Whyyyyyyyyyy

[kaetchen]

It's the first week of classes, and it's kind of crazy busy.

So yesterday, I was already kinda stressed out. Then we get this call from some lady who can't get into her classroom.

"MY KEY ISN'T WORKING FOR THIS ROOM. I NEED TO GET IN jksfhjkfsksfhjkhsjdsjsfhjioerowirwoer!"

I was kind of curious, so I pulled out her key card and she didn't. have. the. key. to. that. room. When the officer came back to tell us about it, he was like "Well, I went up there, and she was like "This key doesn't work!"and I said "Well, what key is it?" and she was like "Well, it's a key for (whatever room was like 4 doors down)" Genius. I love when people get mad at US because THEY are the ones being idiots.

I also had a bitchy woman come up about keys as well. Only with her, I told her that her key was not ready and she got an attitude with me about it. "Well, last semester I had this same problem, and it took 2 weeks to get my key and rawr rawr. It's been like 3 weeks. This is ridiculous." I couldn't find her key request right away, nor was I really inclined to. I waited until she was gone, and I did find it, it was just turned in on last Thursday. *eyes roll*

Then the switchboard, oh dear god. I don't understand for the life of me, why people don't understand that it's CRAZY BUSY. Certain, well almost all, departments are getting hit hardcore so you're gonna get put on hold or even might get kicked off because there's too many people. When I tell you that, do not get mad at ME and then tell me to transfer you back. I gave you the direct line, so you need to call and yell at them, I can't do anything about it other than what I have already done.

[RetailWorkhorse]

Ya know, all these stories about what goes on at Campus behind the scenes.... really make me nervous for enrolling college next Fall.

[Amina516]

Ya know, all these stories about what goes on at Campus behind the scenes.... really make me nervous for enrolling college next Fall.

Nah...dont be nervous. Just remember that everyone is having the same problems and remember to have patience. The first few weeks of any school are always hectic.

That being said, i dread going back to school next week b/c the teachers all seem so confused at the start of any semester regardless of how long theyve been there.

"Well, it's a key for (whatever room was like 4 doors down)"

I just cant understand how people have no common sense...

[Geek King]

Ya know, all these stories about what goes on at Campus behind the scenes.... really make me nervous for enrolling college next Fall.

Ditto what Amina said, and I'll add my own little drizzle of golden wisdom:

Do things as early as possible

Do everything you can early. Buy books as soon as you can. Go buy dorm snacks as soon as you are settled, and buy for two weeks (that will get you through the first-week frenzy). If you get assigned reading/viewing at the library, go right after class and get the book/video. This saved me so much hassle in college, even if I did occasionally get burned by a last-minute book change for a course. The bookstore always gave full return credit for those situations, as long as the book was still in excellent condition. A little fear is good, just don't let it hamper you.

[LostMyMind]

Just keep in mind that college is about how well you can repeat the answers that the professors want. It don't matter if it right or wrong, only what the professor wants.

[Amina516]

Just keep in mind that college is about how well you can repeat the answers that the professors want. It don't matter if it right or wrong, only what the professor wants.

Quoted for the "truth-i-ness" of it.....

[JLRodgers]

Just keep in mind that college is about how well you can repeat the answers that the professors want. It don't matter if it right or wrong, only what the professor wants.

And that when a professor says "read these two papers, and tell me what's wrong with them" -- one might be the professor's papers.... that got her her doctorate.... so the proper answer might be "they're both gifts from the gods" not "this one never should've been done - it took a flawed assumption, didn't test even half the variables, didn't have a control group, didn't have enough people, and based the results to "change mankind" based on it. (let's just say I picked the wrong answer....)

But one thing I learned from college: find out where your classes are the day before the class is held -- and make sure everything's done early, like months before it's said to do it.

I lost count to the number of classes that were held at location X (1/2 mile from my dorm), only to get there and find it's at location Y - which was across the street from my dorm.

