My College Guide» Housing

Clemson University Living and Learning Community Video

Jessica — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:30:25 +0000

When it comes to where you are going to living at college, My College Guide is here for you. We stumbled onto this Clemson University (CU) YouTube video about the living and learning community experience in the words of a real CU student. You know there are more options than the general campus dorm, right?

Clemson University Sophomore Tyler Gosselin has a few very good reasons why you may want to consider a living and learning community. At My College Guide, we think it’s always good to know all of your options. When you are done with this video, you can read more about your dorm living options all over My College Guide, like unique dorm living options or the Grand Valley University Living and Learning Community to name a few.

Watch Clemson University’s HEHD Living and Learning Community video on YouTube or below. Ready for a few helpful hints? Don’t worry – this won’t be the last you see of the dorm housing subject!

Read All About It: Johns Hopkins University Blogs It All

Jessica — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:30:08 +0000

Does anything else provide such instant access to college life like the college blog? Plenty of colleges and universities are seeing the potential (remember our 101 College Blogs to Put You in the College Mood article?) but My College Guide is pretty sure that no has yet handled it quite like Johns Hopkins University. We got connected to Daniel Creasy, Associate Director, at Johns Hopkins University to get the whole story!

seanfraga / Sean Fraga

How did this large scale blog community begin?
I began working for the Hopkins Undergraduate Admissions Office in August 2003, and from the onset Hopkins Interactive was a pet project of mine. My Dean allowed me a lot of leeway in creating the site and recruiting the students. After a year of research, I spent much of the second year recruiting the first bloggers and working collaboratively with them to design the site. Finally in December 2005 we launched Hopkins Interactive and have been expanding the endeavor every since.

How do Johns Hopkins U students get involved?
Members of the Student Admissions Advisory Board (SAAB), the students behind Hopkins Interactive, are selected from a pool of applicants at the start of every academic year. The application is made available late in the summer and is advertised mainly to newly enrolling freshmen, as the upperclassmen on the board are typically returning members. We interview each applicant during the week of new student orientation and make our decisions by the beginning of classes. Traditionally, we select 6-8 new members each year, and the overall group size ranges from 20-23 students.

How do you choose your student bloggers? What do you look for?
In the selection process we try to make a balanced group, so we look for diversity of background and talents, creativity in their writing abilities (sample blogs are part of the application), personality, and dedication to the promotion of Hopkins. Since the board does more than just blog, creativity, personality, and an innovative mindset are factors more than just how one writes. Last year we had about 50 applications.

Wysz / Michael Wyszomierski

What can a prospective student take away from these blogs that they couldn’t get otherwise?
Before launching Hopkins Interactive, I had a number of conversations with my colleagues and current students about what our goals should be in providing blogs and more significantly providing prospective students direct, uncensored access to current students. There are a lot of misconceptions about Johns Hopkins as an undergraduate institution and some that truly frustrate current students. Presenting “the real Hopkins” through the blogs and other social media endeavors has allowed us to dispel many of those myths and connect a new group of prospective students to the university.

Any particular blogs college bound students should make it a point to look at to get a better feel for Johns Hopkins University?
Expanding from just offering an Admissions blog and a number of current student blogs, to now offering blogs written by alumni, parents, faculty, and staff has really made me proud. I know of very few other University blog programs as extensive as Hopkins. I also am impressed about how we have expanded to so many other social media programs, providing prospective students with a variety of ways to connect with our current students.

Knile

Spill it! Do you have a favorite?
In my opinion the great success of Hopkins Interactive has to be our Academics Blog. I know of no other University that has such a site. Pretty simple, the Academic Blog contains student-written entries about every academic major and minor offered at Hopkins. These blogs provide an up-close look at the experiences that real students have had at Johns Hopkins. Within the blogs, one will read about students who have changed or added majors, taken classes completely unrelated to their major, fulfilled multiple majors and minors, and otherwise explored their academic curiosities while at Hopkins.

I also often reference our Guest Blog as one of our other great successes. The mission of the Guest Blog is to feature the story of a different Johns Hopkins undergraduate each week. In over four years we have had nearly 180 entries written by approximately 150 different students.

