College

RedApple · 26-08-2008

I start college next Wednesday and I'm a little bit nervous.. Okay then, very nervous.

I'm doing a ICT course.

Anyone have any tips or anything to make me feel a bit better?

Pojo · 26-08-2008

Today was my first day...I was a little nervous, but not as much as I thought would be...You definitely feel more grown up and respected when you walk the campus though

Shupie · 26-08-2008

=D I started college for the first time last year. Yeah, it's a little scary 'cause you don't have all the friends you made in high school. You have to start all over again, but it's okay! Sometimes people can be very friendly in college. It's a time where everyone is looking to make networks with people, so it's okay to go up to someone and start chatting about school and what not. At least, that's how it was in my school. I go to an art school.

Just relax, do your thing, and try to be friendly. A few weeks, more or less, and you probably won't feel nervous at all anymore.

Rance · 26-08-2008

I started college some time after high-school, so I didn't just jump into it. The best I can suggest from my own experience is this...

Remember that at college, you are paying for your education, or someone is paying for your education on your behalf, whether it be a parent, a scholarship, or a grant. The best suggestion I can offer is not to wast eit. There is a whole, massive world of knowledge that you can discover in college, and it doesn't pay to waste any of it. Try your hardest. Use the resources at your fingertips. Get to know and like and be liked by your teachers. Discuss things with them, ask them questions, and show that you are an interesting person who is interested in his studies, and therefore, sets an example for other students in the process. Use college as the positive learning experience that it is, and embrace it, because if you do it right, how well you do for the next four years is going to stay with you for the rest of your days.

Just have fun, be sensible, and you'll do fine!

Confusion · 26-08-2008

i start tomorrow i cant wait! and as for tips not that i have any apart from just general things, make new friends

Jaiden · 26-08-2008

College doesn't always mean the same thing in Britain as it does in the US. If a Briton says 'college' they're likely to be referring to a sixth-form (or equivalent) college, which is attended after mandatory education is completed at sixteen for two years to gain the qualifications that are needed to enter university (what Americans would know as college) or just to study other qualifications offered there. The OP is sixteen and in the UK so I don't think he's going to uni but to a British-style college. Think of it as a bridge between school and university - you get more freedoms than school and more is expected of you, but it's not like university by some stretch. It's also still free.

Anyhoo, it's normal to be nervous before starting at a new school/uni/job, RedApple, and pretty much everyone is going to be feeling very similarly to you. Chances are that you're going to enjoy having a bit more independence than you're used to at school when you settle in but it might take a while to get used to the new surroundings. Just be yourself and give it, and the new people you meet, a chance and remember that just as you are forming fresh impressions of everyone, they are forming fresh impressions of you - it really helps to show teachers that you're willing to put the work in and fellow students that you're easy to get along with.

Good luck with it all. In a couple of weeks you will most likely be wondering why you were worried in the first place.

Confusion · 26-08-2008

Jaiden, that made little sence... lol

Jaiden · 26-08-2008

Hm? What didn't make sense?

The people who replied were Americans who understandably took 'college' to mean 'university' as that is how they use the word but the kind of college RedApple is talking about is different. Some of the advice and help didn't quite fit because of that (Rance talking about paying for your education, for example) so I just thought it would be helpful to point that out.

**Peachy** · 26-08-2008

Easy:

British college = American high school (last two years)

American college = British University (undergrad degrees, usually)

Peachy

Rance · 26-08-2008

Thank you for that clarification, Peachy and Jaiden. Personally, I had no clue that there was a difference in the two, so now that I do, I'm curious to learn more about the designations!

Do you graduate with some form of "degree" or title at the end of British college? Does it lead you into your university years? Or is it simply the second half of your secondary education before being sent away to learn a specific area or trade?

26-08-2008	#1 (permalink)
RedApple Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: UK Age: 17 Posts: 38 Threads: 6 Wiki Edits: 1 Reputation: 2	College I start college next Wednesday and I'm a little bit nervous.. Okay then, very nervous. I'm doing a ICT course. Anyone have any tips or anything to make me feel a bit better?

26-08-2008	#9 (permalink)
Peachy Help an innocent fruit! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bremen, Germany Age: 31 Posts: 2,423 Threads: 55 Gallery Uploads: 43 Wiki Edits: 11 Blog Entries: 9	Easy: British college = American high school (last two years) American college = British University (undergrad degrees, usually) Peachy __________________ A is like an apple with extra carpeting! Adopted users and furs : Magicstar, Christhefur, Kenshin Himura, baseball4life, Yumi, Rakai, Fullmetal, Little Ollie, mzkkbprmt (as a 2yo), EpicPie; to my kindergarten Award winning fruit

