Just about everyone has heard of dorms specifically for entering freshmen. But did you know that you can also request a specialty dorm? Most colleges have designated dorms to meet the needs of a diverse student population. If you have a preference regarding your living accommodations on campus, ask about these dorms on your college visit and upon accepting an offer of admission.
Specialty dorms fall into three categories: academic housing, lifestyle housing, and living-learning communities.
Leaving home for college means picking up all sorts of life skills. You’re going to have to learn to fend for yourself, picking up chores and routines to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle. This can vary from household chores to budgeting and more. But one area that you are going to have a big learning curve with is your diet.
Most of us are used to being in family settings where one person creates meals to cater to everyone’s needs. Now, you will be eating the campus meal plan or doing meal planning, prepping and cooking for yourself – most likely in single person portions. Managing a healthy and balanced diet requires focus on a number of areas, but for now, let’s focus on protein. Here’s everything you need to know about getting enough protein into your diet, as well as some tips and tricks on how to manage it!
Are you in the process of preparing your student for year one of college? This is an exacting time but it’s also important to ensure that you do take the right steps here. That way, you can guarantee that your student thrives and is able to maximize their potential during this critical first year.
As teens grow into young adults, their horizons begin to expand. They begin to explore their interests more, make new friends, and think about leaving the nest. As they head to college, there are skills they will need even if they live in a dorm. If they live off campus, these skills will be even more valuable. It’s important to prepare your teen for independent living.
Here are five ways you can help your prepare your teen for living away from home.
Your senior is looking ahead. The last few months of high school. Major decisions to make. A huge to-do list. Then…it’s off to college. How will your student adapt? How will you adapt? Here’s a letter to your student (save it for later) and prepare yourself for their first day of college and the longest goodbye.
This is it!
You have made the college applications, you have been to those (not for the faint of heart) college visits, you have been accepted for a place, and then, finally, your alarm clock wakes you from your slumber. The day has finally arrived.
The day you leave home and embark on your college education.
Oh, the joys, the excitement, the nerves, the cold dread of fear…
It’s time for some survival tips to help you get through your first day.
Tip #1: Operate an open day policy
If you have a roommate, then you will automatically have one candidate for your social circle (let’s hope you like them). But if you are in a room of your own, don’t shut the door when you arrive. Well, don’t shut it for long anyway, as your day will be a lot easier if you manage to say “hello” to somebody. An open door is an opening for other residents to come and introduce themselves to you, so while you might want to curl up in bed if you’re stricken with nerves, know that operating an open door policy on your first day will help you make contact with similar others.
Tip #2: Make your room your own
Homesickness is common for first-day students, and while you may be tempted to ring your parents every five minutes for comfort, you can also make any negative feelings disappear by decorating your room with your some homely touches. Photos of friends and family, posters from your old bedroom, and any knick-knack you might possess are all useful ways to transform your dorm room from something strange and unfamiliar to something comforting and reassuring.
Tip #3: Get out and meet people
Don’t stay in your room alone for long. Hopefully, you may have met people through the open door policy we advocated, but if not, you need to be proactive. Wander down the corridor and knock on other people’s doors. Introduce yourself, and let them know your room number. And go out into the wider campus and find out where people are hanging out. It takes courage to go up to groups of people, but try and do so, or if you see other people wandering about alone, go and say “hello.” They are probably in the same boat as you are, trying to make sense of their first day in a new place.
Tip #4: Explore the campus
You are going to get lost – a lot – in your first few days at college. Don’t worry, this is normal, and if you are late for a few classes here and there, then you have an excuse. Still, you can make life easier for yourself by exploring your surroundings. Especially as you won’t have much to do on your first day, this is the perfect opportunity to spend time getting to know where things are. From the cafeteria to the library, make a mental note of how to get to places, or make notes on your phone. You might also meet people this way too, so remember to be polite and introduce yourself as you’re on your walk around the campus.
Finally
Don’t despair if you don’t meet anybody you like. Don’t worry if your first day threatens to overwhelm you. It will get easier, so try to stay calm and carry on, even when your nerves threaten to get the better of you. There is plenty more advice online on how to survive college life, including this excellent blog from Stephen Troese Jr, so gather as much info as you can to help you on your college journey.
Do you remember the days of being in college? For the most part, it’s full of so many happy memories, life lessons, and ways of creating a future for yourself. While college is still a place to grow independently without the supervision of parents, there is still the thought in the back of their minds about what the future holds for them, and what they need to do to ensure they get the right career. Among all of this pressure, there are still life lessons to learn in college.
