Moving off to college

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See also: Moving off to college,Tips for Studying at Home

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Contents 1 Moving off to college 2 Planning 2.1 Typical restrictions 2.2 It is a new experience 2.3 On your own 2.4 Not alone 3 it is a new place 3.1 Getting Around 4 Packing 4.1 Essentials 4.2 Useful extras 4.3 Communal Living 5 Sources/Reference

Moving off to college

• Going away to school is an exciting adventure, for which most are not fully prepared.
• This article is written to provide insight into how better to prepare for such a dramatic change in lifestyle.
• this article is intended for students who have selected a school, and either are about to, or have recently moved off to school.

Planning

• Research your new home
  • What you do and do not bring will be dictated in part by the school you go to. They may have regulations on what can be kept in your new residence. The new residence can also vary greatly in nature. An appartment style living arrangement may give you more space to spread out than you have ever had before, where a Dorm room may be even smaller than what you are used to.

Typical restrictions

• Most colleges, and other group living situations have fairly similar restrictions.
  • Schools rarely allow firearms on campus. Real guns, Pellet guns, blow guns, bows, slingshots, etc are normally illegal.
  • Pets are often seriously restricted. Cats and dogs are almost always forbidden, and aquariums generally cannot be more than a certain size, often 10-20 gallons.
  • Due to fire hazards, electrical problems, and drug concerns, most schools place strict limits on cooking devices. Pop corn poppers, hot plates, and sometimes George Foreman grills, or single burner propane camping stoves are sometimes OK. Almost everything else is always forbidden.
  • Likewise, for safety reasons, any form of compressed gas container (CO2 cartridges, SCUBA tanks, propane) and any kind of fuel (Charcoal) may not be allowed in rooms.
  • Power tools may be banned as well.
  • Alcohol is not permitted on campus in some schools.
• Dorm rooms tend to have somewhat stricter limits than apartments. Space is limited, so furniture sizes may need to meet some standard. Also, due to electrical issues, there will usually be some limitation on the sort of refrigerators, and/or TVs you can have in your room.
• Most universities have information about their requirements avaliable online somewhere.

It is a new experience

• Wherever you go, every residence on every campus is a little different. Don't expect things to be familiar.
• You won't have many friends when you get there. Meet some people, and learn what works there.
• try to get an idea of what things you might miss, and what you can do if you feel homesick.
  • People with pets at home may find a pet store or animal shelter to be a good place to visit.
  • Folks used to hunting may wish to locate a shooting range.
  • A lot of people find that parks are good places to relax.
  • Some schools may encourage teachers to invite groups of students over. This can be a good place to get some of the comforts of home.

On your own

• Your parents will not be around. You could find yourself acting independantly for the first time in a number of unexpected ways.
  • You may need to prepare some of your own meals.
  • You may need to shop for yourself.
  • You may need to do your own laundry.
  • You may need to schedule your own time.
  • You may need to get around on your own.
• You can always ask the folks there for advice, but if you haven't learned certain basic skills, they will look down on you. The basics of shopping, preparing food, and cleaning clothes are not that hard to grasp, and you ought to try them out a few times before you get there.

Not alone

• You will usually have at least one roommate in your new home. Schools will often tell you who that is supposed to be before you arrive. Try to contact them, so you at least know a bit about who they are, what they can bring, what they don't want you to bring, etc.
• You will also be living in a somewhat easily accessed area, with many strangers. Theft from College residences is fairly common, so make some plans to secure your property before you get there.
• Certain issues can cause arguments, or problems. Consider them carefully before getting too settled in.
  • AC ability, and individual temperature preferences should influence the division of space.
  • Some division of cleaning requirements, and basic desires regarding cleanliness should be discussed.
  • Share your schedules so that time apart and together can be planned for.
  • Discussing things that make you uncomfortable can ease a lot of problems: Physical closeness with significant others, alcohol and drug use, sleeping times, etc.

it is a new place

• There may just be a new campus on the other side of town to get used to, or you might have the culture shock of another country to deal with.
  • try to get a campus map. Learn where the various services are.
  • try to get a map of the area. Learn where the nearby stores, restaurants, and hot spots are.

