college dorm life

[collegedude]

As some of us embark towards college, what are some essential and not so essential items that would be advantegeous to life on campus. To exemplify my question, what are some useful items (possibly tv, refrigerator, microwave, wireless router, etc.) excluding common sence supplies (pens, pencils, paper, mac laptop) as well as suggestions of a frivolous nature.

[Mr. Anderson]

Well, its been a while for me, but one thing I do know is that if you're sharing a room with some others you might want to contact them to see what they're bringing.

A refrigerator, microwave, etc. might be redundant.

One good thing would be a George Forman - easy to cook almost anything in and easy to clean up. Along with a few cheap pots and skillet if you're up for be a bit more adventurous in a kitchen if its available.

As for internet connection - depends on the school as well. And if you hook up a router, you'd really only need one wireless for the whole floor if its not already there.

Good luck!

D

[Powerbook G5]

I've got my cloths, my box of school supplies, some cleaning items for the bathroom, my laptop, my tv/stereo/xbox, and a bookshelf. My roommates have their own stuff, but for the most part, it's best to be on the lean side since the room will be crowded and it'd make it that much easier to move in and out. Best thing to do is pack light and if you need anything, go to Wal Mart, that way you can more easily guage what you need when you need it.

[cr2sh]

When you move into the dorm room, and you unpack your tv.. and you go to plug the cable in and you realize you dont have a CO-AX cable.. you go to the local Target and guess what, they're completely sold out. Guaranteed. No one remembers those damn things. It's going to be that way with a lot of stuff.. you'll go 3 days without something because the store wil be sold out.

Category 5 cable is a good idea as well.

Dry erase board for leaving notes for your roomates.

Slippers for the trips to the bathroom.. trust me, you dont want to go bare foot. Something to carry your soap and stuff in.

Clothes detergant... hmm.... clothes hamper.

Damn, this is making me miss the good old days....

Then depending on your major we can get into less general stuff... where you going, what you studying? Also, be prepared to be setting up PC's for the LAN, the people down the hall won't know wtf they're doing and they will want your help. Windows... yay.

[Powerbook G5]

Damn, don't I know it...how come it's always the Mac users that they come to for helping them set up their PCs? Just when you think you've escaped...you get sucked in again by two roommates, 4 suitemates, and half the floor with their brand new PCs and no clue how to set up for a network.

PS- Yes, slippers are a must...and toilet paper...trust me on this one, it is a life saver and toilet paper is worth its weight in gold.

[jefhatfield]

even though i made friends for life in the dorms, i did not like the institutionalized feeling of the dorm and the student cafeterias...but then again the arichitect who designed the dorms i lived in also designed the prison system and anytime i drive near a prison, i can see the resemblence;)

ps - i am referrng to the california penitentiary system and it's resemblence to the dorms at cal state univeristy san luis obispo...the dorms in the other state campuses may just be fine and not resemble incarceration

i lived in the dorms the first two out of three quarters in my first year of college and felt grateful to get out off campus and live more like a regular member of society having to to grocery shopping and driving everywhere...being in the dorms is convenient where everything is handed to you...but for some, that's too easy and not enough struggle and it's easy to get into a habit of sluffing off

[Powerbook G5]

Yeah, my dorms look like a cross between a prison cell and a low rent motel room...the food in the cafeteria isn't much better, either!

[G4scott]

My dorm has a microfridge built in, so I don't have to worry about that.

My roommate is bringing a TV, but I advise against it if you can do without. It's a major distraction, and is only really useful when watching the news or weather. For entertainment purposes, there are much better things to do than watch TV in your room...

I have all the basics, like towels, extra-long sheets, bathroom stuff (slippers, or sandals are a MUST!!! some people have nasty feet!), school stuff, my printer, a lamp, iPod poster, a power strip with a surge protector, CD-R's, cables for my computer, TI-calculator, rechargeable batteries and charger, flashlight, rug, tupperware boxes, and some other stuff...

I can't have a george forman grill in my dorm. Or any other kitchen appliance, except a coffee maker that meets certain requirements. I can't have extension cords either, or decorative lighting, or halogen lamps rated above 120 watts. I can't have a wireless router, unless I have permission from the university, and I don't have to worry about toilet paper because of community bathrooms. You also can't use the elevator if you live on the 2nd-4th floors (I live on the 6th, though...)

I'm going to be living in the largest dorm in the US, and second largest in the world. It's cafeteria is also rated lowest. Yum... Of course, part of being so close to so many people and sharing so much with so many people (besides leading to theft), is the benefit of having a more social environment. The new dorms kinda separate people, letting them spend more time in their room, and less time having to socialize with others...

[sacrilicious]

Originally posted by G4scott
...and I don't have to worry about toilet paper because of community bathrooms.

No, that's why you need it. Not only will that stuff run out at key moments, but it is thin, high grade sandpaper.

[vollspacken]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
(...) it's best to be on the lean side since the room will be crowded and it'd make it that much easier to move in and out.

I second that. when I had to leave for Germany after May's graduation, I could easiliy fit ALL!!! my stuff in 3 suitcases and one backpack (and I had tons! of clothing and other stuff...)

one of my two roommates stuffed our room with all his crappy things and tons of stuff he never used anyway (besides all the nerdy star wars and star trek posters, aaaarg!!!). keep it simple!

oh, and if anyone thinks "oh well, he will have to go home by plane, he can easily say that...", I also try to have as few things as possible at my place at my home university in Germany (believe me, chicks dig it if it's nice, tasteful and tidy [and what a better way to start with that than choosing an Apple Macintosh ;) ])

vSpacken

[shecky]

other than all the regular blah blah a few items that are must haves:

-condoms i say this not jokingly, but because it it easyer to see some action in college then it ever will be ever again, and you NEVER know when the opportunity may strike, so to speak. So do the smart thing and be prepared, that way you do not have to give up a potentially pleasureable encounter.

