College Myths to Ignore

You have undoubtedly heard a number of myths regarding college, and not all of them are true. The best thing that you can do is to learn which ones to ignore so you won’t have to worry about things that just aren’t going to happen before you start your freshman year.

1. College is harder than High School

The first one is that college is a lot harder than high school. While certain aspects of college can be more challenging, most of the time it’s just different. It really depends on the classes you take and the professors that you have. You will actually find some thing about college even easier.

2. The Freshman 15

While it’s true that something new college students gain a little bit of weight in their first year, that is definitely not always the case. As long as you avoid eating extremely unhealthy foods all the time you will be able to avoid gaining this weight. There are plenty of healthy snack foods to substitute for Twinkies and Doritos.

3. All College Students are Always Broke

There are actually a lot of college students that have part time jobs and still go to school. You will be able to go out and do things with your friends and afford the basic necessities as long as you put forth some effort and balance your priorities evenly between work and school.

4. Finals Week is the Worst

Even though finals week can sometimes get pretty crazy, it can be easily managed by simply finding someone to study with and devoting a decent amount of time to hitting the books. As long as you don’t freak out all will be well.

5. Everyone on Campus Needs a Car

The fact is that there are plenty of ways of getting around, especially if you live in a popular college town like New York or Ann Arbor. These cities have great public transportation so you won’t need to own a car. If you need to go outside the city you can always borrow a friend’s.

Pledging a Fraternity

Sometimes pledging certain fraternities can be a lot of work, so you will want to make sure that you do everything you can to make it easier on yourself. A lot of times fraternity leaders will make you go through hell because you can finally join, so it is important to keep a few things in mind.

Always Stay Strong

No matter what you have to keep your eye on the prize. Remember why you are pledging the fraternity in the first place. Chances are it will give you some great connections for after you graduate so keep on pledging no matter what.

Don’t Resist

Whatever you do, it’s important not to complain or resist any of the pledge requirements, because doing that will just make things so much worse for you. In the end it will be much better if you just deal with whatever you have to do in order to get into the frat you are pledging for.

Go the Extra Mile

Fraternities are always looking for pledges that are willing to do more than what is required, so make sure you always find something you can do to increase your chances of getting in and being accepted. You don’t want to be one of those guys that just barely gets in and that nobody really likes.

Ask Yourself If it is really worth It

Sometimes certain fraternities can take things a little too far during pledging, so make sure you really want to get into that particular frat. Keep in mind that there are a lot of different ones out there to choose from, so don’t feel like you have to go through with what they are demanding.

If you Don’t Make it Don’t Get Discouraged

A lot of people who pledge fraternities don’t end up getting in, and if you aren’t accepted don’t beat yourself up over it. All you can do is to keep looking around for the right group of people you will fit in with.

Here you can read some pros and cons of joins a fraternity.

Benefits of a Fraternity

Fraternities are a big part of college life, and a lot of college students choose to pledge with different ones. Pledging a fraternity can come with a lot of benefits, including the fact that it will challenge your dedication and passion.

Depending on the fraternity you choose, you will have to do some pretty crazy stuff. But it will all be worth it in the end when you finally get in. Fraternities can help you make lifelong friendships and develop connections you can use when you graduate. Pledging a fraternity can also be a lot of fun if you allow yourself to get into it.

While a lot of college students dread pledging, sometimes you can have the time of your life and when it’s all over you can say that you came out on top.

Another benefit to being in a fraternity is that a lot of the time there are social mixers. This gives you the chance to meet girls and get a few numbers. Dating is definitely one benefit of pledging a fraternity, so you will certainly want to consider that before making a decision as to whether or not you want to do it.

If you are in a frat then you will have a place to live on-campus. This can be a major benefit because you won’t have to rely on public transportation or burn a ton of gas money throughout the school year.

Fraternities can be a ton of fun as well. Between the weekend parties and all of the different activities you get involved in as a group, it can be a really great time. You will get to do a lot of things together, including meeting girls and partying it up. Fraternities make for a good overall experience for any college student who wants to do more than just go through and get their diploma.

Here is another article that lists the pros and cons of joining a frat.

Best College Towns

There are some cities across the U.S which are known for being “college towns” more so than others, such as Ann Arbor, Michigan.

When you are trying to figure out where to go to school, you might want to consider that the University of Michigan is not only a great school to go to, but also a really unique town. There are a number of special proprietorship businesses which are one of a kind as well as an overall atmosphere which can be described as both liberal and fun-loving.

Of course Los Angeles is also a great place to go to school in, because there is so much to do. UCLA has a long-standing reputation for being an excellent educational institution, but also an extremely fun place to hang out and party.

If you have not selected the college you want to go to yet, it is highly recommended that you apply to this one. New York City is filled with different colleges and university as well, such as NYU. Thousands of students enroll in this school each year to get a great education and have some of the best most fun years of their entire lives.

When it comes to the best college towns, you can’t beat Philadelphia. Not only is it an extremely historical city, but also a great place to go to college. In this city is the University of the Arts and Academy of Philadelphia.

