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5 Ways to Go Green When Packing for College

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Getting ready to go off to college is one of the most exciting rites of passage in a young person’s life. College is the beginning of your independence, when choices and actions become sole responsibility of you. To start off your college career and life of independence on a green note, consider these tips for going green when packing for college.

Chemical-Free Cleaning Supplies
Of course you will want to keep your dorm room or apartment clean. Cleaning supplies can be very expensive, and they contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment and harmful to your health. Allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions can be made worse by the chemicals in cleaning solutions. To avoid polluting water sources and keep your surroundings sparkling clean at the same time, consider homemade cleaning supplies, which are much cheaper than and just as effective as the expensive, ready-made kind. Instead of a variety of cleaning supplies, pack a gallon of vinegar and a box of baking soda and a couple of empty spray bottles and use these recipes for making your own cleaning solutions.

All-Purpose Cleaner
Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda with 1/2 gallon of water in a spray bottle and store. Don’t worry that the vinegar will make your dwelling smell: once it dries, it’s odor-free. This cleaner is perfect for bathroom and kitchen fixtures, countertops, dining tables and virtually any other surface on which you would use a pre-made chemical cleanser.

Carpet Stain Remover
Mix equal parts vinegar and water and spray it on the spot. Allow it to sit for 5 or 10 minutes, and then scrub with a sponge or brush using warm, soapy water.

Wall Cleaner
Apply baking soda straight to a mark on the wall using a sponge. Scrub and rinse.

Deodorizer
To keep the air in your room smelling fresh and clean, mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with 4 tablespoons of baking soda and place in a small decorative dish on a table to absorb odors.

Dishwasher Soap
Dishwasher soaps contain phosphates, which encourage algae growth in fresh water sources and choke out the wildlife. An effective replacement for dishwasher powder is to mix equal parts of borax and baking soda. Use it as you would use any commercial product.

Warm Bedding & Clothes
To keep your heating bill in check over the winter and save energy, be sure to pack some warm lounging clothes to wear while you’re hanging out at home. A comfortable hat will keep body heat from escaping through your head, and a pair of wool socks under warm slippers will keep your feet toasty. Consider a set of high-quality thermal underwear to put on under your sweats for extra warmth, and then keep the thermostat at 68 degrees. A down comforter will keep you extra warm at night, allowing you to turn the thermostat down to 62 while you sleep. These strategies can save you 40 percent in heating costs, and a lot of natural gas to boot.

Rugs & Window Treatments
Rather than purchasing rugs and window treatments derived from oil-based materials, consider sisal, wool or cotton for your rugs, cotton for your curtains and wood for your blinds. Rugs will help keep your space warm in the winter. Open your curtains or blinds during the day to allow the sun to heat your space, then close them at night to keep the warmth in.

Take Your Bike!
Even if you have a car, be sure to take your bike to college. Campuses are generally bike-friendly, and urban college neighborhoods are usually packed with stores, shops and services that you can often more easily bike to than drive to. You’ll not only save on gas, but you’ll also combat the classic Freshman 15, a common weight gain that is widely seen during the first year of college.

Power Saver Electrical Cords
Many electronics, such as your coffee pot, computer peripherals and game consoles, continue to use electricity after you turn them off. Take a power saver cord with you and plug in your computer peripherals, such as your printer, modem, scanner and monitor into one power strip and turn it off when you’re not using your computer. Not only will you save energy, you’ll also extend the lives of your accessories.

Author Bio:  George Dennis is president of King Shade and Window, a home improvement company that carries a range of custom roller shades.

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Posted in College Life, Fun Stuff, Housing, Preparing for College | No Comments »

Don’t Overlook These 4 College Issues

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

You probably realize that a multitude of factors go into having a successful college experience.  College and college life is complex, and you will want to prepare for that complexity to the best of your ability.  This article will take a look at some of the overlooked factors relating to college.  Thinking about these factors well in advance can make a positive difference in the quality of your overall experience.

Issue #1 Surviving Dorm Life

You might feel that your worries just go on and on.  After all, you have to find the right college, pick the right major, figure out what to take to college, find a college by major, etc.  Surviving dorm life is a mixed up soup of all of these concerns and many more.

Many of the variables regarding college life are, to an extent, out of your control.  For example, picking your roommate and deciding what your floor mates will be like is usually out of your hands.  This situation is one that is largely out of your control, as you are being given new friends (and potentially enemies) who are not even your choice.

