I will be starting college in the fall...tell me everything I need to know?

Question

Financial aid, housing, roommates, rules, free time, food...

I will be going to a medium-sized private school in the Midwest

Answer 1

i dont know you and i dont know your reasons for going to college, but i will relate my own experiance.

I came from a middle class family and went to college a few states away. I lived in the dorms my first year and moved into an apartment the next.

The first semseter i enjoyed my freedom a little too much and did very poorly in school. I spent a long time playing catchup over that and never quite had it even out. Be a serious student. I'm not saying dont party or have a good time, but do it responibly, Thursday friday and saturday nights only... those tuesdays will get you.

As far as living arangements go some colleges demand all years in a dorm. But most dont specify quite that hard. I would suggest finding someone you get along with and living in a 2 bedroom with them. you can get into larger sized apartments or even whole houses but then you're dealing with a lot of people. I didn't care for living with more than 1 or 2 others as things get stolen (food and beer, nothing serious) and often times scedules dont line up so you may be trying to study or sleep with half a dozen people drinking and playing music in the next room. If you live with onyl 1 other person than it's easier to make livable arangemnts.

Money will always be a problem for the rest of your life, and college is no exception. If your parents are willign to pay for everything count yourself one of the lucky. You will probably still need to get a part time job to supplement your income though. If you are going to pay your own housing and tuition get in for a seriously hard task. I know a few people who have done this recently and i can testify that it is not as easy as it was even 10 years ago. Your parents or people in their 40's will tell you how they worked their way through college and how it was hard but totally doable. Tell them that the 60's and 70's were a different time and that they can thank ronald reagan for making school expensive. This is not a partisan job, just a fact.

Stay away from drugs. They will be everywhere. If you must do drugs stay away from the baddies. Don't do coke, make fun of people who do coke, it's way cheaper and more satisfying. Don't do opiates, don't do acid. Smoke weed if you must do something naughty, but don't let it onsume you. Remember you came to school to learn, if you want to do drugs and party you should go to community college.

You will mature throughout your four years in college, it's unavoidable. You're priorties will change. Something like 70% of people meet thier future spouse in college, so you have that to look forward to. Don't be afraid to ask your parents for advice or help, they will worry about you and will be only too happy to help.

There is so much, but the fun part is learning from your own mistakes and figuring out what works for you. My single greatest piece of advice... stay away from coke. Seriously, it will be everywhere and it will ruin you, i have seen it a dozen time.

Answer 2

As far as housing, sharing an apartment with people and splitting rent is usually cheaper than dorms and such. As far as food, if you have an apartment you can cook, but if your in the dorms, microwavable food will probably become your best friend. Free time... its up to you, you could have a lot (and not get your work done), or you could do your work. The later won't give you as much free time, but its definitely recommended. You shoudl have plenty of free time on the weekends also if you work diligently during the week. Financial aid... try to get a 30+ on the ACT for the bright flight scholarship... $2000 a year for 4 years is a huge help.

Answer 3

1. Your roommates will most likely be psychotic. Make friends with everyone on your floor on the first day so you have places to go to avoid your crazy roommate.

2. HAVE FUN! Take care of business so you can stay. College should be the best 2 or 4 years of your life. It's your chance to be away from the world and be stupid and learn some things - without the doldrums of real life.

3. Try out the Greek system. You may not think yourself as been the 'Fraternity' type, but you'd be surprised that there may be a house out there that breaks the mold.

4. Drink alot. Seriously, you can always stumble back to your dorm room. Learn your limits early and stick to them.

5. Move to an off campus house as soon as you can, dorm life can be fun for the first year or two, but it gets old.

Answer 4

Structure your time wisely when it comes to studying. Do NOT get new credit cards. Credit card companies prey on college students and they often end up owing huge amounts of debt.

Take time to exercise, particularly if you are eating on the run or don't eat proper meals. Weight gain is VERY common.

If you go to a party or anywhere that you will be drinking (anything, not just alcohol) fix your OWN drink, and do not let it out of your sight. If it is out of your sight at all, get a new drink. It's much to easy for someone to slip you something.

Take advantage of professors' office hours if you need help. Seek tutoring if necessary.

If you live in the dorms, make sure you know the fire escape routes, etc. and keep your room locked.

Avoid alcohol unless you're of legal age. If you choose to drink anyway, do NOT drive. Even if you've had one drink. Call a cab or get a ride with someone completely sober. It could save your life, or someone else's.

Oh... and unless you're a morning person, try not to have classes at 8:00 a.m. Those can be a REAL pain.

Answer 5

Ok, I don't advocate getting plastered every night but do go out and socialize and party. Don't do it every night and don't over do it on the alcohol. Don't feel pressured into binge drinking. You might regret it later. Trust me. There are a lot of pictures of me out there that I am not proud of.

Remember why you are there. To study, go to school, to learn and get a degree. I have seen dozens of students get kicked out of college after their first year. It's embarrassing and puts undo stress on your parents and yourself. So keep it balanced. It's ok to party but set aside time to study and do homework and do other stuff.

Be involved in the school clubs. You get to meet a lot of new people that way and it will help later in school and in your career.

Make friends with people ahead of you in classes so you can get all their old notes, quizzes and tests. It will help you with your classes later. Makes life a lot easier.

If you are in the dorms, bring a ton of lysol. Learn where the clean bathrooms are on campus. Learn where the good laundromats are. I remember some idiot tried to dry his shoes in the dryer in my dorms and I didn't know about it. So when I put my clothes in there afterwards, it messed up a whole load of clothes.

Living in the dorms is fun the first semester or year you are there but it does get old. So spend your first year finding some people you can live with and get an apartment off campus for your second year in school.

If you get a chance to study abroad one semester, do it. A lot of good memories and it was a great experience.

Always use condoms and protect yourself. Some STDs stick with you for the rest of your life.

Have fun.

Answer 6

Enjoy the free time if you do not have a job. Just remember you can start completely over, most of the people you are meeting do not know who you were and what you used to do.

Answer 7

Financial aid: get as much free money as you can
Housing: cleaning the shower with your roommates is fun
Roommates: great if they didn't drink while you did
Rules: don't date each other's bf
Free Time: party party party
Food: use up your meal card

Answer 8

Classes: Nothing before Noon.
Beer: It's your best friend, drink alot of it.
Car:. If you don;t have a car, someone on your floor will. Find them, and make friends with them on the first day.


Those are the 3 rules to surviving university.

Answer 9

If you're in the Midwest, learn to drink beer. You'll be fine.

Answer 10

I've been told by my sisters that girl roommates fart a lot, so bring a gas mask.