Advice and tips on non-class time.
Starting college? Here's some advice about roommates from the book "How to Survive Your Freshman Year" (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who've done it:
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Do stupid stuff. One time our R.A. randomly said, “I’m going to the beach to go swimming, you
want to go?” It was 2 a.m. in the fall and it was freezing cold. But we said, “OK.” So we all went swimming in freezing water at 2 a.m. in the ocean — and I’ve never felt more alive. You’ll never remember staying up and studying for a midterm. What you’ll remember is staying up and doing something instead of studying.
— Mikey Lee, Stanford University, junior
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Sometimes you need time to just sit down and do absolutely nothing and relax. That’s the most valued time I have.
— Bryan, Georgetown University, sophomore
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Keep your hobbies — you’ll have lots of free time that you’ll otherwise waste.
D.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1989
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Waffle House was a great way to wind down the evening before heading home for the night. My friends and I would always seem to end up there after a long night of going out at the bars. Upon arrival, we would always head straight for the jukebox. Once the quarters were in, the other Waffle House patrons were definitely in for a treat. We would sing mostly 1980s hits, ranging from “Jessie’s Girl” to “867-5309.” Depending on the crowd, we could sometimes get others to participate. It was definitely a sight to see.
— Jimmy Lynch, Auburn University, 2001
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When you have free time, enjoy things that are non-school-related and healthy: Join a really random club, be in a play, volunteer, run a marathon, become a film noir enthusiast. Your free time can really give you a chance to meet people of similar mindset and interest, and can also expose you to interests and ideas you can’t find in the lecture hall.
Also, make sure you watch a little bit of TV now and then, to prevent college “bubble” syndrome.
Amy, Princeton University, freshman
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If you’re an athlete, you have to learn to manage your time.
Learn to rest, and learn when you can socialize.
— Johnathan J., Georgia Institute of Technology, junior
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Hundreds of Heads Books’ survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life’s biggest challenges and have insight to share.
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© 2006, Hundreds of Heads Books, Inc.