College Suitcase

Busted.

admin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:58:33 +0000

Just about everyone is poor in college. You’re in good company. Try a part-time job, if you’re coming up short.

Here are a few ideas

Look into retail jobs at a local mall. These are fantastic for part-timers and the hours are usually really good.
Look into on campus jobs or work studies. These jobs will help you get to know the campus and meet new people. They are generally willing to work around your school schedule and will allow you to do your homework on your downtime.
Waiter or Waitress. This is the most popular job on college campuses. The hours are not always the best but the customer service experience is priceless and there is food involved!
After you know your major, look for jobs in that field.
Check out the school newspaper and the career center on campus. There are always job postings and opportunities.
Remember you’re building your resume.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:05:27 +0000

In high school I wasn’t the biggest “club joiner”. But in college I decided not to miss out on anything, so I joined everything. I joined so many clubs I was busy every night. I did not end up extending my membership to all of the clubs, but I made many new friends and I got off to a great start. The clubs are always recruiting new members and it’s a great way to meet people. Staying busy is important, especially during your first semester away from home.

There’s always free food, (yes pizza).
You’ll make lots of new friends.
It will give you a great excuse to wear/buy that new dress.
It’s the perfect opportunity to branch out and expand your circle of friends and interests.
You’ll get comfortable with your new world faster.

Taking the First Step

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:29:59 +0000

Expectations are huge when you first step on your new college campus. Your parents will tell you this is going to be the greatest time of your life. Your mom will miss you terribly. Your dad will use his old college stories as a bridge to your feelings. But the reality is you’re about to become a different person. You’re supposed to. Make the most of it.

College is more than world politics or literature. It’s a time when you learn about yourself. Enjoy the journey.

Here’s a little advice:

Go to class.
Read your textbook.
Don’t sweat the small stuff with the roommate. Share your things and clean up after yourself.
Don’t be too anxious to find a boyfriend. Get to know yourself and your surroundings first.
Make friends.
No one knows your high school story. This can make it easier or harder, but that’s the deal.
This is your experience not anyone else’s.

Pick up a Hobby if You Don’t Have One Already

admin — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:00:40 +0000

I found that I had more downtime than I expected. I guess playing sports in high school took up so much time and now that I wasn’t doing any of that I sat around and watched a lot of TV… that got old fast. I love making things so I started knitting a whole bunch, scarves and stuff, which ended up making cheap and cute Christmas presents. It sounds kinda grandmaish, but it’s easy and kinda mindless but you end up making some really cool things. I just finished making a blanket this past year. Knitting-warehouse.com has several different beginner’s knitting kits. Fiona, didn’t you get one of those for Christmas or something? My mom started recommending books for me to read, which was nice because they weren’t for school and it helped me fall asleep at night. Some of my new favorites are Same Kind of Different as Me, The Secret Life of Bees and The Glass Castle- ask for them at Barnes and Noble or Borders.

yes you definitely need to fill ur downtime with productive stuff instead of tv. And yes, I got one for Christmas & literally knitted the entire break & school year. You (Rae) actually taught me to knit one day when it was snowing outside! I got hooked & couldn’t stop. Whenever I got sick I would sit in bed watching the 24 series & knit- my friends started calling me grandma. You (Rae) also told me about this cute shop in Dallas, Shabby Sheep, where u can buy all sorts of yarn & get lessons! Anyways, besides just knitting I love playing intramural sports or going on walks/jogs w friends. Try to be outside on pretty days to catch fresh air. Another thing I started doing w my free time is trying to learn Spanish, which helped bc my neighbor in my freshmen dorm was fluent. Instead of sitting around watching aimless tv, find one show that u & ur friends all love & have a once-a-week show get together. We did this w Grey’s Anatomy- we’d all meet in the girl’s room w the biggest tv, order pizza, & watch it- so fun.

That sounds like so much fun! Last year in our apartment all 5 of us crowded on the couch for The Hills. But we never did pizza – that’s a nice little touch! And my mom gave me both Same Kind of Dif. and The Glass Castle for Christmas… soooo good! Freshman year our dorm was right behind a cute little neighborhood and we would go on runs in the afternoon. We also got really into board games. I know it sounds weird, but they really are fun! And its something different…in fact we got so into Pictionary during finals week (ALOT of down time!) that we picked it up whenever we had twenty minutes that the four of us were free. Even if it was just after breakfast! Its also fun to play at the gym, but not while you’re working out. They have racket ball (which is even more exciting if you don’t know what you’re doing!) and usually a great pool to lay out by! Its also fun to find places outside where you can go to relax on pretty days. In Austin I love going to the greenbelt or to Mount Bonnell with a friend. Its beautiful and fun to be away from the dorm or apartment!

