College questions...
By wigima5
@wigima5 (904)
United States
November 7, 2009 9:50pm CST
Okay so I'm seriously confused and scared about college. It all seems so huge, and it doesn't help that I don't know what I want to do. So I have a few questions.
1.)How do you apply for scholarships?-I've gotten many things for open houses but my parents are more interested in financial help. I don't know how I would be able to find out about that.
2.)How do classes work? - I'm still confused. Do you have classes everyday like middle n high school or is it every few days n different? What time would you go and how long, how does the homework work? How do things work in general?
3.)What kind of questions should I ask when I visit? - If I will visit a campus, either for an open house or an interview, what should I be asking them? What would you recommend?
4.)How do classes and your career work with one another? - Is there a specific thiing that tells you what classes you should take for a certain job? How do you know what classes to take?
5.)Do extracurricular programs work like high school? - Like meeting afterschool to do things? Do they have anything to do with the classes you take?
6.)Big vs.Small classes? - I would personally prefer smaller class ratios, and they would probably give more attention to each person. In big colleges we are only a number and often dont get personal attention too much. which leads me to thinking I might not be able to get enough help if I don't understand something. But bigger colleges, don't they often have more classes/programs n better classes?
7.)If you need help do you need a tutor or will a teacher help you? - From the movies I've seen it seems like the teacher doesn't help much with student's problems, just teaches. So would they stay after if I had questions?
Thank you SO much. I am just SO lost at the moment, and confused. I just really don't know how this works. I want to get great opportunities but I don't want to fall behind and have it be too late because I didn't do anything or go to any open houses. Please if anyone who's gone to college can answer these questions, and maybe some more helpful hints it would help SO Much!!! Thankkk youu!
7 responses
@lrglara (1334)
• Philippines
8 Nov 09
1. scholarships you can try online... there are lots of scholarship grants available for you. you can also try and ask the school you're going to if they offer financial aids, and most of them do.
2 classes... if you're enrolled for full credits, you may get your classes everyday. but if you are planning on doing your studies part time, you can choose your schedule.
3. ask everything you want to ask, even the ridiculous ones, in order for you to understand what college life would be and what you're going to expect. they will all be happy to accomodate you.
4. your class should base on your interest, because the career follows... go for what is fun for you and what makes you happy. but if you are planning on a certain career, acquire courses that you think is a pre-requisite for such career... for example, psychology... go for behavioral studies, child development, etc.
5. there are also extra-curricular activities in college. some are unrelated to the course you are taking... :)
6. classes depends on the number of enrollees. they are going to divide the students of course. a certain course will be available for students for certain number of enrollees. if there are only few enrolees, they might dissolve the course. again, your performance is not based on the class, its based on your participation and study habits... :)
7. yes, you can ask your teacher if there is something that you cannot understand. that's why they are there... to help you out. you can most certainly ask them if you have any subject-related questions.
college seems so big... i know... but its also fun... just think of it as a start of your adult life... you dont know obviously what you're going to expect but welcome all those opportunities. it will help you...:)
@wigima5 (904)
• United States
10 Nov 09
=] Aww thank you so much for your help! Yes, it does all seem soo big! Yes, everyone says do what you love. but i had my boss tell me that it's important to do what gets you paid. She really tries to help out people. n she said although everyone tells you to do what you want, unfortunately a lot of them don't pay a lot. or there are barely any careers for those things. I know I am interested in biology and animals and conservation. but i don't know if i could actually get a successful career from it.
@lrglara (1334)
• Philippines
10 Nov 09
if there are any related courses to your passion, do so. like veterinary medicine, since you like animals and conservation. your boss is right about doing what makes you pay and i know its such a cliche but money doesn't buy everything. you can still do things you want to do with the courses you take, even those unrelated ones.
for example, you might be a financial planner but people seems to be at ease whenever they are with you and open... you can still go for behavioral medicine (psychology). you may a psychologist, but you are so passionate about children, you can be a teacher...
it all seems unrelated but you can still do what you like and earn from it... its a matter of being resourceful... :) Have fun! don't stress yourself much! everything will work out fine! :)
@kalyan215 (9)
• India
8 Nov 09
hi..every one..its just a ..tense u have when u first go to college..but its nothing just going to a house ..its simpple ..making of firnds is most important in college
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
9 Nov 09
Hi Kalyan: yes i think everybody feels the tension when they're starting this new step in their professional lives. It was the same in me. Even if i knew i was one of the smartest students in my class, i feel very nervous and i else have thought that, what if i couldn't be able to finish my university studies. Basically if you work for it and you make the best of you you'll find the answers. Thanks for your answer.
