) is going to be a red flag, I can tell. My professor is East European, so we have a bit of a language barrier. Wants everyone to "get an A" and says he is willing to do his part, but confused 90% of the class on basic Alg I review. Including me. Not sure (or confident) there. I actually want to bury my head under my pillow and forget about it...

Socially, I'm doing well enough. I still need to go around on my floor and introduce myself. I do have a few friends, some good acquaintances, and I do get along with my roommate. I'm not so worried about that anymore, though...everyone I've talked to is nice, nothing at all like high school. Big party school though, not quite my style. Oh well.

OK, you've got to take calculus into your own hands. Do that homework first every day. Get a lot of help from the TA. Go to your prof's office hours every week. Make friends with math/sci types, ask them questions. If you're slipping behind, ask in the math dept about extra help, e.g. tutors. You can do it, sounds like you have the background from H.S., just need the confidence. Hard work and reaching out for all the help and resources you can get will get you there. Think how confused the other students are, maybe its going to be a low curve and you'll get that "A".

Yellowline - seriously, follow the study instructions laid out for you. You will not regret it! Trust me on this. If you rock the grades then if or when you decide on grad school, it will open doors for you. No one ever regreted studying their arse off, they only regreted not working harder!

Hope you get down to Newport - now is the best time.

There is always a group of kids that will play x-box and PS2 on friday nights...it can just take time to find them. JK JK, if partying isn't your thing, it isn't really mine either you'll find a group of people who are into doing pretty much the same thing your into.

yellowline, welcome to Providence! When you feel like a home-cooked meal, drop a line and we'll be glad to set an extra place for you. Steve

I have not read all of the posts here, but I got out a couple years ago. Essay writting just agree with whatever the Prof says in class. IF you disagree for the most part they are going to tell you that you are wrong and deduct points. Even though they say to think freely, rarely is it rewarded.

If you want my job and me to go to college for you send me a PM.

My other advice, do not graduate in 4 years. Drag college out as long as possible. THat is unless you are amassing large amounts of debt in the process.

Enjoy it, and realize what a priviledge it is. Work hard, play hard, and also realize that you will never be surrounded by that many chicks your age again.

OK.

I have been to Newport. Salve is indeed a school with a lot of nice girls.

The calc prof actually teaches fulltime at another school- they brought him in to teach because there was apparently demand for the class beyond what the PC faculty could handle. Not sure at all about his office hours, and there's no TA. I have friends who did calc in HS here, and tutors wouldn't be a bad idea either. Either that or take it next semester.

I have good habits in that I like getting a decent amount of sleep and I don't plan on skipping class at all. Typing my notes isn't a big deal. Meeting with profs I'll work on.

It's all great advice, and I plan on following it. Everybody's told me that it's not a huge adjustment, and it's common to feel overwhelmed for a couple weeks. I just don't have the confidence that I can do it...never really did with school, though I turned out fine. I guess that's something I need to work on.

Discipline and confidence seem to be most of the battle. Guess I'll head to the library.

Yellowline - you will get comfy in about a month to the point of complacentcy (sp). It happens.

So, if you were to rank the girls of Salve compared to PC and Brown, what would it be? Did you check out the campus? Pretty cool, right on the water and cliff walk. The caf food was incredable when I was there - they had their own pastery chef!