-plastic wastebasket specifically, something that is not going to rust (i.e. a metal wastebasket) and something that can be hosed out. late nite drinking + pizza at 4 AM + metal mesh wastebasket at 9AM the next morning = a very big mess.

i speak from experience on this one. have fun at school :)

[Squire]

I highly recommend a hot pot- kind of like an electric kettle but the whole lid comes off. They can be used to cook anything. I used mine to make coffee (although only at first), Mr. Noodles/Ramen, macaroni and cheese, etc..

They were under 20 bucks when I was in school. I think Tefal makes a good one.

Also, depending on how good or bad your mattress is, I'd recommend a foam-rubber pad to put over the mattress. They're great. Good for a noise suppressor, too. You know, if you toss and turn a lot. ;)

Get 4 pieces of ABS pipe and put both beds up on poles if you can. You also will need a roll of metal banding to anchor the poles to the wall. We had a sofa under one bed and the TV/bar fridge under the other.

A pair of flip-flops for the shower is also a good idea.

And, last but not least, you gotta have a gimmick. Just something to make your room different from the others. I put up Christmas lights. Other people had traffic signs, neon lights, and other cheezy things. Cheezy is okay if it's different.

Have fun.

Squire

[shecky]

common ordinary laundry detergent + paintbrush + creativity + blacklite = invisble by day, retro-hippie dayglow patterns on the walls & celing by the warm glow of the blacklite at nite

i have also found that all those "regulations" on what you can and cannot have are utter BS - you only need to worry about it on the off chance that your RA is a total dweeb (which they usually are not) and is really going to bust you for an extention cord (unlikely) Just dont be blatantly stupid and you will be fine.

where ya going to school anyway?

[wdlove]

Originally posted by jefhatfield
even though i made friends for life in the dorms, i did not like the institutionalized feeling of the dorm and the student cafeterias...but then again the arichitect who designed the dorms i lived in also designed the prison system and anytime i drive near a prison, i can see the resemblence;)

ps - i am referrng to the california penitentiary system and it's resemblence to the dorms at cal state univeristy san luis obispo...the dorms in the other state campuses may just be fine and not resemble incarceration

Jef speaking of a spartan living arrangement. Here in Boston this Fall, some lucky students will have ther dorm in a hotel. Due to over crowding the students will stay in a hotel in Kenmore Square. They will have all the amenities like room service, resturants, botiques, and hair stylists. One item they won't have is laundry facilties in house.

Mr. Anderson have you seen the new George Forman Grills, the lid sports the iMac color look. I had to do a double take when I first saw a commercial, it should be a iForman grill! :p

[iJon]

next year when i go im taking my powermac, powerbook, gaming pc, ps2, gamecube, xbox, microwave, fridge, dr pepper, spagettios, corn dogs, and a big tv. then im set for college.

iJon

[Powerbook G5]

My room first year was so awesome. We had all three beds suspended and under them we had two futons, a fridge and microwave, 8 speakers, a 32" digital tv, 600 watt surround sound, Xbox, PS2, Dreamcast, Gamecube, a DVD player, and between all of us, we had about 120 DVDs and 1000 CDs. It's amazing what thrift stores, having two roommates, and a nice scholarship refund check can do for dorm room decorations. :) We even had glow in the dark stars on the ceiling and lights all over the walls when we had the mood to light the place up for weeknight movie/game/party nights. I'm still saving up my money with a few friends to move into a nice beach house for senior year, but for now I have at least one more semester to be stuck in the dorms...I just hope my new roommates aren't going to spoil anything (I got stuck with two freshmen because my roommate had a family emergency and can't come back for fall semester). Enjoy college life, it rocks.

[Kwyjibo]

Originally posted by iJon
next year when i go im taking my powermac, powerbook, gaming pc, ps2, gamecube, xbox, microwave, fridge, dr pepper, spagettios, corn dogs, and a big tv. then im set for college.

iJon


what about your candy?

seriously tho, your not gonna have room for all that stuff...

[baby duck monge]

living with roommates, you may find that there is little more valuable than earplugs and a mask to sleep in. no lights or noises to disturb the few hours of sleep you will so desperately need.

[Powerbook G5]

The two most needed items--bath slippers and toilet paper.

[iJon]

Originally posted by Kwyjibo
what about your candy?

seriously tho, your not gonna have room for all that stuff...
ah yes my candy, oh ill have room, ill make room for it. hell i just may live at home during college, dont have to pay for anything, free food, and a the house to myself since im an only child.

iJon

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by wdlove
Jef speaking of a spartan living arrangement. Here in Boston this Fall, some lucky students will have ther dorm in a hotel. Due to over crowding the students will stay in a hotel in Kenmore Square. They will have all the amenities like room service, resturants, botiques, and hair stylists. One item they won't have is laundry facilties in house.


