An Odd on, and related to "keeper of Intel" (a VERY good idea btw) - a Good habit to get into is keeping a log (Journal). Probably easier to start at school than later.

I'm NOT talking about feelings (although you can put them in if you want) - go to the book store, and get a Lab Notebook type journal - numbered pages, BOUND. Then keep notes "If it's not written down, it didn't happen" - Keep it in INK, and fill the pages - NEVER erase, (single strike through so folks can read it is OK) - Date every page, etc

You'll be surprised how it helps. 6 months later (or even years) you can get a piece of info that you are looking for. PLUS, if you ever end up in court, if you do it religiously, the logs can actually become legal evidence

None of the gear that I brought with me to school could've prepared me for the hell that I experienced living with my college roommate. (Imagine some of that nice gear getting stolen by other students because roommate was negligent with it, for example.) The key to my college survival? My senior year, I got super-lucky on the housing lottery and begged my parents to let me get a room of my own. If I were you, I'd set aside a little money now, and start saving, because single rooms usually cost a bit more.

Okay, I'll bite and I'll go first. I'm 44. I graduated high school in 1979, college in 1983, and graduate school in 1989. Most of the time I can get away with thinking I'm still 24 -- until I try to read something! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I am so old I went to school with Yoda.

Hi, Paul. I'm "upgrading" my degree right now, and I work for the school, so I've been living in the dorm for a year tommorrow. Here's what I recommend, leaving out the snivvel gear (like a television) or stuff for class:

(ok, I edited this after the outage was over and had some time to think)

A couple of packs. Easier to preload them, and switch as the day goes along. Get something like a SOBrand Pack-rat to keep things like your calculator and your date book and the like in, swap it between packs as needed. This will save you a lot of time, and lets you switch between several smaller packs rather than humping one big monster all day. This is survival gear- it helps your back and knees survive. You might not think of it now, but...

Flashlights, get a couple. At least one BRIGHT one. Spare batteries.

Earplugs, good ones.

Keep six days or more of shelf stable food on hand, and at least two days of water. Being a good ETSer, you'll have three days of food and two of water anyway, but you will give into the urge and raid the pantry when you've eaten pizza or burgers every meal accept breakfast for a week.

Wash your issued garbage can with a bleach mix, then double line it. If you need to use it to hold water, you can trust it now.

Make sure you map out at least four routes home, including one on foot, and keep those maps on hand.

Bring your boots and field clothes. Have them on hand in your closet or trunk.

Duct tape, don't use it unless you need to. The yellow tacky stuff if for the walls, this is for emergencies. Grab zip ties to.


Things for class that are can't live withouts for me:
One or more thumbdrives (I have one around my neck, one more in my Pack-Rat.), good calculator, clipboards, tums, pepto, immodium, water bottles, hot pot. Use pencil- it doesn't fade, stick or run like ink will. Get good paper, the super-cheap stuff sucks when you need to go looking for something three years down the road. Plenty of socks, change them at lunch and you will feel better. At least one spare set of sheets- clean ones are good for your morale. A pocket ref, and a pocket pc ref if you are computer oriented in your major, or the pocket handyman if you are mechanical or civil enginnering oriented. A dictionary, a GOOD one. Milk crates.

Headphones for your computer. A battery back up that you've tested on your computer- do a dry run, KNOW exactly how long you have if you loose power with a full load of applications and goodies. Anti-virus, and firewall (zone alarm is free, and good enough for this computer geek). Plenty of blank CDs. Keep a spare mouse and keyboard at home- if you can afford it, a cheap CRT as well, so you just have to schlep your box. Back up everything to at least two places, and to hardcopy.

And a good roomate. If you don't have one of those, a foot locker and good locks.

For your car, tune up this week- oil, radiator fluid, oil and air filters, etc. Keep a decent tool kit in you car if you know how to use it. Have the Hayes book for your car in that tool kit. If it is going to be super cold where you are, a piece of two-ply currogated big enough to put under your battery, so you can pull it when it get's below -20.

Get yourself an ammo can, two bricks, a roll of aluminum foil and some fine chicken wire. Add some charcoal, and you've got a grill. Keep it in your trunk, don't flash it about. It lets you cook some real food when the dining hall really, really sucks (it will just suck most of the time).

Hobby. You need a hobby, it is the ONLY thing that will keep you sane. Make time for yourself every day. Eat right, exercise. Make sure you brush your teeth- it will go a long way to keeping you in good mental shape. Vitimin supplements will be useful. Caffeine is not your friend, it is a tool in the same class as fire. Sleep is your friend. Spend a lot of time with it.

Great advice, one that I don't always think about. Network like mad.

I might have missed it but....What's your major?

I went to Hocking College School of Natural Resouces in Nelsonville, Ohio. Every Spring, and sometimes fall, it flooded. 1 way in and 1 way out. Most of my classes (Ranger Services) were outside rain, shine, or snow. Knowing how to get around (map) at flood time and having appropriate gear for the weather was priority.

