Quick College Tips
How'd Finals Go? PDF Print this Guide Email this Guide
Really, that bad?  Well, some semesters are better than others.

We had many distractions in the past few months.  The OC returned with a new season right as the new semester kicked off.  The White Sox won the World Series (but it’s not like you watched anyway).  Apple introduced new video iPods.  And, let’s be realistic, Homecoming provided a week of homework hiatus and hangovers.  So maybe there’s an honorable justification for your 1.8 GPA after all.

But don’t sweat it, because CollegeCodex.com has a few time-tested, foolproof techniques to bump that 1.8 into an impressive, droll-worthy, show-your-parents 3.0.  How are we gonna do it?

First, we’ll be honest with ourselves
Are you really going to pass both Molecular Biology and Seminar in Mathematics?  Drop one and take a billiards course.  Better yet, drop them both and add on a speech course.  And 18 credit hours are only for those naïve underclassmen, so drop your Advance Composition course as well.

Next, we’ll start cleaning
Clear off your desk, file your papers.  Nothing more, nothing less.  If you’re feeling unusually ambitious, CollegeCodex.com has a Quick Cleaning guide written especially for those lazy students on a tight schedule.  We also have an Organization guide with 5 quick tips to keep your mess under control.

Then, we’ll read those syllabi
Know when your papers are coming up.  Know when your tests are coming up.

Afterward, we’ll send in our letter of resignation
If one of your organizations is giving you too much stress, speak with your supervisor or coordinator.  You need to be involved, and you need to keep a respectable GPA.  Negotiate and find a position that is right for you.

Plus, we’ll prepare to caffeinate
Fill your shelves with espresso, Jolt cola, Adderall; whatever you need to stay awake.  Sleep will not be an issue this semester.

Finally, we’ll call home
We’ve said it before:  call your parents more often.  They miss you.

Alex Robb spends half his college experience sitting through meetings.
Syllabi PDF Print this Guide Email this Guide
The syllabus for your course will save your life.  Protect it at all costs.  Refer to it frequently during the semester.  Once professors pass out a syllabus, they’re not expected to remind their students of assignments, essays, projects, or exams.

Keep Old Notes and Papers PDF Print this Guide Email this Guide
Save all your notebook books, handouts, and essays.  You’ll be surprised how frequently previous information will aide you through other classes.  You’ll also be able to use examples from old papers, but never turn in your old papers.  Plagiarizing your previous work, even though it is yours, will not be tolerated by professors with high expectations.
Attendance PDF Print this Guide Email this Guide
No one will really care if you miss class.  Professors or assistants will not forward notes, grades, assignments, or announcements to your email address.  Take the initiative to gather everything you missed.
Leave the Pets at Home PDF Print this Guide Email this Guide
Trust us, your pet goldfish will be happier at home with the parents. There's a lot of moving around for pets, and usually very poor lighting in dorm rooms. Don't place any unnecessary stress on your favorite animal.
Pick One Day a Week to Clean PDF Print this Guide Email this Guide
In one week, a dorm room can become worse than the back of your basement.  With classes, assignments, and organizations, who has time to even sleep, much less organize. Pick a day to clean.  It could be a Sunday or a Tuesday, depending on your schedule.  As long as you keep the mess controlled, your room will always be clean.
Call Home PDF Print this Guide Email this Guide
Your family misses you. During the first week of school, you usually have plenty of tasks to worry about.  A phone call to the folks may take a couple minutes out of your day, but they will appreciate it.
Bring Quarters… Lots of Them PDF Print this Guide Email this Guide
Some schools have introduced laundry machines that deduct money from a student’s account using their student ID. For most schools, however, washing machines and dryers accept quarters, so bring a jar full of them. If you run out of quarters, the front desk in your residence hall will probably be able to break a dollar.
Bring a Pair of Headphones PDF Print this Guide Email this Guide
Your taste in music will probably be different than your roommate (people listen to rap, punk, and country, despite what people in your area believe). Your roommate may also want to work on homework in silence.  In this case, you’ll turn off your 200-watt stereo system and plug in a pair of headphones that any recording studio would be proud of. If you hate noise and want to be really nice, buy a pair of headphones for your roommate and give them to him or her during the first week.
Look Out for Frozen Barf PDF Print this Guide Email this Guide
Students drink a lot at college, and most do not know their limit.  During the winter months, students will throw up on the street and grass. Overnight, it will freeze and become an unwanted slip-and-slide for students in the morning on their walk to class.
Don't Forget an Umbrella PDF Print this Guide Email this Guide
Yes, it rains at college.  And you’ll see hundreds of freshmen running through the storm during the second week of school.
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