one year as an exchange student at london university, i got to spend the whole time in a hotel since the students got a special deal on the rooms...i can't remember if we got room service or if we had to keep the rooms up...the great thing is that we were off campus and we all had london and the city life right outside our door

the kitchen at the bottom of the hotel served up breakfast and i became really close friends with the lady there and we became buddies and spent a lot of time together...i ditched class a lot and spent most of my time with her everywhere in london and got to see the non-tourist stuff

the hotel in the middle of london proved too much of a distraction for us being that many of us got bad grades and spent a lot of time elsewhere besides class...one teacher got so fed up with the bad attendance that he stopped showing up to class when it shrunk down to nothing

one student met their fiance there and was never heard from again...most of us being adults made it so that once we touched down at heathrow, going to class was not a must and coming back to the states on an airplane was not mandatory...i stayed a little longer but some students spent extra months there...some with their parents who played hookey themselves from their lives in the states

i think these exchange programs breed ex-patriates and we lose some americans to europe this way...i think jackie o was introduced to europe through school and she actually ended up staying there for a long time and becoming european and developing some refined tastes not generally known in america...so when she married senator kennedy and then came to the white house, it became a mad redecorating time

i remember visiting the white house in the 70s during carter's tenure and the white house was still decorated and made up much the way jackie o left it in 1963...before jackie o, a lot of the white house was outfitted with department store furniture and the white house was not fit for a public tour:p

[mnkeybsness]

i wouldn't plan on buying a router or hub right away until you look into your school's internet regulations. at the university of minnesota, i know that they get really angry if they find out you are running more than one computer on the internet at a time.

you'll get used to the community bathroom toilet paper. if not...you need to toughen up.

one thing i really suggest is a door stop! the best way to meet people at college is to leave your door open when you are in there and not studying or doing homework. and, go around and say hi to everyone in the halls and with their door open.

[Kwyjibo]

Originally posted by shecky
-condoms i say this not jokingly, but because it it easyer to see some action in college then it ever will be ever again, and you NEVER know when the opportunity may strike, so to speak. So do the smart thing and be prepared, that way you do not have to give up a potentially pleasureable encounter.


at my school you can get 12 condoms every 2 weeks... I guess the students are expected to keep the sabbath. Not sure of the brand tho

[Powerbook G5]

It's all about the Trojans! "From this day forth, whenever people get wood, they'll think of Trojans!"

[mnkeybsness]

Originally posted by Kwyjibo
at my school you can get 12 condoms every 2 weeks... I guess the students are expected to keep the sabbath. Not sure of the brand tho

the community advisors and the U of MN have a giant box full each. they are expected to give them out to anyone who asks for them...no limit...

i guess they want to try and stop gopher warts...:D (for those of you who don't know, the gopher is our mascot...hence...gopher warts)

[Powerbook G5]

So much for spreading school spirit!

[FriarTuck]

I am so ancient.

I was an RA in the (then, anyway) tallest dorm in the country...

seventeen years ago.

Time for Grandpa to have some prune juice and go to bed, I guess.

[rhpenguin]

Originally posted by shecky
other than all the regular blah blah a few items that are must haves:

-condoms i say this not jokingly, but because it it easyer to see some action in college then it ever will be ever again, and you NEVER know when the opportunity may strike, so to speak. So do the smart thing and be prepared, that way you do not have to give up a potentially pleasureable encounter.

-plastic wastebasket specifically, something that is not going to rust (i.e. a metal wastebasket) and something that can be hosed out. late nite drinking + pizza at 4 AM + metal mesh wastebasket at 9AM the next morning = a very big mess.

i speak from experience on this one. have fun at school :)

schecky hit this one on the head. condoms and a puke bucket (mines called conrad) is definatly essential.

[mrjamin]

Originally posted by iJon
next year when i go im taking my powermac, powerbook, gaming pc, ps2, gamecube, xbox, microwave, fridge, dr pepper, spagettios, corn dogs, and a big tv. then im set for college.

iJon

you're also going to get full on burgled.

[cr2sh]

Try to talk your parents into giving you a Credit Card for "Emeregency Use Only", heh.. it'll be fun while it lasts and if you're the first to go to college in your family.. they might fall for it. :)

[mrjamin]

Originally posted by cr2sh
Try to talk your parents into giving you a Credit Card for "Emeregency Use Only", heh.. it'll be fun while it lasts and if you're the first to go to college in your family.. they might fall for it. :)

i would advise against that - so many friends of mine have got into major financial crap because of those things!

i dunno about college in the states, but over here, students are the target of most crime! Make sure you have GOOD insurance and always double check locks/windows at night - i'm speaking from experience here - we got burgled a couple of months back while we were all in the house - it wasn't nice.

Also, when you hit the town for a night out, don't take your entire wallet, just some cash and some id. I usually leave my mobile at home too.

i suggest getting a sandwich toaster - i love mine.

Oh yeah, in freshers week, don't sign up for every club on the planet!

In your first term (semester?) i wouldn't take too much memorabilia from home, if you're moderately far from home, you WILL get homesick and stuff reminding you of it doesn't help (it didn't help me). My best piece of advice when you do get homesick is to stick it out, don't do the easy thing and go home for a weekend because you will feel worse when you get back!