Yet, learning to deal with all kinds of people, many of which you may never have dealt with before, is a major life experience.  One good way to survive dorm life with your mind and spirit intact is to embrace this as a learning experience, and make yourself scarce when everything becomes too stressful.

Issue #2 Pet Friendly Colleges

Another overlooked factor is that of pet-friendly colleges.  If you are very attached to your pet, then you want to know that you can bring your little ball of furry happiness along for the ride.  This overlooked factor involves a little research and asking the right questions.  Just don’t wait until the last moment to find out policies at pet friendly colleges.

Issue #3 Should You Study Abroad?

Why study abroad?  This question is often asked too late in a college student’s careers.  The end result is that studying abroad turns out to simply not be on the table.  Financial and academic issues can sometimes interfere.   However, studying abroad can potentially be rather beneficial, as it affords considerable life experience and is a great way to improve your resume.  Is it worth considering?  You bet, just try and find an option for studying abroad that works for you.

Issue #4 What to Take to College?

Imagine showing up for college only to realize that you’ve left some very critical items off your list and out of your suitcase.  Feeling unprepared on this level never feels good.  However, the odds are that you will be able to replace what you forgot, with one notable exception.  If you have items of sentimental value or personal items that are not easily replaced, for example, a dental retainer, you might have a problem.  So think ahead about what items are essential and difficult to replace, and you will avoid some serious panic.

All of the points that we have discussed in this article have a common thread.  Pre-planning and organization stand as keys to making the transition from living at home during high school to living at college an easy and relatively painless one.

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How To Live With A Diabetic Roommate

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

You’re moving into your new apartment or dorm room for college and just met your new roommate. You don’t know each other, but figure that overtime, you will become great friends. One day, you notice there is a prescription left on the counter for insulin. You figure it must be your roommates, but you don’t know how to approach the subject of diabetes. What should you do?

Scenarios such as this one occur to college students every year, and it is important to learn how to approach the subject of diabetes. The number of people living with diabetes has increased drastically over the years, so the likelihood that this could happen to you is greater than ever. Matt Tutelman has had a similar experience. Having been a diabetic in college, Tutelman has great advice for someone who may want to approach the subject with their roommate.

First, your instinct may be to want to ask your roommate if they have diabetes; however, it is important to let your roommate tell you in their own time and in their own way. People differ and the subject may be more delicate to one person than another. They will tell you as soon as they feel comfortable enough to approach the subject.

Once your roommate is comfortable enough to tell you, be open to learning about how to test for blood sugar and how insulin shots are administered. In college, Tutelman taught his roommate how to administer a shot and check for blood sugar in case there was an emergency. Tutelman recalled there was even a time where his roommate checked for his blood sugar, while he was sick and sleeping, because his roommate was concerned.

You may want to get them a medical ID bracelet, assuming they don’t already have one. Tutelman said the best benefit of one is peace of mind. It will ensure your roommate that if a medical emergency were to occur, others would know of their condition. You don’t have to settle for something clunky that looks like a hospital bracelet. Companies today provide stylish types that don’t even look like they contain medical information, like these fashionable medical ID bracelets from Hope Paige. With the holidays approaching, these would also be a great, inexpensive present.

Another issue for a diabetic college student may be dealing with their diet. Tutelman was diagnosed before he came to college, so he already had a healthy-based diet. But for someone who has been newly diagnosed, you may want to keep-in-mind that maintaining a healthy diet is important for them, especially if they struggle with getting into the routine of eating healthy and remembering to take their insulin. If they seem to be feeling ill, don’t be afraid to ask them if they have remember to taken their insulin. It is best to be alert and supportive at the same time. The American Diabetes Association has some great tips on eating healthy for diabetics that you or your roommate can reference.

About the Author
Becky Bennett is a freelance writer who writes for 352 Media Group, a digital marketing and Web design company.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Life, Guest post, Housing | No Comments »

Back to School Again – 10 Things You Don’t Actually Need to Pack for College

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

Stuck on what to pack for college? Well, here are some things to cross OFF your list:

1. Your Entire Wardrobe
Obviously, you’re going to need clothes; what you don’t need, though, is every item of clothing you own. Just pack the clothes you’ll need for fall. When you go home for Thanksgiving, you can bring your fall clothes and exchange them for winter wear.

2. Kitchen Appliances
Most dormitories forbid the use of small kitchen appliances like toasters, hot plates, and coffeemakers. Leave those at home to avoid being written up.

