One of the benefits of using a Palm brand device for the past 5 years is the fact that my calendar has an archive of everything I've ever done. Sometimes I like to look back at my own personal "this day in history."

that's all

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Natrin
Date: Mon, Aug 3, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Subject: you should...
To: Ben Natrin

• set up your udel email to forward to your gmail, and your gmail so you can send as your udel address (always correspond with professors/classmates/clubs via your udel email)(it's pretty easy to do this or you can call me)[gmail labels and filters are a life-saver.. set up one for every class (or subject) and club and color code them in gmail. it's very easy to organize things this way]
• get a laptop bag big enough for your laptop.. I would recommend buying a nicer-end backpack that can fit it if you're going to be using it for class (it's convenient for comp sci and engineering classes).. even if it is expensive it's worth it and it will last (and you wouldn't want to carry a laptop bag and book bag to class)
• get a wireless router for your dorm. you can get them cheap (don't pay more than $40) at wal-mart or eBay. secure it and only give the password to yourself, your roommate, and cute girls (the university holds you responsible for the traffic on your router, even if it's not your illegal data being transferred, so you definitely need to put security on it). it's convenient. [also, each Ethernet jack in the dorms has it's own global ip address.. meaning you have unrestricted access to all web services, which is rare for colleges. it's very fast but they monitor torrent and p2p traffic :( you can set up your own web server for sharing your personal files from anywhere on campus pretty easily. then you wouldn't have to always have your laptop with you to access things]
• make your facebook info all private. creepers will get you.
• [if you really want updates on everything in the world, and feel inclined to be texting a lot (if you have unlimited texts), get a twitter account and subscribe to sms updates from Delaware news, weather, and university feeds. it sounds geeky but it's news and updates at your fingertips without needing Internet access. it's convenient.]
• have duck tape and sticky tack stuff and bottled water for move in
• go to every event the school hosts for freshies during the first month of school. lots of free stuff and free food, and you'll learn everything about the campus and what services are offered and how they work so that you can answer those questions when your silly out-of-state-friends-who-pay-twice-what-you-do ask these things.
• don't join too many clubs or make it easily known that you're intelligent. people might take advantage and it's hard to say no
• engineering and math classes tend to be a lot easier if you study/do homework with other people in your classes, therefore meet lots of people. even if you don't like them or can't stand them, they are pretty smart [especially in honors classes] and can always teach you things or explain a three-hour-long-calculus problem that you can't get right.
• do homework early. there will always be people on your floor up late [2 or 3am is normal] talking and eating expensive fattening fast-food; avoid it most nights if you can, or just finish your work first and then join in.
• become friends with your RA, depending on who it is (if not yours than at least one in your building). most are really nice and work with freshmen for a reason. become friends in case you need something [packages, recommendations, keys/access cards, room changes] in the future, or just because they're cool. it's not kissing up, it's networking. [same goes for your Russell Fellow]
• "sustainability," "diversity," and "networking" are all "buzz words" that you'll hear most days from the socialists [definition: 96% of people who work for the university]. be careful, because they don't mean what you'd think. most people have their own definitions of all of these. just watch out.
• if you have questions, go to your professors' office hours. it sounds scary and sometimes is, but it can only help you. and, if they match your face to your name then if your grade is borderline they might bump it up. they know that you care enough to get extra help. grading is very weird in college. also, they can advise you better than your advisor (generally) and (possibly) get you research positions if you want to do that.
• get an on-campus job. the work is close and simple, and they do direct deposit so it's convenient to wsfs. UD catering is good, or you could try at the library or a computer lab. the money helps for spending money for little things you'll need (even if you don't work that much, something is better than nothing) and it just helps you organize your time more.
• know what you believe economically, politically, and morally, and why. people come from so many different backgrounds, and unlike people from your hometown, they actually know what they are talking about and they will debate you and win if you don't have logical evidence for what you say.
• don't stress. in the end, college is just for graduating with a piece of paper that says you know how to learn new things and solve new problems. (shoot for a 3.0 gpa though if you want to keep scholarships and in the honors program)
• I don't know how organized you were in high school, but definitely use a planner or a PDA. there are lots of deadlines (more for a single class than for all high school-type things) so you'll need to write things down and plan your schedule and keep track of things with lots of details (what class, where to submit it, what time of day it's due). if an assignment is due in a few weeks, start early because it probably requires a few weeks worth of work, not just the night before.

...in my opinion at least.

this is just my ramblings while I'm running simulations processes in the background at work.. if anything doesn't make sense, just ignore it or ask me

http://bit.ly/danmessick