Move in Day Tips
1. Organize and pack by location/zone then category
This is how I packed all four years and it made unpacking so much easier for me than my friends. To pack by location/zone means to pack bathroom items in one bin, bedroom in another, kitchen, desk/school supplies, closet, and cleaning. If you have other items, such as athletic equipment, that would be its own zone. Categories within the zones means making sure all silverware, bowls, and plates are together, all writing utensils are together, and so on.
2. Pack car in reverse order, if possible
I only did this for my first three years, but that's because this year, I accidentally left some of my containers in the storage unit. You want to pack whatever comes into the dorm last first. What I did was pack cleaning, bedding, and clothing in my mom's car, since she would be leaving after lunch. My car had kitchen, bathroom, school supplies, and decor. Decor and school supplies were packed first, since they were not necessary for night one or even two. I did get everything into my room the first night, but it never hurts to be prepared.
3. Make a rough plan before you head to campus
Like I explained for tip 2, my mom and I for my first two years created the plan of unload her car then mine. While I'm unloading my car, she cleans the room, then we loft the bed and rearrange the furniture. After that, I put away clothes while she put the cleaning supplies away and moves the containers into the proper rooms. This can be adapted to each individual situation.
4. Keep an extra trash bag handy
Pretty self explanatory. You really just never know if you'll need it, or if one of your suitemates will.
5. Bring a water filter and fill it up as soon as you can
I didn't learn this until this year, which is really embarrassing. I really do recommend not only having a water bottle for each person, but having easily accessible cold water for the inevitable empty bottle crisis about halfway through lofting the bed (freshman year). This year, I brought my Brita filter in with the first round of containers, filled it halfway before I walked out the door, then put it in the fridge until everything came inside.
6. Same with a fan or two
Although my AC worked really well this year, one of my friends did not have a working AC unit. In case you have this problem, make sure to always have a fan or two ready to plug in, just in case. It also helps to circulate the likely stale air, unless your room was used over the summer (as was the case my freshman, sophomore, and senior years).
Class Tips
7. Make an assignment list
I got the idea from Organized Charm back in high school. It didn't work as well then because my syllabi did not have homework dates on them, but man did this work well in college. I made mine in Google sheets so I can update due dates as things change. I have a heading for each month, a column for due date, a column for class, and two columns merged together for each assignment title. I put readings, papers, exams, finals, midterms, no class days, and school breaks in there. As I finish assignments, I will fill the cells with blue so I can visually see what I have finished. One of my suitemates freshman year made hers in Microsoft OneNote and deleted each assignment she did. I prefered the ability to see my progress of the semester.
8. Keep some kind of planner
Online, paper, or a mix of both, whatever floats your boat, just make sure you have a way to keep track of due dates, appointments, concerts, vacations, and anything else you find important (birthdays, anniversary, homecoming etc).
9. Block out some form of study time throughout the week
Study time can mean whatever it needs to mean for you to succeed in the class. For me, sometimes it just meant doing the homework and reviewing notes before a test. Other times (*cough* o chem), it meant going to tutoring sessions, watching extra videos, re-watching the lectures, rereading the textbook, and trying extra practice problems. The only two semesters I did not make dean's or president's list, I either was heavily pregnant and therefore struggled with attending a class or did not take enough GPA hours because of pass/fail due to COVID (but I still made scholar's list both times).
10. Pack backpack the night before
This definitely helped me when I had early morning classes or classes close together in time. By packing my bag for the chunks of time I had to be away, I was able to spend more time getting ready for class, eating, or whatever else that was important.
11. Keep all items for each class together
This mainly applies for storage in the dorm. I kept textbooks, notebooks, and folders organized by class days, then by class. This meant all my Monday/Wednesday classes were together and all my Tuesday/Thursday classes were together. It definitely minimized having to search for my notes or important paper or assigned reading.
12. Keep syllabus with the items you take to class
For lab classes, I kept the syllabus in the folder I used to hold prelabs and postlabs. For other classes, I used a folder color coded to match my notebook.
13. Draft a weekly to-do list
For me, my weekly to-do list was more mental than anything, although I did include important dates in my planner. It was a list of chores, classes, homework, studying, and extracurriculars for the week. It helped me to figure out what had to be done first, what could only be done certain days, and what was okay if it took a bit longer to finish.
14. Invest in cloud storage, external hard drive, usb flash drive, or all of the above
Backup your files. That's it. That's the advice.
15. Find out where your classes are before the first day
Because of COVID, it seems like half to three quarters of the people at college are basically on campus for the first time. This means even if you're not a freshman, you should probably double check class locations and where they are before the first day of classes. You don't want to walk into the wrong class!
