No really, you do. So, raise your hands. How many of you are in college at the moment? How many of you just finished your finals? How many of you are still in the process of taking finals? Are you dead yet? Suicidal? Tired? Yeah, I know how it goes. I am a sophomore in college and am in the process of transferring colleges for the spring semester (because I crave big city life), and I am tired. I woke up in the middle of the night last night with the sneaking suspicion that I had something due and would have to pull yet another all-nighter. Because that’s the kind of college student I am. I come back from class, catch lunch (at 5 in the afternoon), take a quick nap, get dragged out to a party or a park or something, go to ihop at 4 in the morning, and come back at 6AM, doing homework until classes start.

Picture: Some of my schedule for this semester that just passed. Note the lack of early classes.

That being said, here’s my college survival guide. Take it as seriously as you want.

Don’t party in the middle of the week (excessively). If you’re at a club with a guy who says, “are you okay? I don’t want to get you drunk!” as he hands you a shot of tequila, get out of there. No, really. This general philosophy applies with any party. If you’ve got something due the next day or a test, I don’t care how good your roommate’s secret sobriety concoction is; get out of there. Put down the beer. Don’t do another shot. You don’t want to be that person, the twenty-five year old sophomore who’s been going to school since she was twenty but keeps dropping classes. Get your stuff done during the week and go out during the weekend. And if you do go out at night, take classes accordingly.

For God’s sake, don’t get in more debt. If your parents give you money, you’re golden, but don’t use a credit card. If you’ve got a job, think of your necessities most. If you’re broke, don’t spend $25 on a bottle of Bacardi Razz. Don’t pay a $15 cover charge. Don’t take a road trip that involves $50 of gas money and another $100 for eating out, buying concert tickets, etc. Just be reasonable. If you want to do something or know you’re going to be spontaneous, save up money in advance. Don’t be like me and end up having to scrounge for two months to pay off a $300 credit card bill because of a fun weekend in Austin. It’s just not worth it. But if you are going to do it, don’t let interest kill you. Get that thing paid off. Besides, there are things you can do for free or cheap. Karaoke is cheap. The park is free (and freaking awesome in the middle of the night).

Picture: Fun at the park in the middle of the night.

Get your work done. If you can study with your friends, go for it, but pick ones you can actually study with. Ninety percent of my friends can’t study in groups, and when I try to study with them, we’ll sit in a study lounge for five hours and do fifteen minutes worth of homework. There are a couple of friends who motivate me to work. They’re the ones I like to study with. Don’t procrastinate. Just get it done. You’ll be saner because of it. And pace yourself. If you can’t go 36 hours without sleeping, start doing homework before four in the morning. And furthermore, if you’re going to pull an all-nighter, make sure that even that’s enough time to get whatever it is done. One of my roommates is an art major, and she’d work for twelve hours straight and still not get her watercolor designs done. Just pace yourself and don’t run out of time. You’re there for school, first and foremost.

Picture: One of my best friends studying for her Astronomy test as I studied for Genetics.

Never ever decide spontaneously to get a tattoo, a piercing, weird haircut, or color. I’ve got green and purple in my hair at the moment, and that was done at a salon with two weeks worth of planning involved. A friend of mine decided spur of the moment pink was a good idea and thought it prudent to have it done immediately at a cheap salon. Then again, I couldn’t talk that same friend out of piercing her nose herself. Needless to say, she now has to pay $200 for color correction and a hospital bill for her infected nose. True story. Think about things.

Relax. It’s going to be okay. Do you have a D in a class? It’s not the end of the world. I’ve got an evil teacher who gave me a C this semester, only C I’ve ever gotten, and it dropped by GPA down to a 3.6. I’m not killing myself over it. I’m evaluating what I could’ve done better and am applying it toward future classes. If you fail a test, it’ll be okay. I promise. I repeat: It’s not the end of the world. I’ve you’ve got to drop a class occasionally, that’s fine, too. Just make sure you know what your school’s drop policies are. Here in Texas, you have a limited number of drops you can use, for example.

Picture: Displaying my new hair color.

If you have to change your major, it’ll also be okay. So you’d rather be a painter instead of a doctor, huh? That’s alright. Just decide how important money is to you. Take it from someone who’s switching from Biology to Literary Studies. I know most of you want to be successful, and with hard work, I firmly believe you can be, regardless of how much money you’re going to make or how hard it is to make a decent living in your chosen career path.

Make amazing friends. Make the kind of friends who will come get you in the middle of the night. Make the kind of friends who will want to physically harm someone who hurts you (although I don’t condone violence, I’ve got guy friends who literally have done that). Make the type of friends who will let you cry into their shirt and tell you the truth about whatever the situation is. They’ll be your greatest allies. Make the kind of friends who encourage you to do your work and strive for the best. Make the kind of friends who will tell you when your boyfriend is a jerk or when you’re being childish. Make the kind of friends who turn into your family. And don’t settle for less.

