16 Things to Remember at College
2022-01-27
Over the past few months, I have been saving up all the advice I wish someone had given me when I went off to college. I realize that you will probably have to ignore much of this for years, but I am hoping little bits of it will pop into your mind at random moments.
Always drink two drinks fewer than you think you want to. You will get more joy out of life if you are alert to it, before that second-to-last drink, when the evening gets slurred. If you drink too much, you lose those lovely, wild moments. You basically miss them. If you master the art of getting just-the-right-amount drunk, you will have more fun.
Make sure to talk to your college professors. Maybe because they are intimidated or have more exciting things to do, most undergraduates don't venture into office hours. Your professors will appreciate your making an effort to connect and discuss things. This will be useful for you later, if you need a recommendation or a job, but it is also the way to get the best possible education. I know this because I am a professor. So many of my most important pedagogical conversations happen in my office or outside of the classroom over coffee.
Learn how to read quickly for substance.
Don't ignore boys who are nice. I know narcissistic, damaged, charismatically mean, or ultimately unavailable boys will seem appealing. I know suffering can seem glamorous in love, especially at your age, but this particular fallacy, this romantic view of feeling terrible, will cause you a lot of true pain, and lead you down many bad, distracting paths, so try to at least notice the nice boys when you walk into a room. A subset of this: Men who cook are probably harboring other very good qualities. Another subset: Run in the other direction from an angry man. Anger does not equal passion.
Don't wait too long to learn to drive, like I did. You have to do it before you have a sense of your own mortality, or you will never be a natural driver.
Keep a notebook to write down important quotes when you come across them. You will be very happy if you do this, and can find these quotes when you need them. Otherwise, there will definitely be many times when you think of a quote and can't quite remember it and can't find it on the internet and your life will be worse because of this.
Write in books.
This is for later, but you might as well start thinking about it now: Be independent. Even if you are married, or madly in love, or living with someone, make sure you always have your own income and your own financial independence. This will give you freedom and security if you need to leave (and a healthier, more balanced relationship if you want to stay).
Pay more attention to nature and beauty. In this phase of life, you will sometimes think your inner dramas are more compelling than, say, the light in the trees, or the pink-streaked sky you will see when you're staying up 'til dawn, but you are wrong.
This may be one of those things that are so indescribably annoying that you have to tune them out, but I am going to go ahead and say it anyway. Unfortunately, it's impossible to appreciate what a crazy luxury school is until you are finished with it. Even when you are stressed about an exam, or nauseous from staying up all night writing a paper, or racing to class on a cold day, try to appreciate the onetime splendor of being immersed in friends, eating every single meal with them, discussing blooming dramas in every waking hour, having nothing expected of you from the universe but reading and thinking and arguing and expanding your known world. Later, when many things are expected of you, this time will take on a magical, suspended quality. But even now, in small flashes, you may be able to savor it, apprehend the fleeting pleasure and total, glorious artificiality of college.
Find a place in a library where you feel a little bit exalted about your work.
Save letters. Print out important emails and save them too.
Do not be afraid to ask for more money for a job if you deserve it. I have probably taught you to be too polite and respectful of authority to do this, but ignore me!
In all remotely professional emails, write something in the subject line so you can find it later.
Do not use parentheses in your writing in a lazy way, when you can't be bothered to cram all the information into a single graceful sentence. Only use them when they serve some positive stylistic purpose. In other words, use them if you are setting off the information in parentheses for a reason like humor or emphasis.
Don't forget to sleep. When life is so full of people and thoughts and things to read and parties, it is tempting to just not sleep. But one of these days you will wake up feeling an unaccustomed sense of peace and calm, when you are totally un-frantic and un-anxious, and you will think to yourself, Oh this is what it feels like to get eight hours of sleep!
生词笔记
-
save up：储蓄；贮存
She's saving up for a new bike.
她正在存钱，想买一辆新自行车。 pop into your mind
突然出现在你的脑海里。-
random
【六级】【专四】【考研】
adj. 随机的；任意的The information is processed in a random order.
信息是按随机顺序处理的。 -
joy
【四级】【六级】【考研】
短语：be full of joys of spring（兴高采烈）To my joy, the meeting was cancelled.
让我高兴的是，会议取消了。
Discover the joys of skiing.
去发现滑雪的乐趣吧。joy 的常见搭配词
adjectives great, pure, real, sheer
verbs bring, discover, experience, find, share, -
slur
【六级】【专八】
vt.忽视 vi.含糊地发音；潦草地写字 n.污点；诽谤a racial slur
种族诽谤
短语：slur your words/speech
She was slurring her words and holding on to the bar.
她含糊不清地说着话，手抓着横杆。 -
basically
【四级】【六级】【专四】
adv. 基本上The book is basically a love story.
这本书基本上是个爱情故事。也可以用于口语
Well, basically the teacher said he'll need extra help with French.
大致说来，老师说他在法语学习上需要特别的帮助。 -
intimidate
【四级】【专八】
v. 恐吓
容易混淆：imitate, intimate, intimidateimitate: v.模仿，仿效；复制，仿造。
• The boy imitates his father's way of talking.
