Tips and things to do in college

[matmann22]

Use an elective or 2 on a class that is mostly filled with members of the opposite sex (preferably younger)... For some reason I ended up with only 2 requireds left for my final semester so I had to come up with some 'filler' and this is the strategy I used.

Speaking as a business college graduate, learn all you can about working with and living with others. The real world will be full of this stuff. 1 + 1 is always 2, but no two groups are ever the same.

Find a housing situation that works for you. If you like peace and quiet (yes, there are a few weirdos like that) a party floor with the second worst GPA in the dorms isnt going to be for you...

 

[IcSyU]

HA!! no way, i know plenty of people that have 100+K a year jobs before 30 whose DUI alcohol levels was higher than there GPA. GPA doesn't matter AT ALL. It is about connections.

And guess what? I know plenty of people who have zero chance at doing anything with their lives because they didn't care about school and ended up either dropping out or getting a useless degree. Anyone know the last person who ended up advancing their degree with a 2.1 GPA?

No matter what your connections are, no one wants to hire a jack ***. Want a Masters degree, a doctorate, or a professional degree/license? Yeah, GPA doesn't matter at all.

Advice: Don't listen to thatguy too closely because he obviously doesn't have a clue if he truly believes GPA doesn't matter AT ALL.

 

[weR138]

HA!! no way, i know plenty of people that have 100+K a year jobs before 30 whose DUI alcohol levels was higher than there GPA. GPA doesn't matter AT ALL. It is about connections.

Not if you want to get into a good grad school, Dale Doback.

 

[heitclone]

And guess what? I know plenty of people who have zero chance at doing anything with their lives because they didn't care about school and ended up either dropping out or getting a useless degree. Anyone know the last person who ended up advancing their degree with a 2.1 GPA?

No matter what your connections are, no one wants to hire a jack ***. Want a Masters degree, a doctorate, or a professional degree/license? Yeah, GPA doesn't matter at all.

Advice: Don't listen to thatguy too closely because he obviously doesn't have a clue if he truly believes GPA doesn't matter AT ALL.

I think he meant more in regards to finding a job. I've never heard of an employer asking or quoting a GPA in an interview. As far as grad school etc...though, you're right, but chances are if you're in the camp thats not worried about a GPA, you're not in the camp thats worrying about grad school.

 

[thatguy]

Grad School is for people that are afraid of getting real jobs. The only thing more worthless than an MBA is the person that decided an MBA is a good, or necessary choice.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

Grad School is for people that are afraid of getting real jobs. The only thing more worthless than an MBA is the person that decided an MBA is a good, or necessary choice.

Maybe in business but a Masters in Science is the difference between being a bottom rung lab rat and being able to hold higher positions in the food chain when it comes to working in research for companies.

 

[Sousaclone]

HA!! no way, i know plenty of people that have 100+K a year jobs before 30 whose DUI alcohol levels was higher than there GPA. GPA doesn't matter AT ALL. It is about connections.

GPA may not matter for you but a lot of engineering employers use GPA as a screening measure. They may get 200 resumes and just toss all the ones below a 3.0. It's an easy way to start narrowing down the list for some companies.

A 3.0 isn't that hard to keep and maintain. They key is starting out strong. That and putting an easy A class in your schedule every semester if you can swing it.

 

[Cytom5]

god i cant wait to get back to ames

 

[Al_4_State]

GPA matters to the point where you get your degree. You obviously can't fail out. BUT it's pretty useless to lose sleep over the difference between a 2.7 and 3.0 or something like that.

And regarding grad school being for people who are afraid of the real world: are doctors and lawyers afraid of the real world?

 

[isucy1234]

- Leave your dorm room door open for the first couple weeks to meet people that walk by

- Locate your classes buildings (and rooms) a day or two before school starts

- Drink every night that first week (or half week) before school starts. EVERYONE goes out, great way to meet people

- Don't do destination Iowa State, waste of time

- Stay away from 8 AMs if at all possible. I'd much rather go from noon-4 every day than from 8-noon.

