College begins

[bigdawg2003]

I head up to Georgetown to begin my stay at Southwestern University on Saturday. My bedroom feels incredibly empty with everything packed in boxes (except the computer obviously). Wish me luck and any advice you may have would be great.

[GoldenEagle]

Enjoy it. It will be the best time of your life. Much better than high school.

[SunDancer]

Yeah, college is awesome. High School suck to me....just make sure don't overdo the social life though.

[MizzouRah]

Oh, to be that young again.....



Todd

[GoldenEagle]

Originally posted by SunDancer
Yeah, college is awesome. High School suck to me....just make sure don't overdo the social life though.

Dont listen to SunDancer. Over do the social life. The over do it some more. Have fun. Just go to class.

[mckerney]

I don't move in until the 30th, when I move in then head to the Gopher game. If only they weren't playing Tulsa and if only they didn't play in the Metrodome.

[GoldenEagle]

I move in the 22nd.

[Sublime]

I move in the 31st....

[Swaggs]

Originally posted by bigdawg2003
I head up to Georgetown to begin my stay at Southwestern University on Saturday. My bedroom feels incredibly empty with everything packed in boxes (except the computer obviously). Wish me luck and any advice you may have would be great.

Sounds like a sweet dynasty idea. What game are you using?

I'll be following along.

[Iceberg]

I move in the 23rd...

[bigdawg2003]

Swaggs

I'm using the Game of Life, v. 1.0

But now that you mention it, a true "The College Years" dynasty isn't that bad of an idea. May have to give it a whirl.

[Patman]

I move-in the 6th of September

[Racer]

I move in the 23rd to Valparaiso

[sooner333]

I don't have to move in until September 19th. But then again, I'm getting pretty excited about it, so if it were sooner, I wouldn't complain too much.

[RPI-Fan]

Damn - I start classes August 18.

[Marc Vaughan]

Enjoy the social-life but not to the extent that your tutors (and class mates) don't recognise you when you do finally make it in for a lecture ....

[BishopMVP]

Off to UMass on the 31st

[tucker342]

Good luck to everyone going off to college! One more year of High School, then I'm off...

[bosshogg23]

G'luck everyone! Dorm life is much better than life off campus for social interaction. Just remember that your prof's dont care if you pass or fail, you paid for it.

[MJ4H]

some do.

ditto on the enjoy it line. id give body parts to be back in college. best time of my life.

[ice4277]

My best years and best friends are all from college. Savor every moment of it, and remember it only gets better as it goes along.

[SunDancer]

Originally posted by Marc Vaughan
Enjoy the social-life but not to the extent that your tutors (and class mates) don't recognise you when you do finally make it in for a lecture ....

Yeah, that's what I mean. If you can make it too all your classes, you'll pass very very likely.

[SunDancer]

Man, I start the 24th.

[bigdawg2003]

OK, just completed a very long day, so here it is in condensed, timeline form

8 AM: Wake up, take shower
8:30 AM: Eat breakfast (bacon and hash browns). I assume this will be the last good breakfast I will have for some time, as our school cafeteria sucks from what I hear.
8:40 AM: Begin final packing, move things out to front door
9:15 AM: Begin moving boxes into my truck
9:35 AM: Say goodbye to mother and two weiner-dogs and begin 30 minute trip to Georgetown, TX. Dad accompanies on motorcycle.
10:15 AM: Arrive on campus, check into dorm building. Receive dorm room assignment, room #221. My roomate and parents have already arrived and disassembled our bunk beds into 2 ground level beds. This is good, as neither of us want to have to drunkenly climb over each other to go to sleep. Parents are not told of this. Begin unpacking procedure. Drive to older brother's off-campus apartment to pick up mini-fridge and microwave.
12:15 PM: Head to student check in area.
1:00 PM: Check in complete. I now have internet information, student ID, course catalog, and FREE T-SHIRT! More unpacking
2:00 PM: Roomate and I begin a game of PS2 Madden 2004. I am the Houston Texans, he is the San Diego Chargers
3:00 PM: Game is rudely interrupted at beginning of 4th quarter for lame-ass "Marticulation Convocation". Ceremony consists of 15 minutes of dean running his mouth about "alumunses" (not a real word, but that's what he said) and 30 minutes of me playing on my cell phone.
3:45 PM: Academic Division Receptions begin. I attend the English reception and meet my advisor, while scoring copious amounts of free lemonade and chocolate chip cookies. Also saunter by the Political Science and Computer Science receptions, procuring more lemonade and cookies.
4:30 PM: Return to dorm and finish game of Madden with roomate. I am defeated 34-29. I will have my vengenance!
5:30 PM: After an hour of idling around, it's dinner time, so I head to Golden Chick and order seven delicious chicken tenders. I must resist the urge to eat there every day, or I'll be too fat to even operate a computer.
7:20 PM: Go to theater building to attend improv show called "Comedy Sportz". I participate in a game called "Dr. Know It All", where three performers act as one doctor who claims to know everything. I ask "What number am I thinking of?" Question is greeted with minimal laughter, the opposite of what I expected. Not surprisingly, I leave shortly thereafter.
10 PM: First RA meeting. They talk about alcohol, chicks, safety policies, and what we can expect in the next few days.
11 PM: All day quest to get computer and internet working begins the homestretch.
Midnight: With some help from a dorm mate, internet is up and running. Good ending to a great day.

Tommorow is pretty light, so don't expect as long an entry as today. All in all, a fine first day of college. I think I'll like it.

[Swaggs]

I knew this would be a sweet dynasty.

[mrskippy]

Just a quickie orientation, eh?

Ah, the memories of heading off to college the first time. My Freshman orientation was a week long affair, starting on Saturday and ending the next Friday night, after all the returning students have arrived.

What was great was every year, you could come back to school at the tail end of orientation and get to enjoy all the fun activities for a second time. I almost always came back at the earliest allowable return time.

