Most of my classes are structured as I expected, but they're different from what I'm used to. The course starts off with the syllabus and an introduction to the course content. This provides an outline of the expectations and scheduled coursework for the semester. I find this very helpful for understanding if I want to take the course and as a reference for the grading and guidelines. The part of the structure that is very different from what I am used to is the types of class sessions and the scheduling. A session could be exclusively for lectures, discussions, or lab. I am used to having a set time to be in a class every day, and the work will vary depending on our progress in the course. I like this because I get to tailor my schedule more, but it has to all be kept track of. I have really been taking advantage of Google Calendar for managing my schedule.
Attendance and grading policy are also different but not exactly what I expected. Most of my classes have some sort of grade that relies on attendance to deter students from unnecessarily missing classes. What also surprises me is how some professors implemented the letter grading system. We did not do plus or minus grades in high school, but I did know that it existed at this school and wondered where the cutoffs were. It turned out that professors are the ones who control the cutoffs, and they vary a lot between my classes. I like knowing what to expect, so I find it annoying how some professors decide the plus or minus cutoff at the end of the semester based on class data. My school system in high school was also very lenient with the grading policy by allowing late work with a reduced grade and setting the minimum grade for completed work to 50 percent. The latter is not allowed as I expected, but some professors do implement a version of the former.
My scholar's CPSG100 class exceeded my expectations. We covered the definitions and principles of science more than I expected, though it is very useful for students like me pursuing science degrees. I especially did not expect to cover fallacies since I have mostly associated it with my past English classes, though I appreciated how it highlighted the common skills that connect to other subjects. I was expecting to learn more about environmental science and policy, but I believe those will eventually be covered further in future semesters. We have recently started to discuss climate change, and I do know that the environment and solutions are going to be covered in the next two colloquiums.
I have really enjoyed the outside-of-classroom activities, more than I thought. The beginning of the semester was very fun with the whole class trips to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens for service day and the Metro DC Scavenger Hunt. They really helped me to get to know some of my classmates and learn more about the area I live in, which I did not expect. My skills in navigating cities came in handy for the two excursions I went on this semester. The first and most unexpected was the all-scholars' Philadelphia trip. It was really surreal to end up exploring a new city in a different state on a random weekend, but I unexpectedly ended up having a great time. I was worried about connecting with people at first, but I found a nice group and ended up exploring the city together. The second took me back to DC. I expected to attend as a larger group, but I ended up with the opportunity to connect with my neighbor after the government shutdown ended.
Life on campus in Centreville is so much different than how I imagined it. I imagined being an adult in college would mean more privacy and space, but now I have even less than before. I have never had to share a room before except on family vacations. Now, I share a room half the size with an unfamiliar roommate and have to leave in order to do basic things like go to the bathroom or eat food. I have slowly gotten used to things and feel more comfortable in my dorm even though I still try to go home about twice a month to get a break. What I was warned to expect was the walking. I actually enjoy it despite the weather and me being out of shape. My home is not walkable or accessible for public transport, so I usually have to ask to be driven anywhere. I have more freedom now to be self-sufficient by getting myself places on time and managing my own money which I hoped for in high school.
My biggest worry of all was the social aspect of college and putting myself out there. It did end up being a struggle to form new relationships at such a large school, but I luckily still have one of my best friends from high school who I can depend on. I would recommend that future SGC students be more patient with themselves when trying to get to know people. Peers in their dorm, in their scholar's class, and in clubs are also worth getting to know since you are more likely to see them often. I would recommend that future students take the initiative to join clubs, find mentors, attend career events, and simply talk to people who they find interesting. It opens up many opportunities for new experiences and helps build a network to support you and your goals. Most people are willing to help you if you ask! Plus, the point of coming to college and facing these new challenges is for growth as you adapt, embracing your successes and failures.