Gear Up for College

Maybe you’ve been lucky enough so far to get all the textbooks you need for school without forking over a penny. Chances are that will end once you get to college. In fact, research from the Student Public Interest Research Groups shows the average college student spends $900 each year on books and course materials. Stocking up in one trip to the campus bookstore is a sure way to shell out a lot of cash. So, why spend money you don’t have to?

Here are the top 10 ways to spend less on textbooks:

1. Only buy what’s required. First read the syllabus (the paper your professor gives you listing all your tests and assignments). Are some textbooks required and others recommended? Wait on buying those recommended books until you know for sure that you are going to use them.

2. Buy used. Purchasing used textbooks can save you hundreds of dollars. They’re available in the campus bookstore, from fellow students and online. A quick search on the web will show you tons of websites that sell used books. Check more than one site to get the lowest price or go to a price-comparison site for textbooks.

3. Buy an e-book. You might find a book to read on your tablet, e-reader or laptop. This might be the cheapest way to go if you can’t find a used copy.

4. Rent. Why buy a book if you’ll only need it for one semester? You can rent textbooks online and maybe even from your campus bookstore. But Andrew Schrage, editor of the website Money Crashers (www.moneycrashers.com), suggests buying books you’ll use in your future job. “Maybe if you’re going into banking, that corporate finance book will still be useful,” he says.

5. Visit the library. Cheryl Harrison bought just one or two books before graduating in 2009 from Capital University (www.capital.edu). Instead, she checked out a lot of her books from libraries on or near campus. “The first book that I found in the library was actually for a geology class,” she says.

6. Go back online. Harrison found a lot of books available online for free. She didn’t mind reading them on her computer screen, but you can print the pages on your printer or a campus computer lab.

7. Ask your professor. Before you take out your credit card, ask your professor how often each book will actually be used in class. If it sounds like you’ll need a copy, ask if you really need the edition listed on the syllabus. The fifth edition of your biology textbook might be the only one in the bookstore, but maybe you’ll do just fine with fourth edition. Editions printed for international markets are another alternative — as long as your professor says they’ll be OK.

8. Share. Your professor might just ask you to read a chapter or two from a book. Or you might only need the textbook to get math problems for your homework. It might make sense to split the cost of the book with a classmate.

9. Borrow. Sometimes Harrison would ask classmates if she could borrow their math books just long enough to make copies for homework. Or your professor might let you borrow a copy of the book for the whole term. Nicole Allen, textbook advocate for the Student PIRGs, says professors often have extras because publishers send them books to review.

10. Ask your friends. You might know someone who took one of your classes with the same professor last semester. Ask if the professor actually used every book on the syllabus. You might not really need everything you’re told to buy, says Schrage, who graduated in 2008 with a degree in economics from Brown University (www.brown.edu).

Plan for College

You’ve done the research, chosen your school, worked out how to pay for it. Now comes the exciting part- plan for college packing!

What to Pack for College

Standing in your bedroom, it may seem impossible to know what to pack for college.  But, dorm rooms tend to be small, with compact closet and dresser space, so wise choices are key to a comfortable setup. Review this list to help with your college packing!

Clothing

Proximity from home is a big factor in packing your clothing. If you’ll be making routine visits, you can easily swap your clothing as need arises. If you’ll be away for the semester, you’ll need to pack a wider range of options.

If you’re moving to the land of sun, go light on sweaters and jeans. Moving to a cooler region means you’ll be packing away tank tops and shorts sooner than usual. Read up on the region and pack accordingly. When figuring out your outfits, remember what else you’ll do besides classes:  jobs, sports or fitness, religious services or interviews.

In new, unfamiliar surroundings, you’ll want to feel like yourself, so stick with what you like to wear, and bypass those questionable items. Don’t forget your comfy slippers or well-worn sweatshirt; you’ll welcome them during late night study sessions. A favorite T-shirt or two from high school is fine, but don’t go overboard, suggests Baylor University (www.baylor.edu) graduate Sarah Beth Zwernemann

“(You’ll be) starting a new beginning, so leave things like high school letter jackets and high school class rings at home. You can fill this new space with college mementos,” she shares.