那个男孩模仿他父亲说话的样子。
intimate: a.亲密的；温馨的，舒适的。
• We have had an intimate friendship since we were young.
我们自年轻时代起就建立了亲密的友谊。
intimidate: v.恐吓，威胁。
• An older boy intimidated the little children when he took their lunch money.
一个年龄大一点的男孩恐吓那些小孩子，并且抢走了他们的午饭钱。 undergraduates
n. 大学生（复数）-
pedagogical
【专八】
adj. 教师的；适宜于教师的；教学(法)的pedagogical methods
教学方法 -
substance
【四级】【六级】【专四】
可以指物质，也可以指“毒品”。但文中指的是“内容”。短语：the substance of something
Love and guilt form the substance of his new book.
他的新书主要讲爱情与罪孽。短语：in substance
I agreed with what she said in substance, though not with every detail.
对于她所说的，虽然不是每个细节我都同意，但基本内容却是赞同的。短语：a man/woman of substance
(formal) a rich and powerful man or woman
有钱有势的男人／女人 narcissistic
adj. 自我陶醉的-
charismatically
【专八】
charismatic
adj. 有魅力的Martin Luther King was a very charismatic speaker.
马丁•路德•金是个很有感召力的演说家。 -
glamorous
高级词汇，GRE核心词
adj. 迷人的，富有魅力的
近义词：fascinatingIt’ s a very glamorous holiday destination.
这是个非常吸引人的度假胜地。 -
subset
n. 子集
实际上准确来讲是（大组中的）一部分或者（大套中的）一小套。a small subset of the city’s immigrant population
该城市移民人口中的一小部分 -
harboring
联系：harbor
美式：harbour
【四级】【六级】【专四】【考研】
n. 海港 v. 庇护；怀有；居住
除了“海港”的意思，也可以指“怀有”的意思，只是词性不一样。
怀有某种想法或者情感，举个例句。He still harboured doubts about her real intentions.
他对她真正的意图仍心存疑问。harbour a grudge/fear/suspicion
心怀不满/恐惧/疑虑 qualities
quality的复数。
【四级】【六级】【考研】
容易混淆：quantity，quality，qualify
quantity：n. 质量；品质
quantity：n. 量；数量
qualify：v. 合格；具有资格-
passion
n. 激情；热情
感情程度比较强烈，可以指爱情、愤怒等。短语：fly into a passion （勃然大怒）
相当于become very angry短语：passions run high （群情激昂）
相当于people become very angry, upset etc另一种意思：（情绪高涨的）热情；酷爱
He and his wife shared a passion for classical music.
他和妻子都酷爱古典音乐。 -
mortality
【六级】【专八】
四级历年考过一次，六级历年考过五次。
n. 死亡率；必死性a decline in infant mortality
婴儿死亡率的降低短语：mortality rate
The mortality rate has recently increased.
最近死亡率有所上升。 -
quotes
n. 引用 v. 引用；报价
近义词：cite
quote是引用别人说的话或者书中的原句，也可以作提及到数字或者例证等；跟cite差不多。quote the book 和 quote from the book 意思相同，quote the author 和 quote from the author 也意思相同。
quote 有时有双宾语。例如：Let me quote you the following passage from Shakespeare（莎士比亚）.
在商业信函里往往有 We will quote（开价）specially for larger quantities，We shall quote you（向你开价）on the most favourable terms 等句。
-
come across
不仅是英语四级考到词组，托福也常考这个词组。
v. 偶遇；无意中发现；讲得明白；给人…印象I came across this photograph among some old newspapers.
我在一些旧报纸中偶然发现了这张照片。“给人…的印象”
He comes across as a nice guy. （…+as）
他给人的印象是个好人。
She comes across well in interviews.
她在面试中给人留下很好的印象。 -
freedom
【四级】【六级】【考研】
n. 自由；直率
短语：freedom to do sthMy parents gave me total freedom to do whatever I liked.
我父母给我充分的自由做我喜欢的任何事情。 -
Pay more attention to
pay attention to：注意；留意
【四级】【六级】【考研】I want you to pay more attention to your writing.
我希望你注意一下自己的书写. -
inner
【四级】【六级】【专四】【考研】
adj. 内部的
含义比较广泛，指事物中心或接近中心的部位，也可指内心隐密的活动。He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket.
他把手伸进夹克衫的内袋。也可以说是内心的（感觉）
If he has any inner doubts, he doesn't show them.
如果他心里有什么疑问的话，他并未表现出来。 -
dramas
【四级】【六级】【专四】【考研】
drama，如果表示“戏剧学”，此含义频率最多。a drama student
戏剧专业学生
I was never much good at drama when I was a kid - probably because I was very shy.
我小时候从不擅长戏剧表演—可能是我太害羞了。也可以指内心激动。
The afternoon was full of drama and excitement.
