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Amber-Miasma
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24 May 2010, 9:35 am

I'm going to be attending College (In Scotland, if that makes any difference, I don't know if the college social norms/quirks are similar in the states or anywhere else) in a few months time and was wondering if anyone had any non-biased hints or advice for a young aspie bloke straight out of secondary?



nere-chan
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05 Jun 2010, 11:01 am

I think I'm not the most appropiate person to give you that advice but, well... ^^U try to make friends and don't get isolated.
BTW, the book "Succeeding in College with Asperger Syndrome" (you can find it in http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/) maybe can help you.



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05 Jun 2010, 1:16 pm

What are you studying? :) I'm studying A-levels which is different to what you'll be studying probably. My advice would be to at least get an idea of what you'll be learning. Course content or whatever. That way you won't get so stressed with the higher work load.
The classes will be different for college, usually smaller so that's a bonus. There's normally at lot of group discussions and work at my sixth form so maybe try and find a group you're more comfortable with at the beginning. Ummmm I can't really think of anything else at the moment.
Good luck. :D


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Amber-Miasma
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06 Jun 2010, 9:43 am

Thanks for the advice folks, I'll check out that book.


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06 Jun 2010, 10:56 am

-try to job shadow some people in the areas you're thinking you might want a career in. You probably won't go into college your first year knowing exactly what job you want to do/what you want to major in, but this will give you an idea.

-if you know you want to drop a class, try to do it early on

-check out clubs and organizations (even ones you don't think you'll be interested in) and maybe join some so you can meet some people

-don't take a job or major responsibilities at the beginning of your year unless you need to. You'll probably be busier than you think you will.

Some of these things probably won't be the same in Scotland as they are in the US, but I thought I'd try anyway :]



Amber-Miasma
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06 Jun 2010, 11:01 am

astaut wrote:
-try to job shadow some people in the areas you're thinking you might want a career in. You probably won't go into college your first year knowing exactly what job you want to do/what you want to major in, but this will give you an idea.

-if you know you want to drop a class, try to do it early on

-check out clubs and organizations (even ones you don't think you'll be interested in) and maybe join some so you can meet some people

-don't take a job or major responsibilities at the beginning of your year unless you need to. You'll probably be busier than you think you will.

Some of these things probably won't be the same in Scotland as they are in the US, but I thought I'd try anyway :]


Thanks :)

Yeah, I don't know what I want to do after College, I mean I have an idea (or several :lol: ) but not one overriding pursuit. What do you mean by job shadow?

It's alright, I appreciate it - I don't know anyone interested in the social aspects of American culture to ask but I imagine there are similarities.


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astaut
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06 Jun 2010, 9:58 pm

Job shadow is just one term we use. It just means to ask someone if you can sort of follow them around at their job, and then do it :] If it's a job that you can't really 'watch' (like a psychologist), then you may have to just sort of ask them questions. I was interested in psychology for a while so I sat with a psychologist and asked them a lot of questions. My mom is an OT and I go to work with her sometimes in case I would be interested in that (but I don't think I am). If you're interested in more obscure jobs (say, research in astrophysics) you may have to go to a university and see if they can point you in the direction of someone who does that job or help you contact someone who knows what the job would be like.



countzarroff
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08 Jun 2010, 11:09 pm

Don't make any expectations, not only in college but in life as well. I honestly hope that I'm completely wrong and that college turns out to be everything you hoped for, but it wasn't for me. Your best bet for getting along in college is to be flexible and not get involved in ANY organized groups, (including the nerd groups, they are just as closed minded believe it or not.) When you meet your real friends you will know who they are. Meeting one person who introduces you to a group will work much better for you than sitting down at a table with people you don't know.

Unfortunately for me, it was different than high school but just as miserable as high school. The high school mentality is sill there though. I may sound like a guy who is being grumpy and emo, but I'm really just trying to be true to what I experienced. I hope its better for you and everyone else who plans on going to college.



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09 Jun 2010, 7:52 pm

astaut wrote:
Job shadow . . . If you're interested in more obscure jobs (say, research in astrophysics) . . .

Ask a doctor if you can 'round' with him or her! That means the doctor will introduce you to the patient as a student and asks for the patient's permission while you sit in during consult. Most patients will say Yes. Do it morning or afternoon (not both), as all-day is just too overwhelming.

As far as the doctor agreeing, it's a heavy 50%, if you have some kind of connection to the doctor, even an aunt or uncle introducing you to their doctor, 50-50 the doctor will good-naturedly agree (actually, somewhat better than 50%, but graciously accept whichever way it goes).

And as far as medical practice, perhaps consider pathology where you look at things through a microscope, opthalmology where you get very good at limited subset, or shoot, internal medicine or family medicine, go the whole works, plenty of people with Asperger's get plenty good enough at the social aspect through practice esp since speaking with a patient is a somewhat formal setting, and additionally, you also do a good job because you take it seriously.



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09 Jun 2010, 8:14 pm

countzarroff wrote:
. . . I honestly hope that I'm completely wrong and that college turns out to be everything you hoped for, but it wasn't for me. Your best bet for getting along in college is to be flexible and not get involved in ANY organized groups, (including the nerd groups, they are just as closed minded believe it or not.) When you meet your real friends you will know who they are. Meeting one person who introduces you to a group will work much better for you than sitting down at a table with people you don't know.

Unfortunately for me, it was different than high school but just as miserable as high school. The high school mentality is sill there though. . .

In fact at times, it's a junior high mentality of jockeying for hierarchy and physical intimidation. No joke. And so, here I go again, I recommend quietly and matter-of-factly taking boxing lessons with the goal of tight, defensive boxing to a draw. The attitude is, you want to go a few rounds, we can go a few rounds. I don't really believe in that s**t, but that's the general attitude you want to have unless the person is just obviously bigger than you are. 'How tall are you?' ('And how much do you weigh') 'And you think it would be a fair fight?' And unless for this, the attitude you want to go a few rounds, we can go a few rounds, and the zen of it is, you might not then need to do it.

When I went to a university in American in 1982, there was a nasty undercurrent of bullying of a type I had not seen in high school (I guess because the hierarchy was already established) but that I did remember from junior high. So, you'd prefer a draw because you're not trying to humiliate anyone. You'll graciously accept a win. You'll graciously accept a loss if it comes down to it.

You might also want to take karate for more serious self-defense situations. (and I know you'll know to be matter-of-fact and not brag about either one of these)

And you don't want to take a bunch of blows to the head, because that stuff with post-concussion syndrome is real (and it's usually a subsequent concussion, like the 3rd, the 4th, the 7th, unpredictable)



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09 Jun 2010, 9:10 pm

-get plenty of sleep and buy ear plugs if you live in a dorm
-find a way to destress [for me it was running and watching movies]
-eat healthy, pleanty of beans, veggies and fruit
-get papers started early
-never wait untill the last minute to do your homework or study
-find nice quiet places to work. :)

im about to graduated from a university. hope my tips help! :)



Amber-Miasma
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10 Jun 2010, 8:57 am

AardvarkGoodSwimmer wrote:
countzarroff wrote:
. . . I honestly hope that I'm completely wrong and that college turns out to be everything you hoped for, but it wasn't for me. Your best bet for getting along in college is to be flexible and not get involved in ANY organized groups, (including the nerd groups, they are just as closed minded believe it or not.) When you meet your real friends you will know who they are. Meeting one person who introduces you to a group will work much better for you than sitting down at a table with people you don't know.

Unfortunately for me, it was different than high school but just as miserable as high school. The high school mentality is sill there though. . .

In fact at times, it's a junior high mentality of jockeying for hierarchy and physical intimidation. No joke. And so, here I go again, I recommend quietly and matter-of-factly taking boxing lessons with the goal of tight, defensive boxing to a draw. The attitude is, you want to go a few rounds, we can go a few rounds. I don't really believe in that sh**, but that's the general attitude you want to have unless the person is just obviously bigger than you are. 'How tall are you?' ('And how much do you weigh') 'And you think it would be a fair fight?' And unless for this, the attitude you want to go a few rounds, we can go a few rounds, and the zen of it is, you might not then need to do it.

When I went to a university in American in 1982, there was a nasty undercurrent of bullying of a type I had not seen in high school (I guess because the hierarchy was already established) but that I did remember from junior high. So, you'd prefer a draw because you're not trying to humiliate anyone. You'll graciously accept a win. You'll graciously accept a loss if it comes down to it.

You might also want to take karate for more serious self-defense situations. (and I know you'll know to be matter-of-fact and not brag about either one of these)

And you don't want to take a bunch of blows to the head, because that stuff with post-concussion syndrome is real (and it's usually a subsequent concussion, like the 3rd, the 4th, the 7th, unpredictable)


So what you're saying is that they're gonna be bearing their teeth and growling so you gotta bear your teeth and growl louder? Really for the past 2 million or so years of human evolution we haven't evolved much but I suppose it's their world.

Thanks for all the advice folks :), I will look into the job shadowing thing nearer the time although knowing the medical practices here it would be total redtape city if I asked to follow them during their rounds.


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AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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10 Jun 2010, 8:33 pm

Amber-Miasma wrote:
So what you're saying is that they're gonna be bearing their teeth and growling so you gotta bear your teeth and growl louder? Really for the past 2 million or so years of human evolution we haven't evolved much but I suppose it's their world. . .

At times, aggressive primate behavior as if we're a tribe of monkeys! Yes, that's sometimes the way it is. And actually, I recommend only bearing your teeth 9/10's as much, with tongue in cheek as it were, an attitude not too far from being bemused, and ready to take it sideways. Not arrogant, but if the person wants to be that way, you can play along and not take the whole thing that seriously.

And also, consider standing up for an unpopular person. Sometimes the dynamics here work much better standing up for yourself, and sometimes it's surprisingly easy to pull off (not alway of course). For example, if the guys in the dorm are really ragging on one particular guy, and you're feeling medium uncomfortable

'He seems like an alright guy to me.'

And then just be open to whatever response there is. If you wait till you more than medium uncomfortable, it's more difficult to be open in the same way.

'So you really don't like the guy' (said with zen openess, and this is also a way of taking it to the side)


(And you can't do any of this out of a misplaced sense of obligation. That's dry as dust. But out of a sense of possibility? maybe, sure, then see how it goes)



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10 Jun 2010, 9:21 pm

Ok, here we go:

* Never stab any of your teachers to death. People don't like that. In fact, no stabbings period.
* Try to figure out what you want to do after you graduate, so that way you can specialize now and have options later. (Hint: unless you go to grad school, the liberal arts are not very employable. In fact, they still aren't very employable even if you do go to grad school)
* Try to be prepared on what you need for your classes, such as coursework, and what days the tests will be. If you have a class that rewards for participation, then be prepared to speak up.
* Keep scantrons handy so that way if you have a class with pop quizzes, or a test that you didn't remember, you won't be without a scantron.
* Never ever try to eat anybody else's face. Eating a face is always messy, and people don't usually like it if you do that.
* Don't do drugs, as they reduce your cognitive abilities and waste your time, (and might be illegal anyway)
* Don't put too much salt on your food. If you oversalt your food, then it might get sentience and try to eat YOU.
* Be aware of the social groups you get into. I'd advise some suspicion towards religious groups of many stripes, but the same issues also exist for academic behavior and other things.
* Remember to be yourself. Unless, you know, you don't wanna, then be somebody else REALLY COOL, but don't be someone really lame, because what's really the point?
* Use the school library if you can, as college libraries have a LOT of books, especially if you have any high intellectual interests.
* Develop your interests.
* Take everything you hear with a grain of salt, maybe some pepper too, also don't blindly trust anything. This includes this list.

And yes, this is an American coming from a more American view of "college", so I don't really know how much overlap there is, but I do know in late high school, I was already preparing for getting my bachelors degree, and that this preparation was very very useful for me.



Amber-Miasma
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13 Jun 2010, 1:04 pm

Awesomelyglorious wrote:
Ok, here we go:

* Never stab any of your teachers to death. People don't like that. In fact, no stabbings period.
* Try to figure out what you want to do after you graduate, so that way you can specialize now and have options later. (Hint: unless you go to grad school, the liberal arts are not very employable. In fact, they still aren't very employable even if you do go to grad school)
* Try to be prepared on what you need for your classes, such as coursework, and what days the tests will be. If you have a class that rewards for participation, then be prepared to speak up.
* Keep scantrons handy so that way if you have a class with pop quizzes, or a test that you didn't remember, you won't be without a scantron.
* Never ever try to eat anybody else's face. Eating a face is always messy, and people don't usually like it if you do that.
* Don't do drugs, as they reduce your cognitive abilities and waste your time, (and might be illegal anyway)
* Don't put too much salt on your food. If you oversalt your food, then it might get sentience and try to eat YOU.
* Be aware of the social groups you get into. I'd advise some suspicion towards religious groups of many stripes, but the same issues also exist for academic behavior and other things.
* Remember to be yourself. Unless, you know, you don't wanna, then be somebody else REALLY COOL, but don't be someone really lame, because what's really the point?
* Use the school library if you can, as college libraries have a LOT of books, especially if you have any high intellectual interests.
* Develop your interests.
* Take everything you hear with a grain of salt, maybe some pepper too, also don't blindly trust anything. This includes this list.

And yes, this is an American coming from a more American view of "college", so I don't really know how much overlap there is, but I do know in late high school, I was already preparing for getting my bachelors degree, and that this preparation was very very useful for me.


No stabbings or face nommings? (Uber tears :cry: ) I may as well not go to College anymore!


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Wuffles
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15 Jun 2010, 6:27 am

for the aspie in you, one word: earplugs.