Money Tips
16. Make a budget ASAP
Seriously, especially if you're paying for your own education, this will save you so much headache and stress.
17. Create spending log, even before you leave for college
Sometimes, we're surprised by our own spending. By figuring out which purchases are just for college items, which are for subscriptions, and which are for consumables (groceries, toiletries, pens, etc), you can more easily make your budget.
Dorm
18. Always assume you don't have the right type or amount of storage
Dorm room are weird in the sense that your freshman year, you're going to bring all the wrong storage or not enough of some type or too much of another. Expect to have to run to the store at least once because of this.
19. Take advantage of the vertical space
Vertical space was a lifesaver my first two years. Freshman year, I put my swim bag and suitcase above my armoire to avoid having lots of items on the floor. I also lofted my bed so I could store my bookcase, dresser, and laundry basket under my bed. This meant the only things on my floor were my desk, backpack, and two drawer carts, one of which was my nightstand of sorts. I noticed the difference just a small amount of vertical space makes when I went from the armoire to a closet sophomore year despite putting more under the bed.
20. Prioritize functional decor over everything else
Dorms are small. Unless it's going on a wall, it needs a purpose. Functional decor takes care of the aesthetic while still making sure you have storage or organization available to you. You don't want to be the room with lots of decor, but stuff is overflowing because there's no storage anywhere.
21. Command hooks are everything
I used them to hang my keys, my hats, my veils, my rosary, my photo line, my used towel. You name it, I probably used a command hook for it. We even used it for our kitchen trash bag my freshman and sophomore years. When I moved to an on-campus apartment my junior year, I did move to a full size trash can instead of a command hook holding the bag.
22. Don't be afraid to organize your organizers
Organize the drawers, especially in your desk. Even though there may already be dividers in the drawer, don't be afraid to use smaller dividers as needed. Sometimes, the most basic storage just isn't enough.
23. Felt hangers are the superior kind
Wire hangers have a tendency to bend. Thin plastic hangers break easily. The good plastic hangers are extremely thick and unless you have a heavy coat or pants to hang, they take up far more space than is necessary. I fit more felt hangers in my armoire than my suitemate who only brought the good plastic ones.
24. Create a cleaning caddy
Even if you don't bring the caddy to the bathroom or kitchen to clean, it definitely helps just to have all the cleaning tools together. It's especially helpful during semester move out when everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to pack and clean.
25. Use an organization system that works for you, not some random blogger
The best organization system is the one you're going to use. Although gathering inspiration from Pinterest, Instagram, or Buzzfeed isn't a bad thing, some people get so caught up in imitating an aesthetic that they forget an organization system is meant to be functional. Please don't be one of those people. Your dorm is small enough. It does not need to be made worse by bad systems leading to nothing being stored properly.
26. Create a chore chart for inspection/move out/breaks
By splitting the work, it makes cleaning a whole lot easier. It also means that when things go wrong, there is one person at fault, instead of all four people being blamed (Freshman year, I had a suitemate who cried when we said she had to help clean for move out. Shout out to the chore chart for holding her accountable to our RA and RD. Needless to say, we did not room with her sophomore year or any year thereafter.)
27. Get rid of any clutter BEFORE college
You obviously don't want to pay the money or time to move it to college. You don't want to come home to it either. Just chuck it. It also makes moving out during/after college much easier as well. My parents unexpectedly moved at the very end of my freshman year of college, so using this philosophy definitely made my parents' lives easier. My stuff was already pared down and boxed up, so all they had to do was move it to the new house. It was the same philosophy when I moved out and got married. The less stuff to deal with, the better.
28. Make sure your clothes are things you'd actually wear
Space is a precious commodity here at college. Every item needs a purpose, and clothes you don't wear just take up valuable space. Although I had enough drawer space, it felt like hanging space could be hard to find, especially in the winter when everything is heavy or bulky. This also goes back to the previous point: if you don't want to pay the money or time to move it, don't bother with it!
29. Similar vein, create a capsule wardrobe
See tip 28. Also, don't buy clothes just because they're on trend. You'll wear them once, then toss them because it's not your vibe. Not to mention, your style is likely to evolve over the course of your 4+ years as well. Having the basics always there makes life a lot easier.
30. Keep your room clean, or study somewhere tidy
Clutter is known to increase stress. Studying is already stressful. Don't overstimulate yourself with messes. If you don't think you can stay ahead of the mess, I recommend studying somewhere that is not your room that you only have to clean when you leave. That's not to mention that keeping your room clean lessens the likelihood of bugs and rodents.
