General

My first day we had a quick orientation speech (like 5-10 minutes) by a rep for undergrad engineering.

Then they handed out a test to "see what we knew". First few were simple, but after like 6 questions they got extremely complicated. We only had like 10-15 minutes or something too.

Like 3-4 minutes in someone stands up, yells "Screw this!", and kicks open the door when storming out of the auditorium.

The final question on the test had something to do with Ninja Turtles. It also said if you read this relax and stop taking the test, because it wasn't real. After like 5 minutes they stopped the test, and the guy who stormed out came back in, because he was actually a rep too apparently. It was pretty funny.

The rest of the day was filled with walking around, somewhat touring a campus, and sitting in a really long presentation.

Expect nothing, walk into lecture like everyone else

@Capricious hmm...you just made me think really hard. Most of my friends are going to the military or out of state for college. As of now I might simply stay in-state or go to California with my brother and relatives. I have no girlfriend that I would be leaving behind.

But if I were to go to another country...wow. That would be an adventure. That would be the adventure of my life so far. I'm not even sure if anyone from my high school has done that before. I guess I have to consider it now...damn.

[quote=icemage11]@Jackthegreat: Free food, free knick knacks Plus it was fun to walk around and see all the booths with a few friends. Most important was the free food. There are so much during that first week that I don't have to cook for the entire week. [/quote]

Okay, I've definitely been missing something all my years at UBC then. If I decide to go back to school this year, this is something I'll definitely have to check out and dig around for! Thanks for the enlightenment!

@Jackthegreat: Free food, free knick knacks Plus it was fun to walk around and see all the booths with a few friends. Most important was the free food. There are so much during that first week that I don't have to cook for the entire week.

you need to join a group and your circle of friends will blossom. always keep ammo in the gun. in storage when needed. That way, you'll always be ready.

[quote=icemage11]@Jackthegreat: Nope, just curious if you bothered going after first year. I went every year but some of my friends are like "what's the point, I rather have an extra day off"[/quote]

First few years of University, I got back into town on Monday, while the last few, I didn't finish classes till middle of August, so I needed every day off I could get before being "mentally ready" to begin again. Curious, but what brought you back to Imagine day first day every year? Of my friends, I don't know anyone who went when they didn't have to other than those who had to man a booth.

relax and pay attention.

you meet the girl of your dreams and fall in love.

@Jackthegreat: Nope, just curious if you bothered going after first year. I went every year but some of my friends are like "what's the point, I rather have an extra day off"

[quote=icemage11]Imagine Day? Have you gone after your first year?[/quote]

I went last year as well, for the beginning of my BEd program. All the years in between? I took the extra day off to get ready for classes on Wednesday (or Thursday the few years I had no classes Wednesday). Is there something I'm forgetting or mistaken about Imagine day?

[quote=Jackthegreat]Things have changed since I was in first year, but at my University, there are no classes first day for all years/programs (unless your classes begin after 4 pm), so check if you actually have classes first day, because you might not actually have them, which is one nerve-wracking thing off your plate.

Going from what I remember, nothing academic happens on the first day. Here, you meet outside your faculty building, have a few ice breaking/team building activities, then head off to the school's stadium/performing arts hall to listen to what the dean has to say. After that, you're free to go and visit the booths they have set up down the main street of the University with information on clubs and whatnot that you could join, and that's about it.

My advice? If your university has orientation, where you're placed in small groups, take the time to get to know those in that group. I don't know if it was because of the nature of my major (Music), but the people I met in those orientation groups became my closest friends throughout my undergrad and we hung out, worked on projects together etc. for the entirety of the 4 years of our undergrad degrees. For a shy and not-very-outgoing person like me who has difficulty beginning friendships, being put into small groups like that was very beneficial and helpful for integrating myself into the University and I would recommend you take advantage of it.

Other advice? Email your professors a week or so before classes start to express concern over a potential heavy workload and ask what readings you could do before the first day of classes begin. In general, even if you don't end up doing any pre-reading, I've noticed that doing something like that puts you into the good books of the professor, and makes it easier to negotiate grades should there be a need to do so at the end of the semester.

And frame your absences properly. Don't go "did I miss anything?" (implying there's a chance that what they did in class today was not very important) but instead ask "is there something I should catch up on before the beginning of next class" and, regardless the issue, take responsibility by saying "sorry for the inconvenience this has caused". When you appear to take ownership and come across as responsible, professors are much more sympathetic and helpful to your cause, whatever it may be.