We did the Grey’s Anatomy thing too, it was fun b/c we’d go to dinner before and then come back, watch it and then discuss what we thought was going to happen next week, haha! Since it was on Thursdays we’d usually go out afterward so it always made for a fun night. Glad to know that I got you hooked on knitting Fiona. Board games are so much fun, we always played Catch Phrase. It’s so much fun and we’d just sit around laughing at the funny stuff people would say. Intramurals are soooo fun too! Even if you’re not good at the sport you’re playing. I played volleyball intramurals and we were champions for 2 or 3 years in a row, haha! It was also a good way to meet the older and younger girls in my sorority.

Catchphrase is a must have. Play it before u go out with your friends at night- it’s a good little pre-party game.

Labor Day Weekend

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:09:20 +0000

School starts and literally a week or two later you already have a holiday! I remember enjoying my new found freedom those first few weeks and then suddenly Labor Day popped up and I didn’t really know what to do. There weren’t any classes or frat parties- talk about clueless. I’m not totally sure what I did, but I’ve made up for it over the past few years. My school has several lakes nearby, so for the past few years we’ve rented a boat for a few hours and went tubing and skiing. It’s so much fun and when there was a big group, it wasn’t too expensive. And afterwards we usually go back to someone’s house and grill out. It’s a nice finishing touch for a day on the lake.

Renting a boat is a great idea. I have never done that, but if you want to stay pretty local, do it. Labor Day Weekend really does creep up on you. Freshmen year I couldn’t believe how empty all the parking lots were on that simple 3-day weekend. Most of my friends went home, but like Rae said, after a couple years you realize it’s more fun to make a plan for that weekend. This year we’re all going to head to my friend’s ranch. It’s also a good opportunity to invite out-of-staters to stay with you in your home and get to know your family.

And invite in-staters too! School is 3 hrs away from home, so I only make it home a few times a semester. But I LOVE to go home with a friend! It’s so much fun to meet their fam, see their room and meet some of their high school friends. It’s also so relaxing to be in a home with a family even if it isn’t yours! Mammas always dote on college kids, even if you aren’t one of their own! You’re sure to get a delicious homemade meal and lots of hugs!

very true hollie! I love meeting my friends’ families. My parents love when I have my friends from college over to our house- they stock our fridge and pantry with all sorts of goodies! Too bad I don’t get the same treatment when it’s just me…haha

Those are both good ideas! I’ve never thought about it since I’m so close to home, but I do have friends that stay with other families for Labor Day and other holidays like Easter. And like you said Hollie, there’s definitely something to be said for being in a HOME with a FAMILY rather than hanging out in the dorm

Shopping for a Computer

admin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:05:57 +0000

When it’s time to buy a computer for college, get a laptop! One of my friends had a desktop and she couldn’t take it to the library which was a huge pain. I love having a laptop because you can take it to class and take notes on it and take it to the library, etc. I have a Mac Powerbook, which I don’t think they even make anymore, I think its equivalent now is the MacBook Pro. Since I’m studying advertising and I’m an art minor, it’s been really nice because I can work on design projects for home. Our journalism school recommends Macs, but plenty of people still have PCs. Check with your school to see if they have a preference. Macs are usually more expensive, (they start around $1,099) but I love it! The Apple store and Best Buy both sell them, so if you can’t decide between PC and Mac you can test them both out at Best Buy!

Mac is definitely the way to go. I got the Mac Powerbook 18″ so the screen is huge but it’s still portable. Your college will most likely have campus wide internet access, so its nice to have a laptop & be able to get online anytime anyplace. I started off as a graphic design major, so the big 18″ screen would really help bc u can have multiple windows open at the same time. Now I am in the business school & still an advocate of Mac. Although many business students still use PCs, many others r making the switch. My Mac has never had any huge problems, but if it ever does, u just call the apple store & they set u up w someone to speak w u personally & for free. I found a laptop case that fits my huge laptop from the Tumi luggage store.

Just make sure you do your research before you buy! Like Rae said, check w/ your school or talk to an older student who has gone through the same program you will. My big brother advised me to get a Dell b/c I was planning to be in the business school at Texas and a lot of their programs are not compatible w/ Macs. Although they’ve come up with Microsoft Word and Excel for Mac, the kids who have it are still having a lot more difficulty. But in fine arts involving music or design it’s the opposite – professors prefer the Mac. And make sure you carry your laptop to class for the first few weeks! I know its heavy but in some classes it’s crucial. Then you can decide which classes you need it for, and then which days you can just leave it at home!

