Survival Guide for College Students

This is a guide geared towards new college students, though returning ones I’m sure can find/contribute new tricks. I am currently entering my senior year (hopefully! Lol) of college and I have gathered insight over the years, including lugging less and less back to school with me every year as I’ve discovered what is actually useful and what we are better without.

Group 1: Everyone (community/technical school/residential)

- Okay, the most expensive part of your education next to your tuition (though sometimes the most expensive depending where you go) will be Textbooks. There are a few simple steps you can take to minimize this.

1. Never, I repeat, NEVER! Use the college bookstore as your primary source for books. Even if you buy used books it can be a major rip-off. Instead, try to find as many books as you can off of the internet such as on e-bay, half-priced books, or my personal favorite, Amazon marketplace. Often times you can find new books for less than half the price of a used book at your bookstore. Plus, many colleges post a booklist on their website so you can find your booklist and buy your books before you even set foot on campus (have them shipped to your campus address so its less you have to pack when moving in if you r going to live on campus). This isn’t a complete failsafe, sometimes your college has special packets that you can only get at the bookstore and sometimes the best deal you can find is a used book from the bookstore. However, I would not advise ordering your books before hand from your school as they will give you a new book if they are out of used and then it would be better to buy online, go in personally to find your books, you can always go back and order a book online.

- Some people find success with getting a book through the library and then paying the late fees at the end of the semester to save money, I prefer to own my books however because then I can resell them or keep them if it is a good resource for my career.

2. Practice Discretion. A lot of time the listed book will be a specific edition, however, often times an older edition will do just as well, I.e., if the book list has "eighth edition" a lot of time you professor will say the seventh edition will do. This can save a lot of money, particularly if the edition listed is brand new. Ask your professor about this, most are pretty cool. Also, you will have to take "gen ed" classes and sometimes the required book will be pretty expensive. Once in a while the professor will say not to buy it if the class is not your major, however, sharing a book with a classmate can work just fine (split the cost) and sometimes you can get by without a book at all depending how good you are at taking notes and how much the professor covers in class.

- Never Resell your Books to the College Bookstore! This is just a waste of time in an overly crowded store for very little return. Usually you will only receive a couple dollars for a $50-$100 book if they buy it back at all. My favorite trick is selling to other students who are going to take the same class the following semester at your institution. You can sell them, say your old psychology book for $15 or $20 and it’s a win-win, YOU get a fair amount for your book and can be 4x as much as you would get at the college bookstore and THEY get a textbook for really cheap. This also works reciprocally and you can buy your book from another student for less than anywhere else.

- I favor selling my books on amazon marketplace, but other sites can work just as well, the student-student sale doesn’t usually work out for me because most other people I know are either in the same classes or are in a different major and thus wouldn’t be taking the classes I have books for. By using Amazon I set my own price and usually get a pretty good return, I also have them deposit my earnings directly into my account. Plus, they will only charge you if your book sells and even then it’s only a couple dollars. You them pack up your book and ship it…. I enjoy using my college’s mailroom to ship my sales.

- Get a Computer
I know this may sound like a no-brainer, but there are many people who rely on a family computer or school/library computers. A desktop is OK, but I would strongly advise getting a laptop with good memory and internet access. Laptops are small and portable. You can take them just about anywhere. You can work outside if you want to, (believe me, you will) and it’s a cinch for big projects to bring the computer to class and hook it up to the projector rather than relying on flash drives/e-mail (though I would still employ these methods for back-up in case your computer crashes/gets a virus). And you can bring your own computer to the library or to class to take notes and/or bring up the professors lecture right on your computer (sometimes). If you have any free-time you computer can also be right
at your fingertips.

- Cell Phone - I’m not even gonna get into it.

Group 2: Residential Students

Ahh... the joys of living on campus. Some things are useless, some are nye indispensable. You should know about needing bedding, but check to make sure you have the right size sheets. Many colleges have "extra long twin" mattresses so you need to purchase your linens as such. Once in a while you can find XL sheets in Target or Wal-Mart, but I bought mine online from, I believe, Residence Hall Linens. I got 2 sets and they have lasted me through my whole college career. They were slightly more expensive, but worth it. Also, check with family and friends for things, my freshman year I got a pillow, quilt, and comforter from my grandpa’s attic, that was easily $50 or more savings.

Useful Items:

- Desk Lamp - You don’t have to spend a lot on one. Bring one from home, buy one at a thrift store if you have to (mine came from Wal-Mart when I started college). Desk lamps are great if you have to work late and your roommate is sleeping or you have to get up earlier so you don’t have to turn on the overhead. My roommate and I tend to use them in the mornings because we don’t want the bright overhead on as soon as we wake up and they do pretty well at lighting up the whole room.

- Microwave/Fridge - Contrary to the popular belief promoted by the college and their "delicious" food service: you will want these. Sometimes your school may offer these for rent; me, I inherited my fridge from my brother’s college days. We laugh because it is so small, but it takes care of our needs well enough. I received my microwave as a Christmas gift. It is a good idea to get in contact with your roommate so you don’t both buy these, one is plenty. And make sure you check your school’s requirements for size/wattage.

