Spring Invitational ends today, and high school students will return home armed with a little more knowledge they needed to attend the University. But after three days of college preparation from the LSU Ambassadors, some prospective students still have questions, and some current students said they agreed that they wish they had been told more during their orientation process.
 
Campus Resources
Katie Shech, sociology senior, said she would have liked to have known more about the free resources available on campus.
“I didn’t start using the library until I was a senior,” Shech said.
Saundra McGuire, Center for Academic Success director, said there are many resources on campus students should be aware of such as the Health Center, the Mental Health Center and Disability Services.
“I would say spend a day and find out all the resources at LSU,” McGuire said.
One area she said students can take advantage of is health care.
Julie Hupperich, Health Center associate director, said full-time students can see a primary care physician, mental health worker, dietitian or health educator for no additional charge.
Hupperich also said students can use the laboratory, imaging or pharmacy at reduced prices. The pharmacy accepts prescriptions from doctors on campus and sells over-the-counter medication.
Hupperich said the Health Center also distributes free condoms in the health education department and sells them six for a dollar in the pharmacy.
Other students said they did not know about resources like Campus Transit, the Women’s Center and free printers in the dorms.
Sean Bailey, computer science freshman, said he would have liked a better map, not the “black-and-white” one he received.
“Get the good map,” Bailey said. “The parking violation maps are much better.”
 
Courses
JoJo Allen, French freshman, said he didn’t know about dropping courses.
“If your teacher doesn’t speak English, drop the class immediately,” Allen said.
McGuire advised otherwise and cautioned that in some courses none of the instructors are native English speakers.
She said students should attempt to become accustomed to instructors’ accents.
McGuire said students should listen carefully and said many will find it easier to understand a different accent after a few classes.
McGuire also said if students are still having trouble understanding instructors, they can make an appointment at the Center for Academic Success to find tutoring or other extra help.
Cassie Lindsey, communication disorder freshman, said she wished she had known about aroundu.com – a Web site that ranks professors and courses.
“I wish they would have said something,” Lindsey said. “I was in the middle of my first semester when someone told me.”
Philip Zito, civil engineering freshman, said to visit professors during office hours.
Ben Kennedy, mechanical engineering freshman, said he wishes they would have told him to initially schedule more courses.
“They need to tell you to schedule as many hours as possible so you can drop,” Kennedy said.
But McGuire advised against the practice of over-scheduling because students spend more time working on a class that eventually is not going to gain any credit.
McGuire also said by scheduling a course the student knows they’re going to drop, they decrease the chance for a student who would like to complete the course to enroll.
Kristine Breithaupt, mass communication senior, said to talk to a counselor and learn how to use degree audits efficiently.
 
Football Tickets
Yvette Triay, spring tester and senior at St. Mary’s Dominican High School in New Orleans, said she wanted to know how to purchase student football tickets.
Brian Broussard, athletics ticket director, said incoming students will receive an e-mail early in the summer about the purchasing process.
Broussard said incoming freshmen are the last students to purchase tickets, and they should purchase them as soon as they are permitted.
The dates and time for buying tickets has not been determined yet, Broussard said, but students will be receive the dates when they are decided.
 
Textbooks
Beau Prather, petroleum engineering sophomore, said he wishes he would have received more advice about buying textbooks.
“Wait a couple of weeks to buy your books,” Prather said.
Prather said there are other places to purchase books, and professors will give better directions for exactly which books they want.
Brad Taylor, civil engineering sophomore, said students should buy books online, and he added that he saved $150 a semester by buying online.
Zito said to look into sharing books with classmates and splitting the cost.
 
Parking
Zito said it is not difficult to park on campus without a parking permit but to make an effort not to forget it.
He advised parking near the tennis courts where he said he parked his car for three weeks without a permit.
Prather said students can usually park in the CEBA lot without a permit or getting a ticket.
Lindsey said no one told her about the lack of parking.
“You have to drive around for 45 minutes looking,” Lindsey said.
Gary Graham, the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation director, said there is plenty of parking on campus, and there are parking spots even during big events.
Graham said incoming students should register for a permit on PAWS and be aware of the different types of permits available – resident, commuter and Greek are the primary undergraduate permits.
Graham also said if a student needs a medical permit, they should bring documentation from a physician.
 
 
Contact Rebekah Allen and Ginger Gibson at [email protected]