What to Pack for College Room Set-up

Upon arrival, you’ll want to quickly turn that empty little dorm room into a comfortable, functional home. That means bedding, appliances, toiletries and other essentials.

Knowing about your room will help you plan, says Rebecca Daniels, coordinator for communications in the Office of Residence Life at Syracuse University (www.syr.edu). “Many universities have set up (website) pages where you can view photos of rooms, do a virtual tour and get dimension information. If this information is not online, contact someone in the Housing Office to get details.”

Find out if any appliances are built into the room, as well proximity to showers.  A bathroom down the hall means that you should bring a tote and smaller sized toiletries; a semi-private setup may enable you to leave your supply in the bathroom.

Room planning is also a great excuse to get in touch with your future roommates.

“Tag team on the big ticket items, like a mini fridge. If you are trying to match up colors, take pictures of what you like in the store and then send the picture to your roommate,” suggests Zwernemann.

Keep the size of the room in mind when considering extras, such as chairs or extra furniture.

“It may be smarter to get into the space and set up your belongings, and then determine if there are additional items you would need or want,” says Daniels, adding that you and your roommates might find what you want at a local store.

You’ll want some cleaning supplies to keep your room cozy, but before toting large items, find out what is available to you. At some residence halls they’ll have a place where you can check out a vacuum and other big appliances.

Other necessities

At home you can easily reach for those little necessities you need from day to day —antacids, nail clippers or tissues. But, figuring out what to pack for college can be a mystery. Over a week or so, make note of the things you regularly reach for. Don’t drive yourself crazy writing down every situation; just recognize some of your usual ‘go-to’ items.  

Remember those staples that you use without much thought; laundry detergent and basket, cleaning supplies, hand lotion, power strip and extension cords, alarm clock, hammer and nails.

Don’t panic

College planning is not an exact science! You just hauled a trailer full of stuff to your new dorm, your parents are halfway home, and you realized you didn’t bring a single pair of socks. What to do?

Don’t panic. Even if you forgot the most important item, there’s always a solution.

• Share: Your new roommates are in the same boat, so if it’s an item that’s easily shared, ask to borrow. Just don’t overstay your welcome; make sure you have a plan to get your own item quickly, then wash and return the borrowed item.

• Ship: Your parents can easily ship your missing items to you. “If it's that important, it can get to you overnight,” says Zwernemann.

• Shop: Local stores or online shopping can quickly replace what you need.

Moving into your dorm is a big step. You may end up forgetting something you need, or you may end up bringing too much stuff, but that’s part of the experience.  After a few trips back and forth, you’ll become an old pro at setting up your college space, using this guide to what to pack for college!

Debbie Swanson has published more than 100 plan for college articles in national and regional magazines, including Dog Fancy, The Christian Science Monitor and Highlights. Visit her website at swansonwriting.com

Dorm room decorating

Your new home away from home, your dorm room, will be equipped with a bed, desk and chair, chest of drawers and closet. But, it won’t have a lot of personality. That means you can make your dorm room a place you will love to spend time in and where everyone on your hall wants to hang out! As you reflect on what you might need to decorate your dorm, dollar signs might be flashing before your eyes, but it is possible to do it on a budget!

In fact, interior designer Merri Cvetan has decorated dorm rooms completely with items she has found at secondhand stores like Goodwill.

Here are some of her tips for decorating on a budget:

• Start with a color scheme. Cvetan always starts in the linen department of Goodwill to find a bedspread or duvet cover. “This will determine the color scheme,” she says. “Then, it will be much easier to find coordinating accessories.”
• Make sure that everything you purchase is still in good condition and washable. Sheets for your bed might be one thing you should consider buying new.

Think artsy
You won’t have a lot of floor space, but you will have plenty of blank wall space, so take advantage of it! Using posters is an easy and inexpensive way to add color and personality to
your dorm.

• Zazzle.com offers one of the largest selections of posters on the Internet, from movie posters to prints of artwork, starting under $10. You can also create your own poster designs.
• If you want to display photos of your friends and family in a cool way, CVS allows you to create a collage poster (starting at $11.99), and other items by uploading your photos at the CVS photo center online (www.cvsphotocenter.com) or at an in-store kiosk.
• Cathy Hobbs, celebrity designer, also has the following suggestion: “While it may be unrealistic to paint walls, removable stickers are a wonderful and extremely decorative option. There are numerous patterns, graphics and colors galore!”