Time management
31. Organize by priority
I assign each thing in my life a priority level. For me, Sunday Mass and Saturday Confession are the two must-dos. After that comes classes/labs/research, then appointments. Social time and workouts change priority based on how I'm doing mentally. Clubs are honestly my lowest priority after I work the welcome events- my health and grades always come first.
32. Give yourself a rest day (and mini breaks during the day)
For me, Sunday is a rest day. The only thing I do is go to Mass, pack for Monday, and if needed, finish any assignments. I like to do what I've heard referred to as "mini Sabbaths" throughout the week where I just have a built in rest time. It works great with a toddler. She gets a nap, I get to lie down. It's a win-win, really. It was also great when all I was doing was schoolwork. It's a chance to relax, destress, and refocus so you don't go through burnout like many, many other students.
33. Time blocking is a blessing
It sounds weird, but if you set aside specific times to do tasks, it helps with productivity, especially if it's timed to your natural rhythm. A good example is I set aside an hour for lunch each day. I usually only take 30 minutes, but if I'm running behind or if the line is slow, at least I have buffer time. It also means for the days I'm completing a "boring" task, I have an end time in sight. By having an end time, I'm able to focus on getting things done because I know I can stop at a certain point. I'm actually often finished before my time block is up!
34. Set time limits for distracting apps
It's easy, especially when overwhelmed, to ignore responsibilities via distractions. Although sometimes these distractions are other things that must be done, but not right now, it's oftentimes games, Netflix, Disney+, or social media. Social media especially is a distraction because it's designed to create an endless scroll. However, what makes an app distracting is dependent on the individual.
35. Get a routine, but deviation is normal
By having a routine, you are able to get things done without worry about what regularly scheduled things you're forgetting. By expecting to not follow your routine to a T, you learn to adapt and adjust, which is a good chunk of what college is anyway.
Food
40. Create a list of staples to keep in stock
There's always going to be a list of foods that you eat close enough to every day that you want to always have on hand. For me, this was almond milk, butter, granola bars, rice, cereal, pasta, and frozen veggies. I have friends who only kept things like goldfish, chex mix, and poptarts on hand. It really depends on the person, but you want to always have something ready, just in case. On-campus food may be closed, you might not have enough time to stop by the cafeteria, or there just may be another in the 100s of reasons as to why you have to make your own food for a meal.
41. Meal "plan" each week
This goes back to tip 40. If you know you're going to be cutting it close between classes for a meal one day a week, plan a meal you can either prepare quickly the morning of, or can make and reheat. (Not going to lie though, there was more than once where I ate cold leftovers. I'd love to do a poll to see how my followers feel about cold vs reheated leftovers.)
42. Keep track of expiration dates
I say this one from personal experience. I threw out way more food than I should have, simply because I did not watch my expiration dates. I do not recommend this at all. It's money down the drain, as well as terrible for the environment.
43. Cafeteria food is not what it's cracked up to be
Another self explanatory tip. The only time we enjoyed food from the cafe was sushi night, when they bring in sushi chefs just for dinner. People, especially from the admissions department, will tell you "it's all you can eat! It's a variety! A, b, and c are so good!" but neglect to mention that "so good" is relative to high school cafeteria food.
Health
44. Block out time for your mental health, especially as finals approach
I had several friends who did not take care of their mental health. It was not pretty to watch. I've had anxiety for most of my life, and PMDD for over 10 years now. I learned a long time ago that mental health is just as important as physical health. If you neglect it for too long, it WILL come back to bite you. Not to mention, taking a much needed break is definitely good for your study habits too!
45. Make sure to take care of physical health too
I feel like this goes without saying, but neglecting your physical health is a bad idea. Just because you're 18 and can survive on junk food doesn't mean you should. You only get one body, and you deserve to take care of it, simply because you exist. It doesn't have to be much, but doing some form of physical activity and eating for your health needs is really all you have to do. Get some fresh air, and I recommend taking vitamins C and D in the winter. It helps your immune system, and most women are deficient.
Go see the student health clinic or your own provider if something is wrong. That's what they're there for. It's not bad to take advantage of a service you're entitled to.
46. And social health
Neglecting any area of your health is a bad thing. Don't ignore your social life for the sake of graduating early or a perfect 4.0 just to say you did it. (Also you can easily have a 4.0 and a social life. They're not mutually exclusive.)
47. The freshman 15 is not a bad thing
I don't know anyone who didn't gain at least 10 pounds freshman year. It's also not a bad thing. I gained 20 pounds freshman year alone. As long as you're taking care of yourself, those extra few pounds really make no difference.
