Adulting

just a girl gettin ready for college

[mushroom-warlord]

college packing list

from august of last year to this past friday, i lived in two different dorms and i’ll be moving into my first apartment ten days from now. i know moving can be really stressful, especially if you aren’t sure what to bring!! here’s what i would pack if i had to do it over again, i’ll add extras for comfort at the bottom!

bedding:

mattress topper

fitted sheet

flat sheet

blanket

comforter/duvet

sleeping pillow

bathroom:

shower caddy

shower shoes

shampoo

conditioner

soap

toothbrush/toothpaste

skincare products

makeup (if you wear it)

makeup mirror

haircare products

hairdryer (if you use it)

razors (if you shave)

q-tips

towels

robe (if you like)

toilet paper (if you like)

school supplies:

laptop/tablet

charger

phone charger

surge protector

extension cord (if you need it)

pens/pencils (not all professors allow laptops in their classes)

binders/folders

post it notes

planner

room essentials:

laundry hamper/cart

laundry soap/dryer sheets

ottoman storage cube

foldable storage cubes

HANGERS

trash can/trash bags

mini-fridge

coffeemaker

desk lamp

a couple mugs

a measuring cup

extras:

extra pillows/blankets

area rug

shoe rack

pictures of friends/family

calendar

dry erase board

wrapping paper (one of my rooms had a built-in bulletin board so my mom and i covered it with wrapping paper)

pushpins

tv

printer (depends on the person, but i’m glad i bought mine!)

printer paper/ink

paper plates/napkins

plastic silverware/cups

ID holder

card games/game consoles

camera

art/pictures/posters for your walls

string lights

an extra chair (if you want)

seat cover (for your desk chair)

COMMAND STRIPS (be careful with removing them!!)

feel free to add on to this!

[tiny-personal-university-thing]

Nighttime Checklist on a School Night

Alarms set for the morning (triple check)

Go over what’s written in your planner and see what’s marked down for the next day/what you need to do

Back pack ready to go with all materials

Clothes laid out (if you want to be really proactive)

Laptop/phone is charging

Face washed

Medication taken (if applicable)

Coffee/tea ready to brew (if needed)

Water bottle filled and ready to go (stay hydrated)

[college-survival-tips-and-a-blog]

What to Keep in Your Backpack

Laptop–even if you won’t have a class that requires it that day, you never know if someone wants to have an impromptu study session after classes or you want to work on homework between classes.

Your preferred method of note taking, whether it’s a laptop, loose leaf paper, or notebooks. Personally, I like taking notes in cheap notebooks and then either rewriting them on loose leaf or typing them out in a Google Doc. Find what works best for you and stick with it.

Medicine–it’s important to always carry common OTC drugs in your bag. I always carry Tylenol, Advil, Claritin, Gas-x, Midol, and Benadryl in my bag. If you have a medicine that requires you to take it during the day, bring it with you. Don’t forget an inhaler if you have asthma either.

For those who menstruate or friends of those who menstruate, Pads/Tampons and Panty Liners. College is stressful, so there is a high chance someone (yourself or someone around you) will start earlier than expected.

Pencil Pouch filled with necessities: including pens, pencils, lead, calculator, iClicker, highlighters, mini stapler, white out, and erasers. Keep some cheap pens and pencils on you to hand out. People forget to bring these, especially if there’s a quiz and they normally take notes via laptop. Also, it’s really easy to lose things in college.

Water Bottle–go buy yourself a reusable water bottle to carry around all day. And make sure to DRINK out of it. Personally, I’m very picky about how water tastes. I have a liter water bottle with a filter. The only downside is that it is loud when you take a drink from it, but very worth it.

Personal Hygiene Care: this includes deodorant (I can’t even tell you how many times I forgot to put on deodorant before I left my dorm), body spray/perfume (try not to bring a floral or strong scent–you never know what kind of allergies the people around you have. Fruity scents or vanilla scents is always a safe bet), hairbrush, lotion (I personally keep a bottle of stress relief lotion from Bath and Body Works with me), Germ-x, lip balm.