Coordinate your space
After you pick a bedspread, coordinate your other items by keeping them neutral or in the same color scheme.

• “Pick out some fun throw rugs that will jazz up your room,” Hobbs says. “Also, you can find inexpensive bath mats in all kinds of colors and patterns.”
• If your walls have corkboards, cover them with sample wallpaper pieces or an inexpensive piece of fabric to have a fun surface for posting pictures, your calendar and other items.
• Pick up some extra sheets or scarves that match with your color scheme. They can be used to hang on walls, cover a mismatched table or chairs and as curtains.
• Buy a funky collapsible chair or two to create a seating area in your dorm in sight of your TV. Add throw pillows, a lamp and a small table or container covered with a piece of fabric and you are all set to entertain!

Tips to remember                       

• In the tight space of a college dorm room, one of your best allies is organization. Find baskets, plastic containers and desk and closet organizers to keep everything organized and easy to find. Feng Shui consultant Tess Whitehurst says, “keeping your room as clutter-free as possible will help you psychologically to feel clear, awake and alert while you’re studying.” It will also make your room more appealing to visitors.
• Art doesn’t have to be confined to the wall! Bring your own creativity into the room with some DIY projects. Make your own throw pillows, decorate a plain lampshade to match your room or make your own photo collage or scrapbook with memories from home. 

Sara Rowe is a freelance writer published in various publications for teens and preteens.

For most high school students, sharing a room with someone else isn’t exactly something to look forward to. But if you live on campus, you’ll likely have a college roommate—especially as a freshman. 

Before you request a single room, check out these tips for boosting your chance of college roommate success.

Contact your roommate 

Once you receive your assignment, contact your future college roommate. Remember, even if your roommate is your complete opposite, they are most likely just as curious and nervous about meeting you as you are of them. 

Workout the details

Schedule your move so that you are not moving in at the exact same time. Also, trade cell phone numbers and other contact information in case of any emergencies.

Gather additional information about your roommate, such as religious or health practices. If your roommate has an allergy, for example, learning how to use an EpiPen can be important in case something happens while you’re both in the room. Or if your roommate celebrates a religious holiday that requires a quiet atmosphere for prayer or meditation, it will be important to know so you can respect their needs. 

Remember, your roommate doesn’t have to be your best friend 

Coexisting with a stranger tends to be easier than you initially imagine. Your roommate doesn’t have to be your best friend, but you do have to be able to live together. 

Try to stick to the Golden Rule: Treat your roommate how you would want to be treated. This may mean keeping your side of the room clean, not letting dirty clothes or books spill over to their side, and never taking their food, clothes, books, etc., without their permission. 

Address problems as soon as they occur

As time goes on, you may discover that there are things about your roommate that bother you. Address the issue as soon as possible. When you let a small annoyance continue over time, it eventually becomes a much bigger problem. More often than not, your roommate will respect your requests. And when they confront you about something similar, you can return the favor. 

Get help if you need it 

It’s possible that bigger issues will surface. When it’s time to ask for help, visit your resident assistant (RA) or resident director (RD) and talk to them about the issue. They may suggest you confront your roommate first. If that doesn’t work, you may have the option of moving to a different room. Remember, nothing will change unless you make it change. If an issue is really bothering you, don’t hesitate to speak to someone of authority.

Living with a roommate can be an exciting, valuable experience. Life doesn’t end after college. Look at your roommate experiences as practice for the future.

I am a sophomore in a fairly large public school in the Midwest. My major is business, and I have excellent grades thus far.

Nerd alert, right?

Think what you want, but I had more fun in my college freshman year than I did in all my high school years. I am proof that it is possible to have fun and still earn high grades.

Here are my tips on how to have a successful college freshman year.

1. Go to class
Not only is this the most basic and obvious tip to succeeding; it is also the most effective.

2. Pay attention to the professor
Just showing up at class isn’t going to be beneficial if you just take a little “lecture nap.” Going to class is worthless if you don’t use the time wisely.