Yea, most of my friends that are business majors have PCs and think Macs are stupid (they obviously haven’t used one) and most of my friends in the journalism school either have a Mac or wish they had one. I’ve also noticed when I go to the library that the Mac to PC ratio is about 50-50 now. And like Fiona said, the Apple people ( I think they’re called Geniuses, haha) are really good about helping you out. One time my roommate accidentally broke a key off and I took it in and they fixed instantly for no charge. Target also has cheap computer cases, but I usually just slide mine into my backpack when I take it to the library or home. Another computer must is a flash drive. You can store, save and transfer projects, papers, etc. to and from class. I’d take big projects to the library and print them up there- cheaper and easier. You can get those at the bookstore or any computer/electronic store.

Yes, get a Flash drive and save all your important documents on it. If u don’t your computer could break down & not recover them- and professors do not accept this excuse. I also suggest saving photos to it if u use a digital camera- bc u don’t wanna lose those memories!

Printers are important too… I have a few friends who just print everything out on campus (its only a few cents a page) but I love having a printer in my room. I’m always running late for class anyways, so having to make an extra stop to print off my paper on the way to class is awful! My roommate has a printer w/ a scanner on it which has come in really handy a few times. I’d definitely recommend one! I think you can get them at Best Buy, Office Depot, or just anywhere that you’d buy a computer.

A scanner is a great investment. I want to get one this year. Last year I was social chair for my sorority & always found it so much easier to scan; email contracts, etc instead of faxing hard copies.

Sharing a Bathroom

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:52:54 +0000

Community bathrooms are gross so don’t make the mistake I did and not wear shower shoes. I did that for the first day until someone else’s wad of hair got stuck in my toes… sorry for the disgustingness, but unfortunately it’s a true story. But anyway, don’t learn the hard way and just wear them from the start.

Sick, Rae!!! Freshman year our bathrooms were cleaned 4 times a day, but even then shower shoes are just nonnegotiable. I’m sure you can get some kind of fungus growth on your toes. But community bathrooms really aren’t that bad. Its kind of fun to not have to worry about keeping it clean. Plus you get to buy a fuzzy little towel wrap. My room mate and I got matching ones for gifts: they’re white w/ our names monogrammed at the corner and cute polka-dotted ribbon w/ a bow around the bottom. But there are all different kinds…you just want to make sure the Velcro is nice and strong! Another great thing for community shower is a little caddy for your shampoo, scrubbie, etc. Its nice to keep everything in one place so you can just grab it and run across the hall!
Rae: Yea yea, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no germ freak, but yea… I took it a little far and I’ll admit that was nasty. We got really cute towel wraps when we pledged that were hot pink and had our sorority letters on them. It definitely made it easier walking back from the bathroom because you’re trying to carry all your shower goodies and hold your towel up…yikes! Twisty towels for your hair are good too. I have two so I can let one dry and use one, way handy.

Just wear cheap flip flops. The ones I used for a while were complimentary, hotel flip flops. Also when u r making or getting a towel wrap, make sure it velcros well bc u don’t want that sucker fallin off in the hallway. Oh and I would suggest not sitting on the toilets; you better squat- if u don’t know how to already, start practicing. If u get stage fright like I do, get over it. Everybody poops.

Really?? I don’t squat and I never suffered from any creepy diseases. But the one thing I wouldn’t touch in the community bathroom was the bathtub… I never saw anyone get in it, probably b/c it looked like it came straight out of the dark ages.

Buying Your Textbooks

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:38:23 +0000

Buying textbooks for class always seems to be much more stressful that necessary. Freshman year I went to the school bookstore like 3 weeks before school started and bought all my books only to find that I didn’t need some of them once I started class. Now I wait till about a week or two into school and feel out the classes and see if I even need the book. I had one class that had 12 books on the list… I think I read 2 of them.. so yeah, wait it out. Plus you might realize the class is horrible and drop it after a week.

That advice couldn’t be more priceless (literally). Usually in the 1st class your teacher will tell u which books r mandatory. If u wait about a week or 2 u’ll really know which ones to purchase. Even when professors tell u to buy certain books, I’ve learned that often u wont even open them. Ask around & talk to students who have taken the same class & professor to see which books they actually used vs never opened. Even if u don’t touch ur book the entire semester, if u sell it back at the end of the yr u wont be reimbursed…the value always drops in time. Be aware that when u do sell back, sell as early as u can so u get more money.

