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Am I a snob for using an iPad for College?

J

Jophster

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 4, 2010
75
0
So in America, to not be using a laptop in your Uni lecture hall is positively archaic, it's slowly catching on in the UK too.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the tactile, "realness' of pen and paper but I am about to start my A Levels in college. After having to revise for my GCSEs from a plethora of tatty work books all formatted differently, I am desperate to find a better method.

Having downloaded the 'CourseNotes' app on my iPad I can't help but think I found my solution, the only problem I expect to have is a ton of upturned noses at the "snobby posh kid who is far to good to use a pen and paper", but what do you think?

Is it a good choice?
 
If you are concerned about what others think about your being forward-thinking and practical and in taking the most efficient path in your learning experience then you shouldn't be in college in the first place. Are you in school for them or you? :)
 
Jophster said:
So in America, to not be using a laptop in your Uni lecture hall is positively archaic, it's slowly catching on in the UK too.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the tactile, "realness' of pen and paper but I am about to start my A Levels in college. After having to revise for my GCSEs from a plethora of tatty work books all formatted differently, I am desperate to find a better method.

Having downloaded the 'CourseNotes' app on my iPad I can't help but think I found my solution, the only problem I expect to have is a ton of upturned noses at the "snobby posh kid who is far to good to use a pen and paper", but what do you think?

Is it a good choice?
Click to expand...


You should just spend your time worrying about your classes and what the teachers think of your work, rather than what other *non-consequential* people think of your medium for taking notes.
 
redwarrior said:
If you are concerned about what others think about your being forward-thinking and practical and in taking the most efficient path in your learning experience then you shouldn't be in college in the first place. Are you in school for them or you? :)
Click to expand...

Spoken by one who is currently forward thinking in her college courses, and doing quite well. Wise advice.
 
I'm going to start using my iPad at college, I have just started a 2 year public services course. But want to get a leather flip pouch does anyone know of any good ones that will fit my iPad with it's belhkin case on? Thanks
 
Oh dude don't worry about it, I bought my iPad just to use it in class! I use evernote, and it does everything I need it to in class. I haven't seen anyone else use it here in MSU, and in small classes it also works as a chick magnet ;)
 
Jophster said:
So in America, to not be using a laptop in your Uni lecture hall is positively archaic, it's slowly catching on in the UK too.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the tactile, "realness' of pen and paper but I am about to start my A Levels in college. After having to revise for my GCSEs from a plethora of tatty work books all formatted differently, I am desperate to find a better method.

Having downloaded the 'CourseNotes' app on my iPad I can't help but think I found my solution, the only problem I expect to have is a ton of upturned noses at the "snobby posh kid who is far to good to use a pen and paper", but what do you think?

Is it a good choice?
Click to expand...

i found that using my laptop/ipod touch when i was in school helped me organize a lot and take more notes because i enjoyed using them more than a pen and paper... everybody works differently though.

whatever helps you learn more... and trust me, youll see snobby bitches at college doing worse things than simply using an electronic device.
 
I think the iPad would be fantastic for certain classes but not for others.

When I went to college, somedays I would have 3 classes and not have time to go back to my car for books so I would be stuck carrying 3 textbooks, my 7 pound laptop, and a notebook.

I was taking a literature class in which we were not allowed to use computers because it was 95% class discussion and she didn't want anyone getting sidetracked...in classes like that it wouldn't be good.

In classes like physics or calculus it isn't very useful...I would think it would be very difficult to write complex equations out or draw diagrams.

But any class in which a laptop is useful, an iPad would be just as useful I would think.

I would have loved to be able to carry just an iPad for lecture notes and textbook and a notebook for jotting down everything else. I almost want to go back to school now.
 
OP, I totally know where you're coming from, and the answer to your question of whether or not people will think that you're snobbish is yes. But the second part is that you shouldn't care. Here's my story:

I was in my microbiology class, a big 300 person lecture hall, taking noters on my iPad. Then during the lecture, one of those "it-girls" leans over and goes, "do you thin you're cool for using an iPad?"

And so I look up and say, "No, i think it's an effortless way of taking clean, organized notes so I get an A in this class. If that makes me cool, then I guess I am."

I don't think she was expecting that answer so she shut right up. I was kind of disappointed she gave up so quickly because I was armed with the "not even having to carry around a heavy laptop and a heavy book either, I had everything on my iPad." she looked funny hauling around a laptop and a book in a huge backpack, and then me carrying only my iPad.

So yes, OP just do your thing and be happy. Don't worry about anyone else.
 
I have this same problem. At my school people act like I have this holy grail in my mits. It gets quite annoying and to many taps on the shoulder with people saying " hey man is that an iPad." I also had a teacher stop teaching and showed off my notes and highlights off my course notes ebooks.... Thank god someone els is running into this problem. It gets so annoying to the point I don't wanna bring this to school no more. Maybe after a week or two more in school no one will ask.
 
I always liked yellow highlighter and pencil+notepad. It stuck in my brain better. That said, ...

nixiemaiden said:
I think the iPad would be fantastic for certain classes but not for others.
Click to expand...

Exactly. It would help if we knew what kind of classes the OP is taking.

And... if he plans to also have a laptop or at least an iPad keyboard to write papers on. (I cannot imagine typing and editing long papers on a touchscreen, even though some of the high-schoolers around here claim they have.)

You also have to consider printing capability and even perhaps having to plug into devices+connections if WiFi isn't available. Plus transferring files with friends.

My serious-pupil recommendation? I'd go with the primary choice of med students who constantly study: a Windows 7 convertible tablet with keyboard, stylus and OneNote. Much more versatile.
 
Jophster said:
So in America, to not be using a laptop in your Uni lecture hall is positively archaic, it's slowly catching on in the UK too.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the tactile, "realness' of pen and paper but I am about to start my A Levels in college. After having to revise for my GCSEs from a plethora of tatty work books all formatted differently, I am desperate to find a better method.

Having downloaded the 'CourseNotes' app on my iPad I can't help but think I found my solution, the only problem I expect to have is a ton of upturned noses at the "snobby posh kid who is far to good to use a pen and paper", but what do you think?

Is it a good choice?
Click to expand...

I use it. Although, I'm sick of course notes. I prefer notes plus since I can write a lot better and quicker.
 
No...stop worrying about what other's think jeez. I use my ipad all the time dont think much of it. Its not a Mercedes Benz....
 
Simple answer no
signature_happy.jpg
 
I see nothing wrong with bringing an iPad to class.

Bring a dock and wireless keyboard for maximum douchiness. ;)
 
For A-level I am going to use pen and paper.

For Uni I'll either have:

iPad + keyboard dock

or

Macbook Pro

But, if you want to use your iPad in college, go ahead - it's a fantastic :apple: product.
 
saberahul said:
Well... where I live I see a lot more of Mercedes than iPads so... lol.
Click to expand...

That's how it is here so an iPad is no big deal(along with there friends bimmer, Lexus, and Audi). Which is great so I don't get labeled a snob by someone less off just because I enjoy technology.
 
Who cares? I don't. I do whatever the hell I want, as long as it's within my legal rights. There's no rule that says you can't or shouldn't use an iPad. There's also no rule that people can't be stupid.
 
People will come around. Most of my interactions are with persons that think it's a big iPod Touch. Over the next few weeks they notice that I can pull-up the syllabus in ten seconds while they're still reaching into their bag. I Dropbox every .pdf for the week and it makes me a better student so f them.

I can also accomplish note taking without the clickety-clack of a laptop keyboard.
 
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