New student guide
From Rofflehaus
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This guide is primarily for new students who live in the Dorms. If you live Off campus or in the Greek Community check out one of these other guides:
Contents |
[edit] Things to bring
- Clothes
- If you don't live in a cold climate, you need some warm clothes to tolerate those rare -30 F winter days
- If you don't live in a warm climate, you need some cool clothes to tolerate the hot, humid summers
- Swimming & beach gear can probably stay at home: we ain't got no good beaches, just a couple indoor pools. You may want to bring one swimsuit, just in case your floor wants to put together an intramural inner-tube water basketball team.
- Likewise, (mountain) skiing gear can probably stay at home, unless you like storing things for winter/spring break trips to colorado
- TV, DVD/VCR, etc.
- Couch
- Computer(s)/laptop(s)
- Backpack or something else to haul books, notebooks, folders, writing utencils, etc.
- Mini-fridge to keep your beer (or pop) cold
- Microwave if you don't live in Frederiksen Court. (your house might have one, but trust me, you don't want to use it.)
- Bedding/pillow(s)
- Iron and ironing board if you're into that non-wrinkled clothes look
[edit] Before you come to Ames
[edit] Roommates
Might be worth your time to call your future roommates (if you have any) and coordinate on who's bringing schwhat. Also, if possible try to get there first in order to grab prime closet space and arrange the room as you see fit.
[edit] Cable
The dorms and Frederiksen Court have expanded cable included. Be sure you have a coax cable to connect your TV since Ames seems to sell out of them on move-in weekend. You don't want to wait or drive to Ankeny or Des Moines to get a stupid cable, do you?
[edit] Ethernet
Another good cable to get is ethernet cable. It can be obtained for much less in your hometown than here at Best Buy. Make sure to buy a long cable (25 feet is a good length), as most of the dorms have jacks that are quite a distance from the desks. For all of you with laptops, get an ethernet cable anyway. Yes, the campus has wireless, but the university wireless network doesn't reach most dorm rooms. If you have a little bit of technological prowess, you can bring a wireless access point and install it in your room (just don't tell AIT about it). Guess what, you still need an ethernet cable to plug that in, so just buy one already!
If you do forget to bring an ethernet cable, they can be purchased from the Solution Center for $6.25 for 25 feet, but you have no idea where that is, do you?
[edit] Power Strips
No dorm room has enough built-in outlet capacity to power a computer, monitor, stereo, TV, DVD player, microwave, mini-fridge, desk lamp, and alarm clock for you and your roommate. Plan ahead, bring a power strip (or three).
[edit] Telephone
Dorms include phone service, so bring a corded phone or a wireless phone if you wish. ISU will give you a code so that you can make long distance calls, which are charged to your U bill.
[edit] When you get to Ames
It's recommended you not pull a Katie Robb.
[edit] Dorms
Go to your Dorm, there will be tons of people around, some of them might know where you're supposed to park and where you're supposed to go. Typically you'll have to visit the Hall Desk to get your keys and sign into your room. Or maybe your RA does that. Ask around.
[edit] Off campus
Pretty easy, go to wherever you live, make sure the landlord gave you the right keys and a copy of the lease.
[edit] Greek
If you're already in the Greek System somehow, they'll tell you everything you need to know.
[edit] What do I do next?
ISU probably gave you a shitload of stuff to read and directions on what to do. I'm not saying you should follow it 100%, but at least some of it has to be good ideas otherwise they wouldn't keep printing it every year. Some of these activities might include getting an ISUCard or Buying textbooks.
[edit] Don't Go Shopping
Ames is nuts during the first weekend. It seems like about 90% of freshmen don't bring a damn thing with them and go buy it all instead. Bad move. Seriously, bring your shit with you. About the only thing you should go buy is a bed loft kit from Lowe's if you're so inclined. And you should be. Dorms are tiny.
[edit] Meet people
Don't wait to start meeting people. Say 'hi' to the people moving in next door, stuff like that. You'll have to live next to these people for a couple of semesters, so if they're douches, at least know their names so you can point them out if you have to call the cops.
[edit] Unpack your shit
Pretty self-explanatory. If your parents helped you get to Ames, it's best to unpack with them still around. Free labor. If you've got a roommate that hasn't arrived yet, leave room for their shit too.
[edit] Get your computer set up
When you unpack your computer you'll have to do some (minor) stuff to get it onto ISU's network. Here's some help.
[edit] Learn how to get around
No matter what you keep telling yourself, you're often going to find that the long walk to wherever your car is parked takes more time than it's worth, so it's a good idea to figure out how CyRide works.
[edit] Find food
You're probably hungry. There's a ton of restaurants in Ames. If your parents are still hanging out, this is your best bet, since they'll probably pay for it. However, avoid Hickory Park unless you want to wait for 2 hours to get a table.
Otherwise you can find your nearest Food service if you live in the dorms and learn how that works.
[edit] Find your classrooms
Well, there's a how-to to help you find them: How to find classrooms. Once you've done that and gone to class, you'll probably want a nice place to study too.
[edit] More help
Rofflehaus has plenty of information on Ames and ISU, but you probably already figured that out. Check out the How to category for more stuff everyone expects you to know.
