There’s only one source that can really tell you what life on campus is all about—actual college students! We wanted to hear real experiences from our Student Ambassadors about student life, so we asked them a question and told them to give us their most honest responses. This month we asked…
Kelsey Dozier from Northeastern State University says…
Moving is probably one of the most stressful things you will do for college, mostly because no matter how much you pack, you will realize you’ve forgotten something important. But what things should you absolutely bring with you? Well, let’s narrow it down…
1. Food – You might think this is kind of a given, but the biggest tip is bring more than you ever plan to eat, because you WILL have friends over and they WILL raid your food. That’s a fact.
2. Shower Items – More importantly, shower shoes. Bacteria love two things, a hot steamy bathroom floor and your bare feet on that same floor. Now the caddy; if you have a bucket or caddy, you don’t have to worry about getting soap in your eyes, flailing around in a blind soapy panic and kicking your shampoo across the bathroom. In addition, you’ll have one thing to grab instead of 50.
3. Mattress Covers – No, not a blanket, I’m talking an actual plastic mattress
cover. Think about how many people have slept in that bed, what they have probably
done there and then you know – you’ll want a mattress cover.
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Ron Addison from Southern Illinois University Carbondale says…
Chances are you forgot some of the less common, most forgotten items. Here are some things I found that will make life easier:
1. Paper work – (Social security card, copy of birth certificate, bank account information) If and when you get a job on campus you will be required to prove your existence in all sorts of strange and interesting ways. Best to be prepared.
2. Formal wear – (Men – suit, dress shirts and pants, tie. Ladies – dress, skirts, plain blouse) You never know what you may get involved in. There are times when you may have a banquet, concert, or interview. Always a good idea to have something nice on hand.
3. Outlet extensions – Dorm room outlets are awkwardly placed and their number is in no way proportional to the number of electronic devices you are likely to bring. Don’t forget surge protection for that stormy night when the power goes out and your final essay vanishes into thin air.
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Angelina Modica from SUNY Fredonia says…
Last year at this time I was scurrying from store to store buying all of the “college essentials.” After a year away at school, here are three things that I think no college student should be without:
1. Sewing kit – This may seem incredibly odd, and you probably think, “I’ll never use that.” But in reality, you will. This year a ton of my friends used it to sew on buttons that broke off their coats and one used it to fix her favorite party kit. I even got so annoyed that I bought a few of my friends sewing kits at Christmas time!
2. Laundry detergent sheets – Instead of having to lug down Clorox, Tide, Downy, and dryer sheets from your room on the 3rd floor to the laundry room on the 1st floor, use laundry sheets. They’re a soap and dryer sheet all in one, so you don’t have to worry about the detergent ruining your clothes! Check the circulars because sometimes pharmacies have them on sale for Buy One Get One Free!
3. Your own fridge – A lot of roommates agree on splitting the costs on a few room essentials in order to save a few bucks—including food. Don’t fall for this trap! My roommate wanted to do the aforementioned and we wound up splitting up after the first semester. Also, look for a fridge with a lock on it. That way no one can steal your stuff!
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Mary Muller from Texas Christian University says…
Even though I planned and shopped all summer for what I thought I would need for my dorm room, when I moved in there were still a few essentials that I realized I needed. Here are my top picks…
1. Hammer and nails – You’ll need to hang stuff up. My mom bought me a toolbox, and I thought she was crazy for it, but the hammer really came in handy for when I wanted to hang up my pictures, and all of my neighbors came by to borrow it.
2. School supplies – Lots of pens, pencils and binders! Also, make sure you get some Scantrons, but wait until your professors tell you which ones you need for their class. They don’t just give you Scantrons like they did in high school, and you don’t want to get caught right before a quiz or test without one!
3. Eating essentials – (plates, bowls, silverware, or cups!) I realize that this is technically more than one thing, but eating essentials are very important! I didn’t think about this when I was getting stuff for my room, and then when I was getting ready to have a snack, I realized I didn’t have anything to put my food on!
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Kevin Wright from Northern Arizona University says…
There are a few unique items every freshman should consider bringing. The reason why I’d recommend these items is simple:
1. Plug-in freshener – Keep your room always smelling fresh. College is all about meeting new people, but you never know who you may be roommates with. Another thing is that the hallways inside your residence may have a weird odor ever so often. A plug-in air freshener can also contribute to an individual adding their own personal touch to the room.
2. All-in-one fax/scanner/printer – For preparing and sending important information for taxes, scholarships, and homework projects. Even though there are resources all over campus you could still save so much more money if you had your own machine in your room. There may be some times where a computer lab may be closed, a printer in your residence hall breaks down, or the system is updating campus-wide. Because of common occurrences like this, an all-in-one machine is extremely convenient when handling all academic obligations.
3. Desk fan – For keeping the room a cool environment, because you never know if the buildings do not have air conditioning in them, and only have heat. We get all four seasons in Flagstaff, Arizona, but in the summer and spring seasons fans are a definite must-have.
At Zinch we believe students from all backgrounds have the potential to find the school that’s the perfect fit for them. But with thousands of universities located across the country, where should a student start? Our School Spotlights are focused on some of the top universities in the nation, and
In addition to their strong focus on an academic curriculum, the 225-acre Cal Lutheran campus is one of the finest in the state. Divided into four main quadrants, students can enjoy such facilities as the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, the Samuelson Aquatic Center, and the Spies-Bornemann Center for Education and Technology. The school is also known for their high levels of student engagement, offering such extracurricular services as yoga classes, intramural sports teams, and career counseling.
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