Umbrella–It always sucks to be caught in the rain. Make sure it’s in a place that’s easily reached, but won’t fall out without you noticing.

Chargers–phone charger, laptop charger, etc. Bring a portable charger as well, since you never know how many outlets will be available (if any).

Planner–this is very, very, very, very, VERY important. Even if you never used a planner in high school, you will need a planner in college. Deadlines change often, and professors don’t always update the syllabus online. Exam dates can also sneak up on you, so it’s best to know when to start studying.

Kleenexes–this is especially important to keep during flu and cold season. I kept the little travel packs in my bag, but when I was feeling awful, I just brought a whole box with me (it’s college, no one will judge–in fact, many people thought I was a genius for bringing the box with me).

Each person will have different things in their backpack, depending on what they find important. This isn’t a complete list, just more of a guideline and advice for some basic things to keep in your bag at all times. You might keep all of this in your backpack, or you may not even keep half of it.

If you have any questions or would like to suggest a topic to write about, my ask box is open!

[businessinsider]

Infographic: 7 Reasons This Is An Excellent Resume For Someone With No Experience

[collegerefs]

DORM SHOPPING: SEVEN THINGS YOU DON’T REALLY NEED VS. FIVE THINGS YOU REALLY NEED TO INVEST IN THIS FALL

This fall many of you will be moving into a dorm for the first time and the whole shopping process can be very overwhelming. Many stores will have ‘dorm checklists’ that will list a hundred things that they claim you “need,” but in reality, they’re just trying to get you to buy things. I’m here to tell you what you actually should invest in, and what you can pass on. 

[collegerefs]

WHAT YOU REALLY DON’T NEED

Beanbags/other floor chairs: They look great in college catalogs, but in reality, you never use it and it takes up space. You’ll end up sitting on your bed, anyway.

Ottoman: Like, what? Why would you EVER need that? If you wouldn’t buy it for your own bedroom, why on earth would you buy it for your dorm?

Decorative pillows: Honestly, these end up under your bed almost immediately, and you won’t see them again until you move out. Don’t waste money on something that won’t be used. 

A drying rack: I guess this one really depends on your lifestyle, but I bought one for $15 and only used it once. It just ended up wasting space. College will make you so lazy when it comes to laundry that you probably won’t use it either. 

“Shower shoes”: Let me clarify: you DO need shower shoes, but you don’t need the $15 ones with holes in the bottoms that places like target and walmart will try to sell you. You can just buy a regular pair of flip flops for $1. 

Too much storage: Stores are going to try to convince you that you need 3 totes, 2 things of drawers and stackable shelves for your dorm. Don’t fall for it and go overboard. If you don’t need it to pack, you don’t need it for your dorm. The underside of my roommate’s bed was COMPLETELY filled with storage, and half of the bins and drawers didn’t even have anything in them. 

A fancy alarm clock: You’re going to use your phone as an alarm, be real with yourself. 

WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO INVEST IN

A box fan: If you’re lucky enough to have air conditioning in your dorm, it’s not going to work perfectly. If you don’t have air conditioning, you DEFINITELY need a boxfan to stick in your window to cool off your room in the summer. My air conditioning stopped working pretty frequently, so this is an important investment. 

A GOOD laundry bag/hamper: When I was dorm shopping, I tried to spend as little as possible, so I cheaped out and bought a $2 laundry bag. Long story short, the thing completely fell apart at the most inconvenient time and I ended up having to order another one on amazon. Invest in a high quality laundry bag or hamper so you don’t end up having to buy another.

A GOOD mattress pad: Dorm beds are the least comfortable things on earth, and you really need a good night’s rest during college. Invest in a good pad that won’t fall apart and will last you during your entire time that you stay in a dorm. 

Floor lamp: You can get a nice floor lamp at target for $10-$20 in the fall and I highly recommend picking one up. Dorms don’t have enough light, and a floor lamp will light up the entire room. 