Good luck![/quote]

Imagine Day? Have you gone after your first year?

you go to class

you discuss the syllabus and maybe have a short lecture

you leave

Things have changed since I was in first year, but at my University, there are no classes first day for all years/programs (unless your classes begin after 4 pm), so check if you actually have classes first day, because you might not actually have them, which is one nerve-wracking thing off your plate.

Going from what I remember, nothing academic happens on the first day. Here, you meet outside your faculty building, have a few ice breaking/team building activities, then head off to the school's stadium/performing arts hall to listen to what the dean has to say. After that, you're free to go and visit the booths they have set up down the main street of the University with information on clubs and whatnot that you could join, and that's about it.

My advice? If your university has orientation, where you're placed in small groups, take the time to get to know those in that group. I don't know if it was because of the nature of my major (Music), but the people I met in those orientation groups became my closest friends throughout my undergrad and we hung out, worked on projects together etc. for the entirety of the 4 years of our undergrad degrees. For a shy and not-very-outgoing person like me who has difficulty beginning friendships, being put into small groups like that was very beneficial and helpful for integrating myself into the University and I would recommend you take advantage of it.

Other advice? Email your professors a week or so before classes start to express concern over a potential heavy workload and ask what readings you could do before the first day of classes begin. In general, even if you don't end up doing any pre-reading, I've noticed that doing something like that puts you into the good books of the professor, and makes it easier to negotiate grades should there be a need to do so at the end of the semester.

And frame your absences properly. Don't go "did I miss anything?" (implying there's a chance that what they did in class today was not very important) but instead ask "is there something I should catch up on before the beginning of next class" and, regardless the issue, take responsibility by saying "sorry for the inconvenience this has caused". When you appear to take ownership and come across as responsible, professors are much more sympathetic and helpful to your cause, whatever it may be.

Good luck!

Uhhh....on the first day of classes, it's basically syllabus day so you don't really do too much. The workload starts to pick up fairly quickly (however, my school is on the quarter system so it moves faster than schools on the semester system) so make sure to find some time for it.

Also, very important, definitely get involved with activities on campus and make the most of what college has to offer to you. It's a once in a lifetime experience and you don't want to waste it. Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone--do things you had always wanted to do before but made excuses not to do and even do things you never imagined yourself doing.

If you're living in on campus housing, keep your dorm door open during the first week and make friends with people on your floor. After all, you'll be living with them for the rest of the year. Who knows, they may even become your future roommates in your later years!

i hated going to an academic institution. i recently got into an electrician program at the same school which offered trades. the atmosphere is great and real chill. i wish there were girls in it though, its a major sausage fest but thats what trades are like.

I agree, people there will feel the same things yur feelin. though, some people act in different ways with stress...

you might wanna watch for people who change over the school year.

if you made friends with them in the beginning of the year, its no excuse to stay with them, when they show their true nature.

First day is chill. Make sure you know where your classes are, and you know how to get to them. Remember that your peers are anxious too, and don't be afraid to like put yourself out there and be social with them--they might even appreciate it.

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[quote=Capricious]@crazypoorer: Go* I have not graduated yet. That's true... but those are usually the "serious," students, right?[/quote]

Even in summer school people come to my professor's office hours 30 minutes prior haha

@crazypoorer: Go* I have not graduated yet. That's true... but those are usually the "serious," students, right?

[quote=Capricious]I felt anxious. I moved countries, so I had no friends. I was nervous and wound up getting lost for my first lecture. Ended up being two hours early for my second lecture, out of fear that I'd get lost again.

Took a few weeks to get used to it.

Edit: Be prepared to be let down. It's never like what you have in mind. Classes were half-empty even on day one. They got smaller and smaller as the semester went on. People aren't as serious as they would like you to believe. Professors can be really rude and apathetic. Some are full of themselves and never fail to remind you that you're a nitwit, while others try to be your buddy and make you feel better about your lack of understanding in the material.[/quote]

I don't know what college you went to but people go to lecture halls 30 minutes before class even starts just to get front row seats

Get used to seeing girls wearing shorts that reveal their butt

Expect everyone to be over the top friendly trying to make friends.

I felt anxious. I moved countries, so I had no friends. I was nervous and wound up getting lost for my first lecture. Ended up being two hours early for my second lecture, out of fear that I'd get lost again.

Took a few weeks to get used to it.

Edit: Be prepared to be let down. It's never like what you have in mind. Classes were half-empty even on day one. They got smaller and smaller as the semester went on. People aren't as serious as they would like you to believe. Professors can be really rude and apathetic. Some are full of themselves and never fail to remind you that you're a nitwit, while others try to be your buddy and make you feel better about your lack of understanding in the material.

be prepared for a haze cloud