- Microwave-Safe Dishes - With a microwave, you need dishes. Since dorms are small, you don’t want a large cache of dishes. I have a plastic set I got from target for around $5, 4 plates / 4 bowls / 4 sets of utensils. You can reheat pizza, make ramen noodles, or heat water for hot cocoa. You will want something other than campus food, believe me, my college tends to make it really good on the days we have prospective students, and kind of gross any other time. Don’t forget dish detergent and a rag/sponge/etc. to wash them!

- Fan(s) - A lot of times dorms (especially freshman) will NOT have air conditioning. Usually you have to have a medical reason to have a window unit. Check to see what all is provided in your dorm. A tower fan is a good investment because they don’t take up much space (valuable in a dorm). My roommate and I both have tower fans and I have a small battery operated fan I mount on my wall by my bed since I am on the top bunk and the other fans don’t really reach me up there.

- Command Hooks/Strips - Colleges tend to frown upon drilling/nailing into the wall to hang things. The command items stick right to the wall and come off at the end of the year and you can hang a multitude of things. I have a friend who uses them for necklaces. Another who hangs holiday lights. I use them for my calendar and to hold the TV cable and various other uses that come up.

- Extra Storage - Most dorms are pretty scanty on storage. Investing in under-the bed things / plastic drawers / shelves is a good idea. (you can also go with more elegant pieces if you want to spend the money). Just keep in mind how big the room is. Storage becomes clutter if it can’t fit anywhere, so don’t overkill. I just bought a couple stackable crates, I can use them to transport stuff and then they can transform into a 3-tier bookshelf. Also, try to limit boxes that will be useless once everything is put away, they just take up valuable space. Take your microwave out of the box before you leave home, same with a printer if you have one.

- Laundry Detergent - Even if you plan to come home every weekend, chances are there will come a day when you simply have to use the laundry room. Make sure you have what you need to do a load, detergent, dryer sheets, and quarters if free laundry isn’t provided. Your hamper can do double duty if you don’t want to invest in a basket.

- Ethernet Cable - Even if you have wireless, it has a tendency to go out, especially when you are in the middle of a big project. A few dollars and you have an extra lifeline.

Nice, but not necessary:

- TV - Most dorms come equipped with a TV in their lobby. For the first couple weeks of my college career I didn’t even have one in my room. They are nice for background noise though. But I would not go out and buy one before you have other more necessary items.

- Curtains - Always check to make sure it’s OK with your dorm and keep it simple. I have a single panel that just hangs over the window (I also have a shower curtain rod to hang it with). Most have blinds, I like a curtain because -
A: it makes the dorm more homey and personalized and
B: I live across from a frat house. I also have a shower curtain that hangs over my closet as it has no doors, it too has a bathroom rod… Quick tidy for when I have visitors!

- Cooking Utensils - Most residence halls come equipped with a kitchen open for use by the students but utensils tend to need to be provided by the students. Over the years I have acquired a small cookie sheet I use primarily for pizza, but also cookies (and I have loaned it too), a larger mixing bowl, a big spoon, a can opener, a pizza cutter, and a lidded saucepot, as well as potholders and measuring spoons. Everything, save the saucepot, came from a dollar store. I can make pizza, cookies, any kind of pasta, biscuits, rolls, crescents, etc. Plus, I already have some basics for when I am on my own.

- Printer - Believe it or not, printers are NOT necessary. Your college library can do just fine, I haven’t had a working printer since I was a freshman, I just print everything at the library.

- Extra Sleeping Space - If you have any chance of someone staying the night, this is a good investment. Depending how big your dorm is determines the sort of extra sleeping space you can have. An air mattress is the most basic and the most space-conscious arrangement. I prefer double duty items. I have a flip chair and my friend has a futon. These provide extra seating as well as extra sleeping room.

Don’t bother items

Some items are pretty much useless unless you have a specific reason to have them.

- Sports Equipment - Even if you are a fitness buff, your rec center will provide most equipment including, but not limited to: basketballs, tennis rackets, racquetballs and racquetball rackets, yoga materials, weights. Now, if you are playing a sport, that is a reasonable reason to have them, or if you intend to do an activity frequently go ahead and bring your equipment. I myself do not have enough time to devote to a given activity to bring my own equipment. I’d rather save the space and borrow them.

- Too Many Personal Items - I’ll say it again, there isn’t much space in a dorm. Pictures and such are fine. But too many frames and too many knick knacks easily turn from cute to clutter. Practice discretion.

- Land Line Phones - Providing your dorm even HAS land lines anymore. Most people have cell phones and most professors prefer a cell number over a land line. Of course, if you do not have a cell phone (no shame in it, I didn’t have one till my senior year of HS) go ahead and get a land line. I would suggest investing in perhaps a Tracfone or other such prepaid (I have Tracfone) for emergencies, if you don’t want a whole plan commitment. Cells are highly useful in college.

Feel free to leave a comment with questions / concerns / or other tips! The more viewpoints and opinions the better!