3. Get to know your professors
Professors want to be approached with questions or even just to get to know their students during office hours.

4. Do the homework
Most professors recommend studying for two to three hours for each hour you spend in class.

I easily spend 30 to 40 hours each week going to class and doing the work for each course.

5. Study for tests
Let’s face it: A lot of us could easily get by in high school without studying any more than the five minutes between classes. For the vast majority of tests in college, this strategy won’t cut it. Many tests are going to require around three or four hours of extra studying.

6. Meet your neighbors
Living in a dorm in your college freshman year is the easiest way to meet all sorts of people.

Don’t be afraid to leave your door open when you’re there the first week or two of classes, and step into anyone’s room who has done the same. Remember that everyone is in the same boat as you.

7. Get involved
Clubs and intramurals are great ways to have fun and get involved in college.

8. Try new things
This is what college is all about.

9. Put academics first
Think about what you are really at college for: learning!

10. Save the partying for the weekends
It is hard to pay attention in class after a night out. There are tons of other activities to do on weeknights. Watching a movie, working out, or even just hanging out with friends are all great alternatives.

Alex Payton is a sophomore business major at Iowa State University (iastate.edu).

Mark Yesilevskiy has a passion and a talent for photography. He has been interested in art all his life and developed an enthusiasm for taking photos while in high school.

When it came time to make a decision for a college major, however, passion wasn’t enough to win his parents’ approval.

Yesilevskiy and his parents are natives of T’bilisi, Georgia, in the former Soviet Union. His parents grew up in a society where doctors and businessmen were admired, and where “starving artists” were a grave reality. So if Yesilevskiy wanted their help paying for college, photography was simply out of the question.

“I can’t pay the $35,000 a year on my own,” says Yesilevskiy, a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology (rit.edu). “I need their help. So I had to find a best of both worlds.”

Yesilevskiy and his parents finally both agreed on new-media marketing, a business major that incorporates art. But it still didn’t quite cure Yesilevskiy’s itch for photography.

So though he’s majoring in something that his parents approve of, his college living is located in Photo House, a special-interest housing option that focuses on photography.

Other schools also offer unique college living opportunities allowing students to pursue their hobbies in their dorms.

The 80-year-old Global Village program in the Douglass Residential College at Rutgers University (rutgers.edu) brings together young women interested in foreign language, cultural awareness and leadership skills. And it’s not limited to people with specific majors.

“Each year, we have a waiting list for acceptance; the program is very popular among our students,” says Danielle Gougon, assistant dean of global academics in Douglass Residential College.

Each of Douglass’s special interest houses has 12 to 15 students, with a total of about 125 students in the program.

Students at Goucher College (goucher.edu) in Baltimore, Md., brought the idea of special-interest housing to the college.

“Our program helps the students create a place where they want to live,” says Angela Lucia, community living coordinator there. “It helps give them ownership of where they live.”

When students want to create a special-interest house at Goucher, they put a plan together for the house, have a method of student selection, and prove there is enough interest.

Today, Goucher College has a Language House, and a Healthy Living house for substance-free college living. There’s also a Green House, a special-interest house where students practice eco-friendly living, and a Gaming House for students interested in computer and non-computer gaming.

Since choosing special-interest housing, Yesilevskiy has settled into his major, and still finds an outlet for photography. “I couldn’t have asked for it to turn out any better,” he says. “I finally get to do what I love, and it’s all thanks to Photo House.”

Torie Bonnet is an advertising/public relations major at the Rochester Institute of Technology (rit.edu).

When I began my freshman year of college in 2003, I was so nervous to begin school. However, once I arrived and participated in the many first-year program experiences my school had to offer, I felt more at ease.

Living/learning groups
American University (american.edu) is home to the University College program, a first-year program for a living and learning community.

“AU’s University College places students in small cohort groups of usually 20 students to take a general education class together,” says Tiffany Sanchez, director of new student programs. “These students are also housed together on a residence hall floor and have an academic peer mentor we call a program associate.”

Sanchez says that students who participate in AU’s University College have higher retention rates than students who don’t participate. GPAs are also slightly higher than all AU first-year program student GPAs.

