University (Or "College" for you Americans...)

[Dok Zombie]

If I'm honest, drinking isn't the be all and end all of the experience, it's just what most people think of when somebody mentions Uni.

I was genuinely surprised by the number of non-drinkers I met while here.

One thing I will say for it, is that it's the geeks that seem to have to most fun. Once you're part of a community of thousands of people your own age, the preppy types are so numerous everybody realises how boring constantly striving to be "cool" is. People with a more laid-back attitude or a more unique personality are far more likely to make a large group of friends.

 

[FoolKiller]

I enjoyed it a lot. Don't really drink (in fact I didn't drink for a year as an example to a friend who drank too much) but went out and had a lot of strange nerdy fun. Tried many things that I would never have otherwise tried including a sport with which I fell in love with.

 

[BuyableDoor]

I'm in uni now, 3rd year law student.
Let me tell you a story of those 3 years:
In the beginning we were left to roam free. There was no obligation to attend classes or anything. Everything was good. There was a balance. The lazy students dropped out, the diligent ones stayed.
Then I enrolled in my 2nd year. They turned all classes obligatory for my year, as a test. Missing 3 classes: extra assignment. Missing 4: you're not allowed to take the exam. You had to wait a FULL YEAR.
Then my 3rd year came. Now THIS year is obligatory too. Next year all years will have that obligation.
Next year there's also a "you must be at least this awesome"-bar for the first year. You have to collect 40/60 collegecredits, or else you HAVE to quit.

In my first year I didn't make the bar. I scored a meager 21/60. Now I'm in the top 10% of my year.

So, university in Holland: it started out as an adventure of freedom, in which you could chose whether you attended class or studied from the books in that time. Now it's turning into regular school. Moreso: kindergarten with "you must be at least this awesome"-bars.

Now it's only lacking quicktime events...

The city rocks though. The facilities are really nice, teachers are competent and classes are interesting. It just lacks the alure it used to have...

where in Holland you at? I'm first year at UvA, and we already have to get at least 50 out of 60 credits to pass to next year, as well as 80% attendence rate for most work groups.

 

[Dok Zombie]

In a few weeks, three years of University comes to a close for Dok Zombie.

In the past three years I have become a total slob, let my personal hygiene slide to previously unknown levels of depravity, descended into realms of manchild geekiness the likes of which I haven't known since I was 14, been embarrassingly wasted more times than I care to remember, spent a hideous amount of money on weed, filled a whole bookshelf with books and comics I would never have read otherwise, been introduced to music that I wouldn't have touched with a bargepole beforehand, met some brilliant people and some epic wankers, embodied any number of student cliches (this thread being one of them), gained a disgusting amount of weight, danced like a retard to the kind of music that only mysterious pills of unknown origin could make bearable, watched literally hundreds of films ranging from superb pieces of cinema, to so bad it's funny, to so bad it's embarrassing and developed countless examples of those "running-in-jokes" that always appear puerile and pretentious to anyone who isn't involved.

I've also loved every fucking minute of it.

So I'd like people to discuss either their University (College, whatever) experiences or, if you're enrolling for the end of the summer, what you hope/expect to get out of it.

You may have messed up your wording, the US has both College and University

Same words, different meanings.
in the UK, college is for more practical skills, with lower entry requirements. Uni is for academic subjects and high level degrees. in the USA, these don't apply.

Actually, its the exact same, you go to College to learn a trade, uni is for academic stuff

I did both though. Left school at 16, went to college till I was 18, went to uni till 21.

 

[temporalcrux]

Actually, its the exact same, you go to College to learn a trade, uni is for academic stuff

I miss the old term "TRADE SCHOOL", you know.... where you learned a trade.

 

[Aulleas123]

College was ok, I went to a smaller school with a lot of potential for research and ended up learning a lot. Unfortunately, I graduated right as the economy hit the toilet so I spent the better part of a year without a paying job. Now I'm getting to work in the field that I trained in so its all good.

College itself was pretty cool, I was standard though. I went to school when I was 18 and graduated 4 years later. Got to go to parties, meet people, make bad choices, all in all a good time was had.

 

[SturmDolch]

I'm finishing up my first year. This year, I was in Arts, but I want to switch to Computing Science. I accidently applied for a Major in CS, when I want a Specialization in CS... So I get to be worried it will mess with my future.

My life in general is the same as before, except now I'm constantly worrying about money. I can't seem to find jobs anymore, when during high school, they were handing them out left and right. The recession might have something to do with that.

I don't get wasted, don't smoke weed, and don't really fit any cliches. I'm your average Universty student, just trying to get by. The last year has had the most stressful times of my life, though. Such as right now, where I have to study for exams while coping with my grandfather's death and my dad's depression, while my mom is gone for three days, meaning I have to do all the housework. It's really tough and I can't wait for the next week to end.

I was never really a slob or fat, but University seems to be making me more self-concious. I try my hardest not to look slobby and I'm eating better than I used to.

I would go clubbing/pubbing more, but as I said, money issues always crop up.

 

[Ophiuchus]

My time at university has been a little bit stunted 'cos I didn't start until I was 23, as well as the fact that I did most of the stereotypical student stuff before I was even a student, combined with other people in halls often being a fair bit younger than me (I'm nearly 27 now, one of my housemates just turned 19 last term, the difference in age and maturity REALLY shows), not to mention that my university is mostly a waste of otherwise useful bricks and mortar... but, eh, I wouldn't say I've hated it. I've certainly hated moments of it: changing to a different course after my first year because the one I originally chose was complete bollocks, then quickly realising that the one I changed to (and am still stuck with) isn't much better; falling out with flatmates so badly that I had to move out; having to repeat a year after a whole load of personal crap led to me doing virtually nothing but drinking, sleeping and gaming for about six months and skipping coursework and exams; being too skint to eat for days at a time because the aforementioned repeat year meant I was refused a loan.