A full-length mirror: Once again, you can pick these up at target for about $10 when back to school sales start. This is something most people don’t think about, but really regret not bringing. I can’t tell you how many times my roommate needed to use my mirror. 

[ohyeahcollegeadvice]

College Advice #42: Time Management

Time management is literally THE MOST IMPORTANT THING you can learn to do in college. The way you manage your time determines how you do in your classes and how you keep up a happy social life. Here are my tips for balancing school and fun:

GET AN AGENDA/PLANNER/CALENDAR/ETC. I don’t care if you were very organized in high & didn’t need one. You will need one in college no matter who you are. Write everything down when homework/exams are due, when your meetings are, when practice/workout is, etc. (Color code it, plan out your day hour by hour, whatever gets you organized).

Know your priorities in college and what order they come in. I would hope that your school work/studies would come first, but you need to decide what comes next. Whether it’s your religious life, greek life, or social life. Organize things priority-wise to keep your head in the game.

You want to start on your homework when you get back from class. Try to get as much of it done before dinner because in college a lot of the fun stuff, parties, and activities happen. You don’t wanna miss out on the fun college nights because you haven’t done your homework yet! Get it done earlier and you’ll be glad you did.

Start studying for exams/quizzes one to two days BEFORE the exam/quiz. High was different. College involves REAL studying and really knowing your material so get a head start.

Keep track of your grades in your classes. All colleges are different. Some give grades, some will let you ask your professor for your prgress, & some will have you search online for how you are doing. Make sure you don’t figure out halfway through the semester that you are failing a class!

Don’t wear yourself out! Don’t overcommit yourself by signing up for too much or promising to much of your time to others. Know your limit and don’t stretch it. Do what you need to do and what you like to do, everything else can wait. Don’t be afraid to say no because you are overwhelmed.

If you ever do get too overwhelmed or overcommited, don’t be afraid to go to someone for help. Maybe you need to take less hours. Maybe you need to drop a club. Maybe you need a tutor. Maybe you need to get better organized. Seek someone out on your campus who can help you.

Do something spontaneous instead of studying/doing your homework!! Know that it’s not the end of the world if you skip a day of class because you and your roommate decided to make a last minute roadtrip to see a concert you just couldn’t bare to miss. College is about making memeories on top of getting a better education. Do something unexpected!

[ohyeahcollegeadvice]

College Advice (Reblog) #4: What To Take To College

Probably the biggest mistake I made freshman year was I brought WAY TOO much stuff when I moved in. I really didn’t know what to buy/pack and I felt like I had to keep everything that I brought with me because in my head I swore I would use it eventually. Luckily, I did end up in a three person room with just me and my one roommate so there was room, but a lot of my stuff went unused. So here are some tips so you don’t make the same mistake as me:

Start out by walking around your room, bathroom, & kitchen and jot down things you are SURE you will need in your dorm as well. Pay attention to things you use daily or things you know you can’t go without.

Next make sure you google a list of things to bring to college OR there may be one on your college’s website you can look at. These lists will help you with things you would never think to bring with you. [ http://www.collegeboard.com/parents/apply/college-applications/21381.html OR http://www.mydormsupplies.com/college_checklist.html are good lists]

Think logically about things before you buy them. If you don’t iron any of your clothes at home or don’t blowdry your hair at home, you DON’T need an iron or hairdryer in college.

Take a few of those special things that will make it feel like home. Whether it’s posters, photos, a piece of artwork, your favorite book series, your CD collection, or a childhood stuffed animal. Don’t leave those behind if you want to feel comfortable in your new “room”, but don’t clutter your room with a bunch of those items.

Make sure you find out what your college does NOT allow in their dorm rooms. A lot of schools do not allow things like coffee makers, toasters, etc. Check on that before you buy something that you can’t even have.

You will need A LOT of power strips and extension cords, trust me. These are essential to plugging in everything you will need!