3. Personal Mementos
A few favorite photos, books, and DVDs are great for personalizing your space. Your entire collection of high school yearbooks? Probably not. Dorm space is tight, so leave behind anything that you won’t use often.

4. Cleaning Supplies
Most likely there is a store located somewhere near your university. If you pack laundry detergent, toilet cleaner, or dish soap, you only run the risk of springing a leak during the trip and dealing with a nasty mess. Instead, add those items to the shopping list to get once you reach your destination.

5. Iron and Ironing Board
Unless you’re simultaneously attending college and moonlighting as an investment banker, you probably won’t be ironing your clothes. This is college; embrace those last few years before you can’t avoid owning an iron. If you don’t think you can live without the iron, consider skipping the ironing board; a towel spread on the floor or your desk will work just fine.

6. Furniture
Most colleges provide the basic furniture you will need in your dorm room: a bed, a desk with a chair, and a dresser. In addition, many schools also supply a full-length mirror, window blinds, and a shower curtain. It never hurts to double check the school’s website, though, just in case.

7. Valuables
Think about it: you’re going to be living in a building surrounded by people you don’t know. Bringing lots of valuables with you to campus is just foolish. A few pieces of jewelry might be okay, especially if you rarely take them off, but leave Great-Aunt Edna’s expensive ring at home.

8. Contraband
Leave the alcohol at home. It might seem like a fun way to bond with your new roommates, but it isn’t worth getting caught. And you will get caught. Also leave candles and anything else that is forbidden. If you want to bring a pet, check out whether your school is a pet-friendly college.

9. Cash
A small stash of emergency cash is a good idea, but other than that, consider using only a debit card. Keeping a large sum of cash in your dorm room is just asking for trouble. If you find yourself needing cash often, you can use an ATM, or get cash back when making a purchase to avoid potential ATM fees.

10. Everything the College Recommends
Your university probably has a page online with a recommended packing list. It probably includes things like: TV, mini-fridge, futon. Coordinate with your roommate so that you don’t both show up on move-in day with everything that was suggested. Splitting the list will help save money and space in your car.

Author Bio:

Becky Harris is the head copywriter at U-Pack, one of the nation’s leading moving companies and a provider of top quality moving services at affordable prices.

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Posted in College Life, Guest post, Housing, Preparing for College | 1 Comment »

Should You Go to A College Near Home?

Saturday, October 29th, 2011

Deciding where you should go to college is clearly not an easy decision.  Of course, sometimes this decision will be made for you in terms of what colleges and universities accept your application. However, the odds are good that you will have a variety of options, especially if you applied to numerous schools, (and this is something you should do!)

Once you know what colleges and universities have accepted you, choosing your final pick can be tough.  One of the factors that can impact this decision is trying to decide whether or not you will pick a college near home or one that is farther away.  You might feel that it’s an easy choice.  In fact, maybe you have been dying to get as far away as you can from your parents for as long as you can remember.  But before you make a final decision, take a look at the pros and cons.

The Emotional Factor

One factor to consider is whether or not you are emotionally ready to move very far away from home.  Often people believe that they are ready, only to discover that they wished they were closer to home once it’s too late.  Even if you are happy to be away from your parents, you may feel that you are too far away from your friends.  One way to check out how you truly feel about moving away from your friends and family is to do a “dry run” where you visit your prospective new campus for a few days alone.  If you stay at the campus and still feel great about the idea of attending school away from home, this will help you make your decision.

Reputation and Quality of Education

A second factor to consider is where you feel you can get the best education.  If you get into two colleges but one is clearly better for you or has a better reputation, then this is something to consider.  The college with the better reputation may open up better job opportunities down the road.

Money, Money and Yes More Money

A third factor is cost.  Many students choose to live at home while in college to keep costs low.  You may be ready to strike out on your own, and that is understandable. But take into account the soaring costs of a 4-year college degree; you will want to at least consider how much you could save by staying at home.  Now on the flip side, there is no denying that your college experience will be drastically different if you don’t move away to go to college.  Ultimately, this can be a tough decision.  On one hand you have saving lots of money and on the other hand you have the freedom that comes along with moving away from home.

Apply Early and Apply Often!

In the end, having multiple schools to choose from is a very good situation to be in.  If you do want to have the luxury of picking between a college near home and one that is farther away, you should apply to many different colleges and universities so that your options will be open.