As for my Freshman orientation itself it included a Dodgers game, a trip to Six Flags, a day at the beach, a handful of academics meetings, daily sessions with the dean, tests, and other assorted things. Oh and it included an evening at a professors house. That was cool. Unfortunately these weren't open to returning students.

However Happy Jack's Hoedown (the best darned college bbq around), the Polynesian Luau (with pig and all), and the dating game (hooking up a freshman guy with an upperclassman, than hooking up a freshman girl with an upperclassman) were.

Skippy

[mrskippy]

Dola

Just remember that your prof's dont care if you pass or fail, you paid for it.

Ain't that the truth. Though it won't stop them from insulting you and your family.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Swaggs
I knew this would be a sweet dynasty.

Here are my suggested free time settings:

Study Hall 5%
Party 45%
chase girls 30%
make fun of roomate 5%
attend school sporting events 5%
video games 10%

[SunDancer]

I have a single this year, a returning freshman (Most of the guys are either screwed up or gay), and I only hang out with a few people (I know everyone and that, and get along, but I hang out with maybe three guys mostly, and rest of girls), but they all have singles as well. I plan on making my room very "homey" for me, nice office chair (to be on computer, play some NCAA 2004, watch tv,ect..), going with a blue carpet rug, blue curtains, blue bedsheet, ect...I think this would make college so MUCH better, as you spend much of your day in your room. Do you agree?

[Swaggs]

Originally posted by cthomer5000
Here are my suggested free time settings:

Study Hall 5%
Party 45%
chase girls 30%
make fun of roomate 5%
attend school sporting events 5%
video games 10%

This is, of course, in the 12 hours a day he is not sleeping, correct?

[bosshogg23]

You need to combine making fun of your roomate with other various activities like partying, attending sporting events or playing video games. That allows you to increase another activity. Just be prepared that while 95% of your time will be fun, the week before serious school activities happen, you will be busting your ass in the library(chasing girls, making fun of a roommate, talking about sporting events.....oh and your work).

[Easy Mac]

Lets see, Orientation week in 2000 was like this:

Monday: Sleep in. Chill with guys on the hall. Skip school stuff. Go to TKE party.
Tuesday: Get up at 7 am to take Math placement exam. Go back to sleep. Skip school stuff. watch TV. Meet girls from sister hall. Go to TKE party.
Wednesday: 7 am Spanish placement. Sleep. Skip school stuff. Hang out with the guys and girls. Go to TKE party.
Thursday: Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Go to TKE Party.
Friday: Chill with guys on the hall. Go to all the fraternity parties.

School Year: Sleep. Eat. Hang with guys on hall. Go out with women. occasionally go to class. Party.

And because of the "Occasionally go to class," I now need near perfect on the LSAT's to have a shot at law school!!! Here's hoping for a 4.0 GPA this coming year (outside shot at an overall 3.0 with luck)

[RPI-Fan]

One word of advice after finishing up the week before school starts down here...

<u>Go out and do shit!!! Don't sit around, at all. Spend as little time in your dorm as possible. Go to frats and rush, even if you don't wanna' join. Just go meet people - the time is ripe.</u>

~kyle

[SunDancer]

Originally posted by RPI-Fan
One word of advice after finishing up the week before school starts down here...

<u>Go out and do shit!!! Don't sit around, at all. Spend as little time in your dorm as possible. Go to frats and rush, even if you don't wanna' join. Just go meet people - the time is ripe.</u>

~kyle

I agree...That's partly why the freshman orientations are done. Our school is not a frat-school, and I hate parties. I went for two or three at the beginning, and if you don't drink, still go to one or two. I have a single, but I have made friends and have a year under my belt. So having my own room is great, as I can study better and relax when I want quiet, but I have lot of friends and so I can go out and go hang out, and it makes everything so much better.

[CamEdwards]

after reading this thread, half of me is ready to ditch my family and go back to college... and the other half is soooo happy I never have to go through that again (unless I choose to).

[bosshogg23]

One thing I forgot to mention......buy your books early.........make sure you know where your classes are before the 1st day. Some teachers delight in pointing out which freshman are late on the first day.

[mckerney]

Originally posted by CamEdwards
after reading this thread, half of me is ready to ditch my family and go back to college... and the other half is soooo happy I never have to go through that again (unless I choose to).

I'll be you're glad you don't have to go through this:

Principles of Microeconomics
Precalculus II
Intro to Ethics
Freshman Seminar: Philosophy of Law
Career Exploration

Not too bad if not for the first two. Of course, I also have to take Macroeconomics and Calculus spring semester, and get a 3.8 to transfer into the business school. Good times.

[SunDancer]

Another major piece of advice, if not for this semster, but next, talk to people about professors. You can pick your classes, professors, ect...A professor can make a major diff. in your college life.

[bigdawg2003]

OK, here's the update for Sunday.

9:45 AM: Wake up, take first shower in community shower. Everything goes smoothly
10:30 AM: Run to HEB for groceries. Considering I was there for about 90 minutes, I really didn't get that much. Some cereal, milk, DP, V8 Splash, 4 oranges, knife for orange cutting, plastic spoons, and hot pockets. The grocery store is a very intimidating place, and very confusing as well. I'm back around noon. Lunch consists of a bowl of Cheerios and 2 glasses of milk.
2:30: Take a stupid ACE inventory test. Very pointless, very painless. Takes about 20 minutes
4:00: Begin another game of Madden with my roomate. I was the Falcons (wanted to see what Vick was like) and my roomate was the Chargers again I think. I smoke him for one half, then he quits. Series is tied at 1.
6:30: Another meeting, this time about sexual assault. It was supposed to last an hour, but ended up taking about 30 minutes. Going in, I knew my school had many more women than men, but at this meeting it became joyfully clear. I think it's a 2:1 girl/guy ration. Hooray!
9:45: 2nd RA meeting, this time in media room. They have a big-ass projection TV with enormous speakers that apparantly we can hook up PS2s and Xbox's too. *salivates*. Also, we're gonna try and book the room on Saturday's to watch college football. Very nice. Got a handbook that had most of the school rules on it and we went over the bigger ones, like Alcohol and Guest Policies.
Midnight: Have a class at 9 AM, so decide to go to bed earlier than yesterday.

