What’s your advice for college freshmen going to college in the fall?
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What's your best campus survival tip?
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When you go to a party, always bring your own cup with a lid and straw, or just use your water bottle.
It’s not just for hydration, but for safety.
Unfortunately, drink tampering can happen, and having a closed container makes it a lot harder for someone to slip something into your drink without you noticing.
Staying aware and in control of what you're drinking is a simple but powerful way to stay safe and still have fun.5 -
Think twice before signing up for that 8am class.
Unless you're a natural early riser (like, actually enjoy being up and functioning before sunrise), 8 am classes can feel brutal. Sure, it sounds doable when you’re registering, but when that alarm goes off and it’s cold, dark, and raining…? Not so fun.You'll thank yourself for picking classes that start a bit later, especially after late-night study sessions, social events, or just needing to catch up on sleep.
If you have to take an 8 am, make it interesting or engaging…something that will actually get you out of bed.Your future self will appreciate a schedule that works with your real energy levels, not just your optimistic intentions.
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For Students going to school a long distance away from home:
- When going to orientation, bring winter stuff and other stuff they don’t immediately need. At orientation, add an extra day. Rent a storage unit to put the stuff you bought in. Shop for other dorms stuff and put in unit. Many storage places will let you ship things there and they will put in the unit. When move in time comes, you are travelling with much less stuff and for move in you rent a van, go to your storage unit to empty it, and move in. No stress. No shopping for stuff that’s sold out.
2. Find out what airline you will use most times for travelling to school and get their credit card. Pay everything with it to get miles. You and your party will usually get free checked bags on your reservation which is a big $ saver. If there is an emergency and need a last minute flight (happened for each of my girls) you are using points vs. a ton of $.
6 - When going to orientation, bring winter stuff and other stuff they don’t immediately need. At orientation, add an extra day. Rent a storage unit to put the stuff you bought in. Shop for other dorms stuff and put in unit. Many storage places will let you ship things there and they will put in the unit. When move in time comes, you are travelling with much less stuff and for move in you rent a van, go to your storage unit to empty it, and move in. No stress. No shopping for stuff that’s sold out.
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Before buying gift cards to the places on campus check if they take gift cards. Many on campus places (subway, chik fil A) do not.
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Find out the upgrade and downgrade limitations to those campus meal plans. Most only let you downgrade once and only in the first couple of weeks (before they are really in a routine). Upgrades are usually allowed at any time. Might be worth going with the lower plan and then seeing if they really use it.
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Buy that really good raincoat and waterproof backpack even if your student claims they don’t need it. They aren’t just running from the parking lot to school and that’s it. They could be walking 20+ minutes in between classes. Same goes for those longer/heavier winter coats and snow boots on those schools in colder climates.
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Get the dorm insurance. We used NSSI. It’s cheap. They have low deductible and also cover loss/theft/breakage of electronics. Yes your homeowners may cover the dorm but if you need to make a claim your insurance goes up forever! The police’s run around $100.
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Thought of a couple move-in ideas:
📍 Open and toss bulky packaging before you pack…you'll save a lot of space in the car
📍 Don't forget to wash all the bedding and towels ahead of time
📍 Pack like items together
📍 label everything for drop off…name, dorm and room #
📍 load your car in reverse order…first items needed (cleaning supplies, cooler with snacks, fan, bedding) those go in the car last so you can easily get them
📍 put the furniture together and make the bed first…then decorate. That can be done over time.
📍 It's going to be HOT…and you'll be cranky. Go for comfort…even bring an extra shirt to change into afte you are finished.17 -
pack a “first up bag”. This bag is handy in your car and comes up with the first load. Has cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, tools, water, snacks.
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Recently heard some good advice about finding your people when you know no one:
1. Go to the dorm meetup stuff…even if you think it's dumb. This is where you'll meet your neighbors.
2. Join a club that is related to your major
3. Join a club that serves the community
4. Join a club related to your hobby, sport, or church
From these four activities…you'll find your people.
I'll also add…
1. Say hi to someone sitting alone in the dining hall
2. Say hi to people you sit next to in class8 -
Gain some basic familiarity with campus resources, such as a college counseling center, that can help you manage stress in healthy ways, especially if that stress starts feeling overwhelming. If you're really hurting, remember that you need not go it alone/suffer in silence! ♥️
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