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What is a Resident Assistant?

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

When it comes to college housing, and all the joys and concerns that go with it, the Resident Assistant is someone you want to get to know! For learning how to get around on campus or info on academic policy at your school, your RA is always in the know.

What is a resident assistant?

What is a resident assistant?

What is a Resident Assistant?

In your dorm room or residence hall, you will have a Resident Assistant, or RA, who lives in the dorm or residence hall just like you. Unlike you, He or she will live there for the majority of the year (including weekends). Your RA is there to enforce the rules, mediate disagreements, and provide general support for students!

Your RA will also try to create a sense of community and ensure that everyone obeys the college or university’s rules (including what to take to college, so don’t try to sneak in Fluffy or Fido unless your school is a pet-friendly college). Here are three great reasons why the resident assistant is an important part of the dorm housing experience.

You Know You Could Use Somebody

Neutral Party – It happened. You neglected to heed any of My College Guide’s tips for how to get along with your college roommate and now: Things aren’t going so well. When you need a neutral party to help you sort things out, the Residential Advisor is just the person to talk to!

New Kid on the Block – Your resident adviser is someone who knows the ropes. If you need help with anything, like getting from Point A to Point B, figuring out a homework assignment, or you just need to know about on-campus resources, the resident assistant is just the person you need! Your RA can help you learn the lay of campus or help you deal with a troublesome professor. The resident assistant has the answers to your college questions!

Relationships 101 – Sometimes, your resident assistant is like the big brother or sister you have always wanted (or left behind 4 states away). When you have relationship squabbles or a big break-up, your resident assistant is someone that you can talk to about anything—and receive helpful, friendly support.

Code of Conduct

The job of a resident assistant varies from college to college but for the most part, the above remains true. Your residential adviser is your easy connection to college life. She or he can help you make the transition to college–and will also help see you off when you leave for the summer!

Image Courtesy of Flickr, Thomas Huston / Thomas Huston.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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How To: Choose the Right College Meal Plan

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

After all the paperwork you’ve trucked through, like your application and financial aid, you’ve probably got one last little bit of the registration process to take care of: figuring out your college cafeteria meal plan! My College Guide has hints and tips to help you figure out the best option for you.

How To: Choose the Right College Meal Plan

How To: Choose the Right College Meal Plan

The College Cafeteria Meal Plan

Cafeteria meal plans are covered by your tuition – but you need to decide how much you want to tack onto your total college tuition bill!

You’ve got a lot on your plate right now (pun intended). Some schools don’t give college freshmen a choice about their meal plan. This means you will usually receive three meals a day each weekday and at least two meals on the weekends. But for others, you’ll have to decide! When you look at all that your school has to offer, how do you make the right college meal plan choice?

Make a List

Okay, so you don’t have to be all formal about it and physically make a list, but it helps to think about your eating habits. Do you always eat breakfast? Is your first class scheduled at 8 AM but you aren’t exactly get up and go in the morning?

You should also consider your extracurricular activities. If you are involved in track and know that you will meet and train most mornings each week, will you be able to fit in a long walk to the college cafeteria or will you need to chow down in your dorm room?

In many cases, new college students just aren’t going to use the largest meal plan around. There’s all sorts of other commitments that can get in the way of on-campus meals, like involvement with college extracurricular activities, clubs, organizations, and eating out with friends.

Fixed or Flexible

Some colleges have a meal plan where you purchase so many meals each week for the whole year. You can enter the college cafeteria for dinner only so many times but each time you can eat as much as you want (just beware the Freshman 15!).

At other schools, you will be charged for the items you pick out. It’s a declining balance system much like a debit card — you will present your pass or your I.D. card, whatever your college uses, and that amount will be deducted from your balance for the year. In this case, you will need to make sure you don’t zip through your balance too fast so pay attention to the start and end dates of your college meal plan! Bonus: you are often allowed to treat your family or visiting friends with the declining balance system, just make sure you aren’t too nice about it!

Restricted Diet

If you are lactose-intolerant or have a different diet for other reasons, you should have already made sure that there is something at the college cafeteria for you! Some schools will really work with you but you may also be charged more, too. It’s something to consider and remember as you budget out your first year of college.

Remember, you won’t always eat at the college cafeteria. You’ll go out with friends, on a date, or get free food for involvement in on-campus activities and organizations.

