by Hannah Roberts
In addition to Marx and Shakespeare, undergraduate students must be equipped with important knowledge, like, the subtle art of scheduling classes around nap time. Freshman orientation allows students to meet friends, explore campus, and get a glimpse of the next four years. But because these sessions are designed by the school, valuable information is sometimes sacrificed in favor of protocol or special interests. Here are five things that every incoming freshman should know—even if they're not covered in orientation:
1. Hang onto your check book.
Students can spend a fortune on books, and at the end of the semester, bookstores will only buy them back (at a fraction of the price) if that particular edition is slated for reuse. Hold off on buying books until you have attended each of your classes. Some instructors don't even assign a book, and used copies or rentals are often available at a discount. Also, some students share or swap books with other students in their classes to save money.
2. Get out of your shell.
If you're a shy or introverted student, you may dread the thought of introducing yourself to new people. But rest assured that there are things you can (and should) do—like leaving your dorm room door open when you're in or joining a political club—to get yourself in the habit. Remember that the friendships you form in college can be life-changing and lifelong.
3. Expand your mind, not your waistline.
Everyone knows about the "Freshman 15," weight that some students gain as a result of a hectic first year. But what your orientation leader may not tell you is that choosing a smaller meal plan is sometimes advisable. If you know that you won't eat 17 meals per week on campus, opt for a 12-meal plan. Avoid 2 AM pizza runs as often as possible, and keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. Excessive junk food and booze will quickly drain both your wallet and your overall health.
4. Choose professors like your grades depend on it.
Sure, you're smart enough to succeed in a course even if you despise the teacher, but why endure the extra stress if you don't have to? Word of mouth is a great way to get the scoop on instructors. There are also Web sites like www.pickaprof.com and www.ratemyprofessors.com, where students can give and get advice on which battle-axe professors to avoid at all cost.
5. Fight traffic.
With thousands of students vying for the same 10 AM courses (and the same parking spaces) it's no wonder that college campuses are so congested. Walk to class if you can, but if you must drive, give yourself plenty of time to avoid parking illegally and incurring the wrath of campus cadets. Also, both the bursar's office and the financial aid office are notoriously busy spots on college campuses, especially during the first and last weeks of the term. If you have an issue that requires visiting either office, do it on a day when you have plenty of time to spare.
Five Things They Don't Tell You in Freshman Orientation
The Most Unusual and Weird Scholarships (and Where to Find Them)
When you’re looking for money for school, try finding weird scholarships that fit your interests, lifestyle, intended major and even your last name. People and organizations offer scholarships for some pretty strange reasons. If you fit their criteria, you could be able to offset part of the costs of college. Since weird college scholarships aren’t easy to find, they may be less competitive than other types of scholarships.
Special Projects: Weird scholarships come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the most unusual have to do with completing a unique project or paper. For example, The Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck on Prom Contest awards a $6,000 scholarship to a couple who makes their entire prom look from duct tape. The National Make It Yourself With Wool offers a small scholarship for garments made of wool or wool blends.
Essays: Essays are also a popular way to distribute money for school. You can put your pen to paper and earn some money with the Calgon Take Me Away to College Contest, which awards $8,000 for two short essays. The Ayn Rand Institute offers $10,000 to the first-place essay about The Fountainhead. The National Christmas Tree Association’s Help Santa Find the Perfect Real Christmas Tree contest awards scholarships between $5,000 and $10,000.
Hobbies: If you have a hobby or special talent, you may be able to qualify for a scholarship for it. The Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship awards $5,000 to $1,000 scholarships to skateboarding fanatics. If you can bake a great apple pie, you can win the Culinary Institute of America’s All-American Apple Pie Recipe Contest. First place gets $25,000.
Finding a Weird Scholarship: As you can see, weird scholarships can take many different forms. When you start looking for scholarships, you should make a list of all of your qualifications. List as many things about yourself that you can think of so you can search for scholarships based on those things. Don’t leave anything out. Considering that there are scholarships for height, those who love Star Trek and people into parapsychology, your odd little hobby may earn you some funds for college.
You may also be able to find databases of weird and unusual scholarships online. Once you’ve compiled your list, start hunting. You’ll be very surprised about what you may find. Keep a list of the scholarships you want to apply for, and then mark down their due dates so you can be sure to apply in time. Weird and unusual scholarships are definitely worth a look if you need money for college.