The fall semester is literally a month away, and college students are itching to get back to school. We realize that we have run out of things to do at home, we think we have slept for an acceptable number of days, and some of us are ready to leave the part-time job we have worked all summer. Of course going back to school means preparing for the beginning of the semester, and starting that college flow of school work, eating, sleeping and partying. But living off-campus is a whole different ball game than piling into small dorm rooms. Living off-campus saves money from the school’s room and board cost, but you’re going to need a number of things. Therefore, I decided to help you guys out the way my roommates have helped me with all my random group-chat questions.
1. Get to campus early
With the new school year comes new freshmen. That means the Ithaca Walmart will hit apocalyptic levels of busy during the last weekend before classes start.
2. Invest in a quality raincoat and umbrella
This tip is honestly just for anyone at Ithaca.
3. Know how to set up your cable and internet
Now that you no longer have ResNet to let you down on last minute Sakai assignments, it is up to you to figure out how to set up your cable and internet (Luckily I have a really cool and awesome roommate who is doing all of that before I get there).
4. Make a list of what you need to get at Walmart
I sat down in front of my kitchen at home and asked myself: “What do my parents buy at the grocery store for the week?” “What seasoning does my mom use for the chicken?” and “What snacks do I like?” To make sure I remember the answers, I wrote all them in an Excel sheet (yes I know super nerdy, but guess who will have everything they need in one Walmart run?)
5. Learn how to handle difficult situations
Whether you are living with your best friends or new friends, it is essential to know how to handle confrontation. If roommates leave the kitchen a mess, crumbs on the floor, popcorn on the couch, hair in the shower, or noisy nights with other guests over, you need to know how to approach the situation with respect and honesty, but without making it awkward.
6. Collaborate with roommates on what you need for communal areas of the house
If you ask me, this is another great opportunity for a spreadsheet! Or if you are more lax, you can just decide on what to get when you are out shopping. But with the excel sheet, you are making sure that each roommate is helping out, everyone is spending an equal amount of money, and you are still able to maintain an awesome relationship with your roommates without arguing about who spent the most money.
7. Be prepared for endless amounts of decorating
You live off-campus, which means you have more walls to decorate! So get ready to whip out those band posters, DIY canvases, tapestries and artsy pictures. This is a chance for your inner interior designer to shine!
If you have any other preparation tips or tricks that I haven’t covered, drop them in the comments section, maybe they can help me too!
