Xatal

On the list of college dorm necessities, I mentioned that you might want to bring a pair of flip-flops to college for the showers. There’s a pretty good reason for this, and if you don’t have a pair of flip-flops for showering, you should really get one.

Showers are a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.

College dorm showers are an ideal place for bacteria and fungi to grow. Showers are moist environments, and all it takes is one person with athlete’s foot or some other foot condition to make life worse for everyone on the dorm floor.

You aren’t at home, and there’s no way to know what other people do in the shower. Chances are you don’t want to know: some people have really disgusting shower habits. Believe me — I’m male, we talk about these things from time to time. With as many as 10-20 people using the same shower daily, things can get gross fast. Even if the common bathroom showers are cleaned daily, you do not want to shower barefoot. In fact, you should never even enter the dorm bathroom barefoot. Always go in with socks, flip flops, shoes, or some sort of protection for your feet.

The best way to solve this problem is to go to Wal-Mart or some other store that sells very cheap shoes. You can buy a cheap pair of flip-flops for only a couple of bucks. Don’t worry about style or if they aren’t the most comfortable things ever — you’re not going to wear them around while walking nor in public. Plastic ones are especially nice (as opposed to very foamy ones) because they’ll dry much faster. Read the rest of this entry »

Before leaving for college, I remember telling my mom, “I won’t get sick at school — I have a great immune system!” I honestly believed it too — I rarely ever get sick, and when I do, it’s usually nothing more serious than a cold.

But sure enough, within only two weeks of moving in I started to feel my first illness coming on. With so many people around, it becomes incredibly easy for diseases to spread. My disease, however, didn’t come from contact with anybody at school — I actually contracted it while at home, and it was hitting me for the first time. And, unfortunately, this was no common cold: this was mono.

Being sick at college can be pretty miserable

As I’m writing this, I’m finally getting over my illness, and it’s not a moment too soon. I’d like to share a few things that I’ve learned firsthand about being sick at college that might help you if you ever find yourself in a similar position as I was in (let’s hope not!).

Being sick when you’re away at college is completely different than being sick back home while you’re in high school. Back home, Mom could take care of you and you could more easily afford to miss several days of school in order to regain your health.

But when you’re sick at college, you’re on your own, and you have to manage on your own. When you first discover that you’re sick, this is definitely a bit daunting — it’s really tough being sick when you’re alone and away from home. But there are ways of managing! This post contains some pointers about how to manage both your health and your schoolwork while sick, as well as some other general tips to keep in mind while sick.

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It rained for the first time of the school year on Friday here in Santa Cruz. This was a rather… interesting event.

At UC Santa Cruz, the tradition is known as “First Rain”: on the first major rain of the year, kids run through campus naked (streaking).

It started raining fairly late at night (about 10 PM), and the general rule is that it has to be a GOOD rain — sprinkles don’t count — and it has to last a while.

My roommate and I ventured outside at around midnight to see just how much truth there was to the tradition. We walked up part of campus to see what the hubbub was, but there wasn’t too much. The rain was pouring down hard and it was very chilly, so we decided to head back in.

Just as we’re nearing our dorm, we hear cheers off in the distance, steadily growing louder. We decided to wait a bit, and then… Read the rest of this entry »

Typically, colleges will divide the academic year using either the semester system or a quarter system. The two are very different, and if you’re not ready for the switch, it can be very tough on you.

Most high schools use the semester system: you receive one set of permanent grades after the first semester ends (around Christmas) and one set of permanent grades at the end of the school year. Between semesters, you might switch a few classes around.

However, some colleges opt for what’s known as the ‘quarter system’ instead. The quarter system is far more fast-paced than the semester, and getting used to the difference can be a bit tough.

So what’s the essential difference between the two? Is one better than the other? It really comes down to your study habits as a student and your own preferences. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re leaving for college soon for the first time, chances are you’re keeping a close watch on that calendar and watching the days tick away. As it gets closer and closer, the reality that you’re going to be leaving home will start to sink in. Already you’re probably feeling the excitement increasing.

But admit it, you’re probably a bit nervous too. For the first time, you’ll be on your own. If you’re used to your parents constantly being there for you and hawking over you, this is going to be quite the new experience. It’s definitely best to start fending for yourself. Becoming more self-reliant now will save you a lot of hassle of having to learn it later on.

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No matter what you choose as a major, be aware that your life’s goals can change very fast, and it’s best to pick a college with enough choices to accommodate that.

Unfortunately, I have a recent story that goes with this.

For the longest time, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be an economics major or an engineering major. When I applied to UC Santa Cruz, I noticed they didn’t have the engineering fields I was most interested in (structural, civil, and/or aerospace), so I just put down economics.

Ever since I chose to go there, I have been pretty happy with economics and haven’t really thought of switching. I knew my heart wasn’t dead-set on it, but for the time being it sounded good.