Other must takes:

A decent coffee mug + caffetiere = coffee will save your life
nausiating alarm clock
clothes you can wear for ages that won't stink
earplugs = latenight hall/dorm parties are fun but not when you have a 9am lecture the next day. lots of people living in a confined space can be hell, especially at night. On that note, when you get to wherever you're going, take the time to find somewhere quiet and outside. sometimes you really need a break from college life.
a dictaphone = for those lectures where you just want to sleeeeeeeeep
a streetmap of the area


some more pieces of advice:
don't worry if you meet a load of idiots in your first week, making friends is a long process and life is really abnormal for the first few weeks! Once things settle down a bit you get more relaxed around people and you let your guard down a bit - thats when proper friendships start to develop. Be wary of people you meet to start with - a lot of people see the new start as a chance to win friends and influence people by feeding you with ************.

best piece of advice:
have fun! it could well be the best time of your life

[edit]oh yeah: the best way to get a little merry on the cheap is Lemon RedSquare (lemon + vodka - do you have that in the states?) and white wine in a pint glass - drank that stuff solidly for my first year - could get you smashed on £5. not that i condone that sort of behaviour, i've had my fun, time to do some work :(

[another edit:]Dimly lit clubs are not the best places to pick up women - trust me.

[cr2sh]

Originally posted by mrjamin
i would advise against that - so many friends of mine have got into major financial crap because of those things!

I meant a credit card with his parents name on it... I also would strongly advise against getting your own. But if you're parents will give you one, heck those first few times you get drunk and dont have cash.. its pretty obvious that pizza.. IS AN EMERGENCY. :P It'll be fun until they take it away...

Your first week of college you'll walk around and credit card companies will be out in huge numbers, giving away tshirts and soda and footballs, in exchancge for you simply filling out some credit card applications.. DON'T DO IT. They fill your mailbox with so much crap that its a much larger headache than just buying your own tshirts... they'll give basiucally anyone a credit card.. I was broke through most of college but I never picked up a credit card and when I graduated 4 years later I was still debt free, compare that to a lot of my friends. A lotof people come out of college with 10K in credit cards and that is no way to try to get on your feet.

[mrjamin]

Originally posted by cr2sh
A lotof people come out of college with 10K in credit cards and that is no way to try to get on your feet.

in the uk you graduate with a minimum £12k debt just from student loans! how is college funded in the US? grants?

[cr2sh]

Originally posted by mrjamin
in the uk you graduate with a minimum £12k debt just from student loans! how is college funded in the US? grants?

About half of my friends have loans, the other half have grants and a few (like me) just have their parents fork the cash out... I was saying 10k in credit card debt, plus loans/grants.. I had neither, but also worked part time thru 4 years with an engineering major.

Your sig reminded me, I have to order a 'The Cheat' tshirt for my best friend's birthday...

[mrjamin]

Originally posted by cr2sh
Your sig reminded me, I have to order a 'The Cheat' tshirt for my best friend's birthday...

lol - my second tee from their turned up yesterday. got a trogdor one (without majesty :() and now a full-body strongbad one.

i want to see H*R mugs - they'd be the dogs danglies (there's an idea for the next-gen MR mugs arn! oh wait, strongbad + MR aren't related - ah well)

[big]

condoms, coffee, an alarm clock and a will to live. its only 4 (5 years if in Architecture).... but feels like 12

[mnkeybsness]

Originally posted by mrjamin

nausiating alarm clock
earplugs = latenight hall/dorm parties are fun but not when you have a 9am lecture the next day. lots of people living in a confined space can be hell, especially at night. On that note, when you get to wherever you're going, take the time to find somewhere quiet and outside. sometimes you really need a break from college life.



i agree with the nausiating alarm clock, but the earplugs are not worth it. personally, i adjusted to the noise very quickly. it was always loud, whether it be the neighbors, a different floor, people running through the hall, or outside playing basketball. if it's really a problem, get some earphones...hook them up to your mac or cd player and turn out the lights (or if you are me, don't worry about the lights-i can sleep anytime, anywhere).

[jefhatfield]

like madonna said in her PSA, abstinence is the best, but if not, use a condom

as for credit cards and credit card offers to college folk, they are the flesh eating virus from hades:p

one of my business clients paid his entire $25,000+ MBA school on credit cards...his foreign status did not make him eligible for regular student loans...he will take forever to pay that stuff off...i did about 1/4 of those same classes before i realized i could never afford to pay that back...stafford loan, credit cards, or combination of the two

i could see the justification for the common bachelor's degree and loans, but not grad school unless it's law school or medical school...but a standard phd with the not so good pay rendered may make it impossible to pay off eight years of schooling and housing and food with even a seven percent interest rate...so if you go loan for eight years, be darn sure it will end up in a super high paying job to get out of debt...nothing like a school debt equaling a fancy car payment or rent to handcuff you for your first five or ten years out on your own:eek:

[G4scott]

I recently got a checking account that has a credit card with it. My parents are funny, though... When I go pick up food for the family, or to buy something they need, they're like "put it on the card", and then they give me a check... I guess it's a good way to build up credit...

My main use will be to buy my $430 worth of textbooks ($550 new, and that's for 6 books! college is no cheap :( )

My parents are paying for college through this thing called the 'Texas Tomorrow Fund', which locks in tuition rates for when they start paying for the program. Basically, it locks the rate, and they start paying for my college tuition before I set foot on a college campus. You just have to start early for it to really work for you.

As for my dorm room, I've stated in a previous post most of what I can not have. Raising the beds sounds like a really good idea, but I think mine are bolted to the floor.

I'm not taking too much stuff, though. Just bathroom stuff, clothes (but not all of them), my laptop and accessories, bedding stuff, a lamp, school stuff, some books, a power strip, a foldable chair (with the school logo on it), my Trumpet, speakers, alarm-radio, phone, microwavable food, a couple of bowls, some mugs, and that's about it... My room isn't all that big, and I don't want junk to pile up. I'm also used to living cheap (I learn from my parents...) My roommate has considerably more stuff, but not so much as to clutter the room...

