So, you've just gone to your first day of college.. You found all your classes, you heard a million lectures on the "syllabus".. Yup, same stuff every semester.
For those of you who are just starting Butte College, here are my tips. I went there for two years, got mainly A's and B's, and I can share with you a few things I learned that helped my time there.
1. Find out your professor.
Learn how they teach, what things matter in that class.. Is the reading absolutely essential? Do you even need to buy the book? Is the grade all tests? Do you need to show up to the class for attendance points? Etc.
2. Get a counselor.
I talked to a transfer counselor Ray Rodriguez when I was at Butte.. That is the main reason why I'm going to UC Davis and am not at Butte for a third, fourth, fifth year.. There ARE transfer opportunities from Butte, you CAN go somewhere. (Despite the unofficial saying, "Butte, start here, go nowhere")
3. Check out the LRC.
The Learning Resource Center is a GREAT place to study and get help with homework and classes. There are tables for doing work, as well as study sessions often put on by your class. (Meet with Joe on Mondays for Calc help at 3:00 at the LRC)
I didn't even step inside the LRC my freshman year, WHAT A MISTAKE
4. Get a study buddy.
It helps a TON to have someone who you can bounce homework problems off of, as well as get work from when you can't make it to class. TRUST ME, you don't want to show up to class and tell the professor "hey, I was gone yesterday, what was the homework?" or.. "here's my homework from Monday".. They will often look at you and say "READ THE SYLLABUS. NO LATE WORK, sorry."
-Get someone's number from the class, MAKE A FRIEND! It will make your college experience a ton better!
5. Take the Syllabus for real.
The syllabus is actually a useful tool in college, despite the ones you got in high school and never looked at (aside from Anderson's AP History class)
The syllabus tells you everything you need to know in the class. It's your key to getting inside your teacher's head. That's why they quiz you on the syllabus at the beginning! They want you to KNOW IT! (and so you don't ask them dumb questions, spare them their time by reading the syllabus).
6. One hour rentals at the library
The Library offers copies of most ALL the text books your classes use. You can rent them out for FREE for up to an hour. Just show some form of ID and I do believe give them your student number. Don't have your text book yet? Use the library (and it makes you focus for one hour, then you're done!). Don't want to buy a text book, then there you have it!
7. Blackboard
Get used to blackboard. Most classes use blackboard to post online assignments or grades, etc. OR also posting if they're not going to make it to class! (Important)..
Blackboard: http://mybc.butte.edu/ -> login to MyBC/Blackboard.. etc.
DO NOT FORGET ASSIGNMENTS ON BLACKBOARD! And if you do, some teachers open all the assignments up in the last week of school to make up, that will be stated in the syllabus..
8. Student I.Ds
You DO NOT have to get one.. unless you ride the bus or something.
Also, they DO charge you for an I.D regardless if you go get one. So, either make up your mind and get one and make use of getting charged, or go tell the people at the finances building next to the cafeteria to take if off your bill. Why get charged for something if you never get it! Just saying... save yourself some money.
9. Studying
On campus, there are multiple places to study before and after classes (before you decide to make the long drive home to regular life).
A) The LRC. It's legit!
B) The silent rooms in the third floor of the library, but be sure you're in GROUPS because they strictly enforce that rule. (Which is why you will find many Asian groups of friends constantly in them.. which can be frustrating when you actually NEED one).
C) The silent cubes in all levels of the library. Convenient and private.
D) The grass! Very nice if you want to get outside! But you can't bring the one hr. rentals from the library outside or elsewhere on campus.
E) The cafeteria. It's dangerous.. trust me. You always end up buying food AND it's noisy up there. Lots of different folk up there, some who enjoy card games, goofing off, etc. Possibly try the new area directly below the cafeteria.
F) Benches around campus.. (:
10. Check out the ART building from time to time, it's actually a pretty chill place! Even if you don't have a class there..
And last but not least, go into the gym at Butte. Inside the entrance right above the left door to the gym is a picture of my grandpa! Score extra points in my book if you go see him! Grandpa is quite a legend, that guy's great. He was there when Butte started up, he was a P.E. Coach and much more. Wrestling coach and I think even on the board of Athletics, but I could be making up titles at this point. Go see the picture! It's been there since I was a kid!
Other than that, I'd say get involved with clubs, use the wifi, get your homework done and have fun out there. The campus is always getting fixed up, and from the last time I saw it, the solar park looks LEGIT! Just needs a few more trees and it'd be perfect!
Also, parking.... get there early if you want a good spot! (: And DO NOT park where it says not to after the first couple weeks, they will write tickets for like $15-20 bucks..
Another thing, pack a lunch and you can save literally hundreds of dollars by avoiding cafeteria food!!
-Good luck
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