Told you it wouldn't be as busy as yesterday. Today (Monday) looks to be very busy, with department meetings, setting up advisor appointments, and other fun things.

[Celeval]

More advice...

Find a way to branch out socially. If you're into the frat scene, great; if you're not into the frat scene, find something (or multiple somethings). The only time you spend in your dorm should be time playing games and time sleeping (when you're in your own bed).

Get involved. There are plenty of things that you'll be able to do in college that you won't be able to at any other time, and I'm not just talking about 18-22 year old gorgeous women. If you've ever wanted to give theatre or improv comedy a shot, do it now. If you want to learn to dance, learn martial arts, learn pretty much anything - a lot of schools have discounted or free opportunities to take classes. If you're interested in rock climbing, habitat for humanity, filmmaking, chess - there are other people at your school who are too. If there's not a group that already exists to do and teach these, make one. Plus all the meetings are voluntary, you don't like it, stop going.

Go to the first day of class, and most of the rest. You'll find out the professor's attendance policy (probably not stated outright, but implied). There will come plenty of times that you hit that party the night before the test, or get completely stuck on whatever project worth 47.3% of your grade; and you'll need the goodwill of the prof - which he won't give if he doesn't recognize you, or if he knows you skipped all the classes leading up to the test. But know - this isn't high school. Skip the class when you need to, just don't do it (too) lightly.

Try new things. Your college campus will most likely be the most diverse group of people in your life - be it culture, lifestyle, or whathave you - take advantage of it. Try the different foods. Try the different music. Try the different movies.

Take advantage of the upperclassmen/TAs/frat brothers. They've been through this class/this project/this professor before, and they know how to handle it. The sheer fact you're at this school means you can handle the academics - you'll need to keep passing your classes in order to get four years of the social life; it's no fun to binge for two semesters and then get booted.

Play sports. Intramurals. It's the easiest way to stay in shape, it's loads of fun, and you get to learn all kinds of esoteric sports like Ultimate Frisbee, Frisbee golf, and Frisbee tag. Especially since Frisbees are cheap.

Oh, and don't underestimate the potential of co-ed intramurals.

If you want to sample the standard vices of college, do it carefully - if you're going to drink, drink, but drink with people you trust and /always/ have the designated driver if you're off-campus. Make sure you remember how to enjoy yourself without the alcohol and the drugs - the best times of college will be those you can remember in five years without being reminded. :-D

If you haven't met HER yet, you will. The worst that can happen is being completely shot down - don't be afraid of it. Learn and Love the you've lost that loving feeling scene from Top Gun and take the chance. HER may not be "the one" - hell, there may be plenty of hers and even a few Hers, but you'll know HER when you see HER. This is college, man, not high school. Step up to the plate.

Damn, that's longer than I expected to write. C'est la vie.

Sum: Enjoy!

Kevin

[Celeval]

Dola-addenda:

You will make friends in college that you will be friends with the rest of your life. You'll meet a good number of people who will come to your wedding. You'll meet some who will be in it. Maybe even the bride. Don't limit yourself to a single circle of friends - branch out, meet new people, you won't regret it.

People change an awful lot while in college. Especially in the first two years - if you feel people need that second chance, give it to them. Especially when you get to be in the upperclassman range, you'll be surprised at how many people can be immature jerks as freshmen and surprisingly great people as juniors.

[Celeval]

Originally posted by Celeval
You'll be surprised at how many people can be immature jerks as freshmen and surprisingly great people as juniors.

Double-dola - this may even be you, even if you don't realize it. :-D

Kevin

[Easy Mac]

Originally posted by bigdawg2003
6:30: Another meeting, this time about sexual assault. It was supposed to last an hour, but ended up taking about 30 minutes. Going in, I knew my school had many more women than men, but at this meeting it became joyfully clear. I think it's a 2:1 girl/guy ration. Hooray!


eh, 2:1 ratio. Down here, the ratio that was last reported to students was almost 3:1. Add in the fact that around 30% of the guys here are homosexuals (liberal arts school), and the ratio was probably 3.5-4 girls for every straight guy.

[Samdari]

About the overdoing social life vs not overdoing social life. Never again will you be given so many chances after completely butchering your responsibilities. Take advantage.

[Coffee Warlord]

Rule #1 of College: Don't skip (too many) classes. Shit happens, obviously, but you can have LOADS of fun in college, do whatever the hell you want, try anything, meet people, drink a truckload, etc, etc. Just show up to class when it's that time. You'll find damn near any assignments/exams can be breezed over if you were in class.

(The rule I didn't follow)

[Fritz]

Originally posted by Coffee Warlord
Rule #1 of College: Don't skip (too many) classes. Shit happens, obviously, but you can have LOADS of fun in college, do whatever the hell you want, try anything, meet people, drink a truckload, etc, etc. Just show up to class when it's that time. You'll find damn near any assignments/exams can be breezed over if you were in class.

(The rule I didn't follow)

great advice! (I didn't follow it either)

[cuervo72]

Um, I increasingly had trouble going to classes before 9AM. And then 10AM, then 11AM (that's what I got for going to bed at 2AM all the time)....luckily most of my engineering classes were in the afternoon. Orgo II however.....

But I too agree with Coffee Warlord on this one.

[Fritz]

Originally posted by cuervo72
Um, I increasingly had trouble going to classes before 9AM. And then 10AM, then 11AM (that's what I got for going to bed at 2AM all the time)....luckily most of my engineering classes were in the afternoon. Orgo II however.....