I know I'm a pack rat, and won't throw stuff away very easily... I just cleaned out my room, and must have filled at least 3 big garbage cans worth of trash...

I don't plan on doing everything in my room, but I want it to be a cozy place to live. That's why I'm taking my Apple stock and Enron stock... A wonderful conversation piece. My friend also has a Lego phone...

The rules of my university are very strict as to what can be done in the dorms, what you can have, etc. I've heard they do frequent inspections, but just visual ones, to make sure you don't have things like rope lights, or that you're not hanging stuff off of the fire sprinklers. Other than that, it depends on how cool your RA (or dorm dick, as my dad likes to call them...) is.

I leave for the University of Texas at Austin on Tuesday for band week... 50 hours of band in 7 days... Oh well, have fun, and good luck at college, for those who are going :D

[cr2sh]

Originally posted by G4scott
I guess it's a good way to build up credit...

Building up credit is a myth... if you have a decent job, maintained residence, than you can get loans.. you dont need credit cards to get loans. Its when you start missing payments that you hurt yourself. Don't play their games, just pay for what you can afford. :)

[Squire]

Originally posted by G4scott
I leave for the University of Texas at Austin on Tuesday for band week... 50 hours of band in 7 days... Oh well, have fun, and good luck at college, for those who are going :D

Band. Good idea. That's how I paid for university.

(If anybody mentions American Pie...)

Squire

[mrjamin]

so in the states, do you spend all 3/4 years in dorms, or do you live out too?

in the uk, generally you spend your first year in halls (dorms) and then find a house to rent. I was in a house from the word go as the university screwed me royally :mad:

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by mrjamin
so in the states, do you spend all 3/4 years in dorms, or do you live out too?

in the uk, generally you spend your first year in halls (dorms) and then find a house to rent. I was in a house from the word go as the university screwed me royally :mad: i think here they make you spend the first year or two in the dorms (usually just the first), and then let you opt to either stay in the dorms, or get your own apartment, or stay at home if you want... whatever. definitely they let you out of the dorm if you get married, heh.

[Kwyjibo]

or you join a frat which was advised against in earlier threads. At my school they only make you live there in the first semester or year, i can't remember which. One of my friends want to goto this university in downtown Washington DC and last year like i think wdlove said, they had to put kids up in a hotel because they over packed the forms

[phrancpharmD]

nothing quite like the heavy smoke of several sticks of burning Nag Champa caught in a blacklight. . .

[jefhatfield]

i just read from cnn-money that 61 percent of all college grads are going to end up moving back home with mommy and daddy...we are in a bad economy...things are being made overseas and technical jobs are now within the grasp of thid world engineers and computerheads

only english majors have fared better in this recession...for a non native english speaker, this is the hardest language in the world to grasp...no rules...strange prnouciations...etc

when president clinton was in office during the boom, it was reported that the average american child left home at age 26 and clinton said no big deal, he would more than be happy to have chelsea live at home that long if she pleased

my employees are 30 and 32, share a room, and still live at home...these are the times in northern california with the highest real estate prices outside of Jupiter, Florida

i left home at age 18 but when i was born when the life expectancy for a male in the us was 66 2/3 yrs, but now many men could live into their 80s with little problem since the male life expectancy is expected to eventually reach 75 years of age...i think it is 70.3 years in the last major census in 2000...with these real gains, by the end of this century maybe life expectancy will reach 85 with women averaging 90 years old...with that in mind, it might make sense to live at home til one's late 20s

but back to dorms....if you will be the 61 percent, and most likely you will, enjoy your dorm years...they may be your only years away from your parents before you turn 30:eek: :p ;)

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by cr2sh
Building up credit is a myth... if you have a decent job, maintained residence, than you can get loans.. you dont need credit cards to get loans. Its when you start missing payments that you hurt yourself. Don't play their games, just pay for what you can afford. :)

it's a much more complicated process than that...credit card history, especially good credit card history, or better yet, recent good credit card history helps build good credit for loans, but it is not the only factor out there

yes, jobs and stable living situation and job history over time helps like you said

there is more than one way to achieving good credit

having just a good or even great paycheck and living situation will not be good for a loan in my neck of the woods...unless something has recently changed dynamically in the financial world

credit is a game and you must play it well along with everything else

[idea_hamster]

Bring flip-flops. Cheap, disposable flip-flops. A few pairs. And then an emergency pair.

I remember my freshman dorm -- what Bedlam! I can't even catalogue the destruction and debauchery that was left on the floors of the hallways and bathrooms every Fri./Sat. night. (Granted ours was "known" to be the worst dorm, but you never know where *you'll* be!)

Today's recipe: idea_hamster goes to college!
1 resident director with extra-heavy work load
1 resident assistant with backbone removed
80 18-year-old boys
10 cases Everclear
1 copy Lord of the Flies
Mix all ingredients in large concrete block container and shake vigorously
Let foment undisturbed for one weekend
Serves 100 for a week or 1 for a life-time

Broken glass was common. Myriad bodily discharges in various admixtures were de rigeur.

Bring flip-flops. Cheap, disposable flip-flops.

[jefhatfield]

...and as we, from several generations, give you tips for dorm life...you will learn some valueable lessons from us

but if someone asks where you got the advance knowledge, saying you got it from some older "experienced" folk will sound kind of corny:p

[BenWakin]

Damn. You guys have no idea how much this thread helped and still is helping me. I'm glad I got the heads up on some stuff before I leave.

