Yald - Patrick Grote's Technology Notes - Getting Ready for College

How to feed yourself cheaply and inexpensively

Patrick Grote — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:43:30 -0400

Food is one of those things most college kids don't pay attention to. I'm not going to touch on the nutritional aspects of what you eat, which will be a later topic, but more importantly what to do when you're low on money.

You're going to find yourself in situations where your meal plan isn't available for whatever reason and you're hungry. Yes, you can go with the old standby the 29 cent ramen, but that's not going to do it from a number of aspects. What you need is a gameplan for getting a full meal.

How to avoid credit card problems

Patrick Grote — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:43:30 -0400

Credit cards aren't evil. The way credit cards are used is evil. Credit cards are used by the issuing banks to enslave you to a vicious cycle of debt.

Let's back up and explain ... credit cards are not money in the bank. They are loans made to you from a bank upon which you can draw from at anytime. A bank will tell you, "we like you enough to give you $5000 to spend." Sounds like a deal, right? In most cases, it's not. 90% of people will run out and buy $5000 worth of stuff they don't need, but want. This is exactly what the credit card companies want, since it allows them run the gauntlet on interest charges.

How to develop acceptance in your life

Patrick Grote — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:35:11 -0400

I guess we should start by defining acceptance. Sometimes in your life, and I know this has happened already, you'll find yourself reflecting on a situation or an outcome and dwelling on it. Acceptance is understand that this is reality and moving on. No focusing on what happened nor linger on the process of what happened.

Still confused?

Acceptance is reality. It's the way things are and not the way you think things should be. A better example is water. Fill the bath tub up and step in. Regardless of whether you want your body to remain dry it's going to get wet. That's acceptance.

What makes a good pet for college students

Patrick Grote — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:35:11 -0400

You love your pets, but college isn't the place for pets. Sure, the cute kitten or adorable puppy might seem like a good idea. Yeah, I know your roommate says they will pitch in and help, but they won't.

Most schools have rules against pets, but if the chance arises you find yourself in off campus housing, rethink the whole pet thing. Pets are reliant on you and your time for survival. If you decided to head home for a week you'll need to make arrangements for care.

Yet, pets are a strong factor in helping you through tough times. Pets provide balance and companionship, which you might need in the middle of the night before an exam. So, what to do?

Why college students should care about compound interest

Patrick Grote — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 13:59:46 -0400

Were you aware there is magic in money? No, I am not talking about the times I made a quarter appear behind your ear. And no, I'm not talking about the times money magically appeared in my wallet to give you. Nope, the real magic is in something called compound interest.

There is something you need to realize before reading on. Compound interest requires patience and planning, two things most college students don't have. Compound interest is like the elderly person driving 45 MPH in the slow lane on the freeway. They are going to get where they are going, but it's going to go slowly and be a pretty dull ride.

Why you should always have a AAA membership

Patrick Grote — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 18:35:11 -0400

I know it's killing you right now to not have your own car, but this advice is probably going to add salt to the wounds. The advice is simple: never be without a AAA membership. Ever. AAA is the American Automobile Association and they can save your bacon if you find yourself with a disabled car on your hands.

As a AAA member you can avail yourself of their roadside assistance program. Notice that I linked to their plus service, which is worth every penny.

Here is why you need it:

How to avoid procrastination in college

Patrick Grote — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:53:46 -0400

Do you really have to read this now? Wouldn't it be more fun to do something else?

Well, duh, of course it would be, but there are times in college you must, absolutely must, get things done. Papers, exams, homework, paperwork, bills, all have deadlines and you shouldn't miss them.

Notice I used the word shouldn't and not can't. The decision on how to use your time is yours. It's one of the more important decisions you make in your life, as there is no way to get more time nor recover the time that is lost.

The thing you need to understand about procrastination is it's a choice. You can choose to do something or another thing. It's simple to realize, yet hard to combat. Why's it hard? Why do you watch a movie instead of cleaning your room? Why do you go out with your friends instead of finishing the pre-calculus homework? Easy and fun.

How to deal with problem roommates

Patrick Grote — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:59:46 -0400

Roommates are either enjoyable or a pain in the ass. Some people will argue that there is a middle ground, but there isn't. If the roommate doesn't cause problems it's enjoyable.

I'm still not sure what you want to do in terms of moving away for college, but if you do the chances are you'll be randomly assigned a roommate. You won't have control over this process, and more than likely you won't be able to change it.

The first thing to realize is that most people are jerks without even knowing it. Yes, it's hard to believe, but people are raised differently than you and the folks in our city. You may find things about them that are annoying or distressing, so the first thing you need to do is differentiate between what is being a jerk and what isn't. This is a tough process, but I've always worked under the assumption that the person needs to know what is causing you problems.

How to deal with late homework assignments

Patrick Grote — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:11:56 -0400

In college you'll be faced with a large chasm from high school. The teachers in college aren't going to accept late assignments, and sometimes you won't even get a real teacher. It's important to have your work done and in on time. Unlike high school, where your teacher has a very close relationship with you, in college you'll be one of a thousand students.

You won't be able to count on personal relationships to get you through.

Now, all hope isn't lost. The number one thing to do is get your homework assignments in on time. There might be times where a delay in turning assignments in is justified (or even if it isn't), and in those times try these tips.

How to handle knives safely

Patrick Grote — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:50:23 -0400

Tip number one.

A knife is one of the most basic kitchen tools you can use. When you're out on your own you might have the need to use a knife in in a social situation. If you don't follow these three simple things you might find yourself at the emergency room.

The three things:

Always cut away from yourself. Never force the knife down on something towards your body. This is particularly true when handling round fruit or vegetables such as apples or squash. The knife can slip easily off the skin or you can cut through with more force than you think is necessary.