Isn't that funny. My first year I had 8:00 classes, and was happy to get to sleep in a little. The next year I could not make to anything earlier than 9:00 and needed at least a 2 hour lunch break. It didn't get any better with each passing year.

Of course now I have to get up earlier than ever....

[Coffee Warlord]

I was the Supreme Lord of Scheduling in my college life.

Had exactly 1 class for 1 semester at 10am in 2.5 years of college. Everything else was 11am or later.

And I still didn't bother going to class. :)

[Fritz]

Americans are the greatest people on earth because we can succeed despite our overwhelming laziness.

[Coffee Warlord]

Greatest. Quote. Ever.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by Fritz
Isn't that funny. My first year I had 8:00 classes, and was happy to get to sleep in a little. The next year I could not make to anything earlier than 9:00 and needed at least a 2 hour lunch break. It didn't get any better with each passing year.

Of course now I have to get up earlier than ever....

That sounds awfully familiar. First year, Physics or Chemistry (depending on the day) at 8AM. Made it almost every day (though I would have to take naps later in the day). From there on in, everything just got worse. I had my justifications - psych classes were multiple choice tests, physics, chemistry and orgo were based on the books, etc. Well, Orgo I was, and I did fine cramming for the tests/final exam. Orgo II was purely off of notes....so I had test scores dipping down into the TEENS (though there were a couple of harsh curves).

Now I get up for work at about a quarter after 6AM.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by Fritz
American's are the greatest people on earth because we can succeed despite our overwhelming laziness.

Just saw this after my last post....my chemical engineering lab prof (http://www.wse.jhu.edu/chbe/faculty/katz/g/) (had him for Materials & Energy Balance class also) supported the theory of "creative laziness" - that a good engineer will come up with ways (due to laziness) to get things accomplished with minimal effort.

[ice4277]

Originally posted by Fritz
American's are the greatest people on earth because we can succeed despite our overwhelming laziness.

If one was to try and sum up Americans in one simple sentence, this may be it.

[Coffee Warlord]

So, dawg.

Inquiring minds who remember their years of college want to know....

1) Have you had wild rampaging sex with a nubile young coed yet?

2) Have you consumed way too much piss-beer and/or 2 dollar vodka yet?

[Fritz]

mmmmm nubile young coeds, the beast, and bowman's vodka....

Nostalgia can be depressing

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by Fritz
mmmmm nubile young coeds, the beast, and bowman's vodka....

Nostalgia can be depressing

Yeah, in college there was no money for vodka, I was stuck drinking the beast and nubile young coeds were nowhere to be found.

[Coffee Warlord]

No shit.

Were it not for the fact that, well, you were supposed to actually go to class and write papers and shit during college, I'd miss it a lot more than I do.

Keystone Light and Fleishman's Vodka. The requirements of any freshman at college.

Speaking of which...since we're in nostalgia mode...Funny College Story Of The Moment:

Freshman year, first semester, University of Colorado-Boulder. I, being one of the few on my floor with a car, was the hauler for many a booze run. 'Course, that was a good thing, since the rule was, the Buyer drinks for free, and the Driver drinks for free. Worked out nice.

Anyway, huge snowstorm. Class cancelled. The whole hall is out of booze. We go out. Me in my Ford Probe out in one god AWFUL snowstorm. Can't see anything, going about 15 miles an hour the whole way. We drive though hell, get to the store...closed. Can't go anywhere else, because that's the only place our guy can use his shitty fake ID.

Sigh. It was a long drive back.

[mckerney]

Originally posted by Coffee Warlord
Sigh. It was a long drive back.


I'll bet. I know how pissed underage kids get when you won't sell to them.

[GoldenEagle]

Yea get your ass to class. Thats the bottom line. Butter up the professors. If you have a female teacher tell her she looks nice. It goes along way.

What do a boat and Keystone have in common? They both float in water.

Keystone Light. Good cheap beer. After your 5th one it starts tasting like water.

[bigdawg2003]

Coffee

Sadly, I haven't had a chance to score with a nubile co-ed, but I just got here Saturday. But there are plenty of nubile co-ed's to score with, so that's nice. No big parties yet, so no chance to get throwed, but once again, it's only been a few days.

That having been said, here's Monday's entry

7:30 AM: Wake up, take shower
9:00 AM: Off to First Year Seminar. The first week this class lasts THREE hours, but after that, just 90 minutes. The class is called "Ethos of Technology & The Internet". And as I'm sure you've guessed, it sucks balls. However, I sat next to a very attractive young lady and we got to talking. I received positive vibes, so this will be continued tommorow.
Noon: Lunch
1:30: I go to my advisors office to sign up for my appointment to get my schedule done. 1:30 Thursday
2:30: Departmental Interest Meetings. These are where you talk with the heads of the different departments to gauge if certain majors are for you. I went to English first, which is what I came in thinking would be my major. All it took were these words to kill my interest

"This is more of a reading major than writing."

No english for the dawg. At 3:15 when it was over, I had a dillema. Computer Science or Political Science? CS was a lot closer, but it was trailing PS in my interest level. Then, I had an epiphany; "I'm not very interested in any of these majors!" I was thinking perhaps theater, but it was in a building very far away. I see another pretty lady and I ask her how to get there. Turns out she is also headed for theater. I take this as a sign to pursue theater........and perhaps her. So we get to talking and it turns out her older brother spent some time at the HS I attended. Wow! The department meeting was actually quite interesting, and I'm giving it serious thought. As for the girl, well, she seemed a little cold and distant, and when I asked if she wanted to hang out at the Cove later (btw, The Cove is the student hangout. It had pool tables and Foosball, etc.), I got this line

"I think I have some friends coming up from Austin."

Translation: Not interested

Fine, see ya around.

6:00 PM: Dinner at the commons. Average hamburger, decent fries, two Dr. Peppers and an apple. Overall, not bad. I can feel the freshman 15 coming.

