I discovered RYS two years ago, as I was coming out of a mental-illness-and-egregious-substance-abuse phase that followed flunking spectacularly out of college. It was probably one of the very best things that could have happened to me at that time, right up there with “how to take notes” and “how to manage my time.”I had been a straight-A student in high school—largely because I am fairly intelligent and K-12 I never had to study for a test, manage my time, take notes
, or closely read an assignment. I found it all oh so beneath me, and this came out in my relationship with my professors, to an extreme. To me, they were my enemy and none of them could appreciate my genius.I am still uncertain whether that was the result of being Smart In High School
, or the manic-depression. But in any case, lurking on RYS was a wonderful wake-up call that came just at the right time—professors are people too, often delightful ones, and I should probably treat them with respect. So—your venting has been useful for at least one precious snowflake!I am now a complete power-student, self-motivated and driven at that. I perhaps border on superkeener at points, but now I know what I want and I’m going to do it until it’s done, and thus far I’ve done amazingly well.
In fact, last year I was asked to be on some sort of "mentoring" team for new students and freshman. The idea is that you have a team of informal "student leaders" who organize orientation and hang out with the freshers so it's less scary and horrible starting college. It sounds really kumbaya and pointless, but I think it's actually a great thing for a huge portion of freshman to have a designated group of friendly older students to help them along their first year in college.
And I've been using my position to de-snowflake the snowflakes--out loud and to their faces. I literally just told a freshman this morning that no professor worth their salary should accept a late paper because she ran out of printer ink. It's actually been pretty successful.
Q: If you had some input into a peer mentoring program for students, what would you want your best undergrads to teach your worst?
A: Post replies below in comments.
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Do the frickin' homework. It's assigned for a reason, that reason being that the "open skull, pour in knowledge" thing doesn't work for beans.
ReplyDeleteMake good use of office hours (by which I mean "ask specific questions that require having wrestled with the material, and have engaging conversations with the prof that you both enjoy"). Coming across as competent and willing to learn in a few one-on-ones will almost certainly earn you a letter of reference someday when you need one.
ReplyDeleteCollege is sold to them in a lot of ways that are just plain wrong. When they're here, it is the last real opportunity for them to dig into a variety of subjects and just learn. That won't happen again after they've left, except for what they need to learn for their jobs, or what they choose to learn on their own. So, like introvert.prof and Jae/Jennie said - focus on your classes. Tell your coach/frat brother/sorority sister/preacher/boyfriend/girlfriend that your classes come first. THEN take time for them.
ReplyDeleteHow to take Cornell notes (really any method, but have a method!). http://lifehacker.com/#!202418/geek-to-live--take-study+worthy-lecture-notes My students completely do not get how to take notes. Most of them don't even do so. They just sit there, if they're there. Not useful. No matter how many times I tell them the power point is just an outline for ME to remember what to stress, they only write down what's on the power point.
ReplyDeleteYou're paying for a huge trove of resources, many of which you will never have access to again: a university library with reference librarians and special collections, a university museum, a writing center, a state-of-the-art gym, time for one-on-one conversations with experts in the fields that interest you.
ReplyDeleteUse these resources. You can sit around and drink later on, when your BA leaves you unemployed.
What everyone else here said. This is, for most of them, the last time in their lives they will have the pleasure of learning anything they want for the sheer pleasure of doing so, and hanging out with others who are doing the same, in an environment where that is encouraged. Don't waste it. They have no idea how rare that is out there in the world, and how much they will kick themselves later if they don't do it now.
ReplyDeleteAlso, go to the classes even if they aren't prepared for them. It's not all you have to do, but you will learn a surprising amount just by being in the same room and listening. The classes are designed to make it easier for you to learn this stuff; it's much harder to do it on your own. That's why we're here, for frack's sake.
What everyone else said, and:
ReplyDeleteTell them to go home if they don't know why in the hell they are here--or if they are here to live out someone else's vision--or if they are here because it's what you do after high school. It will all just be wasted time and money if they are not here to do what THEY want and intend mindfully toward their very own lives...Here will still be here when they get that all figured out--as, I suspect, you have done.
Tell them college is not a career training center. We don't give a damn what job you take after college as long as you become educated citizens.
ReplyDeleteIf you sign up for a class, go. And, for the love of all that is good and holy, be on time. Nothing puts you on my mental $h!t list faster than watching you constantly strolling in five (or more) minutes late. I will remember this when your B is .01% away from an A. You'll get the B with my pleasure.
ReplyDeleteDear God, make them read the syllabus!
ReplyDeleteDon't get so caught up in social life or schoolwork that you ignore the outside world. Read a newspaper, listen to the radio, get out beyond the campus now and then. It will enhance your understanding of your work, and give you a better perspective on what comes next.