Getting Around

• You can feel stifled staying on campus all the time. Some way to get out and do things is useful.
• Transportation devices are a good way to get further away, but can be subject to theft. Be sure to consider how to make these safer from criminals before bringing them.
  • A motor vehicle allows you to travel to remote areas rapidly on your own schedule, but requires gas, maintenance, and may need parking permits.
    • Trucks can help you make friends with people wanting to move furniture, and may earn you some extra money, but will use a lot of gas if you use it often.
    • Station wagons have space in the back that can be used for random camping trips, and hauling small items.
    • Motorcycles get the best gas mileage if you plan on driving a lot, but are not as good for moving items, and are a little more dangerous.
  • Muscle-powered vehicles are less expensive to operate, and are useful if most of your trips are just a little beyond convenient walking distance. They may also help get around campus when you are in a hurry.
    • Bicycles can get you to quite distant spots without too much trouble, and can haul a lot of groceries with a good basket. Unfortunately, they are hard to protect reliably from thieves, and take up a lot of space in the dorm room. Bike thieves are quite common around college campuses, so be sure to take precautions, and make note of places where you can lock your bike up if you use one.
    • Kid's scooters look really goofy, and aren't as good for long trips, but they can be stored in your room a lot easier, carried with you wherever you go, and the "No bicycle, no skateboard" Laws do not apply to them. They also bug the heck out of adults, if you're feeling rebellious.
    • Skateboards are a bit cooler than scooters, and about as easily stored, although laws, and skills can limit their use somewhat.
    • Rollerblades may be useful transportation in some areas. Using them around beaches, and on bike trails can be fairly common.
• Public transportation costs a little money, and only goes certain places, but can also be a good choice.
  • Public transportation tends to be rather reliable around college campuses.
  • When you factor in parking permits, gas, and maintenance, public transportation is often cheaper than a car.
  • Most public transportation allows you to bring muscle-powered vehicles along with you if you can carry them. Some will even allow bicycles.

Packing

• If you live nearby, you may as well pack light, and go home to get other things as you find uses and space for them. On the other hand, if you live far away, it may be necessary to bring everything you won't be able to get when you arrive there.

Essentials

1. clothes
2. toiletries
3. Soap dish
4. towel
5. Binder
6. Pencils
7. pens
8. laptop
9. Printer
10. light source
11. Alarm clock
12. bedding
13. Jackets

Useful extras

1. beach towels: Surprisingly warm as exta layers on beds, and colorful objects that can be displayed in various ways.
2. Music: Nothing better for keeping yourself motivated.
3. Movies: great for relaxation, and can serve as a group activity.
4. games: Keeps people interested.
5. Mini fridge: Good for storing snacks.
6. Seat Cushions: Because dorm furniture tends to be uncomfortable.
7. Couch or comfy chair: For relaxing and entertaining guests.
8. coffee Mug: Can double as a bowl.
9. Spoon: Basic eating utensil.
10. Insulated Thermos: Often you can smuggle milk out of the cafeteria, because even a quart of milk is a lot for one person, and bad milk is BAD.
11. TV: College students come to them like moths to a candle.
12. Electric blanket: Most dorm rooms are either cold and drafty, or refrigerated instead of air conditioned.
13. Fan: Because some dorm rooms are hot and stuffy... and roommates often have different temperature needs.

Communal Living

• In most forms of college living, you will be part of a community. You may have roommates, Resident directors, cleaners, and maintenance personnel to consider in various situations.
  • Know the chain of command, if there is one, for your dorm.
    • Are there RAs, RDs, etc?
    • When, and for what is it appropriate to see these people about?
  • Find out who you can go to for various emergencies.
    • What happens if you lock yourself out of your room?
    • Who do you report problems with the facilities to?
    • Where can you get toilet paper?
  • Know the policies of your superiors.
    • Are there visiting hours?
    • Are there quiet hours?
    • Are there restrictions on what you can keep in your room?
    • How closely do the superiors uphold these rules?
  • Find out how your roommates feel about things.
    • Will they get upset about your decorations?
    • Do they want the room arranged a certain way?
    • How do they feel about messes?

Sources/Reference

• Word of mouth