7:30: Hall meeting with a counselor called "Lets talk about sex". Another meeting about the dangers of sexual assault. Nothing new learned, but you definiately have to watch yourself with the whole consent issue. YOU MUST HAVE VERBAL CONSENT! Nothing else counts.

That's all for Monday. Tuesday will suck with the Language Placement Test at 3:00. Stay Tuned!

[bigdawg2003]

Dola

I believe that when this girl said she THINKS she has friends coming, it was a lame copout. Could I be mistaken?

[GoldenEagle]

Screw that girl. You dont need her. If she comes back, hit it and quit it.

[mrskippy]

Screw her. But go with the theater major. Lots of babes there.

Unless ...

There a home economics major ... is there? My college had one, but guys weren't allowed. Go figure that's where all the hotties were. GRRR!!!

[mckerney]

Originally posted by bigdawg2003
7:30: Hall meeting with a counselor called "Lets talk about sex". Another meeting about the dangers of sexual assault. Nothing new learned, but you definiately have to watch yourself with the whole consent issue. YOU MUST HAVE VERBAL CONSENT! Nothing else counts.

I'd recomend getting written consent as well.

[Fritz]

Originally posted by mrskippy
GRRR!!!

you are insane

[Coffee Warlord]

I'm surprised you guys haven't gone through any bisexual minority sensitivity training yet.

The Consortium Of Old FOFC Farts Who Are Now Reliving Their College Life Through You hereby are looking forward to your exploits with Pretty Girl At Class #1.

Oh, and some actual serious advice. Don't major in Computer Science. If you want to learn about computers, teach yourself. If you want a job in computers, don't major in CS. You learn jack shit about anything pertaining to the trade, and companies that care about degrees (not many in the tech sector), traditionally don't care what it's in.

[mckerney]

Originally posted by Coffee Warlord
Oh, and some actual serious advice. Don't major in Computer Science. If you want to learn about computers, teach yourself. If you want a job in computers, don't major in CS. You learn jack shit about anything pertaining to the trade, and companies that care about degrees (not many in the tech sector), traditionally don't care what it's in.

A friend of mine went the route of teaching himself programming without getting a degree in it while triple majoring in other subjects, and he had some trouble getting a programming job. He lucked out in getting a lower level tech support job and getting a promotion because his boss liked him and getting the kind of job he wanted. If only the company he worked for wasn't headed towards eventual bankrupcy...

[mrskippy]

Originally posted by Fritz
you are insane

Why's that? Because my college wouldn't let me take any home economics class?

I tried to weasel my way in with excuses that I just wanted to take things that guys should know.

[lurker]

Originally posted by mrskippy
There a home economics major ... is there? My college had one, but guys weren't allowed. Go figure that's where all the hotties were. GRRR!!!

What fucked up college did you go to? First it offers a home ec major, which is crazy enough, then people actually choose it as a major (whatever happened to Psych as the default easy major?), and then it doesn't let guys in? Why, because their good little wives will cook and clean for them?

[cuervo72]

Hmm...

http://www.cahe.wsu.edu/
http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/
http://www.aginfo.fvsu.edu/
http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/programs/courselist/HOMEC.php3
http://www.saddleback.edu/CC/PAGES/TRAN/TRAN55.HTML
http://www.wvc.edu/catalog/catalog_home_economics.html

and:
http://ar.byu.edu/catalog/undergrad_cat/2002/departments/Family.html#FL&HE

180. Clothing the Family. (3:3:0)
Comprehensive approach to consumer economics of clothing selection and care for individuals across the family life cycle and across cultures. Adapting clothing to meet diverse individual (physical and psychological) needs in the market-oriented economy.

[mrskippy]

It was a Christian college. So obviously the major's purpose was to teach women to be good little Christian, stay-at-home moms/wives. Of course, many women used it for careers in interior decorating and the like. From what I know the home ec majors actually end up with good jobs.

The kicker/tradeoff in all of this is they wouldn't let women take certain Bible majors or attend the Seminary.

I still think guys should have been allowed to take home ec classes though.

[lurker]

Wow. That's called college?

[mrskippy]

cuevro72 ... but do those univ/colleges limit it to women?

[Fritz]

Originally posted by mrskippy
Why's that? Because my college wouldn't let me take any home economics class?


because you growl

[mrskippy]

I was bitter. Still am.

[lurker]

Okay, so other schools offer that major -- it still seems like something you should take in 7th grade. Besides, the bigger deal was that it was limited to women.

[ice4277]

Isn't that sexism? Methinks a lawsuit should be in the works.

[mrskippy]

Highly doubtful you could sue, since it is disclosed and there is an exclusive major for me.

Home economics isn't a bad major. They do more than just cooking and cleaning classes. I know they have lots of stuff for interior decorating and the like. Who knows they could be training the next Martha "I Do Prisons" Stewart.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by mrskippy
cuevro72 ... but do those univ/colleges limit it to women?

Probably not.

But my junior high limited intramural field hockey to women only, after I bruised a few shins and bloodied a nose.

Not that that's relevant or anything.

And it's cuervo, sipkky.

[Craptacular]

"Here's all you need to know. Classes: nothing before eleven. Beer: it's your best friend, you drink alot of it. Women: you're a freshman, so it's pretty much out of the question. Will you have a car?"

"No."

"Someone on your hall will. Find them and make friends with them on the first day. Anything else?"

Although I disagree with the beer part, you can always look to "PCU" for college advice. :)

[mckerney]

Originally posted by lurker
Wow. That's called college?

I think it's called the 'I Want A Husband' major. Don't quote me on that though.

[mrskippy]

Originally posted by mckerney
I think it's called the 'I Want A Husband' major. Don't quote me on that though.

They don't it an MRS Degree for nothing. :D

[mckerney]

mrskippy, I thought I told you not to do that...