When you have just graduated and are looking for a fun and reputable school to enroll into, these are certainly at the top of the list when it comes to the very best institutions around. Selecting a college to go to is about getting a good education as well as having a blast with your friends and trying new things, so make sure you go somewhere that will allow you to do that.

Tips for the First Day of College

It’s important to know which tips to follow for your very first day college, because there is a lot to consider. Freshmen who are going into college will want to know what to expect with regards to everything from classroom size to various aspects of campus life. College is very different from high school in a lot of ways. Being prepared is definitely important, which is why you should come to class with at least one notebook and a few different things to write with. While you probably won’t start doing any actual work on the first day, you will probably want to take some notes.

Having a map of the entire campus is another good idea, and you will probably be able to find them when you arrive for those who are new to the area. Make sure that you get everything set with your dorm before you go on the first day so you won’t be rushing around trying to find it. Know where all of your classes are ahead of time. It’s always a good idea to visit the campus before your very first day. Getting lost can mean being late to class and first impressions are important.

On your first day you should be as social as possible with all of the other students, especially ones you are sitting next to in some of your classes. You will no doubt need to miss a few days throughout the semester, and it’s a good idea to have friends in class who you can get notes from. There are also probably some hot girls you will want to get to know as well, so don’t waste any time at all. The sooner you introduce yourself and start talking, the more of a social life you will have on campus. This is especially important if you will be living in a dorm, because you don’t want to spend all your time alone.

Freshman Mistakes to Avoid

When going into your freshman year, there are a lot of mistakes to avoid. The first one that a lot of frosh students make is that they binge drink and party all the time. There’s nothing wrong with getting wasted on weekends, but when you’re doing it every other night it can really bring down your grades. A lot of freshman get homesick and tend to leave campus for their parent’s house as often as possible. Students who do this usually tend to not get over being homesick, so try to limit how often you go home on breaks.

Everyone in college likes to party, but it’s also important to do the hard work sometimes and read. A lot of freshman students think that they can bullshit their way through every single class without reading a single page out of their textbook. In order to pass most classes you have to do at least half the reading required for the courses you take. Getting caught up with all the drama in college can be easy, but it’s important to avoid it all in order to have fun and get good grades. Avoid people who always bring drama with them, so you can make the most out of your college experience.

Having an open mind is important when you first go to college, because you’ll be presented with a lot of new opportunities. If you’re invited to a frat party across campus, then you should probably go, for the experience if nothing else. The last thing you want is to stay in your dorm the entire time and be miserable. Try to join a club or two and look into athletics if that is your thing. The more you get involved with, the more fun you will have. It’s still important though to balance studying with whatever else you choose to do outside of class.

Important Accessories for Dorm Rooms

The first accessory you will want to have in your dorm room is a computer chair, since you will probably be spending a lot of time in it. Make sure to get one that is comfortable so you can sit and do homework for long periods of time. The second most important accessory to have in your dorm room is a floor lamp. These can come in handy when you are up late cramming for an exam. A desk lamp is another important accessory to have, because it serves the same purpose of giving you light when you study.

CD/DVD media storage units are something else that you might need if you have a lot of CD’s and/or DVD’s that you like to put in. If you want to avoid making a complete mess of your dorm room floor, then these are good ways to keep it all organized. You might also want to get some collapsible bins to put random items in, so you don’t end up throwing them all over the place.

If you are on a budget and want to make your dorm room like nice, then you will want to think about getting a few plastic potted plants to put around on the desk or dresser you have in there. A small trash can is also a good idea, because chances are you will be doing some drinking and need somewhere to toss those empty liquor bottles and crumpled up pieces of paper. Throwing a few posters or prints on the wall is another good idea if you want your dorm room to look cool and stylish for anyone who happens to come in. Some kitchen applies like a can opener and blender might also be a good idea, so you will have everything you need to make yourself something quick to eat between study sessions.

Top 5 College Movies of All Time

With the fall semester only a month a way, I thought now would be a great time to pump everyone up with a list of great college movies.

These are my particular favorite, mainly because they get me crazy nostalgic for the wild frat house days of riding kegs down the staircase at parties.  Leave a comment below with any good ones I missed.

5. Road Trip

4.  The Rules of Attraction

3.  Revenge of the Nerds

2.  Animal House

1.  Old School

Final exams week in college could not be more accurately stereotyped. The weeks upon weeks of procrastination finally have you trapped and stressed out. Students resort to frantic study sessions, note copying, and all nighters in the corner of the library for survival. Today, students have easy access to “study-aids” in the form of coffee, adderall, and energy drinks. While the first two are well utilized, there are some shades of gray with energy drinks.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ENERGY DRINKS

What’s the story with the energy drinks that over flow the shelves at your local gas stations? Do they help give you another extra edge to study, or do they just burn you out? The purpose of these questions is not to provide some scientific breakdown of the ingredients in energy drinks, or their effect on your health. Rather, it is a recommendation of how to properly use energy drinks to give you the studying advantage, not burn you out.

WHAT’S THE POINT?

The bottom line is that energy drinks, when consumed in moderation can be helpful for short term, major events, such as final exams. Why? Because energy drinks help stimulate and increase brain activity.  Guarana and caffeine are the important stimulant ingredients. Temporary energy jolts can be quite useful for getting several solid hours of studying in. However, the “crash,” you incur when the drink wears off is simply unavoidable.

HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN IT’S THE RIGHT MOMENT?

Timing is everything. Your best bet is to drink a few energy drinks when you begin to crack open your books about three hours before the exam. This will allow you to accomplish several hours of productive studying and take the exam before your energy buzz wears out. After you rocked the exam you will finally be able to recharge the batteries and bring yourself back to neutral. As easy as it sounds you must be careful not to get the energy jolt too early, leaving you groggy come exam time. It is also a good idea to learn your energy drink tolerance before exams week. Too much may leave you with a headache and jitters.

HEALTH EFFECTS

The bad rap energy drinks often get is the result of habitual consumption for the purpose of mental and physical stimulation. A perpetuating cycle of energy drink dependence will interfere with your sleep schedule, create severe exhaustion, or lead to health problems.  There are cases out there of energy drinks leading to heart palpitations and increased chance of heart disease. Like smoking, energy drinks are not the best long-term investment out there.

Energy drinks as a whole are not good for you, but there is a time and a place for everything…. it’s called college. Next time you realize at two in the morning you have an exam in six hours, crack open an energy drink to help get you through the night. Keep in mind you are not in the minority here. Gotta love college.

Note: The books mentioned on this list are pretty heavy stuff; do not get discouraged if you do not understand the book or have to stop reading it altogether and pick it up at a later date. If you do get discouraged easily, there is probably still time left in Story Time at your local Barnes and Noble you sissy.  These four books I have personally read and recommend them for any man who is ready (and willing) to expand his mind. While all of them don’t deal with drugs, two of them do. But don’t let that stop you from reading the other ones on the list.

1.) THE FOUNTAINHEAD BY AYN RAND

A personal favorite, this novel deals with one man’s external struggle to become the greatest architect there ever was, although it isn’t his intention. Howard Roark is a man with a vision but a vision all his own. Apathetic about the influences of others (whether they be good or bad) to the point of being hated, Howard Roark is the ultimate definition of an individual. This novel written by Rand deals first and foremost with her philosophy of Individualism; that is the theory that the only one thing a man can truly depend on is himself. American literature being what it is, this novel can be difficult to read for its lack of colorful language; it took me a coupe of years to actually finish it (I started when I was about 16 or 17; I’m 19 going on 20 now.)

2.) THE GREAT GATSBY BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

Yes, you probably had to read this book in High School or College. But it’s a damn good book if you have the leisure to read it at your own pace. Nick Carraway is a bondsman living in 1920′s Long Island, New York. His next door neighbor the elusive Jay Gatsby is the center of many rumors spread about him, from killing a man to being related to German royalty. Just who is this Jay Gatsby, and how did he come into all of this money? Considered to be the answer to “What is the great American novel?”,Fitzgerald’s work has been deemed a masterpiece. While not as dry as The Fountainhead this novel can be looked at from many different angles, leading the reader to draw their own conclusions.

WARNING: The next two books listed are the two whose main focus is on hallucinogens. While everyone enjoys a good time every now and then (or all the time) these drugs are not to be trifled with lightly. While one mentioned has and is used in recreation, all three are considered entheogens. Entheogens are drugs that are used in a religious or shamanic method rather than for recreation. If you’d like to know more about them, head on over to erowid.org or look up “Entheogen” in a Wikipedia search. You’ve been warned, so any harm that may come to you from taking these drugs after reading this is entirely your own.

3.) THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION AND HEAVEN AND HELL BY ALDOUS HUXLEY

From the Huxley family famous for producing great minds in Science and Medicine comes a very interesting and scientific approach on the use of Mescaline. The first part “The Doors of Perception” is about Huxley’s experience with the drug. After ingesting a dose of the psychoactive Huxley explains what he sees and feels while under the influence of this powerful drug, and relates it to his surroundings and experiences. In the second part “Heaven and Hell”, Huxley divulges further into the usage of Mescaline and other drugs to stimulate what he described as “the mind’s antipodes”. The regions of the brain we rarely use during our waking hours. Both works are very analytical and read more like an essay than a story, but are good reads none the less.

4.) THE TEACHINGS OF DON JUAN: A YAQUI WAY OF KNOWLEDGE BY CARLOS CASTENEDA

Is there another world out there that even the greatest minds of Science cannot fathom? Do these dimensions only manifest themselves under certain conditions? Is our mind truly the greatest weapon of all while simultaneously being our worst prison? While strikingly similar to Huxley’s Doors of Perception, The Teachings of Don Juan takes a spiritual approach when answering the questions above. With the help of Mexican shaman Don Juan, Casteneda embarks on a journey to discover the true power of three psychoactives: Peyote (Mescaline) Psilocybin (Mushrooms) and Datura Stramonium (Deadly Nightshade). This work of non fiction will leave you questioning your very existence and the existence of the world around you, so beware.

Two books of American literature, and two books of hallucinogens and life altering experiences. Reading all four of these works was a life changing experience for me, and hopefully it will be for you as well. The works will leave a lasting impression on you, so get out there and read!