#incomingfreshmen

[catsfoodnetflix]

Tips for College

Befriend your teachers.

No seriously. Do it. Your teachers are great people and they can share many things about the world to you. 

For example, today I had a discussion with my education teacher about how there is still segregation going on in today's world. She explained so much to me and I really learned a lot. 

You learn a lot from your elders. Don't be afraid to spark a conversation with them!

Enjoy.

[coreroc]

Wild morning collaborating with @giovannipaints @badtrumpeteer mural plus body paint I only coffee. #asseenincolumbus #socolumbus #incomingfreshmen #osuwelcomeweek

[ellaheart]

College

My dad told me the other day that I'm going to community college or nothing. I refuse to give up on my ticket out of this house and away from him.

[notyourordinarysuperman]

UST Nursing Freshman’s FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions): A Guide to Surviving Your First Year in College as a Nursing Student

(Updated July 15, 2016)

Every year, hundreds and hundreds of prospective students pass the qualifying interview at the UST College of Nursing (after getting their USTET scores). Fact is, our college is really different when it comes to others - do not be surprised when you and your batchmates have different experiences even if you study in the same university during your reunion/while randomly running to each other while walking (which usually ends up in hours of chat over good food). It’s good to surprise yourself with what you’ll experience, but it’s also nice to know what to expect. Right?

First of all, congratulations on appearing on the list of students ready for confirmation of their slots. You are about to embark on the best (I didn’t say easiest, okay?) 4 years of your life so far. You won’t regret it. 

I'm sure many of them are asking from upperclassmen about how it is to be a freshman. I was asked a lot of times, and here's an all-in-one post answer to many of their questions. I am using tagalog & english for this. I don’t usually do this, but it’s more effective this way. 

Disclaimer: The answers and statements I gave are from my experiences as a freshman last school year. They don't necessarily reflect the announcements and policies of UST College of Nursing.

1. KAILAN BA ANG PASUKAN? ANO ANG KAILANGAN DALHIN AT ANO ANG GINAGAWA?  (When is the real 1st day of classes? What do you do and what do you bring?)

Your 1st day of the school year will be determined the school year’s calendar of activities. Usually, ang 1st day of the school year ay hindi required pasukan, kasi it's the Misa de Apertura dun sa Santissimo Rosario Church. Minsan, sa grandstand na nila ito ginaganap kapag walang ulan. However, since nagpalit na ng school calendar, it might not be an ideal place for the mass. I suggest you attend the mass even if siksikan kasi it is supposed to help you for the whole school year ahead of you.

The following day (or 2-3 days after, depende sa schedule) is the real 1st day of class. Actually, wala pa masyadong ginagawa. Puro introduce yourself in front of the class habang nakatayo sa platform. During this day, there will be orientation by the professors regarding sa mga gusto at ayaw nila, requirements, their exams, and what to expect from their respective courses. Prepare lots of 1x1 pictures and 1/8 index cards. And since wala pa kayong ID, always bring your registration form (also known as Form 1) everyday. Pinapa-present 'yan ng guard on duty as you enter the university, although sometimes pinapapasok ka nila kahit wala yon. Pero bring pa din your reg form always, para sure. 

Kung sa 6th floor ang room mo, pagpasok ng building take the right side corner stairs (malapit sa CR ng girls) and kapag nasa 4th floor ka na, may daanan dun papuntang 6th floor. It’s the small hallway with lockers which the guidance & counseling office is located. You go through that hallway, akyat ng stairs, and look for your room number na lang. Wag kang maghahanap ng 5th floor, kasi mahihilo ka lang - walang 5th floor. I suggest bringing just a small notebook and a pen to list the professor's reminders for the day. Don't bring any book muna, wag kang excited. 

2.  P.E.

Sa 2nd week pa ng 1st sem kayo papasok for P.E. class. On the 1st week, usually orientation din muna with your respective professors. No need to wear your P.E. uniform yet, just attend the class and give a photocopy of your reg form to your prof and orientations lang naman. However, it would be nice if ma-claim mo na before start ng school year ang iyong P.E. uniform. Depende sa P.E. mo, kukunin mo 'yung P.E. uniform sa likod ng Grandstand or idi-distribute ng professors niyo on the 2nd or 3rd meeting. 