Images Courtesy of Flickr, klynslis.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Life, Housing | 2 Comments »

Wave Goodbye to Ho-Hum Housing: Enter Wofford College and The Village

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

Most college students can’t wait to ditch their 8×8 college dorm rooms for off-campus housing.  But at Wofford College, senior students are happily turning to an unusual housing option: apartment-style. We haven’t heard of students being excited about living on campus …until now! Laura Corbin, the Director of News Services, tells all!

The Village Housing at Wofford College: apartment-style living for senior students

Courtesy of Wofford College

So, what is The Village at Wofford College?
The Village is a complex of apartment-style housing in a neighborhood setting at Wofford College.  Each apartment has four bedrooms, two full baths, a common living room, full kitchen and dining area, and each unit comes with a porch or patio complete with its own rocking chairs.

The apartments are arranged in a variety of buildings – single-story one-apartment houses up to two-story apartments with four apartments.  The styles and colors of the buildings vary, providing a break from traditional row after row of look-alike apartment buildings.

Our readers are definitely not thrilled with the thoughts of 8×8 dorms.  What are the perks of living in The Village?
The Village is filled with perks.  Aside from apartments that mimic what students will see as they move out into the world on their own, The Village provides for opportunities for students to gather in commons areas – such as the amphitheater where outdoor concerts are held, the bocce ball courts, the beach volleyball courts or the basketball courts.  The Village also is next door to the campus tennis courts.  In addition, the full kitchens give students the chance to cook their own meals, and host their fellow students as well as faculty for meals and social activities.

The Village Housing at Wofford College

Courtesy of Wofford College

Why keep Wofford College senior students on campus?
Keeping senior students on campus does a number of things.  First, it’s an opportunity to bring the senior class back together, again to foster that collegiality.  They have been “mixed together” with sophomores and juniors after having spent their first year together in freshmen residence halls.

Coming back as seniors gives them a chance to enjoy their final year of college together.  Also, having the seniors together in The Village provides a great transition out into the world.  The apartment-style housing gives the sense of more independence, and allows the seniors to prepare for even more of that when they graduate and move on with their lives, probably living in apartments of their own.

Did we see something about front porch rocking chairs and borrow-a-bike program?  Now that’s just cool.  What else does The Village offer its residents?
Yes, each apartment comes with its own rocking chairs on its front porches, encouraging students to sit outside and chat, wave and talk with each other as they walk to their own apartments, and just chill out.  The camps also has a borrow-a-bike program.  In addition to the bocce, basketball and volleyball, The Village also has open green spaces for cookouts, Frisbee throwing and other outdoor activities.  A Village laundry center also has study and meeting spaces.

Wofford College's Phase 5 of the ever-expanding The Village housing!

Courtesy of Wofford College

Anything else we should know?
Absolutely!  The Village is expanding, opening Phase V this fall.  This phase features room for 80 students in loft-style apartments on the upper two floors of a three-story building that will anchor The Village area.

The facility will feature the Grand Galleria, an open-air eating and gathering space that will allow easy access and encourage flow into and through the building.  It also will include a deli/market for The Village students to do their grocery shopping for fresh food preparation.

There will be other meeting spaces, high-technology classrooms, and the Center for Professional Excellence, which houses Wofford’s Career Services, Success Initiative and other programs aimed at providing students with necessary skills to move into their careers or graduate programs.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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At Home in the Halls at Barnard College or An Inside Look at Dorm Life

Friday, February 18th, 2011

Worried about college dorm life? This fun video from Barnard College should help to put your mind at ease! There’s a lot of very good reasons to consider living on campus. Forget what you’ve seen on TV—dorm living is so not like the movies.

Be close to everything and make friends easily. Explore the residence halls at Barnard College and listen to actual students about what they’ve learned from the dorm experience. Don’t forget to check out our article on great things to bring along to make your dorm room feel like home before you head off to college. You can watch At Home in the Halls on YouTube or below.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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Posted in College Life, Housing | 1 Comment »

Reason #5,399 Why You Should Consider Dorm Living

Friday, February 11th, 2011

Need another reason why you should consider dorm living at least for your Freshman year at college? Students from Le Tourneau University’s residence halls competed in an annual event where they run, play, bike, swim, think, and eat their way to victory!

Dorm living isn’t always easy but the experiences and friendships can last a lifetime. On-campus housing can definitely help create an easy transition to college. Why not live right where the action is? Watch LU Games 2010 on YouTube or below.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Life, Fun Stuff, Housing | No Comments »

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