这个下午充满惊喜，令人兴奋。习语：make a drama out of something
（小题大做；大惊小怪） -
compelling
GRE核心词
adj. 令人信服的；令人激动的a compelling story
引人入胜的故事There was compelling evidence in her defence.
她的辩护中有令人信服的证据。 -
dawn
【四级】【六级】【专四】【考研】
n. 黎明；破晓词组：at dawn
They had decided to leave at dawn.
他们已经决定在黎明时离开。也可以指“…的开端”
词组：<罕>the dawn of sth（历史上）某事物的开端 -
indescribably
adj. 不可名状地
这个词程度很深，无法用言语表达。
同义词：inexpressibleindescribably filthy conditions
污秽不堪的环境（贬）an indescribably delicious meal
极其可口的饭菜（褒） -
go ahead
含义很多种，根据语境来判断。
（继续）前进的意思，举个例句：Go ahead, what are you waiting for?
向前走，你还等什么?也可以指“往下说”，用作祈使句。
Go ahead, we're all listening.
讲吧，我们都听着呢。还可以指在事情方面上进展。
Work is going ahead.
工作在进展。 -
universe
【四级】【六级】【考研】
n. 宇宙The origins of the universe are still a mystery.
宇宙的起源仍是个谜。 -
magical
【专四】
adj. 神奇的Diamonds were once thought to have magical powers.
钻石曾一度被认为具有魔力。 flashes
见：flash
v. 闪光 n. 闪光 adj. 闪光的
一般是指“天空上的闪光”。
Thunder roared and lightning flashed.
雷鸣电闪。
也可以指“信号”。
A truck drove close behind me and flashed its headlights.
一辆卡车紧跟在我身后，闪着大灯。
还可以指“一瞬间”，“昙花一现”怎么翻译？
a flash in the pan
解释：someone or something that is popular or successful for a very short time only
-
savor
【六级】【专八】
英式：savour
v. 品尝Drink it slowly and savour every drop.
慢慢地喝，细细地品尝每一滴的滋味。短语：<罕>savour of sth
有（尤指不好的）特点；带有…意味His behaviour does rather savour of hypocrisy.
他的行为相当虚伪。 -
apprehend
【六级】【专八】
v. 逮捕；理解
如果指“逮捕”，后面常接suspect, criminalPolice have not apprehended her killer.
警察还未抓到谋杀她的凶手。“领会”之意后面常接fact, power
We were beginning to apprehend the power of this process.
我们开始认识到这一过程的力量。
He was slow to apprehend danger.
他没有意识到危险。还有一种意思是“忧愁”，相当于“worry”。
-
fleeting
【专八】
adj. 短暂的a fleeting glimpse/smile
短暂的一瞥；一闪即逝的微笑
We paid a fleeting visit to Paris.
我们短暂游览了巴黎。 -
artificiality
n. 不自然；人工
联系：artificial adj. 人造的artificial sweeteners
人造甜味剂 -
exalted
【专八】
adj. 高尚的；兴高采烈的his exalted hopes of human progress
他希望人类进步的崇高想法。I felt exalted and newly alive
我兴奋不已，觉得自己获得了新生。 -
parentheses
【六级】【专四】
n. 圆括号；插入语（parenthesis的复数）I add, in parenthesis, that I doubt whether such a place exists.
我补充一句，我怀疑这样一个地方是否存在。 -
cram
【六级】【专八】
v. 塞满；考前临时抱佛脚
短语：cram sth into/in/under sthThe sacks of rice were crammed under a huge table.
这几袋大米被塞在一张大桌子底下。文中指的是“考前临时抱佛脚”，举个例句：
Julia stayed up all night cramming for her final.
朱莉娅为准备期末考试而开夜车。 -
graceful
【四级】【六级】【专四】【考研】
adj. 优雅的His movements were so graceful they seemed effortless.
他的动作如此优雅，看起来毫不费力。 -
stylistic
【专八】
adj. 风格上的I've made a few stylistic changes to your report.
我对你的报告作了一些文体上的改动。 -
setting off
v.出发；引起；动身；使爆炸；抵销；分开
使用比较灵活，举个例句：We'd better set off now before it gets dark.
我们最好趁天还没黑现在就出发。
The killings set off a storm of protest.
这些杀人事件引发一阵抗议浪潮。 -
parties
原来是“聚会”的意思，大意了……
除了“聚会”还可以作“政党”的意思。the Democratic Party
民主党
party members
党员 -
tempting
adj. 诱人的
可以指美食的诱惑。an extremely tempting dish
催人垂涎的佳肴
That cake looks very tempting.
那蛋糕的样子让人嘴馋。 -
unaccustomed
联系：accustomed，加上un是“不习惯的”之意。
unaccustomed to sth是固定搭配的用法，相当于“be not used to doing sth”He was unaccustomed to hard work.
他不习惯艰苦工作。 -
frantic
【六级】【专八】
adj. 狂乱的，疯狂的
常指因担心或不安而发疯似的。Her parents are absolutely frantic with worry.
她父母急得要命。
好多生僻词不认识……