Confession

I don't want to graduate.

Next Tuesday will be the first day of my last semester as an undergrad. I will have managed to complete a four-year degree in... four years. And somehow, it doesn't feel right. I feel as though i should have stayed longer, tried for some harder classes, had a full-time job while I was in College. Maybe dated a little more.

But on the other hand, I can't complain too much about how things have gone. I went to a school I loved, found a great boyfriend, joined a fantastic sorority, choose a major that will be useful to what I want to do, and made great friends, whom I hope I will never drift away from.

And on top of that it will be great to be done with college, even if I do take more undergrad classes. I'll have my own apartment, which means that all of my belongings will be consolidated into one location instead of at two ends of the state, and I won't have to move once a year. On top of that I will find a job and start making progress towards acheiving my dream.

Still, considering  all of those things, I'm still not ready. I don't even know if I'll be able to find a decent job, one that will allow me to afford an apartment and living expenses. Living in the dorms has kind of been a sheltered experience. I never had to worry about food, I was on my mom's health insurance, and I could bum rides from friends any time I  needed to go somewhere not in walking distances. I also am unsure if my classes really prepared me for real life. All my teachers meant well, I have no doubt, but everything seems so theoretical.

Either way, I know I'll make it out in the real world alive. And I do still have one semester to prepare.

Housing Problems

For the last couple of years (fall of 2008 was the beginning of this trend) colleges and universities across the country have been experiencing record enrollment numbers, and fall of 2010 isn't supposed to be all that different. The biggest problem with having this number of students is what to do with them. Many new students are traditional students expecting to live on campus. Unfortunately, between the sudden influx of students and continuing budget cuts, expanding student living is not always an option, especially for the short term.

A major problem that this leads to is students come to campus for orientation and have no idea where they are going to live for the next few months. Some students end up in triples when the room is meant for only two students, other times up to ten students are living together in a lounge.

Traditionally, colleges accept more students than they can house because they know some students will not show up and the rooming assignments will even out. Unfortunately, with even greater numbers of students applying, there are still too many students without rooms.

Several solutions are possible, and are done. One is to allow more students to live off campus. This works in some towns, but other times there is not enough off campus housing within a short distance. If money for students is an issue, schools may choose to allow financial and scholarships to cover off-living expenses. Another thing some colleges do is to focus on recruiting more non-traditional students. They will still bring money into the school, but the college does not have to worry about housing them. Schools will also turn spaces that are not normally used for living spaces into rooms. This is probably the least advisable option. Finally, schools can simply choose to turn away more students by raising their admissions standards.

Have you ever been caught in the middle of housing overfill? How did it affect the first few days of school? How does your school deal with it? What do you think is the best short-term fix? Reply in the comments section.

http://readme.readmedia.com/On-Campus-Housing-Full-at-SUNY-Canton/1604028
http://www.4029tv.com/news/24263125/detail.html

What to Keep out of Your Dorm Room

On friday, I posted a list of necessities for dorm rooms. Here is a list of things that should stay out of dorm rooms:

• A pet- most dorms will tell you that you can keep a pet as long as it cannot survive out of water, but even a gold fish might be inadvisable. No matter how responsible you are, it gets difficult to remember to feed it. Sometimes you'll be out of the room so much you won't be able to feed it.
• Strong scents- in small places scents will pervade the air. Some people might even have allergies. So do your floor a favor and stick with basic perfumes or colognes and shower every day with regular soap and shampoo.
• Video game consoles- they will be too distracting and you will never want to get anything else done. I've seen it happen. The same is true with computer games such as The Sims.
• Junk- if you don't need it, don't bring it.
• Cigarettes- this isn't a "smoking is bad for you" lecture, but cigarettes are expensive. Money will be tight as it is, and that three dollars a day could be put towards food, school supplies, or savings for when you have to start paying back loans.
• Large amounts of cash-You may be living with your roommate, but the truth is you can't trust them yet. Or any one else on your floor if you leave your door unlocked.
• A car- most students will be divided on this but I think the best thing to do, especially if you are a freshman, is to leave the car at home. You will save a lot in gas money, and you'll get to know more people since you will be staying on the weekends, using public transportation, and sharing rides. Also, parking is a huge hassle that will be stressful, particularly the first couple of weeks.

What to Keep in Your Dorm Room

On Wednesday I gave some tips on making the most of the space you have, so here are some tips for what you'll need in your dorm. These may vary depending on what your school is like and what it provides.


• Snacks- keep them relatively healthy and nonperishable, but always have some junk food on hand as well. Also have enough stuff for an actual meal in case you want to keep working straight through supper time, even if the meal is Ramen.



• Cleaning supplies- these will vary depending on what kind of dorm you have, but between you and your roommate I would advise having at least a small vacuum cleaner.



• A clock radio-if possible, get all of your electronic needs in one item i.e. a radio with a C.D. player and iPod dock.



• Bedding



• School supplies



• A computer- a laptop is best, since it will take up less space and is portable. Just keep it charged.



• Pictures from home



• A few nick nacks


• Containers- the more organized your space is, the more room you'll have. Just don't forget where you put stuff.

Making the Most of Your Space

Not only are dorms small, you are also sharing the space. Here are some tips to keep you from getting overcrowded:

1. Think about what you will really need. If you cannot see an immediate (and logical) need for an item, leave it at home.



2. Remember, you can ask your parents to ship anything you find yourself needing.



3. Shelves will be your best friend.



4. Discuss with your roommate what things only one of you could bring. You do not need two refridgerators, two T.V.s AND two telephones. (On the telephone front, it might be best to substitute your cellphone as your regular phone.)



5. Make use of the space under your bed. You can also buy posts that will give you an extra nine inches or so of storage.



6. Make sure you have a clear path to your door. I was once actually told that my room was so messy, it was a fire hazard. It really was, because I stubbed my toe several times during the night.



7. Talk to your roommate about who's space is who's. I know this sounds territorial, but you will have an easier time making compromises, especially if you are on opposite ends of the organizational spectrum.



8. Know where everything is.



9. Clean up regularly. I hate cleaning as much as the next person, but this will make finding stuff and packing easier, and the cleaner and more organized a room is, the more space it seems to have. Also, I've always preferred to hang out in clean rooms as opposed to messy rooms, so it has a social benefit as well.

Yard Sales

I hope everyone had a good Fourth of July, filled with fireworks and food. Since we're all still in a vacation sort of mood (especially with today being a federal holiday) let's talk about one of the key parts of summer: yard sales.

During the summer, yard sales are a great way to kill some time in a creative way, and to stock up on all that stuff you never knew you needed. You can get some simple decorations for your dorm, vintage clothing (wash it before you wear it), especially dishes, all for cheap. Here is an article about what you should and should not get at garage sales.

What awesome finds have you gotten from yard sales? What's the craziest thing you've ever seen for sale at one? And what do you refer to them as anyways? Rumage sales? Garage sales? Post your answers in the comments section.