Pro-tips From a Semi-pro

Since I am a freshman entering my third week of classes, I am by no means a pro at navigating college life. However, I wanted to share a few random bits of knowledge I have picked up so far. Here are some of my tips on how to become an IU (semi) pro:

1. Do NOT go to Wright Food Court during regular meal times. If you want to stand in line for an hour for stir fry or wait thirty minutes for fries, then go to lunch between 12 and 1 or dinner between 6 and 7:30. Otherwise, steer clear and become a fan of eating at odd times. 
2. Laundry: Buy pods instead of a whole bottle of laundry detergent. The pods have everything you need all in one little package and it's one less thing to have to lug to the laundry room.
3. Don't study in your room. Being in your room all the time gets old real fast. Instead, go to the Wells library or sit outside against a tree and read. One of my new favorite things to do is to explore campus by finding new places to study.
4. Walking shoes are going to become your new best friend, so invest in a good pair. On days when I have to go from Teter to Ballantine to Woodburn to Swain West and then back to Teter, I am so thankful for my comfy sneakers. 
5. On a side note: opt for flip-flops or sandals on your least busy days in order to avoid the smell that will eventually take over your shoes.
6. On a side side note: break in all your new shoes before getting to campus because light walking days just don't exist and they will just sit in your closet.
7. For those of you preparing to come to IU: make a short pass phrase when you set up your account on Onestart. After having to put my 20 character pass phrase into Onestart about a billion times a day in order to check my email, look at my bursar account, or check out my classes on Oncourse, I really wish I had gone a simpler route.
8. This going to sound stupid but, go to things! There are always tons of events happening on campus and you never know what you'll discover. By making a last minute decision to go to RecFest, I found the IU Western Equestrian Team which I didn't know they had here and is perfect since I used to ride in rodeos and have been dying to get back on a horse and back in a barn.
9. Free stuff: this has to do with my last point about going to things, but free stuff is literally everywhere. There isn't one event I have attended where I didn't walk away with a handful of goodies. If that doesn't make you want to go to an event then I really just don't know how to talk to you.
10. Decorate your room. This may seem obvious, but I can't tell you how many dorm rooms I've walked into and since perhaps one poster on the wall. I created a homey atmosphere by putting up a bunch of pictures of my family and my high school friends (and new college friends!) up next to my bed and around my desk.
11. Talk. To. Your. Roommate. If there is an issue, bring it up. By not talking about any issues you have, it just creates a tension filled atmosphere and that is not a good vibe you want to have where you live.  

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