Your parents have probably been helping you resist superstimuli (drugs, alcohol, video games) and fight procrastination. If you will be living away from home for the first time, you will need to be especially diligent against letting these forces harm you.
Political correctness is an unfortunately fact of most college campuses, but it’s still a fact. You can hurt yourself with your teachers and fellow students if you say or write something politically incorrect even if your statement is true.
Figure out if you will need a high GPA to accomplish your post-college plans since the type of courses you take can greatly influence your GPA.
Not showing up for class because you overslept (especially your first year) is a sign of failure.
If you like LessWrong you will probably enjoy microeconomics.
You can often negotiate your financial aid offer, especially if you have a better offer from a college of equal or greater prestige.
You can take classes over the summer at a local community college to graduate early and hence save tuition.
Be very clear in your writing. Your professor will likely count any confusion he experiences in reading your paper against you.
If you need an extension ask your instructor as early as possible else he will think you are making up an excuse because you procrastinated rather than doing your work.
Doing poorly on an exam will not cause your professor to dislike you.
Before asking your professor a class organization question, check the class syllabus.
I’m an associate professor of economics at Smith College.
Political correctness is an unfortunately fact of most college campuses, but it’s still a fact. You can hurt yourself with your teachers and fellow students if you say or write something politically incorrect even if your statement is true.
Conversely, don’t assume something politically correct is true just because no one is challenging it.
I’ve only ever worked as a tutor but I’ll add a couple of “should be obvious but apparently isn’t” bits of advice.
Actually go to classes. If you’re bright there’s a good chance that the first few classes will cover very basic stuff which you may know already. Do not screw yourself over by deciding that it’s so simple that you don’t need to go to class. It’s a surprisingly common failure mode for smart individuals.
If there is any form of continuous assessment or marks that can be gained before the test do the work. 2% or whatever other small fraction each assignment is worth may sound small for something that takes 4 of 5 hours but lots of people screw themselves by not doing the work and thus making it very hard for themselves to pass the module.
Actually go to classes. All of them. Yes, even if you’re hung over or feeling really tired. Even if they’re at 9am on a monday. I cannot stress how common a failure mode this is.
Turn up to classes on time. Not 20 minutes after they’ve started. Professors can get very sick of people clattering into the hall and interrupting their lecture due to not being organized enough to turn up on time.
Do try to make sure your questions are good ones. Professors can get sick of individuals who ask a lot of spectacularly stupid questions who then don’t absorb the answers.
Take advantage of the clubs and societies your campus has. College is about more than your chosen subject and you can get some great experiences.
Your parents have probably been helping you resist superstimuli (drugs, alcohol, video games) and fight procrastination. If you will be living away from home for the first time, you will need to be especially diligent against letting these forces harm you.
Political correctness is an unfortunately fact of most college campuses, but it’s still a fact. You can hurt yourself with your teachers and fellow students if you say or write something politically incorrect even if your statement is true.
Figure out if you will need a high GPA to accomplish your post-college plans since the type of courses you take can greatly influence your GPA.
Not showing up for class because you overslept (especially your first year) is a sign of failure.
If you like LessWrong you will probably enjoy microeconomics.
You can often negotiate your financial aid offer, especially if you have a better offer from a college of equal or greater prestige.
You can take classes over the summer at a local community college to graduate early and hence save tuition.
Be very clear in your writing. Your professor will likely count any confusion he experiences in reading your paper against you.
If you need an extension ask your instructor as early as possible else he will think you are making up an excuse because you procrastinated rather than doing your work.
Doing poorly on an exam will not cause your professor to dislike you.
Before asking your professor a class organization question, check the class syllabus.
I’m an associate professor of economics at Smith College.
Conversely, don’t assume something politically correct is true just because no one is challenging it.
I’ve only ever worked as a tutor but I’ll add a couple of “should be obvious but apparently isn’t” bits of advice.
Actually go to classes. If you’re bright there’s a good chance that the first few classes will cover very basic stuff which you may know already. Do not screw yourself over by deciding that it’s so simple that you don’t need to go to class. It’s a surprisingly common failure mode for smart individuals.
If there is any form of continuous assessment or marks that can be gained before the test do the work. 2% or whatever other small fraction each assignment is worth may sound small for something that takes 4 of 5 hours but lots of people screw themselves by not doing the work and thus making it very hard for themselves to pass the module.
Actually go to classes. All of them. Yes, even if you’re hung over or feeling really tired. Even if they’re at 9am on a monday. I cannot stress how common a failure mode this is.
Turn up to classes on time. Not 20 minutes after they’ve started. Professors can get very sick of people clattering into the hall and interrupting their lecture due to not being organized enough to turn up on time.
Do try to make sure your questions are good ones. Professors can get sick of individuals who ask a lot of spectacularly stupid questions who then don’t absorb the answers.
Take advantage of the clubs and societies your campus has. College is about more than your chosen subject and you can get some great experiences.