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Today's chapter is actually the text of a presentation that was
given to all incoming freshmen at Oklahoma State University during
Freshman Orientation and Enrollment. It lets you know exactly what
college professors expect from you, and gives you some suggestions
to ensure your academic success. The author is...
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Dr. Ken Eastman - who, incidentally was my Advisor in
graduate school He wrote the introduction himself.
I grew up on a small farm (160 acres) outside of Callender, Iowa. I
received two associates degrees from Iowa Central Community College,
my Bachelors and Masters degrees from Iowa State University and my
Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska. Previous to my academic
career I worked construction, was a disk jockey, and a warehouse
supervisor. For more than 10 years I have been on the faculty of
Oklahoma State University and I am presently an associate professor
of management. I live in beautiful Stillwater, Okla., right here in
the good ol' US of A. My research interests center primarily around
leadership, extrarole behaviors, and organizational politics (this
explains my devotion to Dilbert!). Teaching-wise, I offer a
wide range of classes at the undergraduate, masters, and
doctoral levels. |
Click here to listen to some comments from Dr.
Eastman in WAV format |
An early factor in a successful college career is making the
transition from high school to college. Being at a university is
much different from anything you experienced in high school. For one
thing, your professors and others at the university will be some of
the first to treat you like an adult and expect you to act as such.
No more will someone roust you out of bed for an 8 a.m. class or
check to see if you are studying for your next exam. You have to
realize that you are solely responsible for your education. You must
plan and manage it carefully. You will also find tremendous freedoms
at the university, at least compared to what you experienced in high
school. Freedom is a wonderful thing, but it also has a dark side.
If you do not manage this freedom effective (doing things like
partying four nights a week and rolling all your classes) you may
not be in college for long. So as an adult you will have plenty of
autonomy but also lots of responsibility.
As I see it there are two dimensions to your college experience:
1)getting an education and 2)getting a degree. In 4-5 years you
should have both but unfortunately, some students settle for one or
none. To just get an education you would take classes from many
different majors, take part in many campus activities, and join lots
of different organizations. The downside is that after 15 years you
are still classified as a sophomore. Now, to just get a degree you
would find the easiest major (don't ask), take the minimum number of
classes, do the minimum amount of work, and don't join any campus
organizations or activities. The downside to this is that when you
graduate, a graduate school or employer is going to expect that you
know something and be very surprised when you don't.
So what I'm going to provide below are a few tips on how to get both
an education and a degree.
1. Be Prepared for Culture Shock. The university environment
will be very different from anything you have experienced before.
You'll meet people from places you have never heard of and/or that
you cannot pronounce. You'll hear and see things you never imagined.
You'll have your ideas challenged and evaluated. Statistics show
that it is not uncommon for freshmen to drop a full letter grade
from their high school GPA. Prepare yourself for new experiences and
manage your freedom wisely!
2. Go to Class. I know, I know, you've heard this one a
million times. Now I'm not going to lie to you and say that you will
need to attend every class to do well. There are some that you could
only occasionally attend and still do well. Remember, however, that
you are also there to learn. The instructor might actually say
something important not found in the text. Attending class is also a
very good way of staying abreast of schedule changes and taking
advantage of those "unannounced" quizzes. Additionally, some of the
best friends I made in college were those people I met in class. We
went through trials and tribulations and bonded together. Attendance
is also a great way for the professor to get to know you and you
don't know when you might need him/her to write you a letter of
reference. Bottom line; go to class because it's your job.
3. Read and Review the Syllabus. The syllabus is a wonderful
document. One of my syllabi is 10 pages long. It's chock full of all
sorts of useful information such as assignments, grading policies,
and deadlines. Think of it as a contract, because that's how I view
it. The syllabus lays out your responsibilities, the professor's
expectations, and the general rules for the class. By staying in the
class the professor is going to assume that you agree to the rules
specified and hold you to them. If you don't like or agree with
something in the syllabus talk to the instructor or transfer to
another semester. Never assume that a professor will not do
something s/he has printed in the syllabus. Read and know it.
