Objectives
- Become familiar with the purpose and structure of college
- Develop a strategy for succeeding in college
"Useless" Information
The purpose of a liberal-arts education--which is what
you are pursuing if you are majoring in history, chemistry, sociology, and
most other areas--is not to prepare for a specific job, but to build a broad
base of knowledge and skills so that you not only can succeed in a variety
of jobs, but also vote intelligently, raise a strong family, make effective
financial decisions, and generally understand, shape, and enjoy the world
around you. Many times over the course of your college career, you may think,
"Why am I learning this? I'm never going to use it." I know because
I thought those thoughts, too. Since graduating with degrees in English
and journalism, however, I have often drawn on what I learned about other
subjects in both college and high school. My understanding of criminology
and meteorology, for example, informs my opinions about political issues
such as the death penalty and the greenhouse effect. I am convinced that
my experience in math helps me write organized essays, and my knowledge
of geometry even helped me to design a coffee table. In fact, I wish I remembered
more of all that stuff I was never going to use.
The first step toward success in college is to open your
mind to new knowledge, focusing on these four broad areas:
Core concepts: The professors
in general-education courses are not teaching you to become a historian,
a physicist, or a psychologist. Instead, they are trying to expose you to
core concepts in their fields so that you can think and act more intelligently.
Use your syllabuses, your text books, and the professors themselves to identify
these concepts and practice explaining them in your own words.
Cultural literacy: Perhaps the most obvious product of a liberal-arts education
is knowledge. In biology, you learn what cells and genes are; in political
science, you become familiar with the branches of government. Such information
helps you build what author E.D. Hirsch, Jr., calls "cultural literacy,"
which in turn enables you to understand and discuss the world around you.
Get into the habit of memorizing important terms, dates, facts, and formulas.
Skills:
Education is about more than amassing knowledge, however. You also will
hear your professors use words such as "critical thinking," "interpretation,"
and "synthesize," words that refer to the essential skills of
combining, evaluating, and using information. Knowing that the French Revolution
began in 1789 may make you a hit in parlor games or a winner on Jeopardy!,
but otherwise this mere fact is not very useful until you combine it with
other facts, interpret it in this context, and communicate your ideas effectively
to others. Knowledge of the French and American revolutions, for example,
can help you understand Western political structures, modern music and literature,
even your own outlook on the world. When you study, look for connections
among ideas--even ideas from different classes. If you really want to impress
a professor, apply something you learned in another class to his or her
class.
Enrichment: Because the human
mind thrives on stimulation, a liberal-arts education can even make you
feel more alive by exposing you to art, music, poetry, and novels that make
you think in new, exciting ways. While I encourage you to look for ways
to apply your liberal-arts education to your life, I hope you also will
come to appreciate material that you will never "need" at all,
but that will enrich your life in indescribable ways.
College P's and Q's
In the early days of printing between the 15th and 19th
centuries, typesetters had to be careful not to mix up the blocks they used
to print letters, particularly the p's and q's. We still say "Mind
your p's and q's" when we want people to mind their manners. Minding
these college p's and q's will help you be your best:
Preparation: Using study questions,
such as the ones that I post on the World Wide Web, take extensive notes
on reading and class discussions and review them briefly before each class.
You not only will be more prepared for class, but will learn the material
more efficiently. Treat the course syllabus as your first reading assignment;
read every word, highlight goals and expectations, and make note of any
questions you need to ask the professor. At least twice a week, check your
e-mail and the course online forum for announcements and assignments.
Participation: Research shows
that active participation dramatically increases the amount a person learns.
If you are shy, take some steps toward becoming more vocal. Early in the
semester, visit your professors in their offices and spend a few minutes
discussing the class or course material. During class, volunteer to report
on group activities and try to make at least one comment or ask one question
during class.
Physiology: A person's physiology--which
depends on diet, exercise, rest, and other factors--can affect performance
on mental tasks. Studies have suggested that eating breakfast can improve
test performance, that protein can boost alertness, and that exercise can
help a person think effectively. I suggest drinking
8-10 glasses of water each day, avoiding junk food and caffeine, exercising
at least a half-hour each day, and maintaining a consistent schedule of
seven to nine hours of sleep every night. To unwind, I prefer music to television,
which tends to eat up time and besides is generally inane and annoying.
Politeness: Show up for class
and conferences on time and wait until class has ended before packing up
your books. Turn in assignments when they are due and avoid making excuses
for absences or poor work.
Quality: Nothing impresses
a teacher or an employer more than work that shines not only in content,
but in form. Invest the time and energy into submitting assignments of which
you can be proud. For starters, read each assignment carefully and try to
provide exactly what the professor requests. In addition to researching,
writing, revising, and proofreading your work carefully, follow instructions
on format, such as placement of page numbers, use of paper clips, and use
of correct bibliographic citations.
Questions: When you need information
or help, ask. For example, if you have problems coming to class, keeping
up with assignments, or using the computer, see the professor immediately. |
Terms
- liberal arts
- cultural literacy
Resources
The Freshman Success Guide
Supplies
- 3-ring binders
- dividers
- notebook paper
- computer diskettes
- e-mail account
- pens
- pencils
- highlighters
- bookbag
- watch
- hardback dictionary
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