What do you regret about your freshman year?

go-backk · 07-08-2008, 05:53 AM

What would you do differently if you could be a freshman again?
Just a little personal advice for incoming freshman would be fine too

I already looked at similar threads so I'm hoping to learn some new info.

Castel · 07-08-2008, 10:18 AM

Oh this is a good thread.

Onigenghiskhan · 07-08-2008, 01:18 PM

I regret that I was a hermit during Freshman year and kind of went crazy. If I were a Freshman again, I would definitely sleep more, go out more, study more, and eat healthier.

But then again, the mistakes you learn from your Freshman year will let you know what NOT to do for your Sophmore year... at least in my case. >_<

AznN3rd · 07-08-2008, 10:24 PM

I haven't even started freshman year and I already regret not attending CalSo. My phase 1 is on July 14th -15th, the very last day before Phase 2!

TropicalTriceps · 07-08-2008, 11:13 PM

It's easy to let yourself go during freshman year. I, for one, wasn't ready nor experienced enough to utilize the freedom I was handed. I definitely don't feel like I made by freshman year worthwhile enough. Having passed two years since then, I now feel much more capable of having fun as well as working hard no matter the conditions.

Don't spend too much time playing video games, surfing the net, watching tv, hanging out with the same group of people, or getting used to a mediocre routine.

Get to know the bus and bart routes by heart. Scour Berkeley and San Francisco events calendars and find new things to do every weekend. Introduce yourself to people.

School-wise:

Treat your units as a commodity. Don't go for "easy" classes for the hell of it. You are in college to broaden your pool of knowledge AND pick up usable skills. Put in a lot of thought to your course selections and plan out all four years as soon as possible. Really look through that course catalog and highlight everything that interests you. Pool together a list of must-take classes. Take as many courses as possible per semester - if anything, add and THEN drop something if you aren't able to handle the load. Don't try to breeze by with the minimum.

Don't get too caught up in classes. Work experience during college can be one helluva more important than your lectures, whether during the summer or the school year. This is my own opinion, but I don't think summer courses are a worthwhile venture unless you really need them to graduate. Either that, or you have classes + insertactivityhere. They should be a last resort and always second-priority to employment or volunteer work. Becoming too bookish, even if your grades are strong, could set you up for an immense handicap once you are "forced" to enter the real working world.

Date, and don't be too serious about it! There is no substitute when it comes to learning what you want and need in a partner. College is by far the best and easiest place to get them. There's no shortage, good social context, and so many activities to bring your date to.

sparetire · 07-09-2008, 12:15 AM

Living in Foothill even though it wasn't one of my dorm choices.

No, but really, getting out there. There are so many great extracurricular you can do at Berkeley. The thing is that you need to jump on the boat in the beginning of the semester before every opportunity leaves. Research what activities you want to do before school starts and sign ups and try outs begin.