I definitely agree on the whole waiting thing! You really don’t need books for the first few days of class anyway so its really no big deal. Also, don’t stress out about how expensive they are from the co-op or school store… you can return them at the end of the year and get some money back! Also try to figure out what info is important to your professor. Sometimes the test is on 98% lecture notes, so as long as you go to class you don’t have to read at all! Other times, if you have a bad/confusing teacher it’s so much easier to just read the text book by chapters as they go along.

Agreed, I hate reading textbooks so I rarely ever skip class, it’s just not worth it. Plus some teachers base part of your grade off attendance so if you’re on the edge of a A to B or B to C this could be helpful. If you’ve been to every class your teacher might bump you up to the better grade! Going to class makes studying easier too because you have all the notes already. The tests in most of my classes this past semester we’re based off lectures and nothing about the books. If you have trouble finding the book in the bookstore or it’s insanely expensive you can always look on Amazon.com and get it cheaper.

That is sooo true. I was taking a difficult accounting class pass/fail option & had a 65% at the end of the year, but since I had been to almost every class & showed the professor I was trying he pushed me up to a C, giving me a Pass in the class! It is so important to talk to ur teachers- they’re there to help & most want to be ur friend. I believe that professors almost always give u a higher grade than u earn simply by you showing them that you care & make an effort.

The Feared Freshman 15

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:36:41 +0000

The dreaded freshman 15, of course I had heard about it, and was determined to not become a victim. I played volleyball in high school pretty much year round so when I got to college and stopped exercising as much, partied and ate like I did in high school I soon found that I had gained some weight. So I started working out at least 3 times a week doing cardio and weights and walking or biking to class. I also realized that I didn’t need to eat as much as I did when I was playing sports because I wasn’t that hungry anymore. Adjusting was kinda hard at first, but now it’s just routine. My biggest weakness… candy, skittles in particular.

Ha, 15. Try 25, at least. And the saddest part is, u won’t even realize it til u go home & your mom takes the bread bowl away from u. Or until u compare high school pictures w college ones. I played sports throughout high school as well & when I was not working out every day & also eating just as much plus drinking way more booze…BAM, I was bigger. I didn’t really do any adjusting until the summer after freshman year when I went off to be a camp counselor… where we only ate 3 meals, no snacks, & were chasing little kids around all day. I think the main reason freshmen gain weight is that they stay up so late- studying or partying- u get hungry, or at least u think ur hungry. My main motivation was going to the rec center to watch the cute boys play basketball while I jogged above where they couldn’t see me. STAY AWAY from Whataburger. I swear I blame half my pounds on their stupid honey-butter-nugget chicken biscuits. If u must eat late night wait til u get home & have carrots or something healthy in ur fridge. Also- if u must drink, don’t drink beer. Vodka Sodas r probly the least calories & if u squeeze a bunch of limes in there u can barely taste it.

I know what you mean about the bread basket! My mom did the same thing to me with tortilla chips and salsa. And honey-butter-chicken biscuits are AMAZING! I hate it that they don’t serve them at night til 11:00! The weight thing is tricky. I stopped playing sports junior year of high school, so I got into my own work-out routine before college… But staying in shape is just harder in college! Having a different class schedule every day makes it hard to get into a regular routine – I found its best to just stop at the gym right after my last class, so I don’t even have to think about it! And don’t stress about hopping on a scale every day to weigh yourself…you might gain a few pounds, but as long as your clothes still fit okay you’re fine! You’ll lose it eventually!

Yea, like you said, once you get back into a more normal routine, like sleeping enough, eating better, not drinking as much, etc. You lose weight. But to help with the effects that college takes on your body I keep fruit, yogurt and granola around the apartment b/c they fill me up and aren’t bad for you. And whether you realize it or not, walking and biking to and from campus and classes is exercise, not like serious cardio or anything, but definitely better than driving. And if your campus is big or just inaccessible with a car because of horrible parking (aka: my school) biking is fast and there’s always a bike rack spot available! Wow.. I’m a nerd.

and if ur really cool you’ll get a sweet bike with a wicker basket like Rae’s…but yes definitely walk everywhere it gets ur blood pumpin. And don’t go buy pints of blue bell & down them in one sitting…not that I did…or do….

I’d have to argue for Ben and Jerry’s…Phish Food or Half Baked! But I definitely agree about the walking to class thing! I’ve had a bike at college for two years, but have never gotten on it b/c the first two days of school I fell off of a treadmill (twice) and fell down a flight of stairs – I decided that I’m too accident prone to handle a two-wheeler around pedestrians. But I’ve grown to love walking the twenty or thirty minutes to class. It’s a perfect time to call the mamma and its good exercise!