Fast-forward to yesterday. I’m watching some video on YouTube about roller coasters, and it occurs to me how cool it would be to design them. I’ve only been interested in engineering when it comes to stuff that I’m especially fond of (planes, bridges, buildings, etc), and since I have a love for roller coasters, I realized just how much of an awesome job that would be for me.

Seriously, how cool would it be to engineer one of these?!

So I hop on Google and search for “Roller coaster engineers”, where I find that there are generally three types of engineering degrees that are used in the process: mechanical, structural, and electrical. I already knew Santa Cruz didn’t offer structural, but I figured there was a good shot of it offering mechanical. I went to the UCSC majors page to look to see if it was there, and…

Son of a…

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As it comes closer and closer to the time to move in to your new college dorm, you’re going to eventually be faced with the prospect of buying all of the wonderful things you’ll need next year. While buying new things is always exciting, when you need a whole bunch of things for your new dorm, it’s pretty easy to forget at least one or two things.

Your school surely sent you a nice list of things you should bring, but a lot of times that list is very brief and will leave off many essential items. I’ve just finished my own shopping, and I put together a nice list of things I have bought, have considered buying, or have been recommended to buy.

Now, every college is different. What you need will vary from school to school. Some of these will be provided for you (like wastebaskets), and some may not apply to you depending on what your dorm is like (like a rug). Your school will surely have guidelines about what is acceptable and what is not, and these will definitely vary from school to school. If you are at all unsure, it’s always best to either ask the school or to ask someone who has lived in your college’s dorms before.

Also, only bring what you will actually use. If there’s something on this list that you won’t ever use, then don’t buy it! When it comes to toiletries and school supplies, everybody has his or her own tastes and preferences. Do what works for you. This list is only here to help remind you of what it might be nice to have.

All that said, here’s a list of things that you might want to have

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Whether or not you chose a roommate or were assigned one, you’re now stuck living with somebody for the next few months of your life. Obviously, you want that to be as good of an experience as possible for the both of you.

It’s best to get a start on building a strong bond well before you guys start living together. No matter what, it will be awkward at first, but you can do your best to eliminate at least some of it beforehand.

If you already know the person you’re going to be living with, a lot of this you won’t have to worry about, but for those of us who are starting fresh,  it’s best to have something to start with.

To begin, Read the rest of this entry »

Having a good roommate is essential to your well-being. Having a roommate you don’t get along with is something you never want. Imagine coming home after a long day only to see someone you really can’t stand. Is that really want you want? Probably not, so make your choice wisely.

A lot of the time, you’re going to be stuck with someone you’ve never met before. This isn’t that bad — it gives you a great chance to branch out and meet new people. Most schools have a survey that you fill out to help partner you who is similar to you. If you’ve been assigned a roommate by your school, but you don’t know the person, read here to find out how to start building a friendship.

However, if you’re going to a school where you already know a lot of people (like a school that’s close to home), you’ve no doubt considered dorming with someone you’re already friends with. Because most schools will give you a chance to request a specific person to room with, this is very possible. And that’s all good and well, but just because you two are best friends doesn’t mean you can stand living with each other in a small room. Here are a few important questions to ask yourself when considering who to choose as a dormmate: Read the rest of this entry »

Seeing as it’s summer, now is the time when a lot of kids will start touring campuses they’re interested in attending. Visiting a college is huge, and a lot of times that’s what will inevitably make or break a decision. I know I would have chosen a different school had I not visited all of my options beforehand.

If the college is only a short drive away, then visiting it won’t be too big of a deal. However, if the college is far away from you, you might only get one chance to go there and tour it. It’s important that you get it right and make the most out of it.

For me, the most important part of college tours was the general feel I got from the campus. Some schools I saw had a very prestigious feel, while others had a very laid-back feel. In the end, that vibe you get will help play a crucial part in deciding where you want to go.

You want to make sure that overall feeling is accurate. Here are some suggestions to ensure that it is by making the most of your college tour: Read the rest of this entry »

I just got back from my orientation, so I’m a little fresh about this. :]

If you’re going to college, chances are they offer an orientation program. If you’re debating whether or not to attend it, you definitely should as it’s a great source of any information that you need.

Every school’s freshman orientation program is different, but here are some things to expect:

1. A long speech. The school will likely give an introductory speech from some esteemed member of the staff.
2. Information about requirements. You’ll probably be given information about general ed and/or major requirements to help you pick your classes.
3. Dorm information. My freshman orientation didn’t do this (and I wish it had), but your school might show you in a few of the dorms and talk about them. Some orientation programs have you stay the night in the dorm to get a feel for it.
4. Stuff for parents. The school is going to try to persuade your parents that their money is well-spent and that you’re going to be safe. If the orientation program keeps you there with your parents, be ready for a long talk about the school’s boasting points and the like.
5. Tour of the campus. Another thing I didn’t have, but I know some schools do. They might take you around and show you more of the school. You might find out more about what the cafeterias are like, you might find out where the library is, and so forth. The school wants to start introducing you to where you’re going to be living.

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