College prep! What do I need to bring?

[DonShirer]

Credit card, or debit card with a big enough balance for emergencies.

[GC]

Above all, bring your brain and leave your preconceptions at home. Don't be shocked by culture shock.

[Biggs]

Humility. I didn't get some until my third semester and I'm still paying for it.

[we3kings]

A planner so you know when all the stuff you don't want to do needs to get done by.

[mbell]

I'll also echo the recommendation of a navy blazer, a tux and some decent black dress shoes (plain toe or cap toe). You have a few weeks to hit up thrift shops for these items or keep an eye out for good sales. A navy blazer should be easy to find used. A tux could be a bit more of a challenge depending on where you live. Check Craig's List and eBay too. If you put this off until you need them then you might end up having to pay full retail.

mike

[Michael Bush]

I'll also echo the recommendation of a navy blazer, a tux and some decent black dress shoes (plain toe or cap toe). You have a few weeks to hit up thrift shops for these items or keep an eye out for good sales. A navy blazer should be easy to find used. A tux could be a bit more of a challenge depending on where you live. Check Craig's List and eBay too. If you put this off until you need them then you might end up having to pay full retail.

mike

A quite serviceable tux can be had on eBay for $5 or $10 more than one rental.

[MaryAnn]

And here I'm using to seeing people wearing flip flops on stage.

MA

[Slamson]

I've been following this thread and for the most part, I'd say that in it is a fairly complete list of stuff to bring, including the proper attitude, so let me have a go at it from a slightly different angle.
As a "perfesser" I also do academic advising as well as teach my tuba studio. The first lecture all of these students get from me is "nobody cares about what you did at your high school - leave all your medals and tri-m awards at home." I've been associated, at one time or another with five universities in addition to the three different universities where I went to school, and yes "your mileage may vary", but upperclassmen are always unimpressed when you come to rehearsal with your HS band jacket on.

Ask a lot of questions, sometimes even if you THINK you know the answers. Most faculty are impressed when you ask ANY question as a freshman, and if you ask good ones (there ARE bad questions, by the way, so think a little first) they are more impressed. Show them (and the other good students) that you're willing to mix a little hard work with some occasional goofing off, and you'll find that impresses everybody more than your hs marching band's "tour shirt".

Sorry I've forgotten your gender (if it was ever known) but depending on the institution, consider becoming a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (if you're male) or Sigma Alpha Iota (if you are a female) or Mu Phi Epsilon (which doesn't care what gender you are). Some schools have chapters of these organizations that do a significant amount of musical service to the community and the Music School/Department, but there are also chapters that focus on emptying a keg in less than 2 hours. Not a good plan. It's best to NOT join any of these organizations in your first semester - they'll be looking you over, but you also need that time to decide if it would be a good move for you. I've been places where these chapters were a joke, and the members were basically looked upon with distain by most of the faculty because of their history of parties, harassment, and general uselessness to the individual as well as the school. There are lots of great schools that do not have great chapters of these organizations, so get the straight story before you take the plunge.

I'd go on a lot more if you were sitting in my studio, but I'll close with one last remark. Of all eight of the institutions I've been involved with, there has ALWAYS been ONE PERSON on the staff who dispenses answers to questions you are afraid to ask the faculty, gives sage advice better than your advisor (present writer excluded, of course... ) and is the person to call when you do something really stupid and need to get out of it. Become good friends with this person! Show them respect, but also appreciation and be willing to volunteer to help them whenever they need it (they'll never ask, but it's good to offer). With the possible exception of your applied teacher, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT even if they're called a "secretary".

Good luck with your studies, your new social structure (again, it's not high school any more), and your total university experience (except for biology, which I have never figured out why I had to take it...)

[tclements]

beer ......DUH!!

[ken k]

Black suit/tux, bow tie. Black shoes and socks. Pencils. Lots of #2 pencils.

a recorder to record lessons. And.of sufficient quality that you can record yourself in practice and listen back.

speaking of which i have an old tux for sale if you want one. about a 40R or 42R for the coat and 38 /30 for the pants.
k