Your College Planning

<p>I am a freshman.</p>

<p>Could somebody share your college plans from the first year to graduation?</p>

<p>and how did you enrich your college life?</p>

<p>In high school, I got straight As and had meaningful extracurricular activities. I chose the school with the most prestige I could get into: Northwestern. </p>

<p>In college, I did just enough to get by. I didn’t like my first year classes and I didn’t want to treat college like a full-time job. I wanted to party and I wasn’t ready to take a boring class even if it was the only one that would teach me the skills I wanted.</p>

<p>I didn’t realize that a good way to find out what majors you might like is to sit in on a few lectures in every department. You don’t have to enroll in the class. At Brown they begin every term like this, it’s called “shopping.”</p>

<p>I didn’t realize that I could always take a year off of college and then return or transfer. In Europe this is common. It’s called a “Gap Year” and it comes between high school and college.</p>

<p>Summary: think about what you really want, know what all your options are, work really hard at everything you value, and ASK FOR ADVICE if you are not very sure you’re making the right choices.</p>

<p>Thank for your response!!!</p>

<p>When I entered the college I am confused what should I do, but your summary give me a light! It is important to think about what I really want that I can spend time to pursuit it.</p>

<p>People always say college life affect their future a lot and how they cherish the memory of college. I hope I can learn in college not only my major ,but also substantial life experience.</p>

<p>Hi EmilyChang,</p>

<p>I think you asked a great question! I would like to share with you my experiences. Currently, I am a senior at Washington University in St. Louis. I am a biology and anthropology double major. I took nearly the full course load every semester- wasn’t easy, and I definitely went to sleep late, but I think I did pretty well so far. </p>

<p>Freshman year:
First semester- took a lot of prerequisite classes for my major. Worked in a lab.
Second semester - took a lot of prerequisite classes. Worked in a lab. Joined a club.</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
Continued with classes. Joined a large campus volunteer group. Continued working in a lab. Still in a club. Eventually elected to leadership position.</p>

<p>Junior year:
Classes. Volunteer group. Lab. Leadership role. Teaching assistance.</p>

<p>Senior year:
Same as above, mostly.</p>

<p>Let me know if this was helpful, and PM me if you have further questions.</p>

<p>Hi zenith602 :</p>

<p>Thank for your response!!!
You are a biology and anthropology double major!
In fact, I am really like biology when I am a senior high school student.
But I don’t know what is anthropology learn about? people’s behavior or human evolution ?
I think you know what you really want so that you study so hard.
Actually, I am major in Foreign Languages and Literature and I am a Taiwan college student, at the first time I don’t know this department which I really want. Now I can enjoy studying in the class, although I feel pressure sometime.</p>

<p>Oh , I want to ask how did you enrich your college life besides school work? How did you choose your club?</p>

<p>Hi EmilyChang again!</p>

<p>Awesome- I see we are both biology lovers!
Anthropology- gosh, defining ‘anthropology’ as a field is not easy. So I will provide an example. Imagine you are a researcher studying why people in Northern Africa are always dying from meningitis. Now, the SCIENTIST will study the biological reason behind the meningitis- how is the bacteria transmitted? How dangerous is it? Is there an antibiotic to treat it and how does it work?
The ANTHROPOLOGIST will study how the people’s behavior and relationships with each other perpetuates the mortality by meningitist. For example: Do the people live close together, so the bacteria transmits fast? If there is an antibiotic, are the people willing to take it? If not, why (is there a cultural reason)? I hope this helps you understand anthropology. People often just define anthropology as “the study of culture” or “the study of mankind.” I like providing an example so it’s really clear what it is.</p>

<p>Besides school work, I really just did what I enjoyed. Ask yourself: What do I enjoy doing the most? What am I good at?</p>

<p>Is it music? Join a music group or club.
Is it science? Do research in a lab with a professor.</p>

<p>It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you enjoy it and achieve something out of it.
Don’t do something you don’t like just because “it looks good;” you’ll soon be tired and frustrated. Participating in an activity you enjoy will give your life joy and balance, and be very synergistic in the growth of your college career!</p>

<p>Hope that helps, EmilyChang. </p>

<p>By the way, maybe you can double- major in biology and a language in college? </p>

<p>I know several Taiwan students here at Washington University in St. Louis!!! Geez, they are so smart (why are the internationals always so brilliant?!)</p>

<p>Hi zenith602 :</p>

<p>Thank for your response and explanation!
Your explanation is clear and vivid, I have understood more about anthropology.</p>

<p>You said besides school work, you really just did what you enjoyed. It sounds very happy!</p>

<p>At the beginning of the last semester, I had tried various extracurricular activities, but until now I haven’t found my favorite extracurricular activity. I think I am not understand myself, although I know I love reading fictions, listening to the music, handicrafts, making cookie or cake,singing and watching movies.</p>

<p>It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you enjoy it and achieve something out of it.
I don’t know when I can find my favorite thing and devoted to in it. But I will try my best and cherish my college life everyday. :slight_smile: Think you tell me your experience, it is very helpful.</p>