- Naps are your friend.

- All-nighters are overrated. Manage your time wisely and this will never be of necessity.

- Keep some sort of planner/calendar to stay on top of assignments/etc

- Play broomball

- Take advantage of the rec, prevents the freshman 15

- At football tailgates pack a beer or two in your pocket then walk to a port-a-potty and chug it in there.

- When taking the bus to basketball games wait for the second stop outside of Hilton, not the first.

- Go to the career fairs, even as a freshman knowing you likely will not get any interest from employers. The experience is key so that you know what you are doing when it really counts.

- Get an internship the summer between your junior-senior year, but attempt to get one the summer before as well. Experience in your field prior to graduating will greatly benefit you.

- If you're ever frustrated early on just remind yourself that one grade on one assignment/exam isn't going to affect your GPA so much that you won't be able to get a job in the future. Keep everything in perspective.

- Lastly, consume copious amounts of booze whenever you feel like it, it's the only time in your life you won't be dramatically judged because of it.

But most importantly, enjoy yourself. It will be the best years of your life.

 

[Cybyassociation]

-Memorize the Moonlight Express phone #

-Make friends with someone w/a fake ID or older sibling @ ISU

-Be damn careful if you're going to drink underage at a tailgate. Bring mixed drinks. that don't look like mixed drinks.

-Jeff's Pizza

-Wrap it up

-You can party your *** off as long as you make sure to stay on top of your classes, IE no drinking till your homework's done. If you keep partying as a reward, you can get away with doing a lot of it (if that's your thing). I had a very good time in college, but always made sure to stay on top of my classes, after failing a class I didn't take seriously my first semester. You can avoid that mistake.

Does wrapping Jeff's Pizza make it better?

 

[weR138]

Grad School is for people that are afraid of getting real jobs. The only thing more worthless than an MBA is the person that decided an MBA is a good, or necessary choice.

So being a doctor isn't a real job, got it.

 

[cyclone13]

First, you don't know what company is going to hire you and whether you'll have connections or not. So why don't you keep your GPA as high as you can in case you have to go through the "HR" channel (meaning they might screen your applications through GPA) ?
Even if you have connections, there's a possibility that the others have connections too and their connections might be more powerful than yours.

MBA could be an investment too if you know what you're doing. Some companies actually have requirement of having advanced degree for certain positions.

DUI: you can make 100k if you have DUI history but what's your chance ? We've become more and more litigious society, so companies might want to reduce the risk of their employees get drunk and hit/kill someone while on duty. You need to have a lot of things leaning towards you (e.g you're supersmart, you have a very powerful connection, etc) in order to get companies ignore your DUI history.

 

[Clone9]

Get good grades and party. The key to this? Don't be lazy. It is that simple.

 

[leroycyclone]

Grad School is for people that are afraid of getting real jobs. The only thing more worthless than an MBA is the person that decided an MBA is a good, or necessary choice.

A Bachelor's degree was the minimum. A Master's is the new norm.

You don't even need a degree. Ask Gates, Ellison and Jobs about graduating from college but how many Gates' and Ellison' and Jobs' are out there?

MBAs are now encouraged after a few years in the workplace, not immediately after the senior year and graduation.

Considering that college is $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 and up to $56,000 per year, grades matter.

Try to get in Northwestern or Chicago MBA programs with less than a 3.00, it won't happen.

This freshman wanted tips for college. Having a goal for a 3.00 minimum GPA is a good tip.

The other tips, like partying, are OK too. It's all part of the learning process.

I don't know how many others my age read cyclonefanatic, but they will also remember that we had a real goal when we were freshmen. We had to maintain a 2.00 and keep on track with regards to credits to avoid the draft. The Vietnam War lurking out there for all dropouts and flunkouts. We all sat around and watched the draft lottery in 1969 on TV.