Service activities
Angela Petitto, a junior at John Carroll University (jcu.edu) in Ohio, says the school has a summer program where freshmen can take classes to get ahead.

“There’s also a service program where they can move in a week early and then do work in inner-city Cleveland,” she says. “All freshmen are also required to take a first-year seminar class to discuss books we have read.”

Orientation
Tomasina Crapis, a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh (pitt.edu), says that her school had an elaborate orientation at the Petersen Events Center. “Different floors and buildings sat together in sections and got their own T-shirts, which were pretty cool,” Crapis says. “We had freshmen floor dinners to recognize and meet people you see every day, which were helpful.”

All students also had to attend a program called “PittStart” during the spring or summer before classes started.

“I met one of my best friends at Pitt there, so that was great, and it really reduced the scared and nervous feeling of leaving home,” she says. “We were also required to take a freshman seminar/intro to arts and sciences class, which was really just to get you familiar with campus and the surrounding Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

Many colleges and universities offer first-year programs. Here are highlights from three.

Northwestern University
(northwestern.edu)
• Northwestern’s College of Arts and Sciences requires the completion of two freshmen seminars during freshman year. The first has to be in the fall, and the next in either the winter or spring.

• The seminars are small writing and discussion-oriented courses.

University of San Diego
(sandiego.edu)
• The University of San Diego’s first-year experience has two core components—the preceptorial program and residential life living and learning.

• The preceptorial program features a small class taught by a faculty advisor. A preceptorial assistant, a USD student, mentors first-year students.

Boston College
(bc.edu)
• BC’s weekend-long orientation, “48 hours,” allows students to take advantage of college resources and learn from student volunteers.

• In “Conversations in the First Year,” students all read a book over the summer, then hear the author speak at opening convocation.

If stacks of papers in your college dorm room, long drives and daily double mocha lattes are your vision of college life, think again. Today’s college-bound students can be smart and Earth-friendly by taking these easy steps.

Consider the commute. If you’re thinking about commuting to college from home, check out the public transportation in your area. For those who are college dorm room-bound, choosing a college in a city with a decent bus or light rail system can save you from needing a car at all. If driving is unavoidable, check out online message boards for your college to see if you can carpool.

Apply online. Most colleges accept—and even prefer—online applications instead of the traditional paper sort. Some schools will even wave or reduce the application fee if you apply online. Just be sure to save your applications for your records.

Buy an e-book. Lighten your paper load by purchasing electronic copies of your required textbooks online or through a digital reader like Kindle. Web sites like DigitalTextbooks.com have downloads of major titles from biology to business that you can read on your computer. And speaking of green, digital textbooks can save you up to 50 percent off the printed price.

Get a reusable coffee mug. Did you know that if you used a reusable coffee mug at your local coffee shop each morning, you could help prevent 34,000 pounds of paper cups from filling up landfills every year? Switching to a plastic or metal mug can make a big difference in your carbon footprint. Ask for a reusable coffee mug with your college’s logo for a high school graduation gift and feel good about that morning cup of joe.

Type your notes: Save trees by nixing the notebooks and toting a lightweight laptop instead. Some of the newer, inexpensive netbooks are smaller than eight inches and can hold battery power for up to eight hours. This is great for taking notes in class, doing research using your school’s wireless connection and writing papers anywhere from your college dorm room to the campus green.

Roxana Wells is an eco-savvy teacher and freelance writer who lives in Ogden, Utah. She holds a graduate degree in education from Utah State University and loves to go hiking with her husband in her spare time.

Use this list to make sure you get these dorm-living essentials! 

