Page 10 - 2015 Back To School

What they don’t tell you about college
When I took over this section, I had a specific vision of infor- mation that I
really wanted to include in here.
I began to think back to my first semester of col- lege. I thought I was pre- pared, oh how I couldn't be more wrong!
My junior and senior
years of high school
brought forth a mass of
information, from apply-
ing for FAFSA, filling
out scholarship applica-
tions and applying for
my selected school — high school does,
indeed, prepare you for these things. However, that is only the tip of the ice- berg. The reality is, there are so many other aspects to college that only sea- soned professionals (AKA upper-class-
men) know.
Thinking back on that particular time in
my life, I didn't even know how the hours and credits system worked! These things, however, you learn very quickly.
I want to arm all of you college freshman with a little bit more information, just as the title implies — the things they don't tell you about college.
A disclaimer — your college experience will truly be a unique one. What you expe- rience your best friend will not. I'm not saying that you will go through all of these
things that I will discuss, but it's always really nice to prepare!
I should also note that I did not and could never have compiled this list on my own. I have to give my coworkers, Heath Waldrop of South Arkansas Community College and, of course, our community the biggest thanks for helping me with this.
Your tips and tricks have made this piece what I feel is a true gem for all of our local students to feel just a bit more prepared for what's to come.
So to all of you freshman, I hope you have a wonderful first year! These truly are the best years of your life and even though you are sure to face many trials, tears and stress, enjoy it because it will not last forever.
Though your days may seem to drag, cherish them, because they will fly by and you will once again be walking at gradu- ation.
Always reach for the stars, go to class and don't worry about always being per- fect.
Know that even if times get incredibly hard, things always get better.
I, along with your community and your biggest support system, your loved ones, believe in you and know you will be suc- cessful!
Kelsey is the Special Sections Editor for the El Dorado News-Times. Email her at kwomack@eldoradonews.com.
Kelsey Womack
1. Don’t buy books before classes start. Believe it or not, there are many teachers that don’t even use textbooks, but powerpoint presentations. On the first day of class, determine if it is really necessary to pick- up your textbooks, you end up saving $$.
2. Rent as many books as possible! It is frustrating when you go to book buy back and they are not buying certain textbooks back, either because the class is only taught in a certain season, it is old, etc.
3. If you are stuck with books, bookscouter.com is a wonderful tool to compare prices to sell or even buy books!
4. Visit the library often to find out when the busi- est times are. If they are busy, good luck finding a com- puter to work on! Try to go during library down times, or ask the staff when the best time is to get in.
5. Find out who the most popular teachers are for particular classes and fill out your schedule as early as possible! Their classes fill up quickly and unfortu- nately, upper classmen have first dibs! ratemyprofes- sors.com
6. Don’t overload on hours straight away. 12-15 hours for a first semester is enough hours to be declared a full time student for scholarships and is not so much that first time freshman will feel overwhelmed!
7. Go far enough away from home to get the “on your own” experience, but stay close enough so it isn’t hard to get home if you need to.
8. Always make time to study, don’t get too involved in so many activities.
9. Declining cash balance cards - don’t get a huge meal plan if you know you are not going to use.
10. Dorms are incredibly cramped, so don’t take more than what you need. Only bring clothes for the season and go home and switch out during big breaks. Items like storage tubs, collapsible hangers are a must!
11. Find out what the regulations are for electronics in your dorm. Many will not allow hot plates or table top stoves, but microwaves and dorm refrigerators are usually okay. Bring items that are multi-use, such as a coffee pot. In addition to making your morning (or late night cram session) joe, you can use it to heat water for pasta! Another great item is an iron and ironing board, place some wax paper on the ironing board, assemble a grilled cheese or a quesadilla to your taste and use the iron to heat!
12. Campus Wi-Fi will often lag, especially during hot times. Don’t wait to do important school related tasks and get in a panic because the the internet is lag- ging—utilize your campus library. It is quiet, you have an allotted number of pages that you can print for free on a student account and you will be a lot less stressed.
13. Find odd times to wash clothes, or if you plan on going home, bag them up and wash them at home. A great time is during the day when everyone is at class. If you have a few hours between classes, take care of tasks like this!
14. If you live in a dorm with a community bathroom, find an odd time to get your shower in. It can get crazy busy during certain times, especially in the late evening hours!
15. Get to know your R.A., they can be incredibly helpful for you and give advice for a number of issues!
16. Don’t lose your student ID! This is one of the most important items to keep up with because it is so much more than just an identification card! Attach your student ID to a lanyard with a clear sleeve (these can often be found in the bookstore or university store on campus) and keep all keys and necessity items on it so you will never accidentally lock yourself out of your dorm room late at night and you won’t have to waste time going to get your student ID for events!
17: Know when your school’s withdrawal policy is. It is okay to withdraw from a class, much better than failing, but keep in mind that if you are only taking 12 hours and withdraw from a course that you could potentially lose scholarships because you are not tech- nically full time if you are under 12 hours.
18: If you do fail a class or feel that you could have done better, you can always retake the course.
19: You do not have to declare a major straight away. The first two years will be mostly general education courses, which may help you decide what you would like to do!
