Living on your own can take some getting used to. If you happen to be doing so
on a college campus, there are sometimes variables in the equation that might
make the experience even more different, such as lack of a car, kitchen, or
sense of direction. When you first get to campus, you should block out some time
to locate the places and things that you're going to need later on. Having these
bare necessities located and accessible to you is going to make life a whole lot
easier.
Money
When you get to your school, you'll need to know where
your bank is in relation to campus. Since banks keep such strict hours, you may
only have so much time in a day that you are able to get there, between classes,
activities, etc. Once you've pinpointed where your bank is, you'll be able to
gauge how much time you'll have to take care of your
finances.
For after-hours banking
and just general convenience, you'll also want to know where the closest ATM is.
You might not have enough time to make it to the bank and back before the
delivery guy gets there. And then what was the point of getting delivery anyway?
There is probably an ATM right on campus, if not more than one. The student
center is a likely location. There may also be a convenience store that's closer
by (or charges less money for a transaction). The point is: sometimes you need
money quick. It's good to know, ahead of time, how to get it.
Groceries
Whatever your cooking amenities are, from a full
kitchen to just a microwave, you're going to want some food in your room. You'll
also need to replenish your toiletries. Whether you choose to do this at a
grocery store or a convenience store is up to you, but you should find out where
these places are and compare how much you'll end up paying if you shop at them.
Food
For many, dietary regrets are as central to college life as
learning is. There are no doubt a number of local eateries that provide
relatively quick and inexpensive food. Students that have lived on or around
campus for a while will know which places are better than others. You may also
want to find out what places are open late for when your schedule doesn't allow
for traditional meal times.
You'll also want to check out which places
deliver and will do so to campus. Some restaurants won't deliver food to dorm
buildings for a variety of reasons.
TIP: All-night diners can be a great
place to study late. They tend to be quiet, and the coffee is usually pretty
cheap.
Just getting to
know
your campus probably isn't going to be enough for you to have a successful,
comfortable life at school. Explore the neighboring town or towns and see what
they have to offer you.
