The purposes of a college education -- How universities work -- The history of the university -- A student's guide to college administration -- Choosing a college -- Tip 1: you can get an equivalent classroom education at all reasonably selective colleges and universities -- Nobel Prize winners -- Tip 2: the key distinction is between small colleges and large universities -- Where do professors send their children to college? -- Tip 3: reputation doesn't matter as much as you think -- Tip 4: the main importance of reputation is the student body it attracts -- U.S. news ratings -- Minorities and college choice -- Tip 5: look for signs of a personalized education -- Tip 6: consider the cost -- Tip 7: differences in the strength of particular departments are not usually a good basis for choosing among colleges -- Choosing a foreign university -- Tip 8: consider the different varieties of general education programs -- Tip 9: don't worry; most students are happy with their choice -- Choosing classes -- Tip 10: consider visiting multiple classes during the first week of the semester -- Tip 11: usually trust your first impressions -- Choosing classes -- Tip 12: go for variety, especially early on -- Tip 13: at least once a year pick a class that doesn't seem to fit your interests -- Tip 14: take classes with heavy writing requirements -- Tip 15: take as many seminars and as few large lecture courses as possible -- What does a good lecture look like -- Tip 16: take mostly upper-division courses -- Tip 17: focus more on methods than topics -- Tip 18: seek out classes that provide you with continuous feedback and take the feedback seriously -- Tip 19: know the status of your professors -- Tip 20: learn to be a critical reader of student evaluations of faculty -- Tip 21: ask professors you know what courses they would recommend -- Tip 22: take courses that relate to each other -- Tip 23: study abroad for at least one semester if not an entire year -- Tip 24: don't succumb to the "two cultures" -- Tip 25: don't try to get all of your general education requirements out of the way in freshman and sophomore year -- Tip 26: audit classes that you don't have time to take -- Tip 27: consider independent study classes -- Tip 28: don't take too many classes with one professor -- Tip 29: don't be afraid to exceed requirements -- Tip 30: unless you plan to major in chemistry or biology, leave medical school requirements until later -- Tip 31: either take foreign language classes seriously or try to place out of them -- Tip 32: be discerning in choosing internships for credit -- Tip 33: take prerequisites with a grain of salt -- Tip 34: consider graduate courses -- Choosing a major -- Tip 35: sample a lot of different departments -- Tip 36: choose a major that you love -- Some neglected majors -- Tip 37: find out what you are good at -- Tip 38: don't worry too much about the job prospects of the major -- Tip 39: choose smaller majors -- Tip 40: choose more structured majors -- Women and the sciences -- Tip 41: go to an academic lecture given in the department -- Tip 42: be skeptical about double or triple majoring -- Tip 43: write a senior thesis -- Tip 44: don't get too stressed out over your choice -- Being successful -- Tip 45: manage your time -- Tip 46: show professors that you are working hard -- Tip 47: join a small study group -- What grades mean -- Tip 48: ask for help -- Tip 49: don't let your instructors suspect that you are taking advantage of them -- Grade inflation -- Tip 50: learn the rules of critical thinking and apply them constantly -- Tip 51: professorial shortcuts for writing -- Tip 52: professorial shortcuts for doing research -- Self-care -- Interacting with professors -- Tip 53: be respectful -- Tip 54: be curious about the subject -- Text box: interacting with female professors -- Tip 55: visit the office hours of all your professors at least once -- Tip 56: get to know at least one professor well -- Tip 57: find out what your professors research -- "Tenured radicals" -- Tip 58: send e-mails judiciously, answer e-mails promptly -- Writing an effective e-mail -- Tip 59: avoid complaints about grades -- Tip 60: become an RA -- Tip 61: ask for recommendation letters from professors who know you well -- Learning outside the classroom -- Tip 62: get involved in extracurricular activities -- Tip 63: subscribe to an intellectual magazine -- Tip 64: read academic blogs -- Text box: academic blogs -- Tip 65: attend a public lecture every week -- Tip 66: spend your free time in coffeehouses -- Tip 67: make friends with people who have different beliefs and experiences -- Tip 68: get to know foreign students -- Going to graduate school -- Tip 69: there are seldom strong reasons to go to graduate school immediately after college -- Tip 70: learn more about the career graduate school is heading to -- Tip 71: graduate school is not just advanced undergrad -- Getting fellowships -- Tip 72: ask your professors' advice about PhD programs in their field -- Tip 73: PhD programs are not for training teachers -- Types of graduate programs -- Tip 74: prestige does matter for PhD programs -- Tip 75: talk to current grad students.
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