There's been plenty of great moments though, clearly enough to have kept me there. I've met some great people that I hope to remain friends with when we're all out of there, some epic piss-ups with varying levels of comical results but usually involving singing loudly to whatever shit they're playing in the bar, countless in-jokes... I might even get a degree out of it by the time I'm finished, although the fact that I'm meant to be doing coursework right now and haven't even thought about it might count as evidence to the contrary.

If everything goes to plan, next year is my last. I'd like to say I'll go all-out and make it a year of fun and chaos but, for a whole heap of boring reasons, that's unlikely to happen. Still, I'll make the best of it.

 

[SHWiMM]

I'm off to major in Outdoor Adventure Leadership. Yup, it's really a major. Have fun in your cubicles.

 

[Agayek]

Oh, I wasn't sure to be honest, in movies an such they always seem to refer to what I would call University as "College".

We have college too, or "Sixth Form", but it's only two years and sometimes it's attached to your school.

The US has both Colleges and Universities, but we just call it all "College".

Our definition of each is that Colleges are specific schools, while Universities are multiple schools in a single institution. For example, the University I went to had a School (or College) of Engineering and a School of Business.

What you call Sixth Form is a "Junior College" in the States.

 

[Dok Zombie]

Oh, I wasn't sure to be honest, in movies an such they always seem to refer to what I would call University as "College".

We have college too, or "Sixth Form", but it's only two years and sometimes it's attached to your school.

The US has both Colleges and Universities, but we just call it all "College".

Our definition of each is that Colleges are specific schools, while Universities are multiple schools in a single institution. For example, the University I went to had a School (or College) of Engineering and a School of Business.

What you call Sixth Form is a "Junior College" in the States.

OK, I get it now, cheers!

 

[Optional Opinion]

snip

Well, thankfully, I don't drink, and I'm incredibly shy, so none of that applies to me! I'll probably just stick up in my room, and continue meeting with my friends back where I live.

Still, the city thing shouldn't be a problem, I know Dublin like the back of my hand, but I doubt college life will be anything to me but studying.

If you're shy then you should stay in the dorms (like flats) and just leave your door open, as you smoke weed I'm sure you'll make friends quickly without the awkwardness of the whole meet and greet at a bar. Best thing is to jump right in, best outcome is you meet some unique people worst outcome is that you're in the same shape as you arrived and then you can just fall back on your original plan.

 

[A_Parked_Car]

I have just finished my first year of University. I enjoyed the courses I took and after my finals are over I'm taking spring courses. I get to see how much I like Japanese after taking two full intro courses within 6 weeks. =P
On the social life side of things well...I don't have one so I guess that doesn't apply to me. I have never really had anymore than a few friends. Currently I have one that occasionally speaks to me. I haven't even had my first drink and I have yet to be on a date. So at least from a social viewpoint I have had a pretty dull university life so far.

 

[SextusMaximus]

Could I ask a question?

My sister is at her first year of Uni (I'm six years younger than her) and she is going back in two weeks, then she'll have four weeks until she finishes her full year, is this the same (to have 4 weeks in your last term) for every year, there or there abouts?

 

[Daveman]

Yarp, I'm in first year of uni and so far it's been reasonably wild. Apparently alcohol related crimes are at an all time high in my town. Not looking forward to exams coming up in just over a month... shit, a month, I should probably do some work or something...

*fucks off to study*

 

[SturmDolch]

Could I ask a question?

My sister is at her first year of Uni (I'm six years younger than her) and she is going back in two weeks, then she'll have four weeks until she finishes her full year, is this the same (to have 4 weeks in your last term) for every year, there or there abouts?

Sounds like she's taking a Spring course. Atleast that's what it would be at my University, and what I'm doing in the Spring.

 

[Weaver]

5 grueling years of hell, sweat, blood and torture is finally coming on an end. April 22nd is my final exam. I've been working 90 hours a week for like the last five years, I'm glad it's over.

 

[Ophiuchus]

Could I ask a question?

My sister is at her first year of Uni (I'm six years younger than her) and she is going back in two weeks, then she'll have four weeks until she finishes her full year, is this the same (to have 4 weeks in your last term) for every year, there or there abouts?

Yup, sounds about right. I'm going back this weekend, then I'm all done by May 20th.

 

[Wadders]

Could I ask a question?

My sister is at her first year of Uni (I'm six years younger than her) and she is going back in two weeks, then she'll have four weeks until she finishes her full year, is this the same (to have 4 weeks in your last term) for every year, there or there abouts?

I'm going back on Sunday, and I have 6 weeks in my last term. Seems like your sister got lucky

 

[Nimbus]

I'm off to college (or university, or whatever, I'm not actually sure which is which) in a year, assuming I get the points required. I plan to do History and Politics in Trinity College, Dublin, but I've got a few other courses lined up.

I'm not particularly looking forward to it though, I always get stressed about these kinds of things. Accommodation might be a problem.

Still, I hope for the best, but I don't think it's going to happen. I imagine I'll just keep my head down, do the work, and keep quiet.

Incidentally, if it doesn't work out, it's the army for me! I need some discipline.

P...Politics!?...


FURBURT FOR TAOISEACH!