[muse]

So far, I've been accepted to EVERY college that's gotten back to me... six down, seven to go! While I'm extremely happy that I have so many choices, it's more than a little overwhelming, especially because I have lots of fun issues surrounding studying and getting work done (mental block, anyone?)

So... who else is going through this crazy transition, or who has, and what advice do you have for us?

Best wishes, all,
~muse

[Taonuviel]

Mental block, absolutely! Well, if you have mental illness/disability-related issues you can get extra help through the disabilities and counseling offices - which is something you may want to look into in making your choice for ones with good programs in this area. Getting this stuff arranged going in can help you start off right. Personally, I see my T through the counseling office - it's free and he's well-experienced. I hear not all colleges offer it free though, so you should check that. And I work with the DSS(disabilities) office to get a little help with stuff like getting behind because the depression/whatever else is too bad. You can also make full use of tutoring and labs(writing, math, language, whatever). And if you're considering both public and private schools, you may want to lean towards the public ones. They tend to be more understanding, generally, than private ones if you do have trouble with mental health while there.

Non-mental health things to consider: I'm guessing you're wanting to start off living on campus at a college and going straight into a chosen study plan? I know that feeling, but I still highly recommend considering a community college to start off with gen-eds and do a little exploring on your interests. It's much cheaper, and you may find once you've started into college your interests change. I switched my major a lot, and there's many other students who do so too, even those who don't think they will. It's kinda like the world opens up a bit more to you once out of high school and you see different opportunities. But if you don't choose a community college, at least look into a first semester course that broadens your perspective a little. I don't know what other schools might call them, at my university we have a course called LIB 100, which is liberal studies/interdisciplinary studies, and I'm pretty sure every student who takes it is glad they did. It's part philosophy - which is also very good to take - and the rest is a look at the disciplines and how they relate... my explanation isn't doing it justice.

Also consider how well their courses would transfer if needed, and whether they have enough variety of programs near your areas of interest that you could switch majors within the school if you wanted to. And you may want to start out looking for a liberal/multidiscipinary studies program if you have some variety of interests or aren't totally sure what you want to do - these programs can blend together areas of studies into a degree that is both pretty specific to your future plans but also trains you to be flexible and knowledgeable in other areas too - integrative, very useful. (Ok, so this is my degree, and I guess I'm promoting it... but it is a pretty cool thing.)

Another thing that could help you narrow it down is if they have levels beyond the BA/BS available in your study area - even if you don't think you're interested now, you might find you are later, and already being in that school can give you good connections in applying into further programs. Consider too the quality of their career services - mine has a great office full of resources and connections to employers, but some just don't. Internship opportunites, study abroad opportunities (which is a very good idea no matter what your field because it expands your view of the world and looks great in your resume besides).

Campus tours are good. Look at recreational and campus life programs. Look at location, and available transportation.

Make sure you develop good study habits. Do everything you can to get in with a good group of students. Resist urges to party and avoid students who do - it just isn't a good idea, and all you'd really miss is group stupidity and hangovers. Use study groups. Watch campus events for interesting things.

Oh, and avoid going through the bookstore for books whenever possible! You can buy through half.com, through lists posted by students around school, and there might be other things like here we have a bookstore that sells textbooks for most of the colleges around here (multi-college town) cheaper than college bookstores, and there was a student-run exchange website, too.

[wluprocks]

Hi, I'm actually at my third college right now, there is a long story behind that but one piece of advice I have to offer is choose your friends wisely. Also as far as majors go I'd suggest if you are not certain of what you want to do(most everyone is not) go somewhere flexible where credits are easily transferable. I would actually suggest a community college, but I know that you probably want to get away from your town.
Just a little about me tho, I started at Illinois State University didnt know what I wanted to do, was majoring in psychology, transferred to my community college for a year and a half where I first thought I wanted to be a fire fighter before finally settling on film, which I have always loved doing. Now I attend University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Good luck to you tho.

[Perna]

Remember that so many colleges accepting you means you're doing something right :-)

I'd start with the 6 that have accepted you and figure out how to throw out three :-) Doesn't matter which three! If you go to a school a semester or a year, etc. and decide you don't like it or it's not right, you can change! It's not quite as bad as when you were a kid and had to go to whatever elementary school you were "assigned" to! You get a 100% choice here and it's your life. You can change every semester if you want! At the undergraduate level, it won't hurt you. When you've graduated in 4-5 years and gotten a job, etc. no one will care either what school you went to or even how well you did, just that you graduated and what you're doing for them/in the future.

A lot of going to college seems really important at the time, but it's just a stepping stone. Remember when you were in junior high and getting ready to start high school and how scary that was? It's almost the same with college. As you're going through college you'll get use to that and the idea of getting a career/job will take on more importance and then going to grad school/getting advanced training, getting married/having a family/buying a home, etc. It's all progressive and each step is a "step"!

I'm 58 and look back on my life and was just going to say, "if I did it all again. . ." but realize it wouldn't really make a big difference if I'd gone to a different school because then I wouldn't have met who I met? And trying to figure out what your life would-have-been like becomes more fantasy than anything important? It's like thinking about if you'd done something different when you were 14, how would your life be different? You can't say! You can wish or imagine but you didn't do something different then!

[GrayNess]

I'm in my 2nd year at university, so go for campus tours, talk to some current students because they'd give you decent advice on the courses. You could also talk to the professors and see how the courses and such are.

In addition to getting good study habits, you want to make some friends for a study group. It will help a lot.

You'll hear some of this nonsense in your first year: what's your major? Doesn't matter, it's first year. Take a variety of courses because you may like something since you usually have good professors (although I've had a few horrid ones). If you don't know your major, doesn't matter. It's only of concern in your 3rd-4th years.

Pay attention during lectures. Many times the profs give hints or they say what to not know for a test.

Read before and after classes, and when you do, don't just stare aimlessly at the page; highschool is about learning to read and write. University/college is about thinking. You need to think, understand, apply and memorize in your own words. Usually the textbooks overcomplicate things or give something that is 1 line into a few pages, so look what's relevant.

Also, try to get past tests. At our campus, if you join certain clubs for the subjects, you can buy past tests, which shows you what questions are repeated, how does he/she ask, and what to focus on.

[Sonofrah]

Originally Posted by muse

So far, I've been accepted to EVERY college that's gotten back to me... six down, seven to go! While I'm extremely happy that I have so many choices, it's more than a little overwhelming, especially because I have lots of fun issues surrounding studying and getting work done (mental block, anyone?)

So... who else is going through this crazy transition, or who has, and what advice do you have for us?

Best wishes, all,
~muse

I had similar study issues and what not when I left for college. For some reason though college was a lot easier for me than high school. College was more done at my own pace, which I think helped me a lot. Make sure to ease yourself into it. Don't jump right into an 18 credit load, I've watched that destroy many a freshman. As for choosing a college, try visiting as many as you can. You want a campus that is going to be able to give you the things you want, groups,clubs sports and such. College isn't about the destination its about the journey, so find a way to make it enjoyable for you. I wish you the best of luck its never an easy time in life.

[KowalskisTarget]

I am in my second quarter in a paralegal program. I am 57 now and feeling a bit overwhelmed at returning to school so late in life. It's fun though because I can take only the classes I want to for now. I get to avoid the scary business of petitioning for graduation/certification for a bit. I can relate to the others here feeling scared and overewhelmed. haha I have had to completely re-organize myself to include homework. And I still find myself putting it off to the last minute. I have found that each quarter seems to get a little less scary. My confidence level seems to be increasing in small increments. Winners never quit! haha Good luck and hang in there. We are gonna do good!