Picture: In which my friend jizzes in his pants (or at least sings about it)

College is a pretty cool experience, and I know when I was a freshman, I was scared to death. I was scared about everything from partying to tests. If you don’t know how to meet people, join organizations. I ended up running and getting a position in student government, and those are some of the most motivated friends I’ve made. Join clubs, activities, the paper, the radio, etc. If your school doesn’t have those, just sit next to someone in class and start talking. Ask them what they’re doing this weekend. Scope out if you have anything in common. Worst case scenario, you can transfer.

Anyway, hope everyone is doing well and has a good holiday. I’ll try to get another article on fansubbing out for New Year’s. I’ve been getting some requests for that.

Note: Grats to everyone who had a successful nanowrimo! All pictures taken and posted with permission!

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tightgrip wrote on December 20, 2009

Title: ... Oh yes, I agree working in a group can give you headaches. Thanks for this article. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

SayaOtonashi wrote on December 20, 2009

Title: ... Oh shoot. I start college in Fall 2010...I read this and I feel like a weight has been lifted. Thanks so much! I'll take this tips into consideration! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

ERdBeerTee wrote on December 21, 2009

Title: thanks :D Fall 2010 I start with my university-career..thanks for the mindful tips i'll keep them in my mind. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

leeleekins wrote on December 22, 2009

Title: ... oh yeah, right now im in a junior college and finals were still a pain in the ass. it sucks even more my schools website isnt letting me check my grades right now! but its okay, the next semester doesnt start for another 6 weeks so i can chill at home with some recently bought manga and cry once i remember i have to buy my books... report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Hishii wrote on December 22, 2009

Title: ... I really do feel that college is a cool place to have all kind of experiences; I'm a freshmen and I'm still scared of some things but now I'm starting to feel better in the environment even though I think I'm going to transfer ;_; report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Shidoni wrote on December 22, 2009

Title: ... It always pisses me of when people moan about college and maybe have aroud 4 or 5 courses within a semester. I bet some of you know those moaners. I don't know the US system, but this here is my schedule for this semester (I study in Germany): MO: 10a.m. - 9 p.m. without a single break! TUE: 10a.m. - 6 p.m. without a single break WED: 12-6p.m. again no break THU 9 a.m.-4p.m. again no break Then I study sports and need to find time to train for my physical P.E. exams, which is mostly before college, meaning around 5.30/6a.m. or after college, meaning between 8p.m.-11p.m. Then I need over an hours to even arrive at college and the same over an hours to arrive back home and I have to write 8 wriiten exams this time in a time span of three days. Each course equals around 500+ pages to learn. I have absolutely no idea how to do this. -.- report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

priyanka92 wrote on December 23, 2009

Title: ... kool....I'll be starting uni in 2010...thanx for the tips... report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

xxasianecstasyxx wrote on December 23, 2009

Title: ... I just graduated this past August and it took me five years to graduate. I didn't party really at all but it took me five years mainly because of procrastination and lack of motivation. I study horribly in groups, mainly because I would study with my friends and like you said, spend about 15 minutes studying and the other five hours doing nothing. There was a time when I studied with two of my friends and one of my friends taught me everything in about two hours and I got a C on that exam which wasn't bad. I think procrastination is the killer when it comes to college, especially since most people leave home which is what I did. I would spend hours on the computer and not do homework, not sleep. Haha, I love how you have a picture of Karaoke at a noraebang! Noraebangs are the best! And I also made almost all of my friends through organizations I joined. I never joined a sorority but if you plan on joining one, make sure you can balance it with your studies. If you balance your day out you can fit in plenty of things. Shidoni, I know college outside of the US is much harder. I don't know how you can do that. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