Having a car is nice. My car was heavily used. charging for gas to transport someone is not out of the question, expecially with todays gas prices <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Have something to lock up valuables. Laptop being one, if you have one. The roommate, & his/her freinds will use your funiture, ie. chairs & desks, when over. Stuff being picked up without notice is easy. And if you don't want it messed with it won't be.

My roommate was never around. He had 2 D-cell Mag lights on his desk of different colors. I always switched the parts around. When he showed up he changed them back. I always knew when he was there then.

Psyc major, CJ minor. I'm probibly in way over my head. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Beware that many schools have rediculously anal policies about pocketknives. I've gottten in trouble for having a leatherman, which was confiscated(but thankfully I recovered) from the campus gestapo. Often people get busted for other things, like alcohol, and then get busted for something unrelated like having a pocketknife, especially if their rooms are searched. I'm not saying don't bring a knife, I'm saying be very discreet with it. By the way never keep a fake ID in your wallet, I know many, many people have been busted when they tried to get their real ID and the cops glimpsed the other one. Also FYI, you usually don't have to consent to a search.

Speaking of alcohol, don't be an idiot and drink too much, I've taken more students to the hospital for alcohol poisoning than anything else(I volunteered as an EMT on my campus). When you do drink, drink even more water. Don't join a frat if you have any dignity. And if beer is really hard to get(it won't be), and you have time for a hobby, and access to good stove, consider homebrewing. It's more expensive initially, but you'll make great beer, although you probably won't appreciate good beer until your a senior, if ever.

On to things to bring....
A bike, especially if you live off campus, but get a very good lock if not 2. Many people don't realize how easy it is to bike to campus, even if there are highways or traffic heavy roads in between. I can bike to campus faster than I can drive, and it's a great way to make up for a lack of excercise I sometimes have.

If you want to eat healthy and not the equivalent of fast food for 4 years straight, a fridge, some cooking equipment, and a simple cookbook. Don't rent a fridge if the school offers it, it's much cheaper in the long run to buy one, and it will be much better anyway. Just make sure it can fit in your car with the rest of your stuff, or you'll end up selling it at the end of the year. Make sure it has a descent freezer.

If you don't have access to a good kitchen, you can make do with a toaster oven, microwave, rice cooker, hot plate, etc. Most colleges ban devices with open heating elements, which includes hot plates and possibly toaster ovens. You can still bring them, if you don't draw too much attention your RA probably won't care. Either way, be very careful and never leave the device unatttended.

Try not to eat only highly processed food like mac&cheese, ramen noodles, and canned soups. You will destroy your health. Dining hall food is almost as bad. Try some fresh fruit, sandwiches, cereal, rice, or some real pasta. Canned beans and vegetables are less nutritious, but still a good option. Clif bars are great to have, for eating in class if you skip breakfast or as an energy boost between meals. Unlike most food in bar form, Clif bars are actually healthy, good tasting, and well balanced. I buy them by the box. Preparing healthy food in your dorm can be a challenge, especially if you don't have access to a kitchen, but it's not impossible.

A water filter pitcher, the bigger the better. You should always have plenty of water available, and there's not sink in your room. You don't have to keep it in your fridge. If the tap is fine, you could just use a large plastic container.

A good first aid kit is must, as are medicines for colds and such. Campus healh services usually has long waits and limited hours.

A computer is increadibly useful, for research, communication, and of course typing papers. But beware that you can waste a huge amount of your time in front of your computer.

shower shoes, definitely.

Lots of boxers and socks. But don't bring too many clothes, you won't wear half them.
Lots of patience for your roomate. It usually takes effort, on both sides, to get along. Good communication is essential. iIf they're doing something that really bothers you, let them know(in a respectful way), and make it clear that if you're doing something to bother him, he should do the same. Otherwise deep resentments will build up and you'll hate each other. But don't just complain, offer comporomises or alternatives. Also don't complain about minor things, you have to let the small stuff go. But don't let yourself be pushed around, or you'll be miserable. In any case, if you have roomate problems, you may be spending too much time in your room. Don't count on your RA for anything, in my experience their useless.

Speaking of your roomate, be sure to contact him before arriving on campus, if possible. It will help you coordinate which appliances to bring, so you don't have 2 of everything and no room. It wouldn't hurt to get to know him a bit, so it's less of a shock when you meet. Simple things like where he's from, what kind of music he likes, and his sleep habits will help you know what to expect.


FYI, you can get all the furniture, carpeting, notebooks, lamps, and almost any other dorm 'essentials' by dumpster diving or checking the halls and garbage rooms at the end of the year, from all the students who didn't plan ahead and have no room for the crap they bought. At least this is the case at my school, which is full of spoiled, wasteful, Long Island kids, and there is not good system to donate or recycle the stuff.

I guess this was more advice than a list, but I hope it helps.

Definitely agree on both the hobby & sleep. A good night's sleep before exams will beat cramming. If you dont know the material already, there is only so much you can cram in a night or two. I'd make the hobby something that has absolutely nothing to do with school topics unless it's something you already do for fun.

Get a GOOD set of running shoes if you don't already have some (I'd recommend Brooks or New Balance). If your feet hurt everything hurts. You will be able to feel the difference after several trips across campus in one day.