Laptop for college?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic' started by NJNetz, Aug 10, 2009.

  1. NJNetz

    NJNetz BBW Banned

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    Do I need one? I'm commuting rather than going away. =[ (Might have been a bad decision)


    So, should I get one? If so, which one should I get ( I'm a college student; not rich)? Any accessories?
     
  2. ¹²³

    ¹²³ ¼½¾

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  3. ¹²³

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    Seriously, I don't think it's a top priority. What is your major?
     
  4. NJNetz

    NJNetz BBW Banned

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    Probably History. But there's a slight chance I might look at Theatre.
     
  5. bbwchingy0007

    bbwchingy0007 BBW Member

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    Wait, so in American college you don't decide what you're going to study until you go? Weird...
     
  6. Run BJM

    Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I ended up not getting one last year and just using my dad's work laptop which he never used. It never left my dorm room. Granted it all depends on how you like to take notes and whatnot. I could probably take faster notes on a computer but for some reason I have an aversion to switching from notebooks to computers to take notes. A big reason why I never brought the laptop was because once I left my dorm for class I wouldn't be back til 1-3 AM every morning. Right after class I'd go to my g/f or friends dorms, dining hall, off-campus, wherever. I didn't want to be lugging it around in my backpack and I didn't want it to break in all my travels.

    The main draw for me that would attract me to bringing a laptop to class is to surf the internet during lectures. I could just get an Ipod touch to do that though. Notes might be easier if i typed them out but I don't have much problem writing them down. The laptops can come in handy if you know you're going to be sitting around waiting without friends inbetween classes and want to kill time by dicking around on the web.

    My friend just brought his normal desktop computer and he was fine. I'd say only about 20% of the students at UCSC brought their laptops to class. You should check with the website for your school/major though as it could vary.
     
  7. NJNetz

    NJNetz BBW Banned

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    Actually you have to decide in your second year.

    I totally have one.
     
  8. Lost One

    Lost One ...

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    Hey Run, how is UCSC? Just wondering, because I may be applying there. Is the campus good? Are the people there cool?

    I'm targeting UCSB, at least I think I am. But I'm not sure if I'll get in.
     
  9. bbwMax

    bbwMax Member

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    What about a Netbook, light and compact, mine has a keyboard 3/4 the size of an average one. But you get used to it pretty quickly :)

    Cheap too
     
  10. TheFreshPrince

    TheFreshPrince JBB JustBBall Member

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    not wierd, its the shit. You get to do whatever you want and learn about tons of stuff you wouldn't normally. I'm going into my junior year (i have 80 credits though so technically i'm through 3.5 years) and i just decided my major last may.
     
  11. Run BJM

    Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Its cool. Everyone's really laid back and chill. Academics are also pretty laid back.... well I think it gets intense if you study science/engineering/pre-law, etc. But being the lazy ass that I am I always take the easy way out and so far its not too tough. If you're looking for a big time party scene this isn't really the place to be. Big parties are usually run by frats, which there are few of here. Outside of that its smaller "kick backs" where usually pretty much everyone knows everyone. Campus police can be a pain in the ass but not a huge deal considering what friends at Chico tell me about how the dorms have cerfew and don't allow guests and stuff. Freshman aren't allowed to have cars and even if you live off campus parking passes are $250 per quarter so you have to take the bus or walk all over unless you have a bike. There's tons of fine women, probably not like UCSB but I'd say its pretty damn good.

    You have a shitload of leisure time every day because of the quarter system; you take 3 classes per quarter whereas with semesters you take 5 classes per semester. Summer is really long. The last day of finals was June 10 (my only final was on June 5 so I was done June 5) and I don't start again until September 24. Semester system people like to brag that they get out 1-2 weeks before us but we're out for summer another 4-6 weeks after they start.

    Food is good at first but you get sick of it by January. I think that's typical of all college dining halls though. I guess there's lots of stuff to do with the beach, boardwalk, forrest, etc. right there. Can't think of anything else to say but if you have questions I'd gladly answer them.
     
  12. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    WTF? How do they enforce that?

    I also prefer the quarter system vs. semester. You skip through all the b.s and get right into actually learning a subject instead of a professor having to prolong every lesson.

    If I remember correctly it's expensive housing for students at UCSC.

    What are you planning on studying Brian?
     
  13. Run BJM

    Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

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    They don't give you a parking pass so if you park on campus you'll get fined/towed. Everything from campus down to mission street is 2 hour parking to prevent students from parking their cars in the neighborhood.
     
  14. Lost One

    Lost One ...

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    I still don't really know. My parents are saying I should major in business, but I'm not really sure. I want to go into the medical field, but I'm still kinda undecided at this point.

    Anyways, thanks for the summary Run. UCSC is one UC that I haven't really heard a lot about, well that and UCM.
     
  15. Run BJM

    Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

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    One last note, just be careful where you apply. When I applied for colleges lots of places denied me that I would normally have gotten into (according to counselors). Admissions got even harder last year as the baby boom of 1990 grew larger in 91. Then they reduced freshman admissions drastically for most public colleges this year. Make sure you have fallback schools.

    Also take note that UCs take community college transfers as the highest priority transfer. So if you want to go to Berkeley and decide that you want to transfer in you're better off at a CC than attending, say, UCSC for a few years because they prioritize CCs higher than other UC transfer applicants.
     
  16. Lost One

    Lost One ...

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    Yeah, they cut the admission rates, which sucks. I heard it was due to the economy, so they had to cut the budget.

    I think I'm pretty certain I'll make it into a UC, just not exactly sure which. Santa Barbara and Irvine are my targets. But I hear that nowadays, the major and degree you graduate with means more than the college you attend anyways.

    Not sure about all the transferring either, seems too complicated... I'd rather just get settled in one place. lol although I do hear the community college route can be very beneficial.
     
  17. Run BJM

    Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

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    All true. Agree with you about staying put too. By the way I did a 20+ page report on community college transfers in California public colleges so if you need any info on that I know a lot of it.
     
  18. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    I went the CC transfer route and I'd recommend it. Brian I'd especially recommend it for you since you don't know what your major is. You can get all the b.s. general ed classes out of the way and then focus primarily on your major courses once you transfer. Those GE courses fill up fast at UCs and it's stressful when you're trying to register and you can't take the classes you need because they've been filled.

    Transferring is easy if you sit down with your counselor and come up with a game plan. Also CC is a lot cheaper. It's really a win-win situation.
     
  19. NJNetz

    NJNetz BBW Banned

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    My friend went to community college too. He said it was a good stepping stone.
     
  20. Legacy

    Legacy Beast

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    I heard that if you get a 3.0 at a CC, you could get into most colleges. Is this actually true?

    I'm planning on going to one then transferring to a good journalism school in the Bay. San Jose State and Cal are two that I would love to go to.
     

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