[SunDancer]

Originally posted by ice4277
Isn't that sexism? Methinks a lawsuit should be in the works.

If it's a public school, then prolly yes. However, it's prolly a private, Christian school, where a lawsuit can't work, as you choose to go there.

[bigdawg2003]

OK, time for the Tuesday update. It'll be pretty long.

7:30: Wake up, eat breakfast
9:00: FYS time. As previously reported in Monday's entry, I sit next to a pretty good looking girl. We chit chat throughout the class, and the positive vibes continue to flow. When class ends at noon, I ask if she would like to go to lunch with me. I get a yes. YES! However, before lunch, I had to drop off my books at my dorm, so I ask if she wants to check out the male dorms. Another yes! So technically, I can say I've had a chick in my dorm, which is pretty sweet. After that, we head to the commons. The line is long as hell, and it takes me a lot longer to get my meal than her (I was in the main line for the fish & chips, she just had a salad). I noticed her standing just outside the cafeteria, so I tell her she can grab two seats if she doesn't just wanna stand there. I finally get my meal and I sit across from her. More good chit chat, and I'm pretty sure we're both interested in each other. I suppose I might as well give a description since I know y'all wanna know. She's about 5'10, 5'11 with long brown hair. She's got a little meat on her, but so what? She's got a very pretty face and big breasts. Uhhh, I guess she has a good personality too. My only complaint is that she's got a bit of hair on her arms. Less than me, but enough for a floormate to jokingly call her "Chewbacca". Ultimately, I say she's an 8-8.5 in the looks department. Haven't spent enough time with her to get a good read on her personality, but it looks good so far. Oh yeah, bonehead move of the day. Our FYS teacher insists that we all know each other, to the point where we're not allowed to not sit next to someone. Anyways, one of the assignments for Tuesday was to exchange name, email, and phone #s with two other students. So obviously, I gave her mine and she gave me hers. Sadly, I left that piece of paper in the classroom. UGGGGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3:00 PM: Time for Language Placement test. I'm taking Spanish, and I debated not even going, but I was bored, and it wouldn't take too much time. It took me 10 minutes and I scored a 214. Anything below 296 means you take Spanish I, so needless to say I bombed it.
8:15: Another hall meeting; this time the frats are talking to us about rushing. I personally have no interest in rushing whatsoever. I'd rather just know the people in the frats and get into the parties that way. What did they say about drinking? "Y'all are all under 21, so you have to be careful about what you do, or you could endanger the social life at SU.". Funny to see how they didn't say "Y'all are under 21, so don't drink."
8:30: My older brother calls me. He's made it up from Austin and is having a little party. Am I interested? YES! He drops by my dorm and drops off the things I forgot (Xbox power cord, mousepad, extra pillowcase, TV remote). We head for his place, and do some drinking. I have a Bud Light, shot of vodka, then a vodka and CJ. I drank it out of order, but didn't get very sick. We watched Jackass and went to bed at around 2:15 AM

Pretty good day. Today (Wednesday) I'm probably going into Austin to get a printer and nice speaker system. Drop home and look for other things I may have forgotten.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by bigdawg2003

So technically, I can say I've had a chick in my dorm, which is pretty sweet. After that, we head to the condoms. The line is long as hell, and it takes me a lot longer to get to orgasm than her (I was dining on her fishy bits, she just had tossed my salad).

[Coffee Warlord]

Oh how I yearn for those old days again. Except for that class part. Fuck that.

[bigdawg2003]

Cuervo

That is priceless! Although I would never want a girl to toss my salad. How could I kiss her after that? I'd vomit at the thought of it, which she wouldn't like.

[bigdawg2003]

Wednesday

No classes, so I went into Austin to get some things done. I got a haircut, Klipsch Promedia Speakers, HP 2110 PSC, Xbox power cord (the cord my brother brought was the wrong one), peanut butter, plastic baggies, and some other things. I left a little before 1 PM and got back around 7:30. I setup the speakers and printer (which didn't come with a damn USB port, ARRRGH!) and tested the speakers to the best of my knowledge (Metallica's Ride The Lightning Album). The new speakers kick mucho ass. After that I did some FYS homework and went to bed around 1:30. Thursday should be much longer.

[Coffee Warlord]

You bought peanut butter?

Uh oh. Guess things are proceeding better with that one girl than we thought.

[mrskippy]

Bigdawg

Eagerly awating Thursday's news.

[SunDancer]

Bigdawg, you have a single or a roommate?

[RPI-Fan]

He has a roommate.

[SunDancer]

Alright, thanks Fan.

I think your roomie, and your room, can make or break a college year.

Had just an awesome roomie last year, but this year, got a single. I really go to dress it up.

[TLK]

Just saw this now, and must say I enjoyed the read. Keep it up...


Originally posted by bigdawg2003

8:15: Another hall meeting; this time the frats are talking to us about rushing. I personally have no interest in rushing whatsoever. I'd rather just know the people in the frats and get into the parties that way. What did they say about drinking? "Y'all are all under 21, so you have to be careful about what you do, or you could endanger the social life at SU.". Funny to see how they didn't say "Y'all are under 21, so don't drink."


If nothing else, make the frats think you're going to rush. They treat you like a king, because they need you to rush. This usually involves all the free beer you can drink....