GenericWit wrote on December 23, 2009

Title: ... @ tightgrip: no problem! @ SayaOtonashi & ERdBeerTee & priyanka92: No problem! I know lots of high schoolers worry about uni a lot more than really necessary. I fell into that category also! @ leeleekins: I think the new semester for me starts on the 11th. :/ Ends in May though so... nice long summer! @ Hishii: No shame in transferring. If you're *that* hesitant to try something, it may not be something you *need* to try. Always follow you instincts! And no shame in transferring. I've found that you do a lot better in schools where you feel comfortable. And I've found that half of that is friendship and half of that is environment. @ Shidoni: This isn't the whine-boat. I've studied abroad, and I've lived abroad. My two best friends in the world are in Europe. One of them is my childhood best friend who goes to uni in Germany, and another is someone I met abroad who now goes to school in England. I understand classes can be long, but it's not common to have a 12 hour day. I can say that for fact. On the other hand, last semester I wanted to get ahead since I knew I'd have to start studying for grad school admissions tests (MCATs, GREs, etc.) this semester. So last semester I took 19 hours as opposed to the 13 I took this semester (along with the prep course I didn't feel relevant in mentioning). I did have a schedule where Tuesdays and thursdays I was in class from 9 until 7 with a two hour break from 12 until 2. Would I ever do it again? No. Would I ever recommend it to anyone? No. Do I think it's necessary in the slightest? Probably not. These are general and humorous but still truthful tips which I think are applicable to masses. I think if you're going to do a crazy course load like you've chosen to do, no amount of tips will help you. Plus, I don't think that's for everyone. No one here was moaning about anything. I know I, for one, was simply pointing out the fact that I don't like early classes. And so I do what I can to avoid having to take them. That's problem-solving. @xxasianecstasyxx: No shame in doing 5 years. I seriously considered it. My friend Michael did 2.5 years and took like 22 hours per semester for a year straight. It was lunacy. He took classes like 12 hours a day every day just about. Anyway... yeah! I agree. I love doing karaoke there! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Endlessdreamer wrote on December 24, 2009

Title: ... Omg! Thanks for the tips! I'm about to start my spring semester in college (a junior college) in about another 2 semesters or something and I'm going to transfer, the studying tips are awesome! I should have found something like out a while ago, didn't do too good on 2 out of my 4 finals. But thank you for the article! You're awesome!! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Vixi wrote on December 24, 2009

Title: ... Amen to this, seriously. I'm in my final year of a four year degree, and believe me, lessons have been learned! Concentrate on your studies, don't skive classes! Because you'll be kicking yourself when you don't get the grades you know you can get! I'm looking at applying for an MA now, but I have 20k pounds worth of debt already. It all costs money, don't take it for granted. That being said, College or University is a place you grow up in. You will make mistakes (oh yes you will) and plenty of them - by the end you will be a completely different person to the one who went in. make sure it's the right kind of person. xxx Vix report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

RoyLover wrote on December 25, 2009

Title: ... And then you realize you don't want a painting degree because, in fact, you really want to do comics. And with comics, it's not a college degree they're looking for; they're looking for work experience and skills as told by the pros. Then you realize you're in college/university the first place, digging your grave of debt, all because your parents will bat you in the head if you feel it's not your thing and would rather work a full-time job. Then if you did go to college/university and don't succeed, they will bat you in the head for failing and not listening to them. A true story lived by my sister - - except she wanted to study into business but they wouldn't let her. Moral? Don't let your parents dictate your life. D: report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

karasu008 wrote on December 25, 2009

Title: ... you know, reading this article... it reminds me of my old self during my senior year in high school... i used to love ANYTHING that distracts me from school... especially the part on group studying... IT DOESN'T WORK! even when i'm with the top student of my batch... NO EFFECT! i only wished that i was able to absorb anyting from her brain.lolz i almost flunked my last year in HS! but now that i'm in college... i no longer "fool around" like i used to... and, strangely enough, i got a scholarship (O.O) hmmm... those survival guides you have up there... ARE THE EXACT REMEDIES! *been there, done that Xp report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Aiala wrote on December 25, 2009

Title: ... Seriously, I understand all of that perfectly. I admit, I myself have gone through multiple stages mentioned, and my great friends were always there to pull me through. Thanks for the guide! I'll use it wisely! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

GenericWit wrote on December 25, 2009

Title: ... Endlessdreamer: I'd still like to think that my tips are applicable for junior/community college kids. I mean, it's the same sort of deal, for the most part. Good luck in your classes! Vixi: Yeah, something I wish I'd hit on previously was the "don't skip classes." Even if classes don't have attendance policies, a lot of the time the class might cover something that's not in the book or give you extra credit opportunities simply for attending. And yeah... debt. *sigh* Good luck on grad school apps! RoyLover: Agreed. If your parents try to pressure you into doing anything, one of two things is going to happen. You're either going to go with it and hate your career for the rest of your life, or you're going to switch and end up staying in college and burning hours. Karasu008: Group studying *can* be effective. In my Genetics study group, we all actually came in with sort of "jepordy" questions prepared, and we'd literally just go and ask questions... I'd ask something like "Does bacteria DNA have introns?" knowing that the answer is "no" and coming out with information I'd forgotten like maybe... "they have a single circular strand which is transcribed and translated at the same time" or something. They can be effective. I'd say most aren't though. Especially with friends. Aiala: Glad you liked it! Good luck with the remainder of your schooling! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Shadowrider7 wrote on December 26, 2009