Madaming P.E. na available, pero hindi ka pwedeng mamili ng P.E. mo. The college decides what P.E. you get depending on your section’s schedule. Block section kayo so you’re all this together whatever happens. Just have fun na lang. Here are the P.E.s offered by the UST-IPEA (UST-Institute of Physical Education and Athletics) to the College of Nursing: Basketball, Volleyball, Korfball, Sepak Takraw, Pingpong, Fitness, Social/Folk Dance, Soccer, Arnis, Softball, Handball. Madami na atang nabago dito or nadagdag, though.

3. NSTP (National Service Training Program) and ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)

Kung willing kang pumasok for a whole school year tuwing Sunday at a 6:30 AM calltime, then sige, mag ROTC ka. Kasi ang nursing, lagi daw ginagawang medics (according to my nursing friends na nag-ROTC). You’ll learn a lot naman daw, plus you’ll be more physically fit. Yan ang tinatawag nating ROTC (Reserved Officer Training Corps). You have an option to take that during your 1st year. 

Pero if ayaw mong ma-hassle ung 1st year schedule mo, eh di sa 2nd year ka na lang. Pwedeng CWTS (Community Welfare Training Service) or LTS (Literary Training Service) - that’s your NSTP. You have two options. 

Sa CWTS, all you do is do stuff for other people and environment: mga tree-planting, medical missions, dental missions, and other things na kayang kaya naman. 

Kapag LTS naman, magtuturo kayo sa mga elementary students in the mountains. Fun din daw ‘to sabi ng mga friends ko na nag-LTS

Medyo hassle din ang NSTP, kasi tuwing Sunday 'yun, and Monday-Saturday na ang pasok tuwing 2nd year. 

NO, you do not have an option to not take the NSTP unless you aren’t a Filipino citizen. Sige na, serve the country na! Minsan lang naman in your life. You’ll leave good footprints pa to the lives you’ll touch.

4. PROFESSORS and GRADES

Wala naman akong naranasang terror na professor sa College of Nursing. Or wala pa. Kasi sa nursing, be nice to them and they'll be nice to you. Merong mga mabait pero mataas or mababa magbigay ng grades. Meron namang mga terror pero mataas or mababa din magbigay. Swertihan din minsan, honestly. Pero for the most part, the professors in our college are very understanding, kind, and accommodating naman. Therapeutic sila. 

Your grades will be based on a lot of factors - kasama yun sa orientation during your 1st day. But since OBE na ang curriculum ng ating college, a lot of your grade’s percentage will be based from your outputs (paperworks, presentations, projects, and other requirements). Basta, kapag may pinapagawang requirements sa’yo, do it great. They appreciate those who try to give their all kapag may pinapagawa sila. Tapos, study well kapag may quizzes and major exams. 

For the grade-conscious ones, read this part. If you aren't one of them, then skip this. 

The Dean's List is the list posted by the Dean every sem. Sila yung mga nakakakuha ng Semestral Average ng 1.75 (or 89.00 in numerical value) Exact 'yan, di pwedeng 1.752 or 1.7501. Di ka na makakasama sa Dean’s List kapag ganun. Unlike before, ang ating passing percentage is 65% for Nursing Subjects and 60% for Math. Computed na under base 65% unlike nung HS, base 50%. Kung dati, 50/100 = 75, ngayon 65/100 = 75. Pero for Chemistry and Ana-Phy, 50 or 60% lang.

The higher the grade, the lower the number. You can get grades of 1.00 to 3.00 in increments of 0.25. Pwedeng 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, and so on.  3.00 is equal to 75. 5.00 means you failed the subject, and you'll have to leave the UST College of Nursing.  

Latin Honors  (Cum Laude - 1.46-1.75, Magna Cum Laude - 1.26-1.45, Summa Cum Laude - 1.00 - 1.25) are based on your general weighted average (GWA) from 1st yr 1st sem to 4th yr 2nd sem. Hindi kailangang kasama ka sa Dean’s List every sem, basta sa final average mo, 1.75 dapat (minimum). Ok lang na magkaroon ka ng 3.00 anytime during your stay, so long as you achieve the required GWA.

P.E. and NSTP/ROTC are not computed with the average, so hindi mo na kailangang career-in yun. Pero ikaw, kung gusto mo, sige. Push mo lang 'yan. 

5. HAIR COLOR, UNIFORMS, and ALING ISING

Dapat after enrollment, magpagawa ka na ng uniform. Pramis, hassle kasi 'yun. And, kay Aling Ising ka magpagawa. On the first week, pwede pang hindi naka-uniform, pero OP 'yun kasi halos lahat sila naka-uniform na. 