[Sliceanddice]

Go buy dorm snacks as soon as you are settled, and buy for two weeks (that will get you through the first-week frenzy).

actually i would say 3 weeks ahead because that way you dont have to worry about anything because some classes start later...
and poptarts keep awhile

[RetailWorkhorse]

Nah...dont be nervous. Just remember that everyone is having the same problems and remember to have patience. The first few weeks of any school are always hectic.

Ditto what Amina said, and I'll add my own little drizzle of golden wisdom:

Do things as early as possible

Do everything you can early. Buy books as soon as you can. Go buy dorm snacks as soon as you are settled, and buy for two weeks (that will get you through the first-week frenzy). If you get assigned reading/viewing at the library, go right after class and get the book/video. This saved me so much hassle in college, even if I did occasionally get burned by a last-minute book change for a course. The bookstore always gave full return credit for those situations, as long as the book was still in excellent condition. A little fear is good, just don't let it hamper you.

None of those are my problem. It's the REST of the people who are going to be getting in my way and pissing all the staff off that make me nervous.

Besides, I'll be lucky to live near enough campus I'll only have to drive my motorcycle in. Don't need a dorm room and campus food when EQ is a self trained chef.

[AdminAssistant]

My college advice:

1) Go to class.

2) Ask questions.

3) Go to class.

4) Get to know your professors. The vast majority are really wonderful people and not at all like the descriptions above. Even the ones that aren't in your major are good people to get to know. Trust me, professors remember good students.

5) GO TO CLASS.

6) The departmental secretary/administrative assistant for your major is your new best friend. Take them cookies. Say hi. Be super duper friendly. The secretaries run the departments, and every department chair I've known fully admits that. They're the people who handle the paperwork that allows to get paid/scholarships/graduate.

7) Do I need to say it again? A professor is much more likely to 'go the extra mile' for a student who has good attendance and participates in discussions.

And if you DO have a problem, there are a crapton of people on any given campus to help students. Start with your professor. Then advisors. Then Student Services.

And if there's anyone out here that's feeling particularly anxious about school, PM me. I'm starting my third degree at my third university. Been there, done that.

[Nashida]

Ya know, all these stories about what goes on at Campus behind the scenes.... really make me nervous for enrolling college next Fall.

Nah, don't be. Things are always hectic the first couple of weeks at any school, college or kindergarten. Heck, I'll be a junior in the fall and I still don't have my decal for my car so I can park up there because they've come in late there.

As for the other people around you doing stuff that annoys/pisses you off, well....call me if you need help.

[smileyeagle1021]

If I may chime in.
I agree with Geek King, buy your text books early... in fact, check if your school has an online bookstore, the college I go to does and it's great, as soon as I register for classes I just go online, tell it what classes I'm taking and which section numbers, pay for the cost of books (they'll even go out of their way to find used for you if possible) and a $10 handling fee for the whole order (which really isn't bad for a whole semesters worth) and they mail the books directly to you about a week before class starts... or you can pick them up in a nice premade box on campus if you don't want delivery (also there's less of a handling charge that way).
Another thing, I agree with AdminAssistant, GO TO CLASS, if you can't make it email the professor and tell them why and ask what was missed so you can make it up (unless the professor has told you specifically not to, in which case, make friends in that class quickly that you can call or email)
Oh and one thing that I don't think has been mentioned, if your school is on a transit line (bus, train, etc), use it. Most transit agencies offer either discounts or free rides for students, and most schools parking lots are a clusterfuck for at least the first part of the semester and don't get much better after that... that and if it is free for students think of all the money you'll save on gas (depending on how far you have to go).

[InverseHellion]

And as another note. Be glad you're not attending my college or a college in my city. All the support and administrative staff are about to go on strike. It's gonna be a FUUUUNNNNNN first week.

[Bagga]

AdminAssistant said:

I'm starting my third degree at my third university. Been there, done that.

Yeah, cool. But can you sing "When Will I See You Again?" Eh?

[AdminAssistant]

But can you sing "When Will I See You Again?" Eh?

When will I see you again?
When will my heart beat again?

Like that?