Preparing for the road ahead...
"How to apply for finan- cial aid! Also a financial class on how not to get in debt, I should add to teach your children how to balance their checkbooks, please remind them constantly that if they write a check they need to keep up with it. It doesn’t automatically come out like a debit transaction."
— Alex Wilson
"Time management skills when taking online classes and how to communicate effectively with the online instructors."
— Gammye Ward
"How to access the campus health care and counseling that is available. Adjusting to not having parents to take care of you when you are sick or to talk about things that can be very stressful."
— Heather McGarity
"The importance for ath- letes to remember you’re a student athlete and to find ways to balance school work and athletics. You can’t par- ticipate in athletic programs without the grades. This could lead to losing scholar- ship funding."
— Cindy Daniels
"This also applies to those students in band or other activities that require balanc- ing school work and work required for their chosen activity. Two of mine learned the hard way that when one is overly successful the other can suffer unless you put in the extra effort!"
— Tonya Reames
"Teach your kids not to accept and apply for every credit card application sent to them!"
— Natalie Fruge’
"Two of my children went through the Upward Bound MS program at ATU and they provided so much guidance, insight and incentives to not only get them prepared for college life but for success and college graduation."
— Kelly Reyes
"Make sure your degree will get you a job in the
career field that you actual- ly went to school for. Some degrees require grad school!"
— Talanea Tillman
"I wish someone would have told me to pick a career and then figure out what major will get you into that field, rather than picking a major and then figuring out a career. College will only last 4 years, but your career will last much longer, so it will be worthwhile to endure a few classes you don’t like to get you where you really want
to be." — Anna Redford "FAFSA must be done
online first. That’s financial aid before any scholarships will approve. Find out about dorm deposits to get a dorm room. It’s best to go to the college and ask questions and find out what paperwork they need, they can explain and answer all questions."
— Tracie Meshell
"Having worked in an admissions office for 10 years, the biggest thing stu- dents and parents need to know is when to submit scholarship applications! Most universities have their scholarships handed out by February or March, so if you waited until you graduated to submit scholarship appli- cations, you missed out com- pletely on scholarships! Yes, we here in El Dorado are for- tunate to have the El Dorado Promise, but there are many other scholarships a student may receive IF they get their scholarship applications sub- mitted prior to due dates."
— Wayne Garner
"Do your homework and GO to class. It sounds simple, but this is where so many students mess up. Also, don’t go to an expensive presti- gious school if the field you want to work in is lower pay- ing. State schools and com- munity colleges are excellent ways to get the education you need. Also, when pick- ing out schools, have a back up plan in case the one you really want to go to doesn’t work out."
— Catherine Harrell
"NCAA Clearinghouse is a must do if you plan on being a college athlete, whether it be a walk-on or an athletic scholarship."
— Katie Meade
"Make sure that the degree
choice a student wishes to pursue will pay for their stu- dent loans if they have to rely on loans."
— Griffin Effie
"If you are going to school and relying on grants, be sure to hold money back for sum- mer classes. Many don’t take into consideration funds are available in the fall and spring but have to wait until fall for the next dispersement. Summer classes are often required in one or two year programs and some students, myself included, have found themselves running around hoping for a grant to cover
summer expenses. If those funds aren’t found, you have to step out, which is time and money wasted. Prepare for summer expenses."
— Kimberly Humphreys
"Tutoring sessions are available on campus, the writing centers and private study rooms in the library are great. In my masters pro- gram at UAMS, I think it is very important to know that once your classes are chosen and your schedule is made that that schedule is set in stone and cannot be changed."
— Tanya Golden
"Parents need to let their children decide on a major. So many times, parents bully their children into making a decision of major based on their desires. Parents need to know about FERPA! Students need to know that being in a high school classroom is often times very much dif- ferent than being in a college campus setting. Get a strong start academically, it is much more important than the need to be overly involved socially. Print your schedule out the night before classes begin. Know your add/drop, payment, registration and all deadlines. Don’t make a
career decision in five min- utes, pick the brains of the experts and resources you have on campus. It’s okay to start undecided, but know when you must declare and know your instructors names and sit up front!"
— Geoff Theirs
"Students who are going into teaching should have freshman classes in an actu- al classroom. I have known so many people who went into teaching and discovered (senior year) during student teaching that they can't, or
See PREP, Page 11
From their own perspective....
10 – Friday, August 14, 2015 – El Dorado NEWS-TIMES
At West Side Christian School, we believe character is as important as academics, and that opportunities to develop character should be available at every juncture.
Our team holds to certain core values that forge character, foster wisdom, and nurture a lifelong passion for learning. We call it The Warrior Way, and we believe it makes the difference.
West Side Christian School
Home of the Warriors
Enrolling new students on a limited basis. Some classes are full.
Call today. 870-863-5636
www.westsidechristianschool.org
Students get one chance at childhood education.
Make those years matter.
Nurturing Learning Environment
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Excellent Faculty Who Knows Your Children Well
Competitive Athletic Program
Highly Competent College Counseling
Diverse Student Body Strong Family Support Christ-Centered Community-Minded
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