[Powerbook G5]

Another good tip is to watch what you spend because money goes fast and try to study whenever you can. I've slacked off a lot and when I do, I always end up regretting it big time.

[dethl]

Now I feel really lucky compared to some of you. I'm going to be starting college here next monday (moving in on Saturday) at New Mexico Tech, and I get to stay in the on-campus student apartments! Lucky me, I only have to share a bathroom with one other person, but I'll still take a pair of flipflops with me.

I plan to take an old AMD-K6/2 400mhz laptop with me for the first few weeks since I am waiting for my dual 2ghz G5 to arrive. Luckily, I can SSH into the campus computer labs and do my computer science programming from there. Oh yeah, my campus doesn't allow wireless routers due to the fact that there are government agencies that use the same network at our campus. Policy also dictates that we can't hook up more than 1 computer to the network. Personally, I plan to break both of these rules, and get away with it rather easily. (The IT staff there isn't exactly bright).

The dating situation is different at my school. From what I have found out, most of the girls are already taken, which makes things kinda hard. Anyway, I have a girlfriend back home (don't flame me, I know people say this is a bad thing, but I do love her), so I don't think I need to be getting involved in anything serious at college.

I'm also taking my TV, Microwave, Coffee Maker, Espresso Maker (for those quick bursts of energy!), PS2, and Dreamcast.

[/brag] :D

[Squire]

In an earlier post, I mentioned some things to bring with you. However, I think you really should concentrate on having a good time. Some pointers:

Get involved in dorm activities. If your dorm has a house committee, pay attention to what they do (as long as it's legal, of course) and try to be a part of it as early as possible. As far as I'm concerned, this can turn a good university experience into an amazing one. Keep in mind, though, that the primary reason you're there is to get an education. However, nowadays, more and more businesses are looking beyond GPAs. Volunteer experience, travel, sports, and other extra-curricular activities are becoming more important in the eyes of an interviewer.

That brings me to my next point. Stress. It's a killer and should play a very minimal role in the life of a student. Sure, there's good stress and bad stress but be sure to think of the big picture. How important are your college-life dilemmas in the grand scheme of things? Was she really the girl you were going to marry? Is that one 'F' going to stop you from leading a happy life? Answers to both are, "Probably not."

The most difficult thing is drawing the line between "fun" and "learning." Some people do this extremely well; others fail miserably. Master that skill and you will have very few regrets come graduation day.

Note: Understand that I'm not trying to downplay the importance of a good education. It's just that, here in Korea, an inappropriate amount of pressure is put on students. It's sad. Also, the importance of grades varies depending on your major.

Good luck.

Squire

[Mac til death]

plunger

[Squire]

Originally posted by Mac til death
plunger

Why? They're probably taken care of by the janitorial service. I guess if he has his own bathroom it would be wise.

In our dorm, we dubbed one of the stalls "The Sh***er." (We put a sign on the door.) That way, it was only used for that one, umm, function. The other two stalls were for people taking a leak. This may sound odd, but everyone agreed that it was a good idea. After a few drinks, the old aim isn't so good.

Yeah, just an idea.

Squire

[mstecker]

Here's what you need to do. This is based on my direct personal experience:



1) Bring some tools. You may need them to dismantle all of the built-in furniture from the room. Some of it is so drab.

2) Remove all of the furniture provided to you by the university. This may involve prying things off of walls or unbolting things from the floor. Some of this stuff won't have been dislodged since the WPA workers built your dorm. Keep trying.

3) Leave all of your furniture in the commons room or hallway (but under no circumstances directly in front of your room!). Someone will take it away for you. (See later for a discussion of how you're not going to get charged for this).

You may want to repaint the room before putting new furniture in. For my senior year, I painted the room grey, installed track lighting, and black corner moldings around the top corner of the room. Very tasteful.

4) Now go and get some real furniture! I suggest one of those furniture-rental places. Especially if you've decided to go with a sofabed (would be my choice) over a regular bed or loft, this is a fantastic service. Remember, all of your "new" furniture will get damaged, so it's best to have someone you can call to come replace it for you. I must have had my fold up couch replaced 4 times my senior year.

5) You'll need some carpets. Get cracking!

6) Get yourself a tasteful number of things to hang on your walls. Everything must be framed. No posters / girls / beer / computers. If it's not in a frame, send it back to mom's attic.

7) You'll need a very nice stereo system, TV and computer. A surround system is a must. If you can afford it, a Plasma display is the way to go in a very small room.

8) You'll need a refrigerator. I suggest one of the 3/4 sized instead of the small cube. They hold much more. This is best situated in your closet.

9) You'll need some lighting. Chances are you've been provided with a drab overhead lamp. I advise removing this from the ceiling entirely. Buy some nice spot and floor lighting - but NO $10 TORCHIERE LAMPS!

Now proceed to have a fantastic time as the social hub of your room/floor/group etc.