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Diapers in college	Ilovediapersforev	TeenBaby	4	12-08-2008 01:34 AM
Off to college	moocow	Off-topic	29	11-08-2008 02:10 PM
AB/DL activities and college (or university)	Jeremiah	Adult Baby	48	20-06-2008 04:09 AM
A huge decision (College, work, etc.)	Manveru	Off-topic	17	25-03-2008 11:39 PM

26-08-2008	#2 (permalink)
Pojo 1000+ Posts more than you Historical Donor Staff Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cow-Land, VA Age: 18 Posts: 3,764 Threads: 62 Gallery Uploads: 6 Wiki Edits: 98 Blog Entries: 19	Today was my first day...I was a little nervous, but not as much as I thought would be...You definitely feel more grown up and respected when you walk the campus though

26-08-2008	#3 (permalink)
Shupie Lurker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New York City Age: 19 Posts: 96 Threads: 2 Reputation: 7	=D I started college for the first time last year. Yeah, it's a little scary 'cause you don't have all the friends you made in high school. You have to start all over again, but it's okay! Sometimes people can be very friendly in college. It's a time where everyone is looking to make networks with people, so it's okay to go up to someone and start chatting about school and what not. At least, that's how it was in my school. I go to an art school. Just relax, do your thing, and try to be friendly. A few weeks, more or less, and you probably won't feel nervous at all anymore.

26-08-2008	#4 (permalink)
Rance VIP Historical Donor Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Age: 25 Posts: 677 Threads: 19 Blog Entries: 8	I started college some time after high-school, so I didn't just jump into it. The best I can suggest from my own experience is this... Remember that at college, you are paying for your education, or someone is paying for your education on your behalf, whether it be a parent, a scholarship, or a grant. The best suggestion I can offer is not to wast eit. There is a whole, massive world of knowledge that you can discover in college, and it doesn't pay to waste any of it. Try your hardest. Use the resources at your fingertips. Get to know and like and be liked by your teachers. Discuss things with them, ask them questions, and show that you are an interesting person who is interested in his studies, and therefore, sets an example for other students in the process. Use college as the positive learning experience that it is, and embrace it, because if you do it right, how well you do for the next four years is going to stay with you for the rest of your days. Just have fun, be sensible, and you'll do fine!

26-08-2008	#5 (permalink)
Confusion Regular Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK Age: 16 Posts: 285 Threads: 4 Wiki Edits: 2 Blog Entries: 1 Reputation: 1	i start tomorrow i cant wait! and as for tips not that i have any apart from just general things, make new friends

26-08-2008	#6 (permalink)
Jaiden VIP Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England Age: 21 Posts: 307 Threads: 11 Wiki Edits: 1 Blog Entries: 3	College doesn't always mean the same thing in Britain as it does in the US. If a Briton says 'college' they're likely to be referring to a sixth-form (or equivalent) college, which is attended after mandatory education is completed at sixteen for two years to gain the qualifications that are needed to enter university (what Americans would know as college) or just to study other qualifications offered there. The OP is sixteen and in the UK so I don't think he's going to uni but to a British-style college. Think of it as a bridge between school and university - you get more freedoms than school and more is expected of you, but it's not like university by some stretch. It's also still free. Anyhoo, it's normal to be nervous before starting at a new school/uni/job, RedApple, and pretty much everyone is going to be feeling very similarly to you. Chances are that you're going to enjoy having a bit more independence than you're used to at school when you settle in but it might take a while to get used to the new surroundings. Just be yourself and give it, and the new people you meet, a chance and remember that just as you are forming fresh impressions of everyone, they are forming fresh impressions of you - it really helps to show teachers that you're willing to put the work in and fellow students that you're easy to get along with. Good luck with it all. In a couple of weeks you will most likely be wondering why you were worried in the first place.

26-08-2008	#7 (permalink)
Confusion Regular Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK Age: 16 Posts: 285 Threads: 4 Wiki Edits: 2 Blog Entries: 1 Reputation: 1	Jaiden, that made little sence... lol

26-08-2008	#8 (permalink)
Jaiden VIP Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England Age: 21 Posts: 307 Threads: 11 Wiki Edits: 1 Blog Entries: 3	Hm? What didn't make sense? The people who replied were Americans who understandably took 'college' to mean 'university' as that is how they use the word but the kind of college RedApple is talking about is different. Some of the advice and help didn't quite fit because of that (Rance talking about paying for your education, for example) so I just thought it would be helpful to point that out.

26-08-2008	#10 (permalink)
Rance VIP Historical Donor Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Age: 25 Posts: 677 Threads: 19 Blog Entries: 8	Thank you for that clarification, Peachy and Jaiden. Personally, I had no clue that there was a difference in the two, so now that I do, I'm curious to learn more about the designations! Do you graduate with some form of "degree" or title at the end of British college? Does it lead you into your university years? Or is it simply the second half of your secondary education before being sent away to learn a specific area or trade?