I always call my mom on my way to class! Haha, it’s like the perfect amount of time, cuz sometimes my mom talks too much and I can just be like, OH gotta go to class! I can’t believe you fell off the treadmill!! I love riding my bike, sometimes it can be difficult if there are a lot of people on campus so I usually leave a few minutes early as to avoid running people over. Now I have a route that is people free.

Sick of Mac & Cheese

admin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:48:59 +0000

I love to eat, I mean I guess everyone does, but after a year of dorm/cafeteria food I started cooking because I got so sick of freaking lean cuisines, ramen and easy mac I started looking for different things. We had a microwave and mini frig/freezer in our room so I started buying different frozen things like Stouffer’s lasagna or spaghetti and meat sauce and also Amy’s burritos. Both had more flavor than other stuff, but mostly it was just something new. Now I’m in an apartment and cook all the time. If you have a kitchen but still don’t like to cook too much, Bertolli makes these great frozen pasta dishes. They come in a bag and you put it in a pot for like 10 minutes and voila! You have a fancy dinner for two with hardly any trouble.

I felt the same exact way- campus food was rank. I did the whole frozen dinners too but actually got sick of those too. Except I don’t think I could ever get sick of easy mac. I finally started cooking this year- Rice a Roni is amazing. It’s so easy to make & it comes in like 10 different flavors. Also Egg Beaters are awesome (& u can get egg whites only if ur health conscious)- they come in a little carton so all u have to do is pour them in a pan on the stove. I like to heat up a Mission tortilla w it & add a little cheese & salsa. As far as drinks go, Crystal Light is great to put in ur water!

Fiona we should be co-chefs…breakfast tacos are my favorite college meal! I eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even big snacks. They’re great b/c it only takes 5 minutes to scramble the eggs and heat up a tortilla. Eggs are great protein too! I also add fresh tomatoes, red onion, and sometimes cilantro, and I’ll also heat up a can of black beans to have w/ it for something more substantial. I also often whipped up a soup (tomato or something from a can) and sandwich (grilled cheese is great)! This last year I lived in an apartment with four other girls and we would have roommate dinners - one of our favs was taco soup. We bought it at the grocery store w/ all the ingredients and condiments (cilantro, cheese, etc.) already assembled in a little container. Then we just dumped it in a pot, added the chicken broth, and had a mom-tasting meal that was quick and easy!

umm yea, I eat breakfast tacos at least 4 times a week, but I’ll only eat them with salsa, I think food is just better when it’s spicy, maybe it’s the texan in me. That taco soup sounds awesome, who makes it? I like the one pot meal idea because I do love to cook, but cleaning.. yea, not really my thing. I have this awesome nonstick skillet from Calphalon that works wonders. You can get them on Amazon cheap too- retail price is much higher!

Crystal light is easy and so is Foldger’s instant coffee bags that you make in the microwave—so easy and nothing to clean up. (plus I was to cheap to just buy and actual coffee maker)

Haha I was too cheap for the coffee maker too, but I think the instant is just as good! As far as snacks go… almonds & granola have become my best friends. I always have bags of them from Central Market. They’re reasonably healthy & filling. Make sure u remember tub-a-ware so that u can save leftovers!

Tub-a-ware? Tupperware. But that’s a great idea! Even freshman year when I didn’t have a kitchen in my dorm room, just a mini fridge, Tupperware containers were crucial for storing yummy leftovers from restaurants!

Yes! And sometimes I make big batches of pasta sauce or soups and I put them in Tupperware that is meal sized so I just pop it in the microwave or a pot and BAM- home cooked meal!! If you actually like cooking, foodnetwork.com has this thing called My Recipe Box and you can add recipes and it saves them online. Then they’re always there and you don’t have to worry about digging them up. They have tons of fast recipes that are easy to make even in college. There’s a book called Eat This Not That by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding- it has a ton of different restaurants, mostly chains and even fast food and it tells you what is the better thing to eat. It also has info about what juices are better to get at the grocery to which beer is better to get at the bar! Very helpful and it’s only about $14 on Barnes&Noble.com. There’s also a book called The Diet for Teenagers Only by Carrie Wiatt and Barbara Shroeder, also at B&N and it has tips about what groceries to buy, what to eat, exercise plans etc.

I know I’m going to get a lot of grief for this b/c Fiona laughs at my vitamins, but I LOVE Juice Plus. It sounds like a mom thing, but seriously, its so hard to get fruits and vegetables in college! Especially if you’re doing your own shopping… But taking the JP gives you nutrients from 17 fruits and veggies in one little pill and it gives you great energy if you take it in the morning! So there’s my soapbox, but trust me, its great!