Do You Know How To Fry An Egg?

You probably aced most of your classes in high school, and now you're ready for The Great Adventure aka college. You're learning how to navigate Financial Aid, purchase your textbooks, and get your housing set up.


But, what about the practical side of life? Before you leave home, here are some things that are really helpful to know when there's no parent to help, aka Adulting 101:

• Could you make your own doctor or dentist appointment? Do you know who to call? Do you know how to get a prescription filled? There is often an on-campus clinic; otherwise, you'll have to find somewhere nearby that you can be seen. Check with your parent about what clinic or doctor is covered by your medical insurance, and how that will work. You can't generally just go anywhere you choose, because your medical insurance won't pay for it. Make a list of clinics that work with your insurance.

• Do you have a place where all your passwords for important stuff is kept? There should be another place besides your phone: Phones run out of battery just when you need them, they break, and they get lost. One good idea is to write your passwords down but have a friend keep them.
• Can you check the oil level in your car? Check the tire pressure? Can you change a tire? Would you know what to do if your car conks out? Have a parent or someone show you how to do basic maintenance, and seek out a mechanic that might be a possibility if you need one, close to campus.

BONUS: NEWS FLASH: Did you know you might be able to save on your insurance premiums if you are not bringing a car with you to campus? You don't need full coverage if you won't be driving it, and you can put coverage back on if you go home on break. There can also be reduced premiums if you're going to have your car, but will live in a more rural area (not in the Twin Cities). Ask your insurance agent about these potential savings.

• Can you use an ATM?

• Do you know how to check your bank balance online? Do you keep track of your purchases?
• What would you do in an emergency? For example, if you had a car accident-Do you know where your insurance company's number is? You should have an insurance card in your wallet or in your car. What about a medical emergency? Or, what would you do, or where would you go, if your dorm was unavailable because the water main broke? Or if the power went out?
• Do you know how to do a load of laundry? How to sort colors and whites? How much detergent to use? How to dry clothes? How to fold them? Have someone show you how before you find yourself with no clean clothes.

• Can you make simple food, such as eggs? Mac and cheese from a box? Cook a burger? Follow a recipe? Also, could you make a grocery list to get the stuff to make something? Do you know how to store leftovers safely?  Have someone show you how to do these things. Some 3-ingredient recipes:  https://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelysanders/genius-three-ingredient-recipes?utm_term=.ttpp7ZgwR#.asPKALvP7

• Do you know what items constitute healthy or healthier eating? Why should you not eat pizza seven days a week? Remember your basic food groups? Have. Some. Fruit. And. Vegetables.

• Can you sew on a button that's loose or has fallen off? It's not hard!!
• Do you know how to clean a bathroom?
• Can you tie a tie? Here's how: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+tie+a+tie&&view=detail&mid=B1000A43D8489DFCB1ACB1000A43D8489DFCB1AC&FORM=VRDGAR
• Can you change the sheets on your bed?
• How will you get up in the morning? Do you have an alarm clock? Or are you going to use your phone? Is it loud enough to make you wake up?

• How does your college communicate important news to you (like campus is closed due to weather, the most hoped-for news): Is it through your campus e-mail? Check it every day!
• If there is public transportation near you, do you know how to use it? How do you get a bus token or pass, and where does the bus take you? How long will it take to get where you're going? Is there a shuttle bus that can take you to and from campus? How does that work?

These are things you might want to consider as you move into adulting: you can do it, and what you don't know, you can learn. Because those that came before you, learned how to adult, and you can, too.

What Not To Bring To College: 25 pair of jeans and the Dreaded Futon

Have you seen all the merchandise in stores for 'back to college' or  to 'outfit your dorm'?

 

I have a secret to tell you: You need approximately none of those things to start your year. New freshmen and their parents tend to be persuaded they'll use all sorts of things, but they won't. Here's a reality check:

 

The overriding idea is this: Think of a dorm as a home for tiny little miniature gnomes where everything is 1/4 scale. The keyword is 'Tiny.' A typical dorm has just enough room for the twin size extra long 'beds' it has, the tiny desks and perhaps a tiny bookshelf for each person, and there will be a tiny closet. Space for anything you bring in is really limited.

-Doing laundry during college is not going to be a priority. That doesn't mean bring more clothes. Trust me.
-You'd be surprised how little you actually need in terms of clothing:

• 4 pairs of pants or jeans
• 4 shirts
• 2 hooded sweatshirts
• 2 or 3 pair of shoes (yes, that seems minimalistic to some)
• 7 pair socks, 7 underwear
• 2 pair pajamas or what passes for pajamas
• jackets, one that's really warm for winter
• winter scarf or hat, mittens or gloves

So much for clothing.

Here are items actually found in a dorm checklist from a well known store. Revised title:
Completely Pointless Items Nobody Ever Uses in College:

• Iron and ironing board (you will use these never....and this carries on into adult life)
• Vacuum (you must be kidding)
• Your own shower curtain (the great majority of dorm showers are multi-stall and not private)
• Set of dishes ...skip these, or buy four plates and four bowls from Goodwill or a garage sale. All you really need. Ditto silverware.
• Sewing kit: Would you actually use it? I thought not.
• A lap desk?? Really?
• A jewelry organizer... for what?
• Bed skirt  (that's actually pretty funny)

                                                              Whatever it is, where would you put it?

• Several sets of sheets .... Nope, you need one set, maybe two. See laundry habits above.
• Storage trunk. And this would go where?
• Shoe storage racks. Everyone knows that shoes are thrown on the floor of the closet.
• Scale.Seriously?
• Lounge seating. Where is this lounge exactly??
• Clothing steamer
• Coffee maker
• Dining table (they actually suggested that)
• Garment Bags

• Skirt hangers (unless you wear skirts all the time, I suppose)
• Closet organizer (ha!)
• Gym bag
• Socks to wear with rain boots
• An upgraded shower head, if your school allows it
• Self Tanning lotion, as well as eye cream, foundation, and concealer
• Formal clutch (that's a purse you use with a formal dress)
• Formal dress
• Little black dress
• Going out purse (??)
• Sleep mask
• Tool kit

Remember, you're sharing the tiny dorm with someone else. Be considerate of your roommate, too.

 

And the most egregious idea ever invented and foisted upon college freshmen and their parents:
(drum roll)                                    ****A futon****


Do not, let me repeat, do not purchase a futon for a dorm room

• There's not enough room in the dorm
• They're not fun to carry and wrangle and maneuver into a dorm room
• They're always bigger than you think they are
• They're awful to sleep on even if you could get it into the room
• There's already two or more 'beds' in the room, there is no room for a futon
• Did I mention there's no room?

•  Your parent(s) will try valiantly to deliver said futon, and when they've gotten up all 12 floors and realize it won't work, they'll have to bring it back down again. This will not make them happy.
• On a hot August or early September day, the last thing you want to deal with is moving a futon. Trust me.
• Yes, you're probably 'lofting' the beds in your dorm. No, that doesn't mean there's room for a futon underneath. A couple of lawn chairs and a cardboard box for a table, yes.

If you want more great examples of what not to bring, simply visit a college campus in the dorm area either at the end of spring or the beginning of fall semester and take a look at the sidewalks and dumpsters: You'll see an abundance of furniture left behind, some of it perfectly good. Those are all things people didn't want or wouldn't fit anywhere, but they didn't care to take back home. You may be able to furnish your first apartment this way....but not a dorm.

 

Here are some things that actually are helpful:


A Fan.  The great majority of dorms are not air conditioned, and the end of August/beginning of September is hot.


 That's all I can think of. Bring a fan.