all the sororities at unc

What’s the best way to start college?

Everyone gives you tons of advice about getting into college, but not starting college. (By that I mean moving in, making friends, getting your schedule nailed down…)

The only real piece of advice I can give you it to get involved with the things you love. That is how you will meet people with similar interests and build friendships that will last beyond college.

Meeting people:
My close friends from college (I graduated in 2008) are from my freshman year of living on campus and the people I worked with as an RA on campus in the years after. I recommend really taking advantage of the social opportunities of living on campus. You’re living with a diverse group of people who are still similar enough that you’re going to the same school and living in the same residence hall – there is something to be said for that connection! Don’t expect to be best friends with everyone, but be willing to get to know everyone and attend social events so that you can meet other people, too. I didn’t find classes to be a good source of close friends, but certainly of acquaintance friends. When you are in the same major as someone you’ll notice that you’ll have classes with them on and off throughout college and it’s nice to have that familiarity. I knew a number of people in my major and we would say hi in passing, but we didn’t hang out outside of class or projects. Clubs can be a good way to meet people, and certainly people with similar interests as you. I don’t just mean “club” like “chess club,” but also athletic groups, musical groups, academic groups, social groups, community service groups, etc. Get involved with a couple of clubs and develop your interests and meet some people in the meantime! If you can’t find a club you want to join – start one! It’s a good resume builder too, especially if you’re applying for jobs on campus.

What you need for living away from home:
The generics go pretty far and I’d say it depends on what comes with your room. Is there a closet, wardrobe, or dresser? Does the desk provide enough storage space for school supplies and computer stuff? Will you need a night stand or can you arrange your furniture so that you can set an alarm clock and lamp on a dresser and get a two-for-one? How big is the space and can you bring a lot more stuff in or is it cramped? What seating is there for guests? What type of lighting is there and should you bring more?

In my residence hall we had huge wardrobes so I bought a shelf to put inside it and break up the space so it was more usable. I also bought a lock for my closet (weird roommate situation) and had to buy a bike lock for my bike to store outside. I needed a new laundry hamper (I like the mesh kind because they take up less space when they’re empty), a shower caddy (sometimes halls have cubby storage or your own shower and you wouldn’t need one then), a long ethernet cord so my computer could be hooked up to the internet jack that was on the other side of the room (look into the internet options at your campus), and a loft kit for my bed so that I could put a couch underneath it to make better use of the space. If you have a roommate you’ll want to know what he/she is bringing too! You’ll probably want to buy a mattress topper or foam pad for your mattress, too.

Getting along with a roommate:
This just depends on you and the person. Your RA may give you a roommate agreement to discuss so you can discuss things like when you should be quiet, when you can play music and tv, what you can borrow of each other’s things, when you can have guests over, if you can have overnight guests, what things you will each bring or go halfsies on (maybe one brings a fridge, the other a tv), if it’s preferable to study there or elsewhere, if it’s preferable to socialize there or elsewhere, if the furniture is moveable how should it be arranged and how often should you change it, if you share a bathroom will you need a shower and cleaning schedule, are there cleaning supplies available for check-out or should you bring cleaning supplies and create a cleaning schedule, can you cook in the room, etc. There is a lot to consider when you’re sharing a room – so just be sure to be patient, flexible, and considerate!

Joining clubs and/or Greek life:
You can generally join a club and quit easily enough (unless you’re an officer or it’s an athletic club and they need you on the team for numbers or something), but Greek life can be a much bigger committment than a club. Greek life can be expensive with dues and fees and often requires certain time committments like live-in requirements, study hours, and events planning and attendance. It can be rewarding and is a good way to meet people, just be sure to check out your options and the requirements and expenses of joining a sorority. As for clubs – definitely! There are generally a diverse set of clubs on college campuses that cover all sorts of interests and they can be a good way to get involved (you may consider being an officer or starting a club to “up” the involvement) and meet people. You can join for fairly cheap in most cases (just dues and then occassional expenses fo

Zeta Phi Beta stepping at Project Uplift