The Big Money Problem
Your kids won’t really understand the value of money until they reach college. As they get older and start college, the things that they have to pay for grow and grow, and they aren’t always going to be able to rely on the bank of mom and dad to help them out. They really do need to learn the skill of managing money, and they’re never going to be able to do that if they know they’ve always got something to fall back on from you. You could even help them with their money management. As hard as college is on the finances, it definitely does help to teach a lesson or two.
Solo Living
They will have to learn to do things for themselves. Washing and drying, and perhaps even ironing. Keeping the room clean so that it doesn’t start to smell, and generally caring for themselves. You wouldn’t believe how many college kids hygiene levels drop in the first couple of months because they just can’t look after themselves. They have the stress of making new friends, getting used to college, and getting used to living on their own to deal with. So sometimes because of all of this stress, hygiene levels do drop! They also learn to enjoy their own company, which we really do think is an important life lesson. You can’t always rely on people to be around you, so being content being alone is an important life lesson.
Finding A Love For Travel
So, we’ve spoke about financial management and the stress of juggling living solo, so how on earth do they fit travel in!? Many colleges actually organize a couple of trips relating to sports, or the course they’re studying. A school trip company would organize the location and perhaps the itinerary, and all your kids would have to do is pay the fee to go. Trips or studying abroad teaches your student to enjoy other parts of the world, and be aware of world problems. Travel really does help to broaden then mind in other ways, and it’s such a good way to fill a life with memories, especially at college
The Real World
We would like to think that the biggest lesson they learn, is about the real world. Although they might not be in it just yet, they know it’s looming, and hopefully they understand how stressful it’s going to be. During high school, kids are sort of shielded from the realities of what adult life is going to be like, but during college, they really start to drum it in about the hardships out there. So, the lessons to be learned will involve the importance of finding and keeping a good job, and how to look after themselves.
The Importance Of Family
Finally, a big lesson they will hopefully learn is the importance of family. Family time is something that will become hard to come by while. But hopefully this lack of contact, but influx of support, teaches them why parents and family are the best people in their lives!
Move-in day is approaching and students are deciding which items to take to college and which should be left behind. Knowing the nature of a college dorm room, students are hesitant to take anything valuable with them to college. Even with supposed secure dorm entrances and locks on doors, most students do not take advantage of these safeguards.
Students allow other students to enter dorms without a key card and often leave their doors open or unlocked when going to class or other campus activities. No matter how conscientious your student is, they can’t count on a roommate to follow the same guidelines. Laptops, expensive textbooks, iPhones and other electronics are easily stolen in an instant if left unattended or secured.
This genius invention from a parent who met their student’s need is a must-have for any college student. It’s easily assembled by the student and it’s affordable–worth every penny you will spend. Watch the video below to see how it works and click the order button afterwards. Your student will love how easily it’s assembled and how it doubles as a computer stand, charging station and night stand while keeping valuables safe.
It’s already July and that means just a few short months left until college move-in day. Parents and students are crossing off tasks on their to-do lists as the summer progresses. At the top of the list is deciding what to take to college. My daughter, needless to say, overpacked. In her anticipation of moving so far away from home (over 2000 miles), she packed up her entire room to take with her. Once we arrived, we quickly discovered that her dorm was not equipped to house every pair of shoes, all her clothes, all her stuffed animals, every single picture frame and multiple snow globes.
It’s tempting to overpack for college. It’s also tempting to buy everything you see when shopping for dorm supplies. Check with your college for a list of dorm items you can and cannot bring. Most colleges (see Texas A&M) have this list posted on their website. But remember—just because you CAN bring something it doesn’t mean you will need it. College dorms are small and the philosophy of “less is more” will help you avoid overpacking.
Dorm essentials
One of the life lessons your new college student should learn is the difference between wants and needs. You can start by teaching them to narrow down their dorm essentials. It can easily become a massive list if you purchase every item on any dorm list. They may want everything on the list, but they don’t necessarily need everything.
Here’s a short list of items they will definitely need:
Bedding—You can’t just bring sheets from home. Dorm bed sizes are different. These are items you will have to purchase.
Clothing—Don’t bring every coat in your closet or every t-shirt in your drawer. Space is at a minimum.
Bathroom supplies—Sharing showers and bathrooms means you don’t want to forget your flip flops and a plastic caddy to carry your essentials back and forth from dorm to shower.
Electronics—Laptops and headphones are essential. Laptops can double for streaming entertainment. Don’t forget the power strips!
Simplifying the process
When my daughter attended college, we scrambled to find information regarding dorm essentials and packing tips. Today, there are so many options available: shipping directly to a dorm, packaged items in bulk to save, and much more. Parents can now easily prepare for move-in day by taking advantage of some of these options.