Wear a lanyard if you want to, especially girls. Pero I don't really see the "yaya vibe" that many people think about the girls wearing UST College of Nursing's prescribed uniform without an ID or a lanyard. So, ok lang din naman talaga even if you don’t follow that trend. 

Wag ka na mangahas na magpagawa ng uniform sa iba bukod kay Aling Ising, kasi it's been a tradition for a long time. And sometimes, pinapansin 'yun ng mga professors. By the way, si Aling Ising ay patay na, at sa pagawaan niya, ang anak na niya ang nagma-manage nun. Halos buong university ay dun nagpapa-tahi (including other schools nearby), so magpa-gawa ka agad para hindi ka ma-hassle. Pwede rin naman na magpa-gawa ka muna ng isang set ng uniform sa kanya, then magpa-tahi ka sa iyong trusted na tailor. Just make sure na parehong-pareho sila.

The college has a strict policy when it comes to coloring your hair especially 1st year 2nd semester onwards. Kung talagang di ka magpapapigil, sige magkulay ka ng buhok ng 1st sem of 1st year. Pero after non, wag na magpakulay. You’ll face your patients na starting from this semester on, plus iche check yan ng iyong mga magiging clinical instructors. Make-up duty ang katapat niyan (you’ll learn more about that kapag nasa College of Nursing ka na).

6. ID

In our case, ang aming ID ay ibinigay nung 2nd week of August na (our school year way back 2012 started in June). It depends talaga so maaring makuha mo din ng mas maaga ang iyong ID. But whatever, I suggest keeping your registration form habang wala pa 'yun. Kasi kapag nawala mo 'yan, magre-request ka sa accounting office sa main building which is hassle din. 

Ung hitsura mo nung nagpa-picture taking ka nung summer time pa ta's medyo haggard or ewan ka, yun na 'yung ID mo hanggang maka-graduate ka. Unless mawala mo or walain mo on purpose yung ID mo. Kapag ganon, magrerequest ka for a new ID so bayad na naman and picture-taking pa sa Tan Yan Kee student center. Pero don't do that kasi kakausapin ka ni Dean and you will feel irresponsible for your actions. 

7. FRESHMEN ORIENTATION & FRESHMEN WALK

Magkaiba 'yan ha. Yung freshman orientation, ito-tour kayo around the campus ng mga upperclassmen - iikutin niyo  ang UST  for half a day. Yung Freshmen Walk, 'yan yung laging nade-delay na concert + fun and games + midnight madness. Kami nung September na nag-freshmen walk e. Again, it depends on your school year’s calendar of activities.

Lahat kayo dadaan dun sa Arch of the Centuries as a sign na official freshman ka na ng UST. Tapos dadaan ka ulit dun sa graduation mo. There's a myth that if you pass through that more than the 2 specified times, made-debar ka. Meaning tanggal ka na sa UST. I don't think that's true, kasi I have friends na ginawa 'yun. Naging Dean’s Lister pa nga sila. 

8. MAJOR EXAMS & INTEGRATION DAYS

3 ang major exams sa UST-College of Nursing: Monthlies, Prelims, and Finals. Iba siya unlike sa ibang colleges and faculties, dalawa lang. Prelims and Finals. Masyado kasing maraming topics ang dini-discuss sa nursing, so talagang ganyan.  

Ang Integration Day ay ang araw before ng monthly and prelim exams. Hindi 'yan holiday, sine-set yan depende sa kung kelan ang exams. During these days, wala kayong pasok. Use that time to study well for your exams. Ok?

Usually a week or two before the major exams, the schedule will be posted across the bulletin boards ng 1st and 2nd floor. I-check mo yun para alam mo what time ang iyong exam, what days, and what subjects ang ie-exam mo per day. 

You should bring a black ballpen, pencil, eraser, and your exam permit, and your reviewers/handouts for the next subject exam. Kasi kapag wala 'yan, di ka makakapag-exam. Mahirap ang make-up exams and baka may deductions ka pa.  

9. CUT-OFF

The cut-off is the required General Weighted Average by the UST-College of Nursing para makapagpatuloy ka to 2nd year. It is the average of your semestral average from 1st and 2nd sem. So everything matters, okay? At the end of 2nd sem, all of you freshmen will be ranked according to your GWA. Tapos usually mga Top 300-350 lang ang kukunin.  

 It varies, depende sa performance ng batch niyo. Pero para safe ka, aim for 2.00 (87 in numerals) or higher. Kasi 2.00 is the default cut-off GWA for every batch.  Wag kang masyadong magpapaka-stress kasi lalo kang mahihirapang mag-aral. Dapat never magpapabaya, establish your study habits ahead and you'll pass the cut-off with a blast. 

