January 2017

     School is back in session and for the first semester in way too long I'm not registering for any classes so, I have been doing some reflecting Mulan style. You know, "When will my reflection show who I ammmm insideeee?" I'm reflecting on the person that I have become and the person I once was and I've learned a few things along the way that I'd like to share for any thinking about taking the higher education plunge.

1) Rate My Professors exists.
      Arguably THE best tool at your disposal... so freakin' use it! I don't care what school you may be at, there are bound to be good teachers and there are bound to be bad ones.  It doesn't guarantee 100% accuracy, after all people have different requirements for what constitutes a good teacher, but if a professor as a 1.4 rating with 87 awful reviews.....run Forrest run.

2) Online classes cost more and aren't always easier.
      I hate to burst your bubble but this right here is an urban legend, an urban legend that many professors know about and work to actively disprove. Let's be clear, some really are comically easy, but the majority are not ESPECIALLY if you have grad students assisting. I'm not sure if they are looking to prove their worthiness to the professor or if they're over worked but man, grad students can be some tough ass graders. Don't swear them off forever though, just be prepared.  I chose to keep taking online classes mainly for because of the convenience factor. They deserve credit where credit is do, if you don't live on campus or you work, they are a great way to keep on track to graduate.   

3) The awfulness of group projects increase by 100% in college.
     DISCLAIMER: I have always hated group projects. You know that kid who does all the work in the corner while you share Cheetos with the hottie in U.S. Government who's gorgeous face doesn't make up for the fact that he refuses to believe we really went to the moon? That's me.  If you care about the project and care about your grade, you are inevitably going to get dicked my friend and I am sorry about that. People are lazy or just aren't stressing about the project, so accept it now or be the person that cares less. Again, I've always hated them but adult life makes group projects borderline impossible. Meeting up to work on them outside of class when you have 4 people with 4 different schedules, is always a hassle and you usually end up sacrificing your Sunday to be on a quiet deserted campus, serving as a constant reminder that something is definitely wrong here. The key to surviving them is being honest with your group members, taking a stand when necessary and go P. Diddy on em' and remember "this too shall pass."

4) The massive damage caused by paying for textbooks.
     Not only to your wallet but to your soul, we are talking hundreds of dollars being spent for a book you are only going to need for 5 months or even worse not at all! My first tip is going to be hard for all you kids who enjoy being prepared on that first day of school but TRUST me when I say it is worth it to wait. Your prof on the first day will tell you if you reaaaaally need that exact book or if an older cheaper edition will do. Also, know that you CAN work the system in your favor. For my first year and a half I exclusively shopped at the on campus book store or a book store right across campus. I'd wait in long ass lines and pay way too much for a brand new copy and then sell my $120 dollar books back to them for a whopping 3 bucks each. ROOKIE MOVE KIDS! Instead, consider buying used or renting and compare prices online to get yourself the best deal. My go to sites are, Amazon, Chegg, & Neebo. I pull up the same book on all three sites, view my options and pick the cheapest path. This method is crucial to saving yourself some serious coinage.   Unfortunately, sometimes there is no way around it, like if your class requires a school only text. Sorry bud, in that case you're forking over that cash, but for the most part you can work the system.

5) Hoverboards will one day be a thing and they will be the absolute worst.
     Here you are trying to walk to campus in a sea of people and this guy on the hoverboard in front of you is rolling by with the speed set on "old lady crossing the street".

6) It's outrageously over priced. No seriously. OUTRAGEOUS.

7) Hit up the community college for Gen Ed courses.
     My pride wouldn't let me see this as a legitimate option back when I graduated high school. I had worked hard to get into universities where people are denied admission, why would I give that up to go to a place where anyone can get in ? I had a bad case of high-horse syndrome that blinded me from seeing the benefits. First off, the amount of money you can save on the identical classes is BONKERS. $200 a class vs $850 for a class. Second, just because it costs more doesn't mean it is going to be a better quality. Many community college classes are smaller than university courses which I personally enjoy more. I'd take a class of 20 over a lecture of 200 any day.

8) The parking police don't play.
     First day of school? Last day of school? 1 minute over? Just ran in for a second? Had to save a cat in a tree? All of these excuses mean absolutely nothing to the good ole' parking police. I have seen some wait at a meter that was about to expire to give out that ticket right at the 0:00 mark. The amount of revenue the school generates from this alone has to be astronomical. In UNLV's case just 2 tickets cost you almost as much as a semester's parking pass and if you don't pay them, they can prevent you from graduating. Think you can lie your way out of paying that ticket? Think again. They take pictures of everything. I'm talking, your plates, your parking spot, the ticket, the spot on your windshield where the parking pass is supposed to be but clearly isn't. You only have 2 options when it comes to dealing with this buzz kill brigade. You can either suck it up and pay for a parking pass before the semester starts or you can find some safe, free, street parking off campus and walk to campus from Narnia. 
 
9) It doesn't matter when you finish, it matters that you finish.
     Just now coming around to this one myself. I started college in the Fall of 2010 with a full schedule and full intentions of finishing in four years, but then life happened and my estimated graduation date kept getting pushed back. Only went part time a few semesters? Push it. Didn't take a lot of summer school classes? Push it good. Moved to Carson City for a year?  Push it real good.  When 2014 came around, I had serious FOMO. Seeing all my friends who started at the same time graduate and then in 2015 reliving it with the kids younger than me was disappointing, because on many levels it made me feel like a failure..... but I didn't fail. I didn't quit and I didn't give up on my goal. I didn't do it in 4, but that isn't a scarlet letter. It isn't unheard of, it isn't an anomaly and it doesn't deem my diploma any less meaningful. I, along with almost 60% of undergrads, took 6 years but that isn't a failure. Success is rooted in accomplishments. I started college with a set objective and I'm leaving college with it accomplished, sounds like a success story to me.
                                                                                                                                                                                                        -T