Hindsight is always 20/20, but it doesn’t do the viewer much good. That’s why in an interview with Karen Watts, aquatic biology graduate from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, Kathy Foust offered to share some important information from Karen with future students. Karen says she enjoyed the experience, but would do things differently if she knew then what she knows now.
1. The Movies Sort of Nailed it Except for One Thing…
Karen wasn’t sure what to expect when she enrolled at Ball State University, but she knew that the movies often glorified things. What she found was that the social atmosphere really can be a lot like the movies, with one exception; you actually have to attend class. The movies sort of leave that part out until the class clown realizes he may be in college for life if he doesn’t get it together soon. In other words, there really are some crazy pranks and plenty of parties, but if you can’t get to class when the party is over, it’s game over for your academic standing and a whole lot of money wasted. Karen suggests making it a rule to make a schedule that spaces out your homework and test days so you can enjoy the fun without sacrificing the education. She also suggests that parents who are paying for college have full access to the student’s online portal so that they can see if there is more progress or partying going on and adjust the finances accordingly.
2. Roommates Require Compromise
Karen never had to share a room before going to Ball State. That made her whole experience a lesson in social skills as well as academic subjects. While sharing a room for the first time was a challenge, she ultimately found that it was a good experience which taught her about patience and compromise. One tip she offered was to create a posted study schedule so that you and your roommate aren’t accidentally clashing social times with study hours. She also suggested a privacy tent for the bed so intimate moments can be a little more…intimate.
3. Late Night Studying Isn’t All that Effective
One of the most common mistakes that students make is to rely on late night study sessions. Karen describes her attempt at that method as “less than effective”. Rather than waiting until she was too tired for the words on the paper to mean anything, she found that changing up her study methods by attending study groups and making flash cards was far more effective. In fact, the night before the test is the night she took off from studying.
4. Geography Matters
The Ball State campus in Muncie, Indiana is rather large. Karen suggests you pay attention to your school map before scheduling your classes. Make sure that you can get from one class to another on time instead of having to run between them. It isn’t just a matter of making it to class on time either. Karen said she seemed to manage her load better if she had a bit of time to stretch her legs between classes. With longer breaks between classes, she could head to The Atrium to snack and study.
5. Take the Used Option
In some cases, you only need the book once or twice during the whole semester anyhow, so it’s always best to shop for used books rather than going straight for the new ones. If you can’t buy a used book, try looking at book rental options before you start looking at new books. While new books sometimes cost between $100-200, used ones can go for as little as $20. She also mentioned that she sometimes swapped books with people who had already taken classes she was getting ready to take, offering them books they would use the next semester and which she had already used.
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.