Jobs were plentiful back then. They aren't plentiful now. Will they be plentiful in 2015? No one knows. Get a 3.00 and higher and reduce the competition.

 

[Cyched]

A Bachelor's degree was the minimum. A Master's is the new norm.

You don't even need a degree. Ask Gates, Ellison and Jobs about graduating from college but how many Gates' and Ellison' and Jobs' are out there?

MBAs are now encouraged after a few years in the workplace, not immediately after the senior year and graduation.

Considering that college is $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 and up to $56,000 per year, grades matter.

Try to get in Northwestern or Chicago MBA programs with less than a 3.00, it won't happen.

This freshman wanted tips for college. Having a goal for a 3.00 minimum GPA is a good tip.

The other tips, like partying, are OK too. It's all part of the learning process.

I don't know how many others my age read cyclonefanatic, but they will also remember that we had a real goal when we were freshmen. We had to maintain a 2.00 and keep on track with regards to credits to avoid the draft. The Vietnam War lurking out there for all dropouts and flunkouts. We all sat around and watched the draft lottery in 1969 on TV.

Jobs were plentiful back then. They aren't plentiful now. Will they be plentiful in 2015? No one knows. Get a 3.00 and higher and reduce the competition.

If you do the math, $20,000 for college, assuming 15 credit hours per semester and 4 years to finish, it comes out to roughly $10 per class. And this number is more for the out of state students. That should be your motivation to get up and go to class.

 

[bowlfan912]

- Leave your dorm room door open for the first couple weeks to meet people that walk by

- Locate your classes buildings (and rooms) a day or two before school starts

- Drink every night that first week (or half week) before school starts. EVERYONE goes out, great way to meet people

- Don't do destination Iowa State, waste of time

- Stay away from 8 AMs if at all possible. I'd much rather go from noon-4 every day than from 8-noon.

- Naps are your friend.

- All-nighters are overrated. Manage your time wisely and this will never be of necessity.

- Keep some sort of planner/calendar to stay on top of assignments/etc

- Play broomball

- Take advantage of the rec, prevents the freshman 15

- At football tailgates pack a beer or two in your pocket then walk to a port-a-potty and chug it in there.

- When taking the bus to basketball games wait for the second stop outside of Hilton, not the first.

- Go to the career fairs, even as a freshman knowing you likely will not get any interest from employers. The experience is key so that you know what you are doing when it really counts.

- Get an internship the summer between your junior-senior year, but attempt to get one the summer before as well. Experience in your field prior to graduating will greatly benefit you.

- If you're ever frustrated early on just remind yourself that one grade on one assignment/exam isn't going to affect your GPA so much that you won't be able to get a job in the future. Keep everything in perspective.

- Lastly, consume copious amounts of booze whenever you feel like it, it's the only time in your life you won't be dramatically judged because of it.

But most importantly, enjoy yourself. It will be the best years of your life.

Beg to differ about destination iowa state, got to me alot of great people, help finding classes and buying books.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

god i cant wait to get back to ames

Don't go home for the summer.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

If you do the math, $20,000 for college, assuming 15 credit hours per semester and 4 years to finish, it comes out to roughly $10 per class. And this number is more for the out of state students. That should be your motivation to get up and go to class.

I know this is a bad way to look at it, but IMO opinion you don't pay $10 for every class. You pay roughly $80,000 or so for a piece of paper you receive at graduation.

It costs you no money if you skip a class and still pass the class.

That being said, it is good for your GPA to go to class.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

Beg to differ about destination iowa state, got to me alot of great people, help finding classes and buying books.

Great program if you have an open mind about it and a cool leader. I was a leader for two years and had every member come each day plus that's how I met my wife.


Tip to add:
-Be a leader for Destination Iowa State. You get the first chance to meet the hot freshman chicks and have an excuse to "check in" on them during their first week/semester (see results above :wink: )