ReplyDeleteNoriver and Frog: thanks. I added the lifehacker link to my syllabus for next term, and I rephrased and added Frog N Toad's comment to it as well....
ReplyDeleteThere are 3 things you can enjoy in college: good grades, a social life and sleep. Pick 2.
ReplyDeleteTell them that professors are not the enemy. The institution is not the enemy. The staff in registration is not the enemy. There is no war here. We're all actually on the same side in an activity heading toward the same goal.
ReplyDeleteThey all come under the heading Take responsibility for yourself, your learning, and your personal organization. For example,
ReplyDeleteRead instructions carefully.
If you encounter problems beyond your control that require advice from your instructor, then ask early, not after the deadline.
Some great stuff here already. I would add two of my least favorite myths, both of which are in desperate need of debunking with many students.
ReplyDeleteWe cannot grade students' effort. In most disciplines, on most assignments, we don't even have any way of assessing the effort expended. To say "But I worked so hard on it" will illicit sympathy (or disbelief), but it is entirely irrelevant to the grade.
An F is not the same as a zero, GPA aside. Everytime a student tells me that F's are for people who don't turn in the assignment, I'm not sure whether to laugh at them, or yell at them.
If you're a full-time student, treat school as if it were a full time job. You'd be amazed at what you could get done if you actually *worked* on schoolwork for 8 or 9 hours a day. Hell, you could probably even take most weekends off . . .
ReplyDeleteI will put this in all-caps, because it's important:DO THE ASSIGNED READING BEFORE GOING TO CLASS!
ReplyDeleteNothing burns my chrome faster than looking out at bunch of blank stares when I start asking questions related to the reading. I hate having to drag unprepared students through a lecture/discussion session, and the students who actually DID the reading HATE the ones who didn't.
I think it's shameful that you've called this student "totally squirrely." Terrible manners, and you are supposed to be professional adults.
ReplyDeleteA professional adult? I'm paid to be an adult? cool.
ReplyDeleteUndergrad Mom,
ReplyDeleteYou have identified yourself as a helicopter parent. Prepare to be shot down.
Not the least ashamed,
Dr. O
Everything everyone said above. Also, tell them to think carefully about time management, organization, and self-discipline. They are adults now and we won't manage their time for them. Pulling an all-nighter on an essay the night before it's due is NOT "working really hard." It's being an idiot.
ReplyDeleteIf they're in school merely to get a good job (i.e., earn lots of money) and have no interest in learning, leave. Go out into the world for a few years, earn your own income, move out of mommy and daddy's house... then come back to school when you know who you are and what you want... and you're paying for it yourself.
For Christ's sake, tell them to make sure they know basic math! (8th grade level might be fine.)
ReplyDeleteKnow percentages, fractions, and ratios!
This issue came about a few days ago with the whine about a 500-point course vs. a 100-point one; there might be no real mathematical difference!
I am also sick of students thinking we all grade on the 95=A, 85=B scale. Their GPAs are not on that scale, so why must every other grade? Read the syllabus, cupcake!
For me, an F is a zero, and half-credit is a C. Handing in crap is the same as not doing the assignment on my scale.
(Not that most of my retarded colleagues get that either.)
"Undegrad's" Mom, do you have any idea what your precious darlings call us?
ReplyDelete@vietcong
ReplyDeleteOn my dorm floor the students who study the least are the most habitual complainers of how hard they work. One person is literally up 'till 3am each night working on all their classes and I never hear a peep from them. They're also taking 7 classes this semester while most of the floor hovers around 4 classes. I don't know how they deal with listening to the rest of the floor complain on a good day...
I would recommend teaching them that no matter how hard they feel they are trying, there is someone else out there who is doing more than they are and not complaining about how crappy it is to live on 4 hours of sleep each night, play a sport, and maintain an outstanding G.P.A. (Though I don't think playing a sport on such little sleep is healthy). If you don't understand something then ask for help. The professors aren't there to hold your hand and be your babysitter. If there are office hours go to them and seek aid. Other than that don't get kicked out for selling drugs or an equally idiotic offense.
@ Undergrad Mom
ReplyDeleteArming photon torpedoes!
Someone needs to harass Fab Sun or whoever's in charge these days to check if Underground Mom is yet another incarnation of that anonymous thing that crops up intermittently.
ReplyDeleteAlso, @Nemo from National City
"will illicit sympathy (or disbelief), but it is entirely irrelevant to the grade."
If only "illicit" were some kind of obscure verb, this sentence would be ripe for the milking.
mixed metaphors omg
What everyone else has said:
ReplyDeleteDo not have your mom (undergrad's mom, in particular) contact us to try to change your grade or change the time of the final exam because it conflicts with your family's vacation.
DO THE WORK. It's really that simple. Just DO THE WORK.
Dear Mom,
ReplyDeleteSquirrelly picked his own name.
XOXOXO
CM Moderator