In an attempt to learn more about the details of various colleges across the nation, Kathy Foust interviewed Karen Watts, a former student of Ball State who earned her Bachelor’s in Aquatic Biology. While Karen describes her overall experience as educational academically as well as socially, she did point out some things that future Ball State students should avoid.
1. Freshman 15
If you have never heard of the freshman 15, know that it isn’t limited to Ball State University. The term “freshman 15” alludes to the weight gain that many freshman experience when they are introduced to all the cuisine options and late night study sessions that also involve snacks. According to Karen, sometimes it’s best to set an actual schedule for visits to the dining hall because the dining options are just amazing. They even include several all you can eat buffets. Karen gained 11 lb. by the end of her first semester and literally reorganized her schedule to avoid more weight gain in the future.
2. Identity Theft
Karen says it hasn’t hit the students just yet, but at least 80 members of Ball State University faculty have had their identity stolen. Many of them learned of it after they got a debit card from the IRS that they never applied for. It seems that their taxes were fraudulently filed. Obviously, it’s always important to protect against identity theft, but because of this, many students have chosen to have their funds disbursed to their bank accounts rather than generic debit cards. In addition, some students have frozen their credit as a precaution and only unfreeze it as needed.
3. Peer2Peer File Sharing
We all know piracy is illegal, but it’s tempting to go ahead and share that song with your friend. There are so many people doing this that they assume the government will never be able to track anyone. Now the stakes are a bit higher. Not only can students have to deal with litigation, but potential academic death as well. Ball State takes piracy very seriously and has strict policies against peer2peer sharing, so it’s best to just avoid this road altogether. Even if you beat the charges from the authorities, you still have to face potential issues with your education. No song or movie is worth that kind of hassle.
4. Overload
Karen found Ball State to be a competitive school just to get into. Once she got there, the competition to stand out among the other students in the hopes of cultivating a stellar resume and academic record was utterly exhausting. If you plan to stand out among the rest, she suggests limiting the amount of classes you take as well as the amount of clubs and organizations you get involved with. Make sure you have enough time to provide quality over quantity. College life at Ball State can be fun and open you up to new experiences, but you don’t want so many new experiences that you become overwhelmed and unable to complete the task at hand.
5. Walking Alone at Night
Ball State isn’t alone in this issue. College students are notorious for being targets for predators. They have a reputation for long nights and intense party schedules, so predators know that in the middle of the night, a college student walking alone is likely to be sleep impaired or intoxicated. Karen was cautious enough to stick with the buddy system, even if she was just going out for a cup of coffee. She also kept her room well stocked so she could limit the number of times she would potentially have to leave her room alone at night. For added protection, she suggests self defense classes and small self defense items like mace on a key chain or even just keeping a key firmly grasped in your hand while walking.
Kathy Foust, a graduate of WGU Indiana and a freelance writer, has a keen interest in various college experiences. Karen Watts, member of a research team concerning aquatic biology, offered to share her experiences in order to offer future college students insight to help plan their future.