Tips For Students Going Away To College

By Joyce McIntosh


For the first-year college student, heading away from home and out on your own is both exciting and a bit nerve-wracking. While the extra freedom is fun, it brings along with it some extra responsibility. To make your foray into the college world a bit easier, consider a few of the following helpful hints.

Packing for college is always a huge challenge. Some students bring way too much along with them, while others bring the bare minimum and find themselves lacking some basic supplies. Your college or university website should have some helpful tips about what you will need, particularly if you will be staying in a dorm or campus apartment. Create a large checklist for yourself, detailing everything you will need to bring. Be sure that you know the size of your room, as well as all of the amenities included so that you don't bring items that you don't need.

There should be several categories in your checklist including clothing, sheets, towels, pillows and blankets, as well as personal items such as shampoo, toothpaste and other similar items. If you will be using a communal bathroom with many other students, a robe, flip flops and a shower caddy will make this task easier. Laundry bags and laundry supplies are another helpful item, as well as a travel iron. A few personal items, such as photos of friends and family, are another good thing to bring along. You will need an alarm clock to ensure that you get to class on time. Also, if you take medications, be sure to bring along your meds and also find out how to quickly transfer the prescriptions to a local pharmacy or opt for a mail order pharmacy.

You also will need a good quality backpack that can carry heavy books, school supplies and a laptop or tablet or both. A tablet or book reader is an excellent purchase to consider. Some textbooks are available in e-format, which makes toting around textbooks a great deal easier, and this format is sometimes less expensive. In addition, if you love to read, a tablet allows you have a whole library right at your fingertips.

Dorm rooms are generally pretty basic, so a few luxury items can be a fun addition that makes life a bit easier. For instance, a little mini fridge and a compact microwave are great if you can afford them. Often you can purchase these items used from students that have just graduated or have moved into an apartment. If you don't want to invest in these items, you can still purchase an electric kettle so that you can make coffee, soup and other items using hot water. If your room is big enough, consider bring a comfortable chair or even a futon or large bean bag.

While having all of these items, makes dorm life much more palatable, there is always the dread of having to haul everything back to your house for summer vacation. However, most of these items can be stored for very little cost at a local East Lansing storage facility. These facilities often offer mini storage units that are ideal for college students. Find a secure facility that is well-lit and completely fenced, as well as having 24-hour security monitors.

Of course, summer only lasts for a few months, so it's crucial to find a mini storage company that offers weekly or month-to-month lease options. Some companies will pro-rate your first month's rate. Obviously, students often have limited finances, so also try to find a storage facility that offers discounts for students. It also is wise to select a location where you can have access to the unit 24 hours a day, seven days a week.




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