When the year is over, you'll have a small problem in that the university will consider your room to be "damaged" (even though it's now the nicest room on campus). And where did all of that furniture go? No matter, it's all the same. Your best bet is to stay on campus until the last possible day - usually a week after graduation. By then, just about everyone is gone, and most of these people - when leaving their rooms for the last time - won't lock their doors. It's always fun to replace your furniture from all of the people who complained about you making too much noise all year.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Squire
In an earlier post, I mentioned some things to bring with you. However, I think you really should concentrate on having a good time. Some pointers:

Get involved in dorm activities. If your dorm has a house committee, pay attention to what they do (as long as it's legal, of course) and try to be a part of it as early as possible. As far as I'm concerned, this can turn a good university experience into an amazing one. Keep in mind, though, that the primary reason you're there is to get an education. However, nowadays, more and more businesses are looking beyond GPAs. Volunteer experience, travel, sports, and other extra-curricular activities are becoming more important in the eyes of an interviewer.

That brings me to my next point. Stress. It's a killer and should play a very minimal role in the life of a student. Sure, there's good stress and bad stress but be sure to think of the big picture. How important are your college-life dilemmas in the grand scheme of things? Was she really the girl you were going to marry? Is that one 'F' going to stop you from leading a happy life? Answers to both are, "Probably not."

The most difficult thing is drawing the line between "fun" and "learning." Some people do this extremely well; others fail miserably. Master that skill and you will have very few regrets come graduation day.

Note: Understand that I'm not trying to downplay the importance of a good education. It's just that, here in Korea, an inappropriate amount of pressure is put on students. It's sad. Also, the importance of grades varies depending on your major.

Good luck.

Squire

as for other activities, everybody has ALWAYS looked at that in some degree or another

as a former HR person, i don't see GPA as key...getting the AA/AS or BA/BS is the main thing in college or university

[Mac til death]

Originally posted by Squire
Why? They're probably taken care of by the janitorial service. I guess if he has his own bathroom it would be wise.


It's not a bad idea. Dorms are different wherever you go. My dorm right now is 2 people to a bathroom so unless I want the toilet overflowing in my room I would need a plunger, and if you live with (and close) to the community bathrooms it's nice not to have to wait for janitorial services otherwise, if our college's j.s., you might want to go tend to the overflowing porcelin before it overflows in your room... anyway that's why it's good to have one.

[Waluigi]

Originally posted by mstecker
Here's what you need to do. This is based on my direct personal experience:



1) Bring some tools. You may need them to dismantle all of the built-in furniture from the room. Some of it is so drab.

2) Remove all of the furniture provided to you by the university. This may involve prying things off of walls or unbolting things from the floor. Some of this stuff won't have been dislodged since the WPA workers built your dorm. Keep trying.

3) Leave all of your furniture in the commons room or hallway (but under no circumstances directly in front of your room!). Someone will take it away for you. (See later for a discussion of how you're not going to get charged for this).

You may want to repaint the room before putting new furniture in. For my senior year, I painted the room grey, installed track lighting, and black corner moldings around the top corner of the room. Very tasteful.

4) Now go and get some real furniture! I suggest one of those furniture-rental places. Especially if you've decided to go with a sofabed (would be my choice) over a regular bed or loft, this is a fantastic service. Remember, all of your "new" furniture will get damaged, so it's best to have someone you can call to come replace it for you. I must have had my fold up couch replaced 4 times my senior year.

5) You'll need some carpets. Get cracking!

6) Get yourself a tasteful number of things to hang on your walls. Everything must be framed. No posters / girls / beer / computers. If it's not in a frame, send it back to mom's attic.

7) You'll need a very nice stereo system, TV and computer. A surround system is a must. If you can afford it, a Plasma display is the way to go in a very small room.

8) You'll need a refrigerator. I suggest one of the 3/4 sized instead of the small cube. They hold much more. This is best situated in your closet.

9) You'll need some lighting. Chances are you've been provided with a drab overhead lamp. I advise removing this from the ceiling entirely. Buy some nice spot and floor lighting - but NO $10 TORCHIERE LAMPS!

Now proceed to have a fantastic time as the social hub of your room/floor/group etc.

When the year is over, you'll have a small problem in that the university will consider your room to be "damaged" (even though it's now the nicest room on campus). And where did all of that furniture go? No matter, it's all the same. Your best bet is to stay on campus until the last possible day - usually a week after graduation. By then, just about everyone is gone, and most of these people - when leaving their rooms for the last time - won't lock their doors. It's always fun to replace your furniture from all of the people who complained about you making too much noise all year.


That is the worst advice I have ever heard.

[mstecker]

Originally posted by Waluigi
That is the worst advice I have ever heard.

Yeah? I had more fun in college than you could ever imagine. Grauated with honors too - from Duke.

[Waluigi]

Originally posted by mstecker
Yeah? I had more fun in college than you could ever imagine. Grauated with honors too - from Duke.

I was refering to the whole furniture, and using frames for posters things. They seem a little....well....wierd. I wasn't refering to your acadmeic success (which is quite impressive).

[Powerbook G5]

That doesn't say much.... *joking* I know people who've graduated from Duke. Well the best advise really is to not slack off too much, enjoy your time, and always remember that personal hygiene is your friend.