There will always be a store on or right off campus that you can buy last minute things at. DO NOT STRESS if you forget something important! Go out with your parents on move-in day and get those last minute things you forgot or things you didn’t realize you would need.

Start printing or making checklists, shopping, sorting things out, and packing things up as EARLY as possible. You don’t want to be overwhelmed right before move in day.

Get on your schools forum or ask friends of yours who have recently been in college & see what they took with them, what they really needed, & what they didn’t need.

[justcolledgethings]

How to Get into College Classes that are Already Full

So one big thing i’ve learned while in college is if you realy want something, there’s definitely a way to get it. Just because people say you can’t doesn’t mean it’s true.

so for example, when i was registering for my fall semester classes i wasn’t able to get into this class i desperately needed to take. at my school everyone’s given a date and a time to register and that’s based on seniority and bc that class is a major requirement and only one prof teachers it, it filled up like that. and ofc it was just one of those things where i have to take the class at a certain time or else it’ll fuck up when i can take all my other classes and i’d be a semester behind. and that’s a huge ass thing because i can’t just stay in school and pay for an extra semester bc a class filled up before i could even register.

So i was like really fucking pissed bc not only was this a class i needed but it was also one i was dying to take bc i would finally have some on hands experience in my major and that’s what i’ve been waiting for. AND one of my previous profs offered me a job to help her out when i’m a junior but i first i needto take this one class so i would know how to help her or else i would have to turn it down, and uh fuq no, jobs are hARD TO COME BY

But anyWAYS, i happen to be a very stubborn soul and don’t like when life fucks my shit up so instead of just accepting that the class was full and that i’d be pushed back a semester and have to turn down my job offer i emailed the professor and basically laid my case out and was like “PLEASE DUDE PUT ME IN THE CLASS” and it fucking worked. the guy said something along the lines of liking how dedicated and determined i was so he overrode the system and manually added me into the class.

and it’s kinda funny bc when you go to see how many spots are open in the class it’ll say maximum: 15, enrolled: 16 and every time i see it i feel a little spark of pride

so yeah legit if you want something find a way. if you’re able to show someone how much you care, they’ll probably listen to your case.

i think i’m gonna post a sample version of the email i sent him. i had literally never felt more grateful then when he emailed me back and said he would put me in the class. i was legit at work at the time and fucking screamed and my coworkers were all like “yo, you good?”

so hopefully this’ll help someone. but legit i like do this all the time. i’ve gotten into 3 classes this way.

[justcolledgethings]

so here’s a sample email. in this one i mentioned something personal and specific to that one course. when doing this i think it’s very important to cater the email to the course.

It’ll show the prof you care and know what the course it about.

also it’s important to give the email personality bc they don’t know you and you want them to have a good first impression of you.

i added “alas it filled up so quickly” to kinda lighten the mood and make my email sound less robotical.

it’s kinda hard to find the perfect email formula, and this one is far from perfect. but as long as your sincere you should be fine

[preparingforcollegeblog]

Packing Tips!

Packing, packing, packing!

Packing is only as stressful as you make it! If you begin packing well enough in advance, there’s a strong possibility that you’re not going to forget anything. School starts in a little less than a month, so if you haven’t started packing already, it’s time to start! I have some packing tips to help make packing and moving your stuff a whole lot easier.

Put your pillows in your shams and pillow cases before you leave home!

If you have a shower caddy, put your shower items in it!

Use your under-bed storage boxes to transport stuff to your dorm!

Utilize laundry baskets/hampers to hold items.

Pre-wash and dry your towels before you leave home!

Use your backpack to store and transport school supplies!

Leave items with small parts in their original packaging (and save the packaging for when you move out!)

Pack everything into one vehicle, if it doesn’t all fit, you’re going to have the same problem moving out at the end of the semester/year. 

Universities will have carts to help people transport items from their vehicles to their dorm rooms. Athletes will sometimes help people carry items to their room, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Also, there will be large numbers of people trying to move items from their cars to the dorm halls so be patient if you have to wait 10 or 15 minutes for an elevator. Remember: every freshman at the school will be moving in on the same day, unless they have made special arrangements with the school.