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
9 Nov 09
Hi wigima: thanks for your posting. What i can tell you is that it's normal to feel a little bit nervous before beginning college. I felt the same way you do some years ago so just try to think that you has demostrate that you deserve to be on college and that you can do it. Now, my education system could be a little bit different than the American system so i will answe the questions i think are the same all over the world:
2.)How do classes work? Do you have classes everyday like middle n high school or is it every few days n different? In college we don't have classes everyday, tha depends of the classes you have taken, some days you have a class after another one and another one and some others you don't have much classes. In the first years you have a lot of things to do in your campus i have to add. But that doesn't mean that when you don't have classes you have nothing to do, you need to make invastigations, go to the libraries, etc. There are a lot of things to do to improve by yourself what you have seen on your classes
The best part of it it's that you feel independent when you're working on it.
6.)Big vs.Small classes? I prefer small classes for the same reasons as you prefer them too
7.)This basically depends on your teacher and your comunication skills, try to be honest with your teachers and talk to them after the classes finish. I have found that most of my teachers are very kind to me.
Thanks for your discussion and good luck with this new moment in your life.
@solared (1207)
• United States
8 Nov 09
You contact the offices, the people at the college will assist you if you are eligible grants, or scholarships, they have forms for you to fill out, they are color coded.
All the question you asked about classes depend on what kind you take.
In general I would rather be in a larger class, because the grading curve would be more in your favor.
It's still like highschool cept some classes may run an hour, if you want help most likely you will have to pay a student to tutor you.
Most Instructors or Professors do not help much, the only thing they help with is extra credit or increasing a deadline for some thing you haven't turned in, most of your help comes from study groups.
You have a guidance counselor that will assist in finding classes for the type of career you want.
Bigger colleges mainly have better athletic programs nothing more, unless your talking Ivy League.
When you visit a campus, ask them what you need, where is the library, where are the good eating places, where is the gym, where is the bookstore, where is the cafeteria, where are the different clubs frats,
@MJAL08 (275)
•
8 Nov 09
I feel your pain. I am going through the same situation as you. I also applied for a scholarship and the best way to know what type of financial aids the school gives the best way is first know the university where you're desired program or course is(find 3 or4 school so you can have a variety of choices) then inquire by checking the school's website or go directly to the school.
Good luck to the both of us.
@spinna54 (79)
• United States
8 Nov 09
Well in college,it's all up to you,the teachers won't help you unless you ask,and if you need help they have tutors who will help you. And if you need help deciding what class to take they have advisers they that help you decide. Well I suggest don't overload it,just start off taking 2 or 3 classes first,or one,so you can get a feel how it works,then next term you can take more if you want. There is a lot of reading involved,almost everyday for homework you read like maybe 10-15 pages or more,and answer question in worksheet or book,or just take notes for the next class. And scholarships,just go the the financial aid at the school,they should have a place to get help with that. If you are a full time student then classes are everyday but if your part time you choose your schedule,I don't know if this is true for all colleges but the one I went too,usually one class is like two days out of the week they meet. You can choose what time usually.
@wigima5 (904)
• United States
10 Nov 09
Okay thank you, that's insightful. hmm 10-15, for each class or in total? cuz for total thats not too bad. approximately how many classes are each day? is it only like one class a day, or a few in a row, or what? cuz my high school we have 7 periods in a day.
@birdlady41465 (223)
• United States
8 Nov 09
First here is financial aide site may this will answer some of those questions for you.
www.FAFSA.ed.gov It has a free application here also it is easy but confusing to you will need your parents taxes before you begin, your S.S. #, ID, and know what school you want to go to there code so it will go there for you instead of having to make sure they get paid. College is scary time and with some help from your parents you will be ok and get through choosing a school and applying for aide and housing and books and everything else take it one step at a time. First maybe take a few to think what you truly want to do then move on to what school meets your needs for that then work on applying to go there which most schools have a web site for this anymore and applications sometime cost money just to apply. Do not let this scare you away. There is lots of scholarships out there that no one really ever knows about till they need it. Also this year there is suppose to be some kind of stimulus that is giving money for going to school so when you do taxes will get that also. Ask everything you can when they call you and make a list of questions. Always keep up on everything you are getting to know just what is what and let others know what and how your experiences worked for it will help others to avoid somethings you might have to go through to get what you want. Good Luck. And congradulations on the next step in your life.