4. Large Classes. As freshman, I liked to
tell all of you that you will be in small intimate classes where you
sit around, hold hands, share your inner most thoughts, and sing Kumbaya.
Well, that won't happen until you are a senior! Many of you will
take some large classes. Don't be afraid of them. Some of my classes
have over 200 students. I think they are great. You can learn a lot
in a large class but you will probably have to work harder at
getting to know your classmates and your professor.
5. Stay Current With Class. Many students I talk to think that
all the "A" students are geniuses. That's not true. Sure they are
bright but I've learned from talking to them that what sets them
apart is their work habits. They read along with the professor, do
all their assignments on time, and start studying for exams several
days before the exam. Research has shown that the best thing you can
do the night before the exam is to get a good night's sleep.
Cramming is a dangerous habit to get into. I cannot tell you how
many students I have had come to my office shortly after I have
finished the exam begging for mercy because they missed the exam.
They were up all night studying and fell asleep hours before the
exam. Those zeros are real GPA killers.
6. Get Help Early. At the first sign of trouble (i.e., low
quiz or exam score), go see the professor. Find out why you didn't
do so well and find ways to correct it. If you don't, my experience
shows me that that bad performance will fester until it infects your
entire grade. You can substantially improve your grade after a bad
exam score if you take quick action. The longer you wait, the more
difficult it will be for you to revive your grade. Don't be shy or
embarrassed, go see the professor. There is a reason they have
office hours, you know!
7. Your Professors are Human. Well, most of them any way.
Hey, we eat and drink regular stuff, live in houses' and shop at WallyWorld
(Wal Mart) like everyone else. Be respectful but don't be
intimidated. See the professor for help, answers, or just to get to
know them. Some professors ARE jerks, but hey, ask your friends and
you'll find out who those few are and you can avoid them.
8. Read the Student Paper. All informed adults read a
newspaper. Your college paper will be written by folks like yourself
and they'll make lots of mistakes - but so will you. Read the paper
to stay current of student events and which professor was arrested
for indecent exposure.
9. Become Involved. Research shows that one of the best predictors
of career success is the number of extra-curricular activities
college students had in college. A wise professor once told me that
the most important things I would learn in college would occur
outside the classroom and he was right. Campus organizations teach
you time management, organization, interpersonal, and leadership
skills. You meet people and make contacts. You don't have to belong
to countless organizations, rather find a few in which you can have
meaningful input. Try to become an officer or committee chair.
You'll learn lots and employers will be mighty impressed.
Well, that's just a few things to get you started. Now a few
concluding comments. Some of you may doubt your ability to get a
college education. If you have been accepted to a university, you
can get a degree. Will you? Statistics would say only about 50-60%
of you. Did those that dropped out lack ability? A few but most did
not. I've got a secret for you (don't tell a soul). I am a college
drop out. Out of high school I attended a large state university for
about 12 days and then headed back to the farm. Why did I quit? Well
I was intimidated, scared, and lonely, but more than anything else,
I thought I was the only one who felt that way. Don't you make the
same wrong assumption. Rather get out there, talk to people, and
seek support. There are lots of terrified people out there like
yourself and if you meet each other you can help each other. I went
back to a different large state university after attending a junior
college and the rest is history. One last thing, don't worry about
your major. I changed mine so many times I've lost count. Every
semester I have graduating seniors who come into my office and tell
me they hate their major. Most of them had their major picked out
before they even got to college. They never thought about it until
it was too late. Explore and look around. Think about what you like
to do. Try courses you haven't taken before. You have two years to
pick something so shop around. In fact, if you want to have some
fun, every time you talk to your folks, tell them you have changed
majors. Hey, mom forget botany, I'm majoring in management! Oh, your
parents will love you for it.
So, relax, and enjoy!
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