Comments on: My Advice for Rising Freshmen http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/ Decoding Patterns of Success Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: hank http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-14179 hank Tue, 25 May 2010 19:31:44 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-14179 Great advice especially the alcohol. 18 year old me figured out after the first night drinking until you vomit wasn't such a good idea. 5 years later and its 2 or 3 drinks and then I'm sipping water the rest of the night. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/3002540/tips_for_college_freshman_strategies.html?cat=4 Great advice especially the alcohol. 18 year old me figured out after the first night drinking until you vomit wasn’t such a good idea. 5 years later and its 2 or 3 drinks and then I’m sipping water the rest of the night. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/3002540/tips_for_college_freshman_strategies.html?cat=4

]]> By: Speaking For Change » Blog Archive » 4 Tips on how to pick a major in college http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9927 Speaking For Change » Blog Archive » 4 Tips on how to pick a major in college Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:33:02 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9927 [...] to learn about your desires, skills, and passions.  A major puts a big constraint on those – so don’t lock your self into anything until you’re very comfortable with [...]

[...] to learn about your desires, skills, and passions.  A major puts a big constraint on those – so don’t lock your self into anything until you’re very comfortable with [...]

]]> By: AHH! I Can’t Pick A major! OK. Here’s How. « Speaking For Change http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9121 AHH! I Can’t Pick A major! OK. Here’s How. « Speaking For Change Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:15:06 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9121 [...] learn about your desires, skills, and passions.  A major puts a big constraint on those - so don’t lock your self into anything until you’re very comfortable with [...]

[...] learn about your desires, skills, and passions.  A major puts a big constraint on those – so don’t lock your self into anything until you’re very comfortable with [...]

]]> By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9086 Study Hacks Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:59:59 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9086 <blockquote>Also do you think writing stories during the summer is a worthwhile thing? </blockquote> Yes. But see my recent article on the Pyramid Method. Instead of just writing in an unstructured way, try to find your personal pyramid to accelerate your development.

Also do you think writing stories during the summer is a worthwhile thing?

Yes. But see my recent article on the Pyramid Method. Instead of just writing in an unstructured way, try to find your personal pyramid to accelerate your development.

]]> By: Re:R http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9083 Re:R Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:36:13 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9083 I really like how such advice is condensed nicely especially the drinking and big advice bits. coming from a country big on rum production tasting alcohol as a child/teen isn't uncommon and i find the taste disgusting which is why i don't drink at all. Also do you think writing stories during the summer is a worthwhile thing? most of my stories (while fiction) require a lot of research into political/military and mysticism/religious concepts. does that count as 'big ideas'? I really like how such advice is condensed nicely especially the drinking and big advice bits. coming from a country big on rum production tasting alcohol as a child/teen isn’t uncommon and i find the taste disgusting which is why i don’t drink at all. Also do you think writing stories during the summer is a worthwhile thing? most of my stories (while fiction) require a lot of research into political/military and mysticism/religious concepts. does that count as ‘big ideas’?

]]> By: Dan Erwin http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9045 Dan Erwin Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:03:35 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9045 On #1and 2, refuse to choose a major, etc. Nearly 30 years ago when our eldest started her freshman year at U Chicago, the dean invited parents and entering students (we had delivered her with her clothes, etc., to the dorm)to an introductory meeting. He essentially made the same recommendations you're making, as did John Silber two years later at BU for our second daughter. But one statement has stuck in our mind for all these years. The purpose of a college education is to be able "to make an informed decision." I doubt that there is a better focus for those four years. On #1and 2, refuse to choose a major, etc. Nearly 30 years ago when our eldest started her freshman year at U Chicago, the dean invited parents and entering students (we had delivered her with her clothes, etc., to the dorm)to an introductory meeting. He essentially made the same recommendations you’re making, as did John Silber two years later at BU for our second daughter. But one statement has stuck in our mind for all these years. The purpose of a college education is to be able “to make an informed decision.” I doubt that there is a better focus for those four years.

]]> By: DustinHuibregtse http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9044 DustinHuibregtse Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:25:19 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9044 Heyo! This was a great article, fast read and easy to get the points. I am going to be a Sophomore and everything you said here has merit. I personally went sober this year (as difficult and challenging as it was), but I have seen idiots that think they are "responsible" but actually have no idea what they are doing. Learning to drink TRULY responsibly is extremely important (of course I would advocate 21 drinking age...) Andresito, thank you for those links they are great! I just registered for TED, I saw one of their talks on that major statistics website (forgot what it is called). I would like to briefly post one that may be helpful to new college students: <a href="http://www.emergingtiro.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.emergingtiro.com</a>, it focuses on success, leadership, and life through the stories and ideas of major successful people (who are the authors of course). In response to Eng, and to everyone for the major piece, make sure to work within the boundaries of what you would like to do, take the required freshmen courses to make sure you are on the correct track for your prechosen major, but also revel in the liberal ed requirements, they help you see a little bit more of the world and to explore your own passions. In response to VTAMethodman, I like your term "organic intellectual". The fact is you should broaden your horizons, learn about all different disciplines and ideas and choose the one that you like the most. You will simply learn how to learn and think and speak. Heyo!

This was a great article, fast read and easy to get the points. I am going to be a Sophomore and everything you said here has merit. I personally went sober this year (as difficult and challenging as it was), but I have seen idiots that think they are “responsible” but actually have no idea what they are doing. Learning to drink TRULY responsibly is extremely important (of course I would advocate 21 drinking age…)

Andresito, thank you for those links they are great! I just registered for TED, I saw one of their talks on that major statistics website (forgot what it is called). I would like to briefly post one that may be helpful to new college students: http://www.emergingtiro.com, it focuses on success, leadership, and life through the stories and ideas of major successful people (who are the authors of course).

In response to Eng, and to everyone for the major piece, make sure to work within the boundaries of what you would like to do, take the required freshmen courses to make sure you are on the correct track for your prechosen major, but also revel in the liberal ed requirements, they help you see a little bit more of the world and to explore your own passions.

In response to VTAMethodman, I like your term “organic intellectual”. The fact is you should broaden your horizons, learn about all different disciplines and ideas and choose the one that you like the most. You will simply learn how to learn and think and speak.

]]> By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9003 Study Hacks Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:01:31 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-9003 <blockquote>From watching American high school movies, I thought alcohol was pretty common in the years prior to college? Is it common to be a booze virgin when going to college?</blockquote> High school drinking is pretty common. But it's not universal.

From watching American high school movies, I thought alcohol was pretty common in the years prior to college? Is it common to be a booze virgin when going to college?

High school drinking is pretty common. But it’s not universal.

]]> By: European http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-8989 European Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:24:10 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-8989 From watching American high school movies, I thought alcohol was pretty common in the years prior to college? Is it common to be a booze virgin when going to college? From watching American high school movies, I thought alcohol was pretty common in the years prior to college? Is it common to be a booze virgin when going to college?

]]> By: Scott H Young » Friday Links 09-06-05 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-8983 Scott H Young » Friday Links 09-06-05 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:01:07 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/26/my-advice-for-rising-freshman/#comment-8983 [...] Cal Newport’s College Freshman Advice - Don’t choose a major. Read big ideas. Oh, and learn to drink like an adult so you don’t make a fool of yourself. [...]

[...] Cal Newport’s College Freshman Advice – Don’t choose a major. Read big ideas. Oh, and learn to drink like an adult so you don’t make a fool of yourself. [...]

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