[preparingforcollegeblog]

Complete College Checklist for Fall 2019.

Fall 2019 Complete College Checklist

College starts in a little over a month, and I decided to edit this compiled list of everything you should consider bringing to college. Feel free to print this out and use it for your college shopping trip! 

Reblog this to help others who are struggling with their college packing/ moving checklist!

Bed:

Bed sheets [usually a Twin XL] (try to get 2 sets)

Bed [Back] Rest Pillow 

Blankets

Body Pillow

Comforter

Lap Desk/Tray

Mattress Foam Topper

Mattress Pad

Mattress Protector

Pillowcases

Pillows (2-3)

Shams

Bathroom:

Cup for toothbrush

Paper towels

Shower curtain

Shower curtain hooks

Shower curtain liner

Shower organizer (or shower caddy)

Trashcan

Toilet Paper

Towels (5-7 recommended)

Towel rack (over the door)

Washcloths

Wet wipes

Room:

Command Hooks

Curtains

Desk lamp

Extension Cord* (optional) 

Microwave* (optional)

Mini-fridge* (optional)

Rug

Storage Ottoman

Surge protector

Toaster* (optional)

Trash can

Medical:

Advil/Aleve/Tylenol/Aspirin 

Allergy medication

Band aids

Cough drops/syrup

Cotton balls/rounds

Hydrogen Peroxide

Neosporin or other ointment

Pepto bismol

Rubbing alcohol

Laundry:

Delicates bag

Dryer Sheets

Hangers (thin hangers)

Laundry hamper

Tide Pods/Laundry Detergent

Toiletries/Personal:

Brush/Comb

Conditioner

Deodorant

Feminine Hygiene products

Floss

Lotion

Makeup

Makeup organizer/storage 

Mouthwash

Razors

Shampoo

Shaving Cream

Sunscreen

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Tweezers

Q-Tips

Clothing:

Bras

Cardigans

Dresses (for a banquet, sorority rush, and going out)

Jackets

Jeans

Leggings or yoga pants

Pajamas (are a MUST)

Panties

Pants (dress pants)

Purse

Robe (a MUST)

Shirts (20-25)

Shoes (1-5)

Shorts

Slippers

Socks (24 pairs)

Sweaters

Workout clothes

School Supplies:

Backpack

Binder

Crayons

Cup for pencils

Erasers

Folders

Folder/Letter Holder

Glue

Highlighters

Index cards

Index card holder

Markers

Mechanical pencils

Notebooks (8-10, depending on class load)

[College ruled] paper

Pens

Post-it Notes

Post-it Note Holder

Ruler

Scissors

Staples & Stapler

Tape & tape dispenser

Cleaning Supplies:

Air Freshener

Broom & dustpan

Clorox Wipes

Gloves

Mop & bucket

Swiffer Sweeper* (optional)

Tiny Trash Bags (or grocery store bags)

Toilet Bowl Brush

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Other:

Alarm Clock

Car phone charger

Computer mouse

Flash Drive/USB/External hard drive

Headphones

Laptop

Laptop Charger

Phone

Phone Charger

Portable phone charger

Tablet

Extra items:

Keurig

Plates

Bowls

Silver/plastic ware (Forks, Spoons, Knives)

Cups 

Items marked with (*) are optional and may have rules surrounding them, minifridge, toaster, and microwave policies should be cleared with university housing before deciding to purchase or bring your own. Some universities require them to be under a certain size. Other universities allow only a microwave and a minifridge that are connected (from a rental company) if you want both. Most universities do not allow extension cords due to them being a fire hazard. Again, please check with your university’s housing department. 

If you are going to have a roommate, divide some of the cleaning supplies and bathroom items amongst each other (to avoid having multiple shower curtains/towel racks/mops etc…) This would also be a good time to determine a color scheme or theme for your room if you’re interested in that. 

Please link others to this checklist to help others out!