10. SUBJECTS TO PREPARE FOR

1st Semester - during this sem, mostly puro kayo minor subjects with one nursing subject pa lang. Pero wag mo ‘to maliitin, eto yung sem na dapat umaariba ka na. Things will never be that easy again. You have the following: Inorganic Chemistry, Filipino 1, English 1, Math 101, TFN (Theoretical Foundations of Nursing), Psychology 1, Theology 1, and your P.E.

2nd Semester - during this semester, this is where the actual battle begins. You will be really introduced to the world of pre-medical science, especially the world that is Nursing. Mas mahirap siya than the 1st semester, and these will build your foundations para hindi ka mahirapan pagdating mo ng 2nd year to 4th year. #claimingit odiba sure na akong makakapag-2nd year ka na. Haha. Subjects to prepare for are the following: Human Anatomy & Physiology, Fundamentals of Nursing Practice, Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry, English 2, Filipino 2, Theology 2, and your P.E. 

11. KEY LOCATIONS IN THE ST. MARTIN DE PORRES BUILDING

When going up and down the different rooms of the building, mag tiyaga kang gumamit ng stairs. Do not use the elevator - pang professors & guests yun. Wag kang mapangahas. LOL. Pagpasok mo ng building, all of our rooms in the college of nursing are at the right side. Kasi  sa left side, medicine and rehabilitation sciences. 

Male comfort rooms - right side corners of the building

Female comfort rooms - left side corners

Xerox/Photocopy: Sa 2nd floor, left & right side ng building

Med Cafe: 1st floor, left side

Health Sciences Library: 4th floor

Medicine Auditorium: 4th floor

Dean's Office: 3rd floor, Rm. 312

Nursing Auditorium: 1st floor, right side. 

12. ORGANIZATIONS

You can join any organization you want, so long as you can maintain good grades. Remember, you are in the college to study (primarily) and finish with flying colors. Kung feeling mo mahihirapan ka i-balance, wag muna mag join. May 2nd to 4th year ka pa. Here are the organizations of our college 

UST Coro de Ruiseñores (Nursing Chorale) 

Nursing Journal

Nursing COMELEC

Nursing Central Board of Students (Student Council)

Rotaract Club of Nursing

Nursing Association of Student Achievers

Nursing Varsity Council

Nursing Dance Troupe

Red Cross Youth Council Unit - Nursing Unit

Medical Missions Incorporated - Nursing Group

Pax Romana Nursing Unit

Maraming organizations ang UST-CoN. Pero I suggest sumali ka sa di masyadong active na orgs or sa 2nd or 3rd year ka na lang sumali kasi nga may cut-off kayong kelangang lagpasan. Pero ikaw bahala. Kaya mo yan!

I’ve been an active member of the UST Nursing Chorale since 1st year ‘till I graduated, and I joined the Nursing Journal when I was in 4th year. 

13. Mga Kainan Na Malapit Sa UST and Where To  Buy Stuff For Requirements

Dahil mahal ang pagkain sa medicine cafe, syempre we're looking for alternatives. Though most of the time, kulang ang oras niyo para maghanap pa ng makakainan kasi  maraming ginagawa. Pero eto. 

Sa may Dapitan, marami dun. Pero since it's part of being a Thomasian, ikaw na bahala maghanap. Masaya mag-food trip dun. Maraming choices and masasarap ang food. Ingat ingat lang, wag ka maliligaw. 

Sa Asturias St. sa may Jollibee, halos lahat ng supplies na kailangan niyo for Chem Lab and mga school-related stuff (photocopy, printing) halos andun na lahat. May mga kainan din dun. 

14. Advice for incoming freshmen of UST-College of Nursing

Hi! Welcome to the College of Nursing.  Enjoy your 1st year, wag masyadong ma-pressure and mag-aral ng mabuti. Kasi making it to the college is already an achievement, and all you have to do is to prove yourself na deserving kang maging future alumnus/alumna ng College of Nursing, one of the few centers of excellence in UST. Most importantly, remember na you are destined for greatness as a future Thomasian Nurse. You are the cream of the crop. Now, prove it. Okay?

Bring some extra money, and never forget three things: umbrella, alcohol, and slippers. You'll know why, very soon.  Good luck, and God Bless! 

DISCLAIMER: These are based from my experiences as a freshman, and are not to be solely followed by incoming freshmen. Thank you! :)