Making the Most of College Part 1

It matters more what you do at college than where you do it. I believe that the student who does each of the following at the College of New Jersey will grow more educationally and personally than a Harvard student who just goes through the motions. And for the reasons described above, his career will not be impeded for the lack of a designer-label diploma.

Academics

Get the best teachers. It can make all the difference. Here are ways to unearth them:

• Many campuses post the student evaluations of professors on its website or in a booklet available through student government.
• Get the list of teaching award winners, usually available from the college’s office of academic affairs.
• Ask the department (for example, English, Biology) administrative assistant, “Who’s good?” Admins get to see all the student evaluations of professors.
• Of course, ask friends for recommendations.
• Enroll in at least one more class than you plan on taking. Show up for the first session of each class and drop the one you like least.

The most valuable courses you’ll probably ever take include: writing, public speaking, basic computer applications such as spreadsheets, word processing and database, critical thinking, career exploration, human sexuality, and a course with an ideology different from your own. If you’re a conservative, take a course in radical politics. If you’re a liberal, you’re out of luck. On many if not most college campuses, conservative courses don’t exist, except those bashing conservatism. To get a conservative perspective, you’ll probably have to join the campus Republican or Objectivist club.

Maximize your chances of getting a professor taking you under wing by visiting during office hours with such questions as, “In class, you said X. Y seems to make more sense. What am I not understanding?” Or, “I really value your opinion. I’m not sure what concentration within psychology I should choose. Could you give me your thoughts?” Or, “I was fascinated by your description of your research. Do you need any help?”

Also, ask a favorite professor if you can do an independent study with that professor-—a one-on-one course on a topic of your own choosing. Most colleges allow these and they are perhaps the very best way to customize and personalize your education, and find a mentor.

Another way to customize your education is, when receiving a term paper topic that doesn’t interest you, to ask the professor if you could substitute a paper or project on a topic of greater interest. Usually, the professor will agree.

Secrets to Finding Great Instructors

You know it, I know it: some college instructors are great, others just stink. A PhD does not magically turn someone from a boring, monotone know-it-all into a motivational, attention-captivating knowledge dispenser. Truth is, most professors are renowned for their research and writing, not for their ability to keep entertained freshmen in their seats.

To find the best college teachers try some of the following suggestions:

* Pick the campus’s teaching award winners. The list is at the academic affairs office. Teaching award winners are few and far between. But the winners are those that stand out, even among the good teachers.

* Check student ratings of professors. Some colleges make them available in the bookstore or student affairs office. But there are rating sites used by students at colleges all across the country, Ratemyprofessor.com, for example. But be cautious – some students who are upset over a bad grade or the difficulty level of an instructor will give a bad review that is unfounded. What’s worse is when they don’t explain their rating… Make sure to read all the comments to get a good look at why the instructor has his or her particular rating.

* Ask department secretaries. They see all the faculty evaluations and may even give you the straight scoop.

* Check out syllabi. Often they're on the Web, or the department secretary has them. It is a good way to see what is involved in the class. If you’re not lecture, lecture, lecture… find an instructor with group activities or special presentations planned into the syllabus.

* Over-enroll or oversit. If you plan to take three courses, sign up for four, attend the first session of each, and drop the worst one.

Remember, you should be in that class to learn, not just pass… So if you want a good teacher you need to be good student. That means paying attention, being on time, doing your work, being prepared, doing the reading BEFORE class (so you can ask questions), and not distracting other students.

Should You Go Straight to College?

Many students contemplate life after high school with almost more interest than high school itself… There are many things that students choose to do right out of high school: college, apprenticeship, vocational school, work for the family business, start their own business, even backpack through Europe (or some other form of taking a year off between high school and college).

But you’ve probably been encouraged to go to college. And many, if not most, of you probably should go to college and you should go directly as in no breaks, no vacations, no backpacking through Europe – or, in other words, “Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200.”

But it’s not as obvious a decision as you might think. After all, getting a degree from a four-year college or university, on average, takes 5 years of your life. Only 39%, nationwide, graduate in four years. Why might that be? Scheduling can be difficult at times and if you ever need to retake a course it might only be offered once a year, and what if that course is a prerequisite for the rest of your major. What if, like me (and many college students), you change your major once or twice? College is where students really discover what they are passionate about, what they are good at, and what they want to do. But all of that takes time.

Some students are fortunate to discover what they want while taking general education credits and don’t have to start all over with new or different graduation requirements when they change their major. That is the approach I would recommend. Most students, even if they have a firm grasp of what they want to do, may inevitably change their mind or have an experience that shows them they may wish to change their plans. I call that an “Ah Ha” moment.


Other students take 20 or more credits of a specific major before they have their “Ah Ha” moment and decide to change from, for example, French to Veterinary Sciences. In cases like that most of those French courses won’t count even as electives for the Vet Science degree. And now you not only have to take longer because you need to take other “required” courses, but you also have to pay for both the French that doesn’t count and the new courses. Remember, even after financial aid, that college degree will probably cost you (or at least your parents) a small fortune – even if you pay it back over the next 30 years.

That is why it is generally a good idea to test out other majors or try the interesting elective or Gen Ed classes early in your college career. Some good ways to test the waters:

-Sit in on an advanced class. You may want to speak to the professor or an advisor before doing so.
-Talk with students who are more than halfway finished with their program. Ask, “Do you like the program?” and “What are the best and worst things about it?”
-Oversit. That is, if you plan on taking 4 classes for the term, register for 5 and go to the first session of each. Then you can drop the one that seems least likely to motivate you, the least interesting, or the least relevant to you. (Always remember to drop the class during the Drop/Add period so you don’t get billed)
-Talk to advisors, professors, and the department secretary (they usually know how everything works) about possible careers and their insights.

All of these strategies can also be done before enrolling in or even being accepted to a college, though it may be more difficult if your college of choice is far away. But you can always get email addresses or phone numbers from the college website or by calling that department secretary.