Jon's 101 things to know about HBCU1. Make and keep copies of everything. EVERYTHING.2. Never, ever, forget #1.3. Don't go to the local Walmart to shop for dorm stuff. Because about 1200 other freshmen are doing the same thing. And half of them will get there before you.4. Get to your room first, so you get to pick the good side of the room. And yes, one side is always better than the other.5. If you keep lots of food, movies, or games in your room... you will have lots of friends. Who will conveniently show up when they need any of the above.6. Your freshman year, you are guaranteed to have an 8am class. Go to it, unless you like the idea of that same 8am class your sophomore year.7. If you spend all your money on pizza and clothes your first month, you'll live to regret it. Most of us have.8. Know the cafe hours. Otherwise you'll find out the hard way.9. Washing your clothes and taking out your trash makes a happy roommate.10. The campus bookstore will take your money like an old-school ****. Buy books online. Check the version # on the syllabus first or you'll have a $150 paperweight.11. Use protection. Self-explanatory.12. If there's a dude on campus with a Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes, there is a 85% chance that he doesn't own it.13. ^^ 95% if he doesn't attend school there.14. Only freshmen say "what grade are you" or "what year are you". The correct term is "what is your classification".15. Any beverage being consumed from a red plastic cup at a party will probably put you on your @ss. Be forewarned.16. Write home / call home, please! Or send a smoke signal, or morse code, or anything so your parents don't call your RA because they haven't heard from you for weeks.17. Ramen Noodles are your friend.18. Foreman Grills are your friend.19. If you see a bunch of Greeks congregated around anything (a bench, a plot of land, a staircase, etc), don't go walking through the middle of it.20. If someone in your dorm says they can cut hair, wait for proof.21. You can't fry fish in your dorm room, unless you want a very **** off dorm director knocking at your door. This is not Drumline.22. Shower shoes are a must.23. Refund checks are fun... until you graduate and start getting a bill. Always remember that.24. The Cafe food is always better on Parents Weekend.25. Don't ever ask the professor, "will this be on the exam?" Yes, it will, and he will be irritated that you asked.26. You should own at least one piece of school 'nalia (sweat shirt, t-shirt etc)27. Every campus has at least one old head who's always hanging around campus trying to get girls, and one super-duper-senior who's been a student for 7 or 8 years.28. Don't count on the school's computer lab. Get your own equipment. There is one thing guaranteed at school, and that is when you need a computer most, the lab will be down / too crowded.29. At HBCU, mistakes are always expensive. Meet your deadlines. Stay on top of the game.30. Don't let your parents schedule your flight home for Christmas / Thanksgiving / Spring Break until you know what your finals schedule is.More to come...
Great post...I would also recommend joining a professional organization (i.e. NSBE, BDPA, NBMBAA, NBLSA, NABA, ACM, IEEE). I recommend selecting an organization in your future profession. In addition, select an organization that aligns with your values and objectives. This will provide an excellent networking opportunity, which could lead to a job, after graduation.
Great post...I would also recommend joining a professional organization (i.e. NSBE, BDPA, NBMBAA, NBLSA, NABA, ACM, IEEE). I recommend selecting an organization in your future profession. In addition, select an organization that aligns with your values and objectives. This will provide an excellent networking opportunity, which could lead to a job, after graduation.
