All of these "college" threads made me think that maybe a thread with tips and advice, things to take, things to do, etc from those of use who have been there might be helpful for those going off to college in a few weeks. I know when I left for school as a freshman, a good friend (2 years older than myself and already a junior in college) told me some things to make sure I had that I never would have thought to take - it was valuable advice!
Here's a few that I found particularly helpful:
1) Pack a first aid kit. Doesn't have to be fancy, but make sure you include tylenol/ibuprofen, cold medicine, bandaids, small gauze pads/tape. You may never need it, but if you do, you will be grateful for not having to go out and get it. When you get sick, going out to buy medicine is one of the last things you want to do...especially if you will not have a car and may have to walk to the drugstore!
2) Elevate your bed using cinder blocks. Dorm rooms typically don't have a lot of storage space. Elevating your bed gives you plenty of room to store things underneath. For my first 2 years (when I lived on campus in the dorms), I had all of my clothes under my bed in storage boxes, plus kept my laundry basket (which also served as my clothes hamper so I didn't have to have both in the room) under my bed.
3) Have 2 3 or 5 subject notebooks, plus a folder with looseleaf paper in it. This was a lifesaver for me. I used 2 3 subject notebooks...one for my MWF classes and one for my TTH classes. This is what I carried to class with me, in addition to a folder full of looseleaf paper. It was a lot easier than carrying a separate notebook for each class. In my room, I had binders for each class and could take the notes out of the notebook I carried and put them into the binders. It's always a good idea to have some looseleaf paper on you in case you have to turn something in during class. But with all of your books, plus a notebook for each class, your bookbag tends to get a little heavy!
4) Leave your dorm room open! Unless you are studing! Seriously...if you are in your room piddling, watching TV, etc, leave your door open. It's a way of meeting people that live on your hall. People stop in and talk, or you can say something to them as they pass by.
5) 3M tabs are the bomb! They are the ones with the "command release" where you pull the tab and off they come without damaging the walls. Many schools have policies in place where you can't nail anything to the wall, or use mounting tape because it removes the paint...and if you do, you are fined. The 3M tabs work really well to hang pictures, bulletin boards, hooks for coats/towels, etc.
6) EARPLUGS! There are times that you will go to bed and your roommate is furiously typing a paper and the tapping on the keys will just drive you insane! (Or they are in the room talking to their boyfriend/girlfriend until 4:00 in the morning on the day you have a midterm) It happens...the joys of living with someone. Earplugs will be your friend during these times.
7) Dry erase boards. I would say get 2. Put one on the outside of your door so people can leave you messages - we loved these in college and left random messages for our friends quite often, and the same was done to us. But, one INSIDE your room is a good idea too. This way, you and your roommate can leave messages just for one another...missed phone calls, reminders, etc - and they can be erased, and seen better than just leaving each other a note.
8) Floppy disks! Even if you do not have your own computer at school with you, you will likely be writing papers or doing work in the computer labs and you will need to be able to save your work.
9) Liquid soap for the shower and shower shoes. Liquid soap is so much easier to take to the shower with you than a bar of soap is. And don't step foot in the shower without shower shoes on...heaven knows what's been in there!
10) Clip on light for your bed. If you will be up late studying and your roommate wants to go to bed, you will be able to read/work in your bed without really disturbing them. The "snake" lights (the ones that are bendable) work really well.
11) A FULL SIZE trash can. Plus a small wastebasket beside your desk. If you use a small wastebasket for everyday trash, you are going to be taking it out countless times. A full size one will greatly minimize your trips to your friend the dumpster.
There are more, but I thought this would be a start. Other college veterans...share your tips...
Here's a few that I found particularly helpful:
1) Pack a first aid kit. Doesn't have to be fancy, but make sure you include tylenol/ibuprofen, cold medicine, bandaids, small gauze pads/tape. You may never need it, but if you do, you will be grateful for not having to go out and get it. When you get sick, going out to buy medicine is one of the last things you want to do...especially if you will not have a car and may have to walk to the drugstore!
2) Elevate your bed using cinder blocks. Dorm rooms typically don't have a lot of storage space. Elevating your bed gives you plenty of room to store things underneath. For my first 2 years (when I lived on campus in the dorms), I had all of my clothes under my bed in storage boxes, plus kept my laundry basket (which also served as my clothes hamper so I didn't have to have both in the room) under my bed.
3) Have 2 3 or 5 subject notebooks, plus a folder with looseleaf paper in it. This was a lifesaver for me. I used 2 3 subject notebooks...one for my MWF classes and one for my TTH classes. This is what I carried to class with me, in addition to a folder full of looseleaf paper. It was a lot easier than carrying a separate notebook for each class. In my room, I had binders for each class and could take the notes out of the notebook I carried and put them into the binders. It's always a good idea to have some looseleaf paper on you in case you have to turn something in during class. But with all of your books, plus a notebook for each class, your bookbag tends to get a little heavy!
4) Leave your dorm room open! Unless you are studing! Seriously...if you are in your room piddling, watching TV, etc, leave your door open. It's a way of meeting people that live on your hall. People stop in and talk, or you can say something to them as they pass by.
5) 3M tabs are the bomb! They are the ones with the "command release" where you pull the tab and off they come without damaging the walls. Many schools have policies in place where you can't nail anything to the wall, or use mounting tape because it removes the paint...and if you do, you are fined. The 3M tabs work really well to hang pictures, bulletin boards, hooks for coats/towels, etc.
6) EARPLUGS! There are times that you will go to bed and your roommate is furiously typing a paper and the tapping on the keys will just drive you insane! (Or they are in the room talking to their boyfriend/girlfriend until 4:00 in the morning on the day you have a midterm) It happens...the joys of living with someone. Earplugs will be your friend during these times.
7) Dry erase boards. I would say get 2. Put one on the outside of your door so people can leave you messages - we loved these in college and left random messages for our friends quite often, and the same was done to us. But, one INSIDE your room is a good idea too. This way, you and your roommate can leave messages just for one another...missed phone calls, reminders, etc - and they can be erased, and seen better than just leaving each other a note.
8) Floppy disks! Even if you do not have your own computer at school with you, you will likely be writing papers or doing work in the computer labs and you will need to be able to save your work.
9) Liquid soap for the shower and shower shoes. Liquid soap is so much easier to take to the shower with you than a bar of soap is. And don't step foot in the shower without shower shoes on...heaven knows what's been in there!
10) Clip on light for your bed. If you will be up late studying and your roommate wants to go to bed, you will be able to read/work in your bed without really disturbing them. The "snake" lights (the ones that are bendable) work really well.
11) A FULL SIZE trash can. Plus a small wastebasket beside your desk. If you use a small wastebasket for everyday trash, you are going to be taking it out countless times. A full size one will greatly minimize your trips to your friend the dumpster.
There are more, but I thought this would be a start. Other college veterans...share your tips...