What to Take to College or How to Make Your Dorm Room Feel Like Home

Jessica — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:30:46 +0000

Dorm room, residence hall…call it what you will, you are going to be living there for at least one year (if not all four!) – so bring on the dorm room necessities (and the dorm roommate!) with what we consider dorm must haves! Here’s exactly what you need to bring to your college dorm, you know, to make your freshman dorm room feel a little more like home (and definitely more livable). Now – on to the dorm room packing list!

kiwikewlio / Jen Watson

Safety First: Don’t forget the first aid kit! Mom won’t be around to fluff your pillows and pump you full of hot tea with honey the next time you have the sniffles. Cold remedies, band-aids, aspirin, and a thermometer are just a few health-related items you might want to bring when your health fails.

Little Black Book: Some days you just want to hear a familiar voice. Take along an address book with all the numbers and addresses from your cell phone — and then some! Get mom and dad’s help before you head off to college to make sure you have everyone in there. It’s a good idea anyway, just in case your cell phone gets run over/lost/wet/stolen so you can stay in touch easily with family and friends.

Fire drills happen: You may love your ratty PJs with the big holes all over but you’ll probably want something non-embarrassing to throw on – particularly if you go to school in a cooler climate and it’s the middle of winter! You might want to keep a robe handy to throw on “just in case.”

Got Snacks: Pulling an all-nighter is tough, pulling an all-nighter on an empty stomach is almost impossible! Who can concentrate over the sound of a growling belly, anyway? Bring along easy to heat and store items. It’s definitely a dorm must have — just don’t forget the forks, spoons, and containers!

Blah and Boring: Yeah, those glaring white cinderblock walls are less than exciting to look at. Liven up your otherwise drab dorm room with posters, wall art, wind chimes, decorative lights, or whatever else your creative little mind can come up with! Just make sure to follow the dorm or residence halls rules regarding how you attach items to the walls (as well as what the forbidden items are) – a bunch of big holes in the walls mean money coming out of your pocket at the end of the year to fix them!

Tiffy-doodle / Tiffany Nevin

Communication 101: Do you and your roommate see so little of each other you aren’t even sure what they look like? Keep in touch (and keep the peace) – easily relay messages with a dry erase board or chalkboard. College life will keep you busy – don’t miss a minute because you forgot to write it down!

Flip-flops: Not just a fashion statement – these babies are multi-versatile. Great for a middle of the night fire drill, a day at the beach or pool, or for navigating through the dreaded dorm shower!

Food Storage: In a tight space like your dorm room, keeping the clutter contained as much as possible is one very good way to ensure a peaceful coexistence with your roommate – and to make sure you don’t lose anything super important! Consider using dorm space savers like storage bins or drawers for items like food, utensils, and containers.

Chill Out: Is any piece of dorm room furniture so cherished as the dorm mini fridge? We think not! Keep healthy snacks on hand (and help avoid the freshman 15) with a dorm room mini fridge. Check with your college to see if they make you rent them on-site through a college partnership or if you can lug in your own – and don’t forget to double-check the max size allowed!

College Welcome Week: How Bulldogs Settle in at College

Jessica — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:30:31 +0000

Brad J Ward

We know you’re a little nervous about the first day of college – but My College Guide is so here for you! You can read through our advice on how to get settled in at college, what to bring to college, and all about college welcome week! We’ll keep dishing out the tips so when the big day finally arrives – you’ll be all set! For now, check out what college welcome week is all about – from Butler University’s Kristen Raves, the Coordinator for Electronic Communication!

So – why Welcome Week?
Welcome Week is an important time in the life of a incoming freshman. It is a great way to kick off the fall and get ready for an amazing year. It is an essential part of the freshman experience at Butler University.

What kind of events and activities make up Butler University’s Welcome Week?
There is a great variety and diversity of activities that combine to make Welcome Week such a success! Among them are a few events such as Play Fair which gives the students a chance to meet other freshman and make new friends, along with Block Party where nearly all of our 135 organizations are on campus to help get these freshman involved. The mission of the Welcome Week is to provide programming and information that will help students make Butler University their home. We want students as involved as they can be right from the start and feel like they have their place on campus from the second they get here.

