Things we finally learned

The sages who call themselves seniors around our newsroom gathered recently to discuss the things we wish someone had told us when we first entered Cal State Long Beach. What follows is a random sampling of that wisdom: Never, repeat NEVER, take an 8 a.m. class unless you are a non-transfer junior, a transfer senior or a geek.

You otherwise will fail, or at the minimum regret it every single day you are in class, every single morning when your alarm goes off and every single night beforehand. Prediction: You will do so anyway, and then remember you read this.

Never buy your books before attending class for the first time. An irritating number of professors change their minds about what books you'll need or how much they are going to use them, or colleagues will order books for new professors who have no intention of using the text.

Take care of any paperwork that requires a trip to Brotman Hall — like clearing a registration hold — BEFORE school begins because you will otherwise be standing in line with 361 other idiots the first week of school, waiting to be served by a grumpy clerk. (And, yes, you are ALL grumpy. In fact, we believe there's a box on the application form: "Are you grumpy?" If you check no, you're hired at the library). (By the way: We haven't figured out yet why every single window isn't open during the first week of school.)

Use the restroom before you leave home. The facilities at school, well, leave a little bit to be desired. (By the way II: we also haven't figured out why none of the stalls in the men's restrooms at University Library have doors. Is it President Maxson's way of keeping toilet-paper costs down? Bob, you go and we'll go.)

The most important test or paper in any class is the first. Why? If you run into trouble down the road, the professor will remember you as a good student who achieved and cut you some slack (despite the syllabus that says otherwise). If you suck early on, they'll blow you off as a loser.

The Nugget sells beer. Cheap.

School beats working for a living.