[RPI-Fan]

Not at schools with dry rush.*angry*

[bigdawg2003]

Thursday update

7:30 AM: wake up, shower, breakfast, go to FYS
9:00 AM: instead of the actual classroom, we meet at the library to take a tour and learn how to use their computers. Considering I took a similar tour with my brother when I visited, I was bored out of my skull. The fact I was operating on five hours of sleep and my allergies were acting up didn't help me out much.
11:00 AM: A philosophy teacher comes in and we debate for the last hour of class about philosophical ethics. This was a truly fascinating debate, and makes me think about taking a philosophy class with this guy just for these kinds of debates. What did I learn about philosophy; a good philosophy argument will last forever, because practically nothing can be proven. For example, if I say "2+2=4", you can counter with "What makes 2 two and 4 four?" I'm not considering a major here because this type of thing would probably lead me to kill myself before senior year.
1:30 PM: Advisor appointment. I get my registration time for today; 10:20 AM, only 20 minutes after registration begins. My advisor tells me that I have a pretty good shot at getting all the classes I want, but should come up with alternatives just in case (I still have 30 minutes.......)
3:00 PM: Me and my roomate head for the new Super Walmart. i picked up a USB cord for my new printer, printer paper, paper bowls, and bread. Apparantly, while in line at a Super Walmart, you can order McDonalds and when you drop by, they have it waiting for you. I was so impressed by this I ordered a 10 piece mcnugget meal. Actually wasn't that bad, and reminded me why I used to love the place so much.
7:00 PM: I head down to our student hangout, The Cove, when I notice that there's nobody in the main building, which is odd. I soon discover that, yet again, the fire alarm has gone off. Why this is funny, I have no idea. We stayed outside for about 15 minutes, then finally went in. I played pool and shuffleboard with people for about two hours before heading back to my dorm.
9:00 PM: When I get back to my dorm room, I head for my computer to check email and see if I have any IMs. Then it hits me:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I've missed my ESPN football draft

#@&^@*&#$%@*^#%*%&#^$!UCKER!!!! And not only did I miss it, I ended up with Michael Vick as my 2nd round pick and Jimmy Smith as my #2 wideout. While that does piss me off, my list served me fairly decent. My team is

McNair
Alexander
Garner
Plax
Josh Reed
McMichael
Jeff Reed
Seahawks
Barlow
Vick
Jeff Garcia
Jimmy Smith
Emmitt
Bettis
Hearst

Atleast I'm guaranteed to have SF's starter this season. Getting McNair was a godsend, along with Josh Reed, who I think will bust out this season.
10:00 PM-1:00 AM: HOMEWORK!!!! Computer ethics is a terrible way to spend three hours. On the plus side, I'm totally prepared for our quiz today and I slept like a baby.

I never thought about saying I'll rush because I've been so sure I wouldn't rush. Just because I know i won't rush doesn't mean they have to.

[Castlerock]

Enjoy every second. College will be some of the best days of your life. Remember this every day.

Have fun.

Do NOT go home until at least mid-October (Thanksgiving is even better). The friends you make now will be the friends you keep forever and you will not make those bonds if you are running home on weekends. You may get homesick but a phone call can work wonders. Stick it out.

Have fun.

Go to class. And study. You may have been smart in high school and breezed through it. But so did everyone else you are now in classes with. Have a s**tload of fun but remember that you are there for an education. Blow off class and play volleyball once in a while but just not too often. Get drunk with your friends. Just don't let it get out of control.

[bigdawg2003]

Friday update

9:00 AM: Wake up. The extra 90 minutes of sleep were nice.
10:00 AM: I realize that I left my ID at The Cove last night. I'm worried about needing it for registration, so I head to the building to find it. After walking around and talking to people for 30 minutes, I give up and hope my drivers license will suffice.
10:40 AM: I arrive at the gym for scheduling. I didn't do a great job of looking for alternate classes, so if something goes wrong (a class I want is full), I could be in big trouble. Fourtanetly, aside from having to change the times of two of my classes, I get exactly what I want. After the first nine weeks, I'll only have one class on Tuesdays and Thursdays (Principles of Macroeconomics) and no class starts before 9 AM. I'm taking a 16 hour course load, but that's misleading, as my classes are Spanish I, Weight Training, Playwriting, Macroeconomics, Writing & Critical Thinking, and Ethos of Technology & The Internet (the three hour class that i've been going to since last Monday. Starting next week, that class will only last 75 minutes).
Noon: Lunchtime consists of a peanut butter sandwich and two glasses of ice cold milk. Not too bad.
1:30 PM: Ethos of Technology class. Just as boring as always, but since I worked so hard last night, I'm 99.9% sure I aced the quiz we had. Seeing that 100 should make me feel very good.
7:00 PM: Head to The Cove again for some pool and standup shuffleboard. Only stay for an hour. "This party's dead anyways!"

I know I should be socializing more, but the Madden virus is rampant on my dorm floor. Not a very exciting day, but getting the schedule I wanted for the most part makes today a good one. Tommorow on the other hand is the dreaded "Road Trip"
to some stupid camp for "team building". Attendance is mandatory or you're fined $50. I wouldn't feel right wasting $50 dollars of my or my folks money on getting out of this, so I'll suffer. And since most of the guys are gonna just pay the fine (my roomie for example has skipped town), I'll have more chances to mack on the ladies. Hey, maybe it won't be all bad......

[bigdawg2003]

Weekend Update (Not with Norm McDonald, Kevin Nealon, Colin Quinn, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Dennis Miller, Jane Curtin, Dan Akroyd, or Chevy Chase)

Well, I ended up not going to the Road Trip, but because I slept through the RAs knocking on my door. They left at 9:30 AM, I woke up at 10:30. A few other people on my floor also didn't attend, but for the most part Saturday was incredibly boring. Not that the road trip was any better from what I hear. Oh yeah, apparantly the $50 fine stuff is a load of crap made up by the SU people to scare fish. HA! There were some frat parties going on, but I wasn't in a drinking mood. The way I figured it, I'm one week into a four year college career; I'll have tons of chances to get plastered.

Sunday was book buying day. To spark interest in my thread, I'll let people guess as to how much I spent. Here are some hints

1: I bought books for Spanish I, Principles of Macroeconomics, and Writing & Critical Thinking.
2: I now have no money in my wallet, and very little left on my credit card.
3: My roomate spent over $500 on books. I spent less than my roomate.
4: One book cost $140 (Which one could it be?)

I'll post the correct answer sometime next week.

