I leave for college on Tuesday. Advice?

Question

Advice on anything college would be greatly appreciated!

Packing, meeting people (though I really won't need help with this, I'm very social), food, furnishing my room, studying tips, classes to choose, lifestyle advice, whatever you want.

Thanks a bunch =)

Answer 1

First let me say congratulations on getting into college! This is a big step financially and psychologically and I wish you well on your endeavors.

I assume you've done all your research on where your classes will be (in terms of location and room-wise) right? You should've already chosen your freshmen-year schedule during orientation, but if not, you might have to do it your first day of classes. Freshmen always choose their classes LAST, so your schedule is pretty much chosen for you, for now. Do you have a roommate? If so, have you discussed the possibility of sharing the cost of a small refrigerator for your dorm. Refrigerators will come in handy for those late-night study sessions, or snacks, and you might want to discuss the possibility of sharing one with your roommate.

I assume you have all the necessities all packed and ready (i.e. bedding, bathroom necessities etc). Are you bringing a TV? Sometimes roommates bring televisions and video game sets and others may not prefer them, so this is entirely your choice (just something to consider).

In terms of food, most campuses force freshmen to stay on campus and purchase a meal plan. While they usually offer several options, many find that meal plans limit their dining experience to the on-campus cafeteria--and this is not always a pleasant experience---and decide to purchase campus "points" or "dollars". Campus points allow you to purchase books, food, supplies, and even computers on campus, however they ONLY work on campus. Have you considered purchasing the points for your books/supplies?

The one thing I caution you most about is the freshmen 15. I actually gained the 15 pounds my first year of college, because there were so many delicious food options, that I engorged myself and didn't bother to exercise. Always try to make time to go to the gym at least once or twice a week. Besides keeping you in shape, it'll help you relieve some of that academic stress you'll be carrying around.

I don't know how your campus is, and what kind of public transportation is available to you, but get ready to do A LOT of walking. Most college students find it a hindrance to have a car on campus (as you'll have to pay for a permit and parking etc), and decide either to take the public transportation, or to walk.

In terms of school breaks and holidays, some schools kick on-campus students out of the dorms during the holidays, so make sure you either can afford to stay in a hotel (which the university places you in during their breaks), or that you have the money to go home for every holiday.

Lastly, make sure you budget at the end of the year for packing expenses. I went to Boston University and to ship and store my belongings every summer cost me around $600. You might live closer to your college or university, and might not have to worry about this. If you did go off to college however, keep in mind that packing/storing/shipping and going home every holiday will become extremely expensive.

Ultimately, I wish you the best. College is a time to grow in both knowledge and self-sufficiency. You will have an incredible amount of freedom (for example deciding whether to go to class or not), and it's up to you to decide whether you will use that freedom responsibly. College campuses can be dangrous, so try not to stay out too late, and if you do, you might want to just keep an eye out on your surroundings (but you're an adult now, so I'm sure you know this.)

Break a leg!