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Rust E
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Yo, I'm an 18 y/o high school graduate and I'm just killing time over summer until college. I'll be at CalPolySLO next year and couldn't be more excited.
As my time at home is shortened, this change is becoming more real. I've realized that I need to start getting things organized!
I've started to put a list together of things I need to get.
Some of these things are for my social life, fun, and being a totally gnarly frat broski.
Ex: camelback, beer belt, new clothes
There are also things for school/organization.
Ex: HUGE calendar, laptop
I was just wondering if there's anything you guys wish you had brought to the dorms as a freshman or something cool you saw someone else have that you think I should get in order to be the #1 totally coolest kid around. Basically things that most people seem to overlook, WANT, or just plain forget about.
Also, what are some skills/habits I should start to work on? I think I'll need to get used to riding a longboard and being a neat freak...
Anything helps, thanks!
As my time at home is shortened, this change is becoming more real. I've realized that I need to start getting things organized!
I've started to put a list together of things I need to get.
Some of these things are for my social life, fun, and being a totally gnarly frat broski.
Ex: camelback, beer belt, new clothes
There are also things for school/organization.
Ex: HUGE calendar, laptop
I was just wondering if there's anything you guys wish you had brought to the dorms as a freshman or something cool you saw someone else have that you think I should get in order to be the #1 totally coolest kid around. Basically things that most people seem to overlook, WANT, or just plain forget about.
Also, what are some skills/habits I should start to work on? I think I'll need to get used to riding a longboard and being a neat freak...
Anything helps, thanks!
Rust E on
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A good pillow if you're staying in residence. Provided ones tend to suck.
A strong lock for that laptop.
Sunscreen. Burning during frosh week sucks.
... It's been awhile since I was at college. Anyone not so ancient as myself want to chip in? :P
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
I was pretty popular by virtue of having a ton of Dr Pepper stocked up, because my parents could pick it up much cheaper at home than around my college.
Toiletries.
Underwear and socks are good to have plenty of too. Those were always the limiting reagent in determining when I did laundry.
Toiletries reminded me of this. Dorm showers are nasty.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
Edit: Beat'd
That is some great advice, however, I'd try to keep it quiet about what kind of meds you have in your room. You will be the go to guy for when any dude in your hall has a cough and wants a robo trip. You also will not have any meds available for yourself when you really need them.
If you don't already know how to do laundry, man up and ask whoever does your laundry to show you.
Pretty much no one brings a first aid kit, but it's an important thing to have.
If you're doing WOW (Week of Welcome for you not Cal Poly people) they will give you cheap flip flops that make great shower shoes when you check in, unless things have changed. Those were a life saver.
If you're not doing WOW, sign up right now. Trust me.
Definitely doing WOW. I hear its nickname is Week of Wasted, must admit that sounds attractive. Also I'm sure it's a great way to meet new people and make friends in this unfamiliar environment.
But yes, great advice so far. Thanks! And don't be afraid to get a little silly with your reccommendations, I'd like some random possessions that nobody else would have 8-)
Other things: USB hub (I don't know about your laptop, but I am constantly trying to plug 3 things into my 2 USB port MacBook), rad posters (my rule of thumb was that I tried to only buy 1 from a chain store like Newbury Comics, and got the rest from more obscure places)
If you have a large flatscreen monitor for your desktop that you can bring with you and plug into your laptop, do this. Great whether you're working on assignments or watching movies.
I don't know what the chain supermarket situation is out there in California, but I highly recommend a discount card for wherever you prefer to shop. I started shaving some pretty significant amounts off my Big Y bills once I got the Express Card or whatever the hell it's called (and having snacks around is good).
2) margaritas
3) drunk co-eds
4) ????
5) profit
I have this box that is made to be like a mini filing cabinet so you can hang folders in it. This thing was huge throughout all 4 years of college and is still being used today. Any paperwork or printouts with important stuff on them just went in there instead of being piled on my desk/shelves like everyone else.
I don't know how your room is, but I had rooms that were set up as a "Z" room in college so we would put up a curtain between the two spaces and that looked really nice when a breeze came through.
Take your screen out of your window, if you can, and make it so you can replace it when you leave. This was fun because sometimes we'd lower stuff down on string and have the people below take it. Or freak them out by knocking shit against their window (I lived in a tower so this was extra funny).
That's all I can think of for now!
The Christmas lights/lamp thing is a good idea though. One of my friends this past year had the Christmas lights, and my girlfriend had a floor lamp next to her bed. Both of these were considerably better than the overheads.
BRING A FAN. Dorms tend to be on the hot side. I go to school in Mass, and I had the window in my dorm open until there was snow on the ground (and even for a little while after there was) because keeping it shut made the room get way too hot.
I'm not a musician, but from what I've seen, the people who are musicians and bring their instruments tend to gather pretty quickly. There was a little impromptu band that started up right under my window at night during orientation and the first few warm weeks at school that was actually fun to listen to (they just played jazz music and jazz-ish versions of popular songs). Please don't be one of those dicks that starts a band and tries to get everyone he knows to come and listen all the damn time, though.
I HIGHLY encourage checking with your school about the appropriate bedding! I've heard lots of horror stories about kids who bought hundreds of dollars worth of sheets and comforts in an "extra long" size for the dorm beds only have them not fit. My school sent out a catalog with bedding packages that were guarenteed to fit our beds. I can provide the link if you'd like.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Bring a light. Most of the time the default light in the dorms sucks.
If you're in a dorm that has a communal microwave, make sure you bring a can opener, you'll be glad you did at some point.
Spending "hundreds of dollars" on bedding is a horror story in its own right regardless of whether or not it fits.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
get a foam pad thing though to put on your mattress because dorm mattresses ain't comfy enough without em
guarantee it
That was my first thought as well but I figured how much it would cost at say Walmart or Target and once you add up a set of sheets, comforter, a decent pillow, another back up set of sheets for laundry days, etc it starts to pile up. I ended up spending about $200 including the foam matress pad and it even came with a free pair of shower sandals.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]