I made yet another HEB run to get milk, bread, plastic knives, and Nutri-Grain bars. I keep my room junk food free so I won't be tempted. Also, today was one of the biggest days of my college life. My first ever LAUNDRY DAY!!!!!!! Thanks to my mother's brilliant teaching, I managed to not only wash and dry my laundry without any color leaking or similar problems, but I got them folded too. I need to call her and thank her for the help. One of the frats had a cookout/concert near the commons, so I of course went and mooched a free hamburger. The patties were friggin huge, maybe the biggest i've ever seen. Aside from the flies, I had a good time and a damn good meal. Our floor also created "Dorm Baseball". One of the people had a Koosh ball, bat, and gloves, so we took some pretty nasty hacks. Very fun though. I hope it becomes a tradition. Well, classes start tommorow, and I'm not very nervous, which is kind of surprising. Here is what I have tommorow, Monday the 25th

9:00-9:50 AM - Spanish I (the earliest class I have)
10:00-10:50 AM - Weight Training
12:00-12:50 PM - Writing & Critical Thinking

Not a bad schedule at all IMO. Little earlier lunch than normal, but that just means less people in line :). I'll let you know how it goes.

[RPI-Fan]

Foosball and poker are getting pretty big in the dorm here. No problem with that...

My poker bankroll is +$51.75, and foosball is fun, fun shit.

[mckerney]

Originally posted by RPI-Fan
Foosball and poker are getting pretty big in the dorm here. No problem with that...

My poker bankroll is +$51.75, and foosball is fun, fun shit.

Hmmm... I may have to get my foosball skills back in tune before I head off to college in hopes there will be a table I have easy access to. It had better be a good one though as I have one like this:

http://www.foosballstore.com/images/whirlwind.jpg

and have trouble playing on the crappy little cheap tables.

[RPI-Fan]

The one here is shitty, but but better than nothing.

[mckerney]

I could probably adjust given time, but I've been spoiled playing on the toury style tables (mine has a slightly bigger base than the one in the picture and is black). And thankfully after working at a liquor store all summer has given me a little more spending money than bigdawg.

Oh yeah, and I move in on the 30th.

[JeeberD]

My first freshman year I was addicted to ping pong. There were only like two or three people in the dorm who could beat me.

I've always sucked at foosball...

[mckerney]

Originally posted by JeeberD
My first freshman year I was addicted to ping pong. There were only like two or three people in the dorm who could beat me.

I've always sucked at foosball...

I've always been awesome at foosball and just barely a level above sucking at ping pong.

[JeeberD]

Ping pong is all about the spin...

All I do in foosball is spin the guys as fast as I can. Those people who can make the ball go back and forth between two figures and then kick it really hard all of a sudden really make me sick...

[mckerney]

Originally posted by JeeberD
Ping pong is all about the spin...

All I do in foosball is spin the guys as fast as I can. Those people who can make the ball go back and forth between two figures and then kick it really hard all of a sudden really make me sick...

I can do that, though sometimes I like to take an angled shot.

[Easy Mac]

Dude, #1: Girls at school look at lot better as the first week goes on. Eventually, all you see are the same girls at the school over and over. They look plain at first, then you think their gorgeous until you get some time out of there, then you come back and they look plain... then the cycle starts again. We call it the Goggle effect, sans the beer. All I'm saying is, after you've been sex starved that first week (hormones flow a lot more with plentiful cheap booze and excess testosterone all around), the girls just magically start to look better. The hot ones become super-hot, cute become hot...

#2: Choosing Philosophy as a major is the best thing I've ever done. The classes I've taken have been by far the best I've had at school. They're just fun classes to be in. I happened to take my first one because I couldn't get into anything else. Now, its my second major (Poli Sci is still my first). Plus, I've got a 4.0 in Philosophy classes (3.5 in PS, around a 1.5 in everything else), so the classes are easy. Just give it a shot.

#3: Never eat at the dining hall... the food is complete ass. I can honestly say Freshmen year that all I ate in the DH after the first week was cereal, even for dinner.

#4: Don't just hang out with guys on the hall... their cool, but chances are you won't talk to 90% more than once a month in a year. Just how it works out.

#5: And get the sex out of your system early. It can only build up once you hear other guys tell stories.

#6: There's plenty of time to do all the shit I mentioned above, this is a 4-year thing... just space it out and you'll do fine.

Woo-hoo, 5 days, and I start my senior year at college (13 days til we kick Clemson's ass in football)... damn, I need to study for the LSATs.

[SunDancer]

Cool Easy. What can you do with a philosophy degree? Just curious, is a "transaction" in terms of the whole sex-relationship area from being a horny, immature freshman to a senior, a year away from job and nearing the "prime" of life?

Our dining hall has gotten ALOT better in food..It's actually good.

[Easy Mac]

Originally posted by SunDancer
Cool Easy. What can you do with a philosophy degree?

Probably nothing, but the more majors on your degree, the better. And if it says philosophy, they'll think your smart.

[Craptacular]

Originally posted by Easy Mac
Probably nothing, but the more majors on your degree, the better. And if it says philosophy, they'll think your smart.

No, they just know you have no clue what you want to do with your life. :p

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by JeeberD
Ping pong is all about the spin...

All I do in foosball is spin the guys as fast as I can. Those people who can make the ball go back and forth between two figures and then kick it really hard all of a sudden really make me sick...

We played foosball a lot freshman year. There was this Chinese guy (I don't know his real name, just knew him as "mudpuppy" - his MUD name :) ) who was pretty amazing at foosball. He would act like he was just learning how to play, and then kick the hell out of us. He was lightning quick (it's all in the wrists). I got to the point where I could trap the ball and do one of those little quick kicks (you generate much more force and speed that way than just spinning the guys around, which I think is actually illegal), but nothing like this guy.

When my wife and I lived in our townhouse, one of the houses behind us had a foosball table instead of a kitchen table :)