My College Guide hopes that makes you feel better about that first big leap into college life. You can see what Butler University’s Welcome Week 2009 was like and sneak a peek at what actual college students are lugging in to college! The 2010 Welcome Week video won’t be due out until the next month or so (we’ll keep you posted). But in the meantime, watch the Welcome Week at Butler University Video on YouTube or below.

College Welcome Week: Welcome Freshmen

Jessica — Thu, 27 May 2010 12:30:59 +0000

Heading off to college? There are a lot of changes in store for you – and your college of choice not only understands – they want to help you through the process! Colleges want your transition to be as pain-free as possible — which is one of the many reasons behind “Welcome Week.”

IndieNate / Nate Buchman

Welcome week is a week-long period filled with events for new freshmen students – and sometimes even their families. It’s a way for a college or university to get their new freshmen class to interact, get to know one another, create a few friendships, and receive a healthy dose of that good old school spirit!

Sure, some incoming students may have connected early to college classmates via Facebook or Twitter but you can be sure that there are plenty of others who don’t know a soul: and that’s okay too. Everyone who is there actually wants to be there!

Everyone chose that particular college for a reason and everyone is just as excited and nervous about moving away from home as you are — which is why colleges created Welcome Week – a great way to get comfortable and settled in at college (before the rush of class begins)!

Sikachu! / Prem Sichanugrist

There’s a lot of ground to cover before you trudge bleary-eyed to your very first college class. You need a student id, to buy college textbooks, register your car (if any) or even your cat, and move in to your dorm or off-campus housing! You need to learn your way around campus, where to go and what to expect (part of which you may already know if you read My College Guide at all – and you should!).

There will be a lot of activities, free food, and plenty of ways to get involved! Some of the activities may seem a little silly but that’s part of the fun! College isn’t all philosophical talks and deep class discussions.

Relax, participate, and get to know these people around you – you will be sharing classes, the cafeteria, library, and dormitory with them, you might as well get to know them (and maybe even befriend a few) sooner rather than later.

Live Where You Learn: Grand Valley State University Honors College

Jessica — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:30:30 +0000

Wondering about college student housing? You should know that things have changed since mom and dad went to school. You have a few more unusual options when it comes to where you can live while at college! My College Guide decided to take a closer look at some of the more unique on-campus housing options available. My College Guide would like to introduce Grand Valley State University and the Frederik Meijer Honors College.

PhotoDocGVSU / Christopher Kierkus

More than just a dorm room, the Frederik Meijer Honors College is considered a living/learning community with an interdisciplinary education — and even Freshmen can apply! A living and learning community is one where you are housed in the same place where you take your classes – at GVSU that means roughly one thousand other students with the same academic mind-set as you.

Instead of trekking across campus to class, the Frederik Meijer Honors College students can actually take classes in the Glenn A Niemeyer Learning and Living Center. In this Grand Valley State University program, classes are always 25 students or less and filled with instructors who really want to be there – and have strong academic backgrounds. Faculty offices are also in the building so GVSU students in the program have easy access to their professors – and can easily get whatever help or support they need.

Grand Valley Honors College students still get to have the dorm room experience, since they are on-campus and may even have a roommate, however – this is anything but an 8 by 12 foot box of a room. These are two and four bedroom apartments and studios with a central common area complete with grand piano and fireplace – and even a kitchen (with plenty of coffee for those long study cram sessions)! There are other study nooks, a library, gardens, and smaller lounging areas scattered throughout the center, too, so you have plenty of space to spread out in — with room to hit the books or simply socialize.

Want to learn more about this unusual (and unique!) program? Watch the Grand Valley State University Frederik Meijer Honors College YouTube video. Stay tuned – My College Guide will be exploring and highlighting unusual and unique housing options in the months to come!

