ETIQUETTE ~ COLLEGE AND BEYOND ~ BACK TO SCHOOL

Emily Post Etiquette

College and Beyond ~ You’re on your own, and it’s great!

But what do you do when your roommate never does the dishes, you don’t know what to wear to a job interview, and your friends haven’t let you know if they’re coming to your big party?

We can show you how to successfully navigate the pleasures and perils of independent life. You can browse the articles and videos below or search our site. It’s often the easiest way to find the articles you need.

If you can’t find the answer here, our books provide a complete resource for life in college and beyond.

Back to School ~ Be school savvy this fall with advice from our summer interns.

The College Classroom

Whether you are studiously taking notes or sleeping on your desk, your presence in a classroom affects those around you. Our etiquette advice will get you good grades in manners – and maybe even in your class, too!

Surfing the Web can wait

Typing notes on your laptop can be very efficient, but it can also lead to the all-consuming distractions of Facebook or email. Keep in mind that even though your computer is in your personal space, other students can easily see your screen.

*Pictures from you weekend party or your favorite fashion blog can easily divert someone’s attention from a lecture, especially in a dark classroom during a presentation.

*In addition, it is disheartening for a professor to find out that their work is being ignored for the Internet. Although your pictures or gossip sites may make you want to laugh out loud, snickering and whispering is another clear sign of disrespect to your professor.

*Our advice, ditch the computer entirely and go for the classic pen-and-paper approach to notetaking. If you prefer the convenience of technology, try turning off your wireless. It will take away the temptation of the web, and it will also help to preserve the battery life of your laptop.

An able body is an able mind

Dragging yourself to an early class after a night of partying can take all your strength and determination. But if you’re just going to pass out five minutes into class, is it really worth it? If a hangover hinders your ability to concentrate in class or even to stay awake, reconsider heading to campus at all – and reevaluate how you spend your weeknights.

If you truly are sick but shudder at the thought if missing even a single lecture, consider how your classmates would feel with someone coughing or sneezing on their notes. For the sake of your health and the health of others, staying at home may be the best option. If so, write an email to your professor apologizing for your absence before class begins. Ask a friend to take notes for you and offer to do the same when he or she is sick. And if you really can’t forsake your perfect attendance record, arm yourself with tissues, cough drops or even a face mask.

Eat discreetly

Taking lunch on-the-go is often unavoidable if you have a busy class schedule. Depending on the professor, eating in class is usually acceptable. But be aware of how your food choices contribute to the classroom setting. Crunchy snacks or loud, crinkly wrappers can disrupt a lecture. Likewise, foods with strong, pungent smells can turn the focus from the lesson onto your lunch. Instead of bringing an orange or a tuna sandwich, for example, try munching on something quiet and discreet, like a muffin or a turkey sandwich.

To ask, or not to ask? That is the question

Asking questions is a great way to engage with the material and to make a connection with your professor. However, there are several things to consider before you shoot up your hand.

*Do you really need clarification, or are you simply trying to earn more participation points? Remember that time in the classroom is both valuable and limited.

*Would your question help the learning process of the rest of the class? If your question is more personal or specific to you needs, then wait until after class to ask the professor. Writing an email or attending office hours is another great way to connect with your professor.

*Formulate your question in your head (or even write it down) before you raise your hand. It’s really easy to forget your question, and rambling on can only lead to more confusion.

*Try to say on topic with your question. Professors generally like to stick to their lesson plans, so an off-topic question might consume so much time that important information may be left out of the lecture.

If your professor welcomes questions, discussions or debates, by all means, participate. Often it’s best to judge to what is appropriate based on the content of the class.

Lessons in Library Etiquette

As each semester progresses, you will find yourself spending more and more time in the library. Here are some tips on how to make the best of the library experience for you and for those around you.

Don’t Talk

Whether living on or off campus, college life is filled with distractions. Students often rely on the library as the only place guaranteed to be a quiet study space. Whenever someone talks in the library, even at a whisper, the noise can be very disruptive in an otherwise silent environment. If you run into a friend or receive a phone call, take your conversation to the lobby.

Snack outside the stacks

We understand that long days in the library can end with painfully empty stomachs. You should be sure to nourish yourself during those extended study sessions. But the library is definitely not the place to take your lunch or snacks. Eating near the books risks spilling on the pages or attracting pests into the collections. In addition, loudly crunching carrots or chips can be very distracting to those around you. Do yourself a favor by scheduling snack breaks in the lobby every couple of hours or leaving your assignment for a few minutes to take a quick lunch in the nearest cafeteria. Your stomach –and your brain – will thank you!

Treat the book with respect

Ever read through a library book that is filled with underlines, highlights or notes in the margins? It happens to us all the time. Someone else’s annotations can divert attention away from the material, making concentration on the text all the more difficult. Not to mention, sometimes highlighting can render text illegible when pages are photocopied. When reading a library book, pretend it belongs to a close friend so you won’t be tempted to write in the pagers. Mark pages with sticky notes that can easily be removed upon returning the book. Keep a notebook and pen handy to make notes while reading. And don’t annotate a book in pencil with the intention of erasing it all when you’re done – you won’t get around to it.

Group Projects and Collaborative Work

Regardless of your major, at some point in your college career you will have to participate in a group project. Although the saying “two heads are better than one” has some truth to it, there are still challenges to collaborative work. Here are some tips to help your team succeed.

*Planning ahead is key. As soon as you are assigned your group, share your schedules and assign specific meeting times.

*If your school has group meeting rooms, be sure to book a space ahead of time. Double-check that all members know when and where the group will be meeting.

*At your first meeting, clearly establish the roles and responsibilities for each group member. This will ensure that everyone remains accountable for your project.

*Be wary of power dynamics. A good group leader will keep everyone on track and listen to everyone’s ideas, without trying to take over all the work. If more than one person wants to lead, then assign a leader to each major task. This also gives a chance to use everyone’s strengths.

*Consult with the rest of the group before deciding to make major changes to your project.

*Communication is incredibly important. Don’t let problems stew. If they do arise, discuss them with the group rather than letting a small issue affect your grade, and perhaps even a potential friendship.

*Remember that everyone else has commitments too. If you or another member is suddenly too busy to be able to complete a task, ask for help. Just don’t assume that someone else can do your part for you.

*Avoid being a “free-loader”. Make a genuine contribution to the project. There’s nothing worse than a group member who does none of the work and receives the same grade as those who worked hard.

Be a Team Player

Part of the fun of a sports game is cheering on your team and getting a little rowdy. However, it’s still important to be respectful of both your team and the opponents.

If You’re on the Field

We get it: when you’re in the game, you’ve got your eye on the prize. You’re focused on nothing other than the competition at hand. You want to win; no, you NEED to win. Although you may want to channel all your aggression into winning, just remember to be considerate of all the other athletes. Don’t risk getting disqualified by using crude language or provoking injuries.

If you do lose, lose gracefully. Don’t point blame or ruin the celebration of the other team. If you win, don’t gloat. It’s great to show pride in your win, just don’t do it at the expense of hurting the other team’s feelings.

If Your Watching From the Sidelines:

You’re wearing your school colors and a giant foam finger, belting out the official fight song and clicking away on your camera. Is there anything else you need to remember?

There’s nothing worse for the sport spectator than an obnoxious viewer yelling profanities, throwing food, jumping out of his seat, and taunting the other team. Remember to be a supportive school sports fan, not an offensive onlooker.

Regardless of how you participate in school sports, don’t forget to have fun and show your support. GO TEAM!!!