[themadchemist]

Try not to do some of the things I occassionally did last year (my first year)

*Try not to keep your room a total, disasterous mess*
*Try not to lose control of laundry*
*Try not to get less than 4 hours of sleep on average*
*Try not to take more hours of class than years you have been alive*
*Try not to get back home at 6 AM after a night of studying*
*Try not to get a**hole suitemates*
*Try not to fall asleep on 5 AM one saturday morning on the floor of a classroom in your university's sci/tech building using a heavy, old coat as your blanket after hours and hours of Friday night studying*

Try to do some other things that I DID do

*Try to get involved in research*
*Try to get involved in extracurriculars, student government*
*Try to make a lot of great friends*
*Go to a frat party at least once, even if you don't drink or are not interested in joining a frat (I fall into both categories)*
*Try to play pranks on your friends*
*Try to study with friends when THE STUDYING IS NOT CRITICAL, so that you don't study and just bs instead*
*Try to make memories that will last a lifetime...Well, don't try, just let them happen*
*Try not to succumb to the urge to go to the bar, because sooner or later, you WILL get busted*
*Try to wear a plastic bag on your head for a sociology class...Trust me. Just do this. You'll be glad you did*

[Royal Pineapple]

sorry to drag up a long dead thread but the topic is somewhat rellavant once again.
the summer is just begining but this fall a whole new group of college bound freshmen are gonna be moving away from home, many of them for the first time. so advice is critical, anyone have any experiences/advise for these young lads and lasses

[sonofslim]

sorry to drag up a long dead thread but the topic is somewhat rellavant once again.
the summer is just begining but this fall a whole new group of college bound freshmen are gonna be moving away from home, many of them for the first time. so advice is critical, anyone have any experiences/advise for these young lads and lasses

well, to sum up the last 3 pages of discussion for anyone who's new to the thread: bring condoms and shower sandals. everything else is a matter of taste.

[G4scott]

well, to sum up the last 3 pages of discussion for anyone who's new to the thread: bring condoms and shower sandals. everything else is a matter of taste.

Condoms are actually optional, since you should be able to get them at your university's health services building.

The things I found most useful: Dry erase board, and a small foldable table.

I really can't think of much things I used other than basic living supplies.

My room had no moveable furniture. It consists of a bed which also serves as a sofa, kinda... A desk, which is kinda attached to the bed, some cabinets, also attached to the bed, with some closet space, attached to the cabinets, and drawers, attached to the closet, and a sink, attached to the drawers... Everything is built together, with no possibility of moving any of it... Of course, I hear they're going through the dorms room by room, taking out this furniture, and putting in new, movable furniture, but I'll be gone by then...

[ejb190]

I lived in Wiley Hall at Purdue University for four years... I think I have seen it all, and I mean ALL!

I ended up with a freshman roommate my senior year - best roommate I had! Don't be quick to judge people.

Learn a new sport - I became addicted to racketball!

Get to know your professors, service workers, secretarial staff, etc. I now work for Purdue and still knowing some of those people has come in really handy over the years.

Get out of the room once in a while, even when you have a lot of work to do. I missed to largest snowball fight the campus had ever seen just because I needed to finish an English paper. The snowball fight I remember, the paper I don't! Of course, if I had finished the paper early, it wouldn't have been a problem...

[ToddW]

Well since I was an old pro I will tell you what I did in college.

Survival kit:
1. Condoms (you will use them, trust me on this)
2. Shower sandals (i always got three pairs, i ended up using all three each year)
3. Laptop w/ wireless connectivity (i wish this was available why i was getting my BS) I love it now that I am finishing my MS it makes going to the uni library on the weekends a lot easier, by the way working fulltime and doing my MSEE
4. TP (do not john wayne it in the dorms, you butt will thank you)
5. Formula 409 or some other cleaner to wipe the toilet before you do your duty
6. TV
7. Printer (school printers suck)
8. Plastic trash can
9. Laundry basket
10. A damnit doll (why damnit doll was a miniture ren from ren and stimpy) when I was frustrated I always threw ren up against the wall
11. Alarm clock
12. coffee pot

Advise

1. Find a time to do your duty and find a good toilet to call your own
2. Do the frat thing if you want, it is fun but not really necessary
3. Don't be silly, cover the willy
4. Study hard, but play hard also
5. Get a job doing research, having an all nite lab has its advantages.

[Sabbath]

We even had glow in the dark stars on the ceiling and lights all over the walls when we had the mood to light the place up for weeknight movie/game/party nights.

It's not a dorm room without those glow in the dark stars thats for sure.

But a fridge is a major necessity, anything kept in a fridge is the most likely item to be stolen on campus, everyone wants free food and you can never have enough room for cold drinks.

I hated dorms however such an infantile environment in this country I couldn't wait to get out of them asap. I've had such a nice house and housemate this year however I will be sad to leave.

[jophilpo]

Unless you're needing an excuse for a new Mac laptop, you should get a lock to attach it to your desk. My last year in the dorms, several people lost their laptops and textbooks during fire alarms by leaving their door unlocked. Also, get a good keychain (waterproof) so you can take your keys everywhere (including the shower). Nothing is less fun than coming back from the shower to find out your roomie has locked you out or your stuff got stolen in the 2 minutes you were gone taking a leak. However, while locking your room is a good idea when you arent there, you don't need to keep it shut up all the time. Most of my friends at school were met just by leaving my door open and seeing who wandered by. Other essentials are 1) Having a set of clothes ready to go for the inevitable 3 AM firedrill in nasty weather. 2) Get involved in something extracurricular. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as you enjoy it. I guarantee, it will make your time at school much more enjoyable and worthwhile. The most important aspects of college seem to happen outside of the classroom. Wow, I've only been out of school 2 months, and this thread already has me missing it. Good thing I'm going back for my Master's in August.

[rhpenguin]

One essential thing is get a cheap PC and load it up with as many hard drives and a distro of linux like clarkconnect or smoothwall because your going to need mad storage space for lots of uhhhh... downlads.. Kinda make it a central storage box where everyone can put their... downloads... and share them :)

College makes getting information easy, just sometimes a common place for that information is needed...