You Can Take Them With You: Pet Friendly Colleges and Universities

Jessica — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:30:09 +0000

No one at home to take care of Fluffy when you head off to college? Does the thought of leaving behind Fido make you cringe? Some colleges understand that Spot and Princess are a part of your family – and they are welcoming your family pet with open arms. Who knew that the college search could also involve your cat and dog?

antiguan_life / Vanessa Hall

So they won’t play catch or cuddle, but many (or should we say most?) colleges and universities do let you have fish! At the University of Notre Dame students can keep fish in up to 30 gallon tanks – as long as they leave their Piranha behind. University of Georgia and Northern Arizona University are fish lovers too allowing residents a maximum 20 gallon aquarium.

Your gerbil or turtle can keep you company as you cram during finals week at Harvey Mudd College, with roommate and suitemate approval that is! Amphibian friendly Humboldt State University is okay with incoming students bringing in aquarium pets like lizards, snakes, or turtles – just keep the tank under 10 gallons and you are in the clear! Principia College and Vassar College also allow caged animals, and Wellesley College has ten halls that allow pets like birds, fish, and rodents — though in some cases (depending on the floor) it may be put to a vote.

SUNY Canton students who live in the Grasse River Community (The Pet Wing) can bring their small caged pets –or their kitties! Massachusetts Institute of Technology residence halls like East Campus Hall, Bexley Hall, Senior House, and Random Hall have cat-friendly floors so even MIT non-cat owners can enjoy furry, purry company!

Bring in the bunnies at Case Western Reserve University – they approve small, caged animals, like guinea pigs and hamsters. Sororities and fraternities at Case Western Reserve University can even apply for a house “mascot, “ too. The Greek system at Lehigh University permits one registered cat or dog per Greek House!

Dog friendly on-campus housing is still rare – but it does exist! At Stephens College, students who choose to room in Searcy Hall, appropriately nicknamed “Pet Central,” can bring their favorite family pet (cat, dog, or rodent) without any dog weight restrictions in this all-pet hall – hey, this one even has “doggie daycare!” Stetson University’s Nemec Hall is a completely pet friendly residence option for pet-loving students complete with dog run and on-campus pet council – and they accept cats and caged animals, too.

Washington and Jefferson College has a different approach: students are allowed to have dogs and cats in Monroe Hall but they can only have one pet per room, so roommates have to agree on who gets to bring their dog or cat to college! This kind of “animal house” might be a great choice for someone who loves animals – but can’t bring one from home.

Eckerd College sounds like the real-life college version of Animal Planet! You won’t just find the usual caged rodents, cats, or even small dogs in the three pet-friendly dorms on campus, students can even have ducks and – according to the campus rep that My College Guide got in touch with – one student even has a rooster! Check out Kappa Scott, Alpha Prasch, and Beta Darwin to recreate that farm friendly feel! At Sweet Briar College — you can even bring your horse!

Before you bring your pet on campus, think about what you want out of your college experience. Think about what is best for your pet — and what you can afford! Talk it over with your college advisor to see what steps you have to take in order to bring Stuart Little to college – and make sure you feel capable of taking on the added responsibility of pet care on top of your college classwork!

101 College Blogs to Put You in the College Mood

Jessica — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:30:52 +0000

alamodestuff

WordPress, Blogger, TypePad…there’s all sorts of blogging platforms – and higher education is using them! College blogs are a fun way to learn about college life. Straight from the colleges themselves, (though not necessarily a reflection of that school’s opinions) you’ll discover fun campus superstitions, big events and celebrations, exciting classes, or even new majors.

Follow along with the life of a college student or read what college admissions has to say. Some may be more descriptive than others, but they all possess value: a peek at the inner workings of colleges and universities. It’s a great way to stay on top of college life – and aid you in your college decision-making process!

Did we miss your favorite college blog? Oops! As always, feel free to add it to the comments section below. While you’re at it – don’t forget to get My College Guide Blog updates free via RSS or Email.

1. Amarillo College	34. Harrington College of Design	68. Rasmussen College
2. Amherst College	35. Hartwick College	69. Rhode Island School of Design
3. Appalachian State University	36. Haverford College	70. Roger Williams University
4. Arcadia University	37. Hudson Valley Community College	71. Saint Anselm College
5. Ball State University	38. Illinois State University	72. Saint Joseph’s College
6. Baruch College	39. Indiana Tech	73. Saint Michael’s College
7. Bates College	40. Indiana University Bloomington	74. Smith College
8. Belhaven University	41. Ithaca College	75. Southern New Hampshire University
9. Berkeley College	42. Johns Hopkins University	76. St. Mary’s College of Maryland
10. Bethany College	43. Kansas State University	77. Suffolk University
11. Boston College	44. Kent State University	78. Swarthmore College
12. Bowie State University	45. Keystone College	79. Trine University
13. Bowling Green State University	46. Lake Superior College	80. Union University
14. Bryn Mawr College	47. Lawrence University	81. Unity College
15. Butler University	48. Linfield College	82. University of California Davis
16. Carnegie Mellon	49. Louisiana College	83. University of Central Florida
17. Catawba College	50. Michigan State University	84. University of Delaware
18. Clover Park Technical College	51.Middlebury College	85. University of Idaho
19. Coker College	52. Milwaukee School of Engineering	86. University of Indianapolis
20. Colby College	53. Montana State University	87. University of Missouri
21. Colorado College	54. Montclair State University	88. University of San Francisco
22. Colorado State University	55. Mountain State University	89. University of Tennessee Knoxville
23. Cornell University	56. Mount Holyoke College	90. University of Virginia
24. Edmonds Community College	57. Newman University	91. Utah State University
25. Elmira College	58. North Carolina State University	92. Vassar College
26. Evergreen State College	59. North Central College	93. Virginia Tech
27. Ferris State University	60. Northwestern University – Fiedler Hillel	94. Washington College
28. Florida State University	61. Northwood University	95. Washington State University
29. Fort Valley State University	62. Oklahoma State University	96. Wellesley College
30. Goucher College	63. Oregon State University	97. Wentworth Institute of Technology
31. Gustavus Adolphus College	64. Pierce College	98. Wilson College
32. Hampshire College	65. Portland State University	99. Wisconsin Lutheran College
33. Hanover College	66. Providence College	100. Wichita State University
	67. Randolph College	101. Wofford College

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The College Packing List: 10 Essential Items for Dorm Living

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:54:01 +0000

Whether you’ve already been admitted to a college or you’re still waiting to hear back, the future is inevitable: soon, you’ll be leaving home, and setting off on a new adventure. On the plus side, there’ll be no more strict parental curfews and rules to deal with. But on the minus, you can say goodbye to your spacious bedroom—you’re likely to spend at least your first year crammed into a tiny dorm room with a roommate (who’s likely to be a total stranger).

Dorm living is going to be a lot different from anything you’re used to, so you’ll want to make sure you’re well prepared for the change. So what do you need to bring with you? Along with the basics (clothes, toiletries, bedding, whatever prized possessions you can’t live without), check out our been-there, done-that, dorm packing list.

A small computer desk and chair. Find out the room’s dimensions before making a purchase, but either way, stay away from the big and bulky.

A laptop computer. A laptop will be invaluable for taking notes in class and studying in the library and coffee shops, as well as in your room. If you want a bigger screen for dorm use, get a monitor to hook up to your laptop. You should be eligible for an educational discount when purchasing your computer, so wait to see what your college advises.

Cell phone/smart phone. No need to get a land line at school—you and your roommate can easily keep your calls separate by using your own cell phones. Get a smart phone and you can also use it to stay on top of email and course assignments.

A sturdy backpack and school supplies. College textbooks tend to be heavy—make sure you have a bag that can withstand a lot of weight. Fill it with school supplies like pens, pencils, notebooks, and Post-Its.

Compact storage space. Dorm rooms are small. We can’t stress that enough. After you find out about your dorm layout, pick up some space-saving storage units, such as see-through bins that easily slide under your bed.

A mini-fridge and/or microwave. Before buying either of these small appliances, you’ll want to first make sure that they’re allowed at your school, and that your soon-to-be roommate isn’t already planning to bring them. You can generally rent a mini-fridge from your school, but you’ll save money by purchasing one and re-selling it when you’re done with it. Though you’ll have access to a cafeteria at school, it’s always nice to stock up on a few snacks and cold drinks.

A few dishes, mugs, utensils, and dishwashing supplies. You probably won’t have a kitchen, so don’t go overboard—but it never hurts to have a few basics around.

Posters and cool décor for your side of the room. At most schools, you can find a variety of posters for sale at the bookstore—but if you want something more original to show off your taste and sense of style, have a look on Etsy.com or eBay for handmade or vintage decorations to warm up your dorm room.

A digital media library. If you still have most or all of your music on CD, now’s the time to digitize. Rather than bringing your entire CD library, convert your tunes to MP3 and get an MP3 player, as well as speakers that will let you play your music from your computer in high quality. Likewise, if you want to bring along some TV shows and movies, digitize them so that you can watch them from your laptop or monitor with speakers. Because these files can use a lot of your computer’s memory, store them on a separate hard drive instead, and make sure you have a backup.

A K-cup machine. Do you crave coffee every morning? Instead of getting a machine that makes a full pot and needs to be cleaned out every time, pick up a Keurig cup machine and a selection of your favorite coffees in K-cup form. The device lets you make a single cup at a time, and requires no clean-up—just remove the used K-cup and you’re done.

Getting Started at College: Tips for Settling in at the Beginning

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:05:27 +0000

Andrew Stawarz/Andrew Stawarz

If you’ve already received an acceptance letter from your early-decision school, congratulations! Your time worrying about getting into school is finally done—but what do you need to know when you actually arrive at college? Here are a few tips that will help make the transition from home to the frosh dorms simple and painless.

Connect with other future students in advance. These days, it’s easy to connect with your future classmates before you even set foot on campus. Just search Facebook for groups, fan pages, and people connected to your future school—more than likely, you’ll find a group dedicated to admitted students in your class. If not, start your own, and others will soon discover you. If anyone in the group lives nearby, see about getting together for lunch. It will be great to have a familiar face on the first day of school.

Buy or rent your textbooks before you arrive. During the first few days of school, you can spend hours in line waiting to purchase your textbooks, which are often sold at heavily inflated prices. Skip the lines and the high prices by getting a list of coursebooks in advance from your school, and purchasing copies online from Amazon.com or renting copies from Chegg.com or Bookrenter.com.

Once you get your course schedule, find all of your classrooms in advance. There’s nothing more embarrassing than walking in during the middle of a lecture on the first day. Make sure it doesn’t happen to you by taking a walk around the campus and locating all of your classrooms, using a campus map to get your bearings.

Take part in Welcome Week activities. Your school will probably offer a few days packed with games and activities designed to help you meet fellow students and get used to the school. Though some of the activities may not exactly fit your interests, it’s important to get involved—this is a great opportunity to find new friends before you even start classes.

Find out about clubs, intramural sports teams, and the Greek scene. During the first few days of school, most colleges’ various activity groups will set up information booths, where representatives can talk to freshmen about what’s involved in joining or participating in a club. Scout out the groups that appeal to you, and come prepared with questions. If you’re thinking about getting involved in the campus Greek scene, this is also a great time to work out which fraternity or sorority seems like the best fit, and find out about their welcome mixers.

Get your student ID card and rent a fridge as early as possible. Your student ID card is your key to all sorts of campus activities, from meals to gym use, so be sure to get your photo taken for your school ID as early as possible, to avoid long lines. Also, unless you’ve purchased your own mini-fridge, you’ll want to rent one from the school—so be sure to register for one before they’re all gone.

Talk to your academic advisor and your R.A. During the first week of school, it can be helpful to schedule one-on-one meetings with both your academic advisor (who helps you with managing your course load and other academic matters) and your resident advisor (an older student who can help you navigate the rest of college life). If you have particular concerns about either academic or social issues at college, these people are trained to provide you with the support you need.

Send your parents home. Though it can be tempting to keep your parents around for moral support as long as possible, once they’ve helped you with anything you need parental assistance for (unpacking your luggage, dealing with the financial aid office, etc.), let them head back home. It may feel a little scary to be on your own, but you’ll get used to it soon—and just remember, all the other freshmen are in the exact same situation. You’re sure to find a friend or two among them.