readings+kristincollins

Readings from Social Processes

HOW TO WIN AT COLLEGE

The first section was on decorating your room which I feel is the first thing that I thought about doing when I first came to college. I thought about what posters I wanted to hang up or what color my bedspread was going to be. I think that they are absolutely right about how girls think about it more then guys. I think having a room that is interesting and that makes you feel comfortable is very important when coming to college because in the beginning it could get quite rough. They also talk about free time which leads me to think about time management. College students are either very good at time management or very bad. Free time could either make you or break you, depending on how much of it you give yourself. You need free time to survive because without it, you might go nuts. Then they talk about meal times, and how much time they do take up. I remember as a freshman we would all go down as a group and then the next thing you know we would be sitting there two hours later, still talking because we had lost track of time. The next tip was to not study in your room ! There are way too many distractions in the dorms because you have so many people to talk to. I would recommend using the library becuase it almost forces you to study or do your work because everyone else is doing it. Also, do not always study in groups becuase you could get off topic a lot of the time. I benefit a lot from group studying sessions, but I also use independent studying, where I will make flashcards (they will save your life!). During the first year of college it is hard to make new friends and stay in touch as much as you would hope to with your friends at home! Stay in touch, invite them up for the weekend. Make sure you do this, because if something happens with your friends at school you could always go back and talk it out with your friends from home. The last thing is the one thing that I feel is the most important, get involved! Getting involved is so important because not only does it look good for the future but it gives you so many opportunities to make new friends and make new memories. It might even open your eyes to something different, something that you have never tried before!

STENDENTS HELPING STUDENTS NAVAGATING YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR

In the first section of this excerpt, it talks about how college is going to be a lot of things for different people but it is mostly the first time you are away from everything that you are used to, everything that you already know. For some people it is harder to adjust then others, and some do not even return. I think that this is the hardest part about college for a lot of people, the transition. They then continue to talk about how your first year is not the most important and that you should not decide on anything right away. I kind of disagree with this in the fact that I know fo rmy major, if you do not start with it your freshman year, it is very hard to be on track the rest of your years at college. I know a lot of people who do not know what they want to do when they first enter college and because of this, they have to stay an extra couple of semesters to catch up. They then continue talking about leaving home. I personally remember my first goodbyes to my family. I was extremely excited to come to college and was not really nervous at all. I waved goodbye and went back to my dorm room and just sat there. My roommate was not in the room and I was all by myself. It finally hit me that they were gone and how weird this was going to be living with a complete stranger and making all new friends. But after the first week I had adjusted and was on a new routine. Of course I brought way more things then I actually need but what girl doesn't? The rest of the piece continues to talk about some of the stuff mentioned in the previous book. But I did like the part where it said the tips about when it comes to rooommates: BE FRIENDLY, GIVE EACH OTHER SPACE, DON'T DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER.