June 26, 2012

Hot Wheels For College – Is A Car Necessary?

During the final few months before college, incoming freshmen and their parents often discuss the necessity of getting wheels for college. Incoming freshmen believe that they need to have a car, while their parents may question if it’s really necessary. The first year being away from college will be a test for many college students. To make sure it’s a success, you need to really examine why and where you will need one.

Most often, commuters will need a car. It is very difficult for two students to match up schedules perfectly. With night classes, early morning classes & large breaks during the day, commuting together can turn very inconvenient to say the least.  Short of having quick and readily accessible local transportation, a car is necessary.

If your college is far away, you must think how often you will return. If you’ll stay away until the end of semester or breaks, a car may not be necessary. If you return every other week, your parents may appreciate the break from driving you back and forth.

Employment is something more and more college students are looking for during college. If you plan on getting employment in a more rural or spacious college community, a car could be appropriate. Work study programs and close off campus employment in cities make it possible to get by without having a ride.
Personally, I believe that the few freshmen who enter college with a car are sometimes taken advantage of. It becomes really difficult the first 2 semesters to determine who your real friends are & who just needs a ride to WallyWorld (Wal-Mart).
You need to truthfully answer the question of “why am I getting this car?” If your reasoning is because everyone else will have one, think again. Car payments, insurance, gas and incidental charges like maintenance and parking permits will quickly add up to 1,000’s of dollars. If you are a cash-strapped student that lives in a city, on campus and is not employed, a car may not be advisable. If you are attending from out of state and have off campus employment, a car may be a great tool for you. These are just a few examples, to best apply to your case sit down with your parents and plan this out.

June 21, 2012

I Need A Gift Registry … Ooh, And A Featherbed!

Gift registries have become popular ways to facilitate gift giving. What was once secluded to Bridal and Baby occasions has now become a popular median for prospective college students. Some people question the principle of asking for specific gifts, but many more people believe registries provide a great way for college students to get exactly what they need for college. After all who needs three alarm clocks? In addition, many adults find these registries simplify a complicated process. Some adults are out of touch with modern college necessities and need a little guidance.

Some registries are administered exclusively by 1 site. These web sites maintain their database and constantly update when you add a new item to the registry, remove one or change a color or feature. This quick online feature means your entire family can browse what you need without asking you or blindly buying something. However, you may need to make a quite a few registries to cover all your dorm room necessities.
Covering everything you need, DormCo teamed up with a popular online gift registry, WishPot. This best of both worlds team up will let you get all your dorm room essentials in the same registry as the new shoes or clothing you would like as well. This ultimate convenience means family; relatives and friends can all search in one registry for dorm supplies you need. Best of all, you can avoid any of those lame Class of 20** picture frames.
Etiquette experts recommend that you avoid blatantly asking people to purchase you certain college supplies. A subtle way of introducing your registry would be to put it on a party invitation: gifts (optional) at ___ Registry.  In addition, the registry you give should be very practical college supplies and nothing too expensive or non-essential. Purchases like that will most likely be handled by your immediate family (They know what’s up). Now you are in the know about College Gift Registries.

June 12, 2012

Dorm Bedding - Don’t Count All Your Geese Yet!

It’s common knowledge that college beds are only a bit more comfortable than the floor. So when you plan for dorm life this fall, you have to look at getting yourself some quality featherbeds and duvet covers. Most students heading to college already know about memory foam and comforters. But duvet covers and featherbeds are the biggest kept secret to having quality sleep while away at college.

Featherbeds, like memory foam and egg crate mattress pads are what you sleep on top of. These featherbeds can only be compared to sleeping on a cloud. (Yes, that comfy!) The mattress topper can be filled with either duck feathers, geese feathers, down filling or a combination of any of these. And because they are designed with a “baffle construction”, this keeps all the fluffy feathers in place. When you find the right featherbed for you, a fitted sheet is another must have. This will help keep the featherbed literally locked down to your bed and prevent any shifting.

Duvet and Duvet Covers are what you sleep under. A duvet is basically a mattress comforter. You will find many great comforters at dorm supply sites like DormCo. The term duvet actually has its origins from northern Europe, where the winters were harsh and the waterfowl plenty. So you can rest assured (pun was intended) that you will sleep in comfort. College students know that washing comforters is always a pain, especially at college. Duvet covers slide over your duvet much like a pillow case and pillow, facilitating the cleaning process for college students.

It is now time to break out of the flock of college students who always look towards microfiber and memory foam bedding accessories. While both are very high quality dorm supplies, sometimes students like you want something a little different, something not as mainstream. These natural options are sure to impress you.

June 7, 2012

The Importance of Extracurricular Activities in College

So you did it! You graduated, and you have a couple months of freedom until it's off to college where you'll have even more freedom. You might have been happy to say "Adios!" to your extracurricular activities from high school, but it's not quite time to say goodbye. Extracurricular activities serve a great purpose in enjoying a well-rounded college experience, and there are a number of reasons why that is so.

Reason #1:
You meet like-minded people. College is known for being the place and time in your life where you are likely to meet the biggest variety of people who come from all walks of life and have different views and opinions. Whether you're joining a club or intramural sport, the chess club, a professional organization (which I highly recommend!), a club dedicated towards service and volunteering, a politically-affiliated organization, or even the Quidditch team if that's what tickles your fancy. No matter what kind of club or organization you're joining, you'll love knowing that you're spending some of your free time with people with the same interests as you. Joining an extracurricular activity that pertains to something you're passionate about gives you an immediate bond and starting point for a friendship with the other people in the club.

Reason #2:
It's a good resume booster. I'm sure you've heard this before in high school. "Join all the extracurriculars you can so it'll look good on your college applications!" It's even truer for college clubs and organizations that you join. There are two different circumstances for why this is true:
Circumstance 1: You're a college student studying public relations, and you join your school's chapter of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America). If you apply for a scholarship, internship, or job, especially one that is directly in the PR field, it will look like you're a proactive student for joining professional organizations as an undergraduate. In fact, there are some jobs who will give preference in hiring (or only hire) those applicants that are in fact affiliated with the related professional organization, since it looks like they have true dedication and interest in the field.
Circumstance 2: Taking the Quidditch team example that I mentioned earlier, let's say you're a Harry Potter fanatic. While being on a Quidditch team is a bit whimsical and not necessarily the kind of academia-related achievements that you typically see on resumes, you never know when it's going to get you some bonus points with an interviewer. If one of your hobbies listed on your resume is "playing Quidditch," and your interviewer asks you about that and ends up being a fan of the series as well, that is a bond that he or she will remember you by when recalling all of the applicants for the position. You might be neck-in-neck for qualifications with another applicant, but if you've bonded with your interviewer over a common love for Quidditch and all things Harry Potter, there is no doubting that you're catching the golden snitch in this game. (AKA you're definitely getting the job).

Reason #3:
Partying doesn't count as an extracurricular. While many students go into college excited for tons of parties and wild times, it's important to remain in balance. Being able to do a kegstand isn't going to get you a job in 4 years, but having experience working with a non-profit might. As cliche as it sounds, going to college is an awesome opportunity that many aren't lucky enough to have. Volunteering some of your free time to help out a charitable organization not only looks good, but it feels good too. There are seven days in the week; there is plenty of time for both partying and productivity, if that's what you so desire. Just always remember, if you're going to party hard, you've got to work hard too.

Don't know where to start to get involved with your school's clubs and organizations? Check out your College's organizational fair at the beginning of the semester, ask some of your classmates for suggestions, and/or browse your school website. There are so many opportunities you won't want to miss! And while you're out joining some extracurricular activities, be sure to try something new, too. :)