Preparing for college life

Are you stressed about fitting in when you go to college? Does the idea of eating at the dorm cafeteria make you queasy even though you haven’t yet tasted the food? Adjusting to life in college can be a little tricky, but CU Succeed® is here to help! Pay close attention to the following list of things to do and things not to do and you’ll be a step ahead of the other freshmen when you arrive on campus.

Don’t: Pack every last one of your 78 stuffed animals and expect them to fit in your dorm room.
Do: Contact your roommate before moving in, if possible, so that you can get acquainted and plan what each of you will bring. Dorm rooms don’t often have room for two stereos and two televisions.

Don’t: Let your mom write your name on all of your clothing like she did every year for summer camp.
Do: Stay with your clothes in the laundry room to prevent someone from accidentally borrowing them.

Don’t: Run home after your first meal at the dorm because the food is so bad.
Do: Try to be creative in the cafeteria and remember basic nutrition.

Don’t: Arrive early and hang up all 30 of your death metal band posters before your roommate arrives.
Do: Decorate respectfully and communicate with your roommate about what you put up on the walls.

Don’t: Be surprised if you get disgusting foot fungus after showering barefoot in the communal shower.
Do: Try wearing flip flops!

Don’t: Expect the trash to magically disappear from your dorm room.
Do: Try to fight your inner pig and clean your messes once in a while. Dorms don’t have maid service and your mom’s not there to pick up after you.

Don’t: Leave all your bathroom stuff in the shower and then get angry when you show up the next day and the shampoo is empty and the soap is missing.
Do: Carry your shower supplies to the shower in a plastic shower bucket and take them back to your room with you when you’re done.

Follow these tips and your first days at college should be a little easier. While the transition to college life might be rocky, hang in there – it’s worth it.