The student lifestyle/culture

[Ethelred Unread]

If by "student lifestyle" you mean lots of partying and little class, yes it exists. During my time in undergrad, I drank a fair amount, smoked more marijuana than most people will ever see in their entire lifetime, and went to class about 2-3 days a week. Granted, that was from 1996 to 2000, but I doubt the experience has changed much since then.

+1.

It's there if you want it to be, I went 95-97 and then again (because of too much of the above) from 2003-05 and it was the pretty much the same. It's a lot easier if you live on campus or in a student house for this to go on as everyone is in the same situation. And love the booze of course.

I agree though that some lecturers are not all that and that there is always some knobber who has read the back cover of something by Nietzsche and thinks he (almost always a he) knows something that no one else does, but these people are everywhere, not just at Uni.

[Rhyfelwyr]

I didn't have partying in mind so much, just meant the whole intellectual atmosphere. Don't really do either myself. All I will remember from my student years is Cash in the Attic and KFC.

[Ethelred Unread]

heh - you're not part of the intellectual side yet you're on for a first, in history at a reputable Uni? And won a prize? What would you have to do more than to be on/in an intellectual group?

I guess the Oxbridge/Russell group unis might have more famous societies you could join for some academic debate, and have more testing seminars than most unis but at the undergraduate level what you've experienced is pretty much it really.

If you read past the recommended reading list and don't pull all nighters finishing essays a day before the deadline you're about 4 million times more conscientious (sp?I'm tired) than the average student who either expects to be spoonfed everything or do the bare minimum to pass.

Perhaps you should try a postgrad or doctorate!

[Beskar]

heh - you're not part of the intellectual side yet you're on for a first, in history at a reputable Uni? And won a prize? What would you have to do more than to be on/in an intellectual group?

No decent University gives you 2 hours a week contact time. Also, there are all the hundreds of University societies ranging from every topic under the sun.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I spend about 6 hours teaching/prep and about 18 hours studying (gotta love the PhD), there's hopefully going to be a job on top of that soon.

[TinCow]

I didn't have partying in mind so much, just meant the whole intellectual atmosphere.

Ah, you mean posturing. Undergraduate study doesn't make anyone an intellectual, it just makes them think they are. While the things taught can be advanced for those coming out of secondary school, they are basic in comparison to professionals in any specific field. Above all, undergraduate teaches a person how to learn. The vast majority of the useful information you will gain in life will come after undergraduate. Some of that can come from more advanced and specialized education, like graduate work, but most of it simply comes from doing it (read: employment). There's a reason that in every single field, employers value post-graduate job experience over educational credentials. The degrees just exist to get you the first job.

[Hax]

Umm? You never see indonesia, naughty muslims drink.

Yes.

[Peasant Phill]

I also miss the student life. I was living at what some people may call a dorm. 50 people at 1 floor, 7 floors in total and most of those where aspirant-nurses. Being 'baptized', doing cantusses, having parties at the dorm, ... It was bliss.
Having tequila shots at one moment, blacking out and the next moment you're kissing a girl. My first night I went to the bathroom and I walked in on 2 lesbians making out. Watching 'It' with some (girl)friends and later pranking them...

And you're saying you're missing all this? Uni isn't all about studying, it's about seeking out your limits. Having a hell of a time while still balancing your workload.

[Moros]

I also miss the student life. I was living at what some people may call a dorm. 50 people at 1 floor, 7 floors in total and most of those where aspirant-nurses. Being 'baptized', doing cantusses, having parties at the dorm, ... It was bliss.
Having tequila shots at one moment, blacking out and the next moment you're kissing a girl. My first night I went to the bathroom and I walked in on 2 lesbians making out. Watching 'It' with some (girl)friends and later pranking them...

And you're saying you're missing all this? Uni isn't all about studying, it's about seeking out your limits. Having a hell of a time while still balancing your workload.

What he says!

Which dorm were you at?

[Togakure]

Uni was years ago for me, but it doesn't sound that different from what's being described. I went to the state Uni in my home town, so I had a lot of long-time friends still around, and we had our own social circle. Hence, we didn't party in the Uni circles very much. The fraternity/sorority scene was dominated by out-of-towners, and they tended to do a lot of stupid shyte, so we rarely went into that space. We were also smart enough to take our studies fairly seriously, so we'd study/work diligently during the week, and party up on Friday and Saturday nights, usually. We definitely did party it up though. My buddy worked at the dorms on campus and was renting a room from head administrator of the dorms, so we had a lot of freedom and influence there. We had a key to the roof and would take our lawn chairs, food and drink, and partyables up there at night with our girlfriends and have quiet fun. Despite all the debauchery I managed to keep up a 3.6 GPA, majoring in Business/MIS, which led to a solid but unremarkable career in civil service.

I've never been a big drinker, but have been a fan of herb since reading The Hobbit at age 10 and getting my First Aid merit badge at age 11 (we went out to play Ditch 'Em after the Scout meeting and the Senior Patrol Leader busted out a four-finger; you gotta love the Scouts). I'd rocked 'n rolled for five years on the western US club circuit before returning to finish college, so the party culture was somewhat old for me by then--got plenty of it on the road. Music, live concerts, and outdoor activities (overnight trips to the California coast and Sierra Nevada mountains/Lake Tahoe) were central interests for our group.

After that period, friends got married, moved away and started their family lives, got seriously into their careers, and things changed drastically, as usual. But we had some very good times, and most of us are still good friends despite the time and distances.

[Peasant Phill]

What he says!

Which dorm were you at?

I was at Vesalius in Ghent. It was build right next to the Uni for nurses and just a few hundred of feet from the UZ Ghent. Great times.

And you?

[drone]

And you're saying you're missing all this? Uni isn't all about studying, it's about seeking out your limits. Having a hell of a time while still balancing your workload.

Figuring out how to live without parental control, having fun, but still dealing with your growing responsibilities.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Having tequila shots at one moment, blacking out and the next moment you're kissing a girl. My first night I went to the bathroom and I walked in on 2 lesbians making out.

My wildest night ended up with me being woken up by two huge East European men, who brutally kicked me about as I fiercely resisted them throwing me out of my house.

Rather, as I slowly discovered the next few confusing hours, had thrown me out of their house...somewhere in the outskirts of Budapest.




All of which was perhaps not as bad as a drunk Jewish friend whom we had once shipped off to Theriesenstadt concentration camp (Czech Republic), complete with an unwashable Hitler moustache we had painted on his upper lip.



[/Tall tales]
(But only slightly exaggerated!)

[gaelic cowboy]

I didn't have partying in mind so much, just meant the whole intellectual atmosphere. Don't really do either myself. All I will remember from my student years is Cash in the Attic and KFC.

I hope yer watching countdown best thing on during the day.

[Rhyfelwyr]

I hope yer watching countdown best thing on during the day.

Of course! Followed by Deal or No Deal. If you think about it is doesn't make a difference what box they pick, I just prefer not to think about it...

[gaelic cowboy]

Of course! Followed by Deal or No Deal. If you think about it is doesn't make a difference what box they pick, I just prefer not to think about it...

I just love that new girl on Countdown Rachel Riley