Title: YSU Lover~ Haha! Great advice! I'm a junior in high school, and recently I've been all over different colleges, searching for the major I want to look into. It's not a walk in the park (late at night) that's for sure. Not to mention my best friend orginally made me look for colleges that we could both go to (though it's difficult to find a college with Clinical Child Psychology [or any college for that matter other than an expensive private university in Massachusets] and Foreign Language Translation majors.) then when I finally pick one that's economically sound and has at least general psych she says "Oh no, they have a lousy Language selection." Well hey! It's a small public college with a pretty wicked Psych research facility, it's close to home with jobs on campus, and they've got 3 major foreign languages to chose from... Ah... Sorry. I'm just ranting. >_> I love her to death but sometimes I feel like strangling her TO death. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

GenericWit wrote on December 29, 2009

Title: ... I understand, Shadow-san. You've got to remember though that as a Junior in high school, you're going to change your mind a billion times. I'm still changing my mind, and I'm already HERE. It's a process filled with growing paints, deciding exactly WHAT degree you want and WHAT career you want and HOW you can make that happen and WHERE you can make that happen. It's tough! I've down hundreds of hours on research pertaining to things that I could care less about now. So... don't drive yourself crazy... YET! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

MaikoAde wrote on December 31, 2009

Title: ... What you wrote is completely true. Though I dont party as hard, when i occasionaly go out (once in 2 weeks or so) I usually get hammered so bad I cant feel my right hand; disterbing, cause I'm 22...and a girl. These are a really good set ouf rules, especially when someone does have the strength to follow them and pull through when telling themselves - NO. Because if you are all talk, then there is something a lot sadder than a 25 year old first year, in my uni there is a 32 year old guy that for the past 12 years has been trying to pass the first semester of the first year. Just imagine when type of doctor he is going to be if he doesnt kill himself before he miraculously will be able to graduate? report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

siriuslee wrote on January 02, 2010

Title: ... Oh college...how I love thee and how I will miss thee. I'm in my final year (actually starting my final semester on January 19). I'm guessing from the Texas Tech logo on your schedule that you go to well...Texas Tech. I'm currently at UT and am a huge UT football fan...so yea I kind of feel obligated to say Yea we're going to the BCS Bowl!!! *cough* lol...nothing bad meant by this, so please don't be offended. (I hope I didn't break any rules...) Anyways hope you did wonderful on all of your finals and enjoy the rest of your time as a college student! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

metafiction26 wrote on January 05, 2010

Title: ... omg, this was beautiful. Thank you! I'm applying for colleges next year and this is really informative and so helpful! I'm really nervous about starting college...but how you describe things, it just seems like a day to day kind of thing...like my life times 10 or something! I so hope I'm successful...wish me luck! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

bibbi wrote on January 06, 2010

Title: ... hahhha its nice to read your blog, I've just graduated on Dec 09. Right now I'm in the middle of 5 job recruitment process! Oh well in this kind of recession, its quite tough. once you finished your college take a deep breath and some of you may want to take a break but my advice dont take it too long..Seriously, you dont want to hear that most of your colleagues have already nailed a job while you still wandering around. I dont know the recruitment process in US but in my country most of the big companies required a medical check up test as its final step to join them. So... keep your good health guys!! and GUd Luck for all of you who still fighting in Uni!! XD report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

GenericWit wrote on January 07, 2010

Title: ... @Maiko : Yeah I find it hard to follow the rules sometimes, but I'm pretty good at them now! Tee hee! @siriuslee : LOLOL. I transferred to UTD so don't feel bad. Not that I would take offense to it if I stayed at Tech either. Umm... I was originally aiming toward UT Austin, HOWEVER, the campus didn't jive with me. Austin does, but UT doesn't. And if I went there, I wouldn't have had an option but to live on campus, you dig? But yeah, maybe we can hang out one day when I'm in Austin! @meta : I mostly described this for current college students. Different strokes for different folks. You won't have the same experiences I will and vice versa. Prolly now that I've transferred, I'll have a much calmer experience! Good luck! You won't need it, I'm sure! @bibbi : Good advice. And good luck! It's scary being in uni and hearing about job hunting already, but it's a part of growing up, I suppose. I dunno what I'll do when I'm out in the real world. Flail? Haha. Hopefully not! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Shidoni wrote on January 08, 2010

Title: ... @GenericWit : I would work on my manners, if I were you. "Whine boat"?! Just because a FRIEND of you studies here, doesn't mean you now shit about studying in Germany at all. You are not German, so just knowing someone who studies here, doesn't mean you know anything about the shitty, old system here. >: ( And this is a BLOG. Use your dictionary to understand what a BLOG actually means. Idiot. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

GenericWit wrote on January 11, 2010

Title: ... @Shidoni : As far as I know, this is my blog, so I can say whatever I want. Don't like it? Later, homes. And, actually, yeah, I am German. First language and everything. Thanks for the assumption that was just proven wrong. You know what they say about people that assume. Now, the whine boat can sail out of here. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

nightlyoko626 wrote on January 12, 2010

Title: ... hhahahaha lmaooo i luv the kanye pic XD XD XD report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0