48. Disordered eating is extremely glorified
Don't skip meals just so you have "earn" that extra drink on game day. Actually, don't skip meals in general, unless you have to for a fasting blood test or surgery. People are going to constantly talk about losing weight, skipping meals, counting calories, new diet, and a million other forms of diet culture. Don't buy into it. I bought into it in high school, and spent nearly all of college trying to undo it. The effects can be lifelong, even if you do finally get a healthy relationship with food and the scale.
49. So is alcoholism
I love White Claws and fruity mixed drinks. My husband can tell you that, my friends could tell you that, and my in-laws could tell you that. However, when alcohol goes from a social activity to a coping mechanism, that's when a problem's risen to the surface. A lot of people will make jokes about it, about blacking out frequently, and even about needing multiple drinks a night to even fall asleep. It causes the problem to bubble under the surface, convinces young adults they're too young to be alcoholic, or even that it's not a problem. It can be a problem, even if you're functioning just fine otherwise.
50. Don't have casual sex just because you're lonely, wanting attention/affection/etc
Other people aren't meant to fulfill your emotions that you're struggling to process. They also can't. My friends who had casual sex to hide their real feelings also got into some questionable relationships because they subliminally expected the other person to fulfill them in ways other people literally cannot. Stick to whatever your convictions may be, but people are not coping mechanisms.
Assorted
51. Your first friends at college probably won't last
Some people in your life are meant to be temporary. That's okay. Enjoy them while they're your friends, let it hurt when they go. Everyone has been there. Keep in mind though, that some friendships will probably last a lifetime. One of my first friends was my maid of honor. Another I have not seen since sophomore year, long before covid.
52. Same goes for relationships
A lot of people in college have different ideas about relationships, exclusivity, and a million other aspects of dating that exist. This means that most relationships don't last simply because of different expectations. My husband and I started dating when I was a freshman, but he was not the only person I dated freshman year. Different expectations about what dating means as well as communication issues were the biggest factors in the other breakups. So again, as much as it hurts, it is common, so you will find someone else who gets it. Stay in with your friends, eat ice cream until you feel overstuffed, or you can go out. As long as you remember that this one relationship did not determine your worth, you will eventually make it through.
53. Make sure to do something new at least once a semester
Even if it just means going to a new restaurant, doing something different is just a nice break from the normal. It helped me learn about more things in my city, which is funny, because one my high school classmates said there was nothing to do here. That's definitely not true because after three years here, I definitely have done all kinds of things that he said were not in the area. It may take some digging, but you can find all kinds of things to do within a reasonable driving distance of most colleges.
54. Join a club that interests you just because it's interesting
Although you should always try to join clubs that you'll be an active participant in, it never hurts to join one just because it sounds fun. I actually encourage my younger friends and mentees to do it at least freshman year because you might find a new passion, or at the very least, make a new friend or two.
55. Create a semester goal
My semester goal is usually GPA related, but that's because my scholarship is dependent on GPA. I've got friends who make their goal make dinner x times a month, save y dollars, or pay off last semester's student loan. The possibilities really are endless here, y'all.
56. Networking is key, y'all
I don't know if it's just the industries my friends and I work in, but for us, it's far more about who you know than what you know. Obviously, you cannot go in completely unknowledgeable, but between two candidates with similar resumes, the one with the connection is either more likely to get the job or gets sped through the hiring process. I learned the hard way that this starts as early as freshman year, even if you don't plan on working until junior or senior year.
57. Create a graduation plan with your advisor
This is always done at every advising appointment at my university, but I know not all colleges do things this way. I highly recommend asking which classes can be taken at different times as well, because you will go through seasons where you might need to take a lighter course load, but you still want to graduate in 4 years. Your advisor will also know all kinds of things about the school that you might not otherwise hear. Trust them to give you the inside scoop, so to speak.
58. Don't be afraid to change your major
Not everyone will change their major, but enough of us do, sometimes more than once, that no one really questions it. Do what you need to do for your mental health, finances, or family circumstances.
59. You really don't have to pull all-nighters
I feel like I never heard this one anywhere, but it's true. I pulled exactly one all nighter in college, and it wasn't for studying. My friends and I had stayed up drinking and watching the Sean Connery James Bond movies until 4 am. Studies show that sleep matters more than studying those extra hours, not to mention, by the night before, you either know it or you don't.
60. College has changed since our parents' days, so listen to their advice, but take it with a grain of salt too
Although your parents probably have good advice about college, a lot has changed since they went. Hell, a lot has changed since my freshman year. It feels like advice gets outdated quickly, so don't be afraid if you don't think their advice fits your situation. On the flip side, don't discount their advice just because they're old. There's often some gems in there.