Tips for surviving University/college

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Hey everyone!

So I'm currently a university student and I'm finding the socialising/paying attention very difficult. Just wondering if anyone has any tips in surviving university for people with Autism/Aspergers? Thanks

As to paying attention- Watch the professor and actively take notes. Even if it doesn't make much sense, write something down to trigger your memory.

Ex) "Story about his horse...wife...MAYAN ROOTS IN GUATEMALA...vacation...REBELLION IN 1960..." where the stuff in caps is what you need to look up and lowercase stuff is just the professor rambling. If you don't actively write things down it's too hard to see where the real information starts and the crap leaves off.

Make a tight, written "cheat sheet" of everything you need to know from your books and the lessons, then go over that before tests. Draw humorous pictures if you can. That actually will help you remember. Occasionally raise your hand and ask a question to clarify anything current that's not clear.

As to socializing- what exactly are you having problems with?

Thank you for the reply, I like your idea about changing cases to differentiate between important and unimportant things and I'll try that out in my next lecture. As for socialising, I'm finding it very difficult to integrate with my flatmates/people on my course. I want to make friends with them however I find socialising very difficult and tiring.

Writing things down is good way to keep occupied in class.
Even copying terms from slides helps, as the motor act may help you recall info later and gives you something to do.

Here are some tips from an Aspie University Senior.

For paying attention, I would write as much as I can down. Even if you already wrote it in your notebook earlier, it still helps with remembering it and finding it to refer back too. I would also recommend getting a voice recorder of some kind. I have one and it has done wonders for me. You'll need to get accommodation letters from your schools disability services, which will require you to submit proper documentation of the Aspergers diagnosis or anything else.

For socializing, the best advice for this would be to join a club. If you look or inquire a bit, you will be sure to find a club that relates to an interest of yours. I am in the IMPROV club and the gaming club at my University. It is a great way to meet people that share similar interests. I would also say that if you have picked a major, it is likely that the same students will be taking the same classes as you, so that is another option. Also, take advantage of any campus events that you can make it too. Even if you don't necessarily socialize, at least your face is out in the open so some people may recognize you.

Hope that's helped you out some. If you have any other questions feel free to ask me or PM me.

I write most stuff down too, second it being a good way to occupy time during class and just writing it down alone helps me remember it even if I don't read back over my notes.

Socializing I can't help you, not much better on my end. The clubs at my school are lame, none of them seem interesting at all. Maybe it's better at a real university instead of community college.

I used to take a miniature tape recorder to class. In case I missed something I could always rewind and transcribe it later. Be careful some professors do not like be taped so ask if you can.