•  Twin extra-long sheets
•  Mini fridge
•  Ramen noodles and bottled water
•  Clock (Must have an alarm - a dorm essential!)
•  Phone (Both cell and other.)
•  Plastic storage bins
•  Office supplies (Stapler, paper clips, folders, an easy button…wouldn’t that be great?)
•  Laptop and printer (You’ll never have to wait in line at the library!)
•  Tool kit (The entire hall will need to borrow your hammer to adjust their beds and hang their posters.)
•  Hoodies (To trudge to class and back, then immediately go back to bed.) 
•  Slippers
•  Flip-flops
•  Shower caddy
•  Toothbrush holder
•  Mattress cover or egg crate (Makes it cushier!)
•  Plastic hangers
•  Laundry bag and basket (Don’t leave them full of your favorite clothes in the communal laundry room; they will disappear!)
•  Robe (To use when running back to your room post-shower.)
•  Full-length mirror
•  Bed risers
•  Marker board (To let your roommate know what’s up, and get random message from your hall mates.)
•  Area rug (Much better than stepping on the cold cement tiles.)
•  Fan
•  Floor pillows (For your guests to sit on, sparing your bed from random bottoms.)
•  Masking tape (To draw a line down the middle of your room to keep your roommate away…just kidding!)
•  First aid stuff (Bandages, ointment, the stuff only your mom used to think of.)
•  Ibuprofen, cold and allergy medicine, throat lozenges (Your roommate will love you, and you won’t have to find the health center right away.)
•  Silverware (You only need one or two settings, mostly for when you bring dinner back to your room.)
•  Plastic plates and cups
•  Microwave-safe cookware (Bring one regular pot if there’s a stove in the kitchen.)
•  Sponge and dish soap (Um, do clean your dishes before the mac and cheese gets crusted on.)
•  Power strip, extra cables
•  An open mind - a dorm essential!

Will you really make popcorn so often that you need a popcorn maker in your college dorm?
 
Browse any retailer around major shopping times, and you’ll see all the campus “essentials”: blenders, popcorn makers, indoor grills, toasters, coffee makers, toaster ovens. There are electric toothbrushes and electric razors, and that doesn’t even include your laptop and printer, digital camera, cell phone and MP3 player.
 
Share this list of what you’ll really need at college with your parents, and save the rest of your family’s cash for tuition.

Laptops
Laptops with Wi-Fi can be helpful to students, says Kiersten Murphy, a college consultant with Murphy College Consultants in Seattle.

“College campuses are virtually wireless. I think [having a laptop] gives them more freedom for choosing work space and going to class and typing notes,” Murphy says. But although laptops can be helpful, they can also be distractions.
 
“Let’s say a student shows up at a lecture with a laptop because it’s easier to type to take notes,” says Troy Hammond, a counselor at Bayview Glen School in Toronto. “But are they being distracted by using e-mail and doing Web searches when the professor is speaking?” Check your college bookstore for discounts on computers and software.

Our recommendation: A laptop is the way to go. If you can’t afford a laptop, there’s still a place for bringing a desktop computer to college. And if you can’t afford either, scope out the many computer labs on campus, and plan your paper writing accordingly.

Computer accessories
Having a printer in your room can save you from trudging across campus in the middle of the night to print a paper.

“Here it is, 3 o’clock in the morning. Are you really going to wander on campus to print something?” says Rob Burckhard, a recent grad of Binghamton University in New York.

Our recommendation: A printer is a great thing to have. Families on a budget, however, can skip a printer and purchase a memory stick instead. That way, you can save your work, slip it in your pocket, and print it in a campus computer lab.

TV
One student in Burckhard’s college dorm had a 40-inch, high-tech television. “I said, ‘Here we are in public school. You really don’t need this,’” he says.

Our recommendation: Students may want a TV, but families on a budget should consider it a luxury item. If you have the extra cash, spend it on a laptop instead and use it to watch DVDs or TV online. 

Kitchenware
Most universities do not allow exposed coils, so toasters and hot plates may be off limits and fire hazards.

Check with your school before you spend money on appliances that may be confiscated. And give thought to how often you’ll really use an appliance. Also don’t forget one of the benefits of
on-campus living: your meal plan.

“You’re paying for a meal plan most likely in college. Why would you need a George Forman Grill or a blender?” Murphy says.

And though a coffeemaker is a good money-saving appliance if you can’t get going without a cup of joe, it’s not necessary if you’re just an occasional caffeine junky.

After all, leaving your college dorm for a coffee or a meal is important to the college social experience.
 
Our recommendation: Stick to a mini-fridge (for your water bottle, restaurant leftovers and maybe some juice) and maybe a microwave. Leave the rest in the stores.