20 Things You MUST Do Before Syracuse Move In Day
Keep reading for 20 things every student MUST do before Syracuse Move In Day!
1. Spend some quality time with your parents.
They may drive you off the walls but you could not have come this far without good ol’ Ma n’ Pa. Show your OG fans some love. If you think you’re scared to leave for school, imagine how they’re feeling. They’re throwing their baby into this big scary fruit bowl of oranges! Take some time to show them how much you appreciate them. You can treat them to lunch, take a cooking class, buy them orange face paint, or go on day trip out of town. Keep some Kleenex on hand in case Mom wants to talk about how much she loves you, you little independent college student, you!
2. Make sure all of your medical papers are in order for Syracuse Move In Day.
The last thing you need is to worry about is paperwork when you’re dealing with orientation and remembering what floor the damn bathroom is on in Boland…or is it Brewster…shit is it Brockways?? Do now. Relax later.
3. Join your college Facebook page(s).
Unless you’re rocking the “I’m too hipster for social media” look, or you really just don’t want a Facebook, now is definitely the time to become involved with your new school’s Facebook page. You don’t have to scroll for hours and try to look at every single one of your classmates’ profiles (was that just me?), but check out what everyone is posting about! Now is the time to bust out and post your endless Orange is the new Orange jokes.
4. Get yourself a dang job.
If you happen to find yourself terribly bored this summer, get a job. If you happen to find yourself a bit broke after Syracuse Move In Day, get a job. You can babysit, pull weeds, or wait tables. Making a little extra dough before you leave won’t hurt at all.
5. Become certified in CPR.
Be your own walking first aid kit. It takes 20 minutes and costs less than $10 to get an online certification. Someone goes too hard during ultimate Frisbee and passes out on the quad? You know what to do. Someone’s choking on a chili cheese dog in Graham? You’ve got this. Sprained ankle? Figure eight that that bandage, girl. Not only will the certification prepare you for crazy college adventures, but it will also enhance your resumé.
6. Pack a rice cooker and a blender.
JUST. DO. IT. Call me a crazy vegan, but I’m telling you there is nothing like a bowl of rice topped with coconut sugar or jam. Nothing. Don’t knock it till you try it. When snow is blocking your window even though you live on the eighth floor of Sadler, being able to throw some veggies or rice in a cooker and have a full meal in 10 minutes will be heaven. As for the blender; starting your day with a quick nutritious, delicious orange smoothie will beat a granola bars every time.
7. You Otto get to know your roommate before Syracuse Move In Day! (Sorry, I had to…)
Whether you chose your roommate or opted for random selection, it’s a good idea to get to know the person you’re going to be living with. If you live close enough, try to hang out before move in day. Find out what you have in common and plan to decorate your dorm! You can also fill out this roommate agreement to help establish some rules and let your roommate know what you are and are not comfortable with. After all, her casa es su casa.
8. Make a Pinterest board with college essentials and dorm DIYS.
Filling a board with a ton of cool pins can help you figure out how you want to decorate your dorm. Pinterest also a million and one dorm hacks to help you stay cool, calm, and collected in your new home.
9. Learn how to shower in a timely manner.
I’m talking 30-seconds-to-spankin-clean quickly. There will be mornings on which it seems every single resident in your hall has decided to shower at the exact same time. It’s go-time, baby. Have a few at-home (no)dress rehearsals to make sure you can do it without walking around like Pig-Pen.
10. Have a lunch with your best friends.
After this summer, things probably won’t be the same between you and most of your high school friends. These are the last few months you will spend with the people who have seen you at your best and your worst. Dressing up, going out to eat, and reflecting on the craziness you’ve experienced together is a great way to wrap up your time together.
11. Learn how to be drunk.
Whether you partied hard in high school, or always talk about how drunk you got that one time you and your dad split a beer, it’s a good idea to wean into the world of keg stands and body shots on Castle Court instead of diving in, headfirst. You’re going to the fifth biggest party school in the U.S.- it’s fiesta time, baby. In all seriousness, alcohol usually plays a role in lot of terrible things that occur on and off campus. You’ll be