One such option is OCM’s Complete Campus Pack. By purchasing this all-in-one pack, you can save over $100 if you were to purchase these items separately. Here’s what you get:
As you prepare for college move-in day and start checking off items on your college packing list, make sure to consider OCM. They offer families convenience, products that are university-approved and a great value. Also, a percentage of your purchase goes directly back to support your student’s school.
Want to win one of these Complete Campus Packs? Head over to my Facebook page and leave me a comment. At the end of the week (July 6) I will choose a winner! Good luck!
For nearly 40 years, OCM has been the approved, official partner and endorsed sponsor for more than 900 college campuses and 1,500 campus organizations across the U.S. serving as a one-stop shop for affordable, college-approved dorm room supplies, care packages, and other college essentials. Students and parents can visit the new website at ocm.com to shop over 10,000 college-approved products, such as twin XL dorm bedding sets guaranteed to fit any dorm bed, dorm decor, bath sets, graduation frames, care packages, and more. Additionally, every OCM purchase sends dollars back to the student’s school for campus programming, and donations to more than a dozen local and non-profit organizations. To date, OCM has helped more than 6 million students and families and have sent $23M back to schools.
With offers of admission rolling in from ED and EA applications, now is a good time to start thinking about preparing for dorm life in the fall. With stores offering huge discounts during the holidays, there’s no better time to start stockpiling those dorm essentials in preparation for move in day.
College is an exciting time and getting ready for the move is a busy time. It’s essential to prepare and pack for your dorm as well as to think about some considerations associated with dorm life. The following tips will help you prepare for this important time in your life.
Dorm Rules
Before you run out to purchase expensive appliances, be sure to consult dorm room policies and procedures. Your dorm floor may have a fully-functioning kitchen and might frown on dorm-room appliances like hotpots used for cooking. You can also find out exactly what’s included in the dorm room–usually a closet, desk, and bed. Some universities will even supply a checklist of common items that their students bring along.
Bedding
You’ll need to bring bedding with you like sheets, pillowcases, and blankets. Bed Bath & Beyond has stylish and affordable bedding sets that you can purchase for use at college. You’ll find a great selection of throw pillows that will add to your comfort and can even be used on the floor to prop you up when doing homework.
Roommate
If you college provides you with the name and number for your dorm roommate, it’s a good idea to talk about a few things before moving in together. For instance, it can help to map out some rules for living together. Although everyone’s bedtime preference is different and something you’ll just have to deal with, you can agree on times when the television or music should be turned off out of consideration for the one who as that 8 AM class the next morning. You can also work out things such as who is bringing the T.V., coffee maker, or other items you’d be willing to share.
Shower Robe and Caddy
Since few dorm rooms have their own bathroom and shower, you’ll need to prepare for life in the dorm’s community bathroom. A robe, towels, and a shower caddy to tote your toiletries to and from the shower are essentials. While you’re at it, be sure to have a hamper in your room to discard your dirty laundry.
Storage Containers
Dressers aren’t standard dorm furnishings so be sure you bring plenty of hangers to hang up your clothes and storage containers to store clothing items like socks and underwear. Additional storage items like crates or baskets can be used to hold items like books, snacks, and outer wear like hats or mittens.
Pack for the Season
If you plan to visit home during or between semesters, you might want to pack only those clothes that you’ll need for the first semester. That way, it’ll be easier for you to keep your dorm room clean and clutter free. You want to bring along what you need, but you don’t need to bring everything either. Dorms are notoriously small, so keep the room dimensions in mind when you pack.
Living in a dorm can be so much fun, but it’s even better when you pack and prepare well for this big move. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll find they’ll enhance your dorm room experience.
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Robert Paulson is a life coach and has a grown-up family. He likes to share his insights and experiences on preparing for milestones in our life. Robert writes regularly for a number of consumer lifestyle websites.
College prep not only entails the typical kinds of prep: college applications, scholarship searches, test prep, essay prep and financial aid; but it should also include safety preparation. When you talk about safety, parents cringe. Their biggest fear in sending their student off to college is the concern that they will be safe away from their constant supervision. But keeping your student safe personally is just part of the equation.
Concern about safety comes with the parenting territory. For parents of the college-bound, the word safety encompasses both the physical and the financial varieties. Fortunately, the following safety tips for the former also apply to the latter, making it easier to teach.
It makes perfect sense to prepare your students for the ramifications of financial irresponsibility and physical threats. Before they leave for college, have discussions about the topics listed below and set your mind at ease about their safety.
Do you remember the days of being in college? For the most part, it’s full of so many happy memories, life lessons, and ways of creating a future for yourself. While 
Move-in day is approaching and students are deciding which items to take to college and which should be left behind. Knowing the nature of a college dorm room, students are hesitant to take anything valuable with them to college. Even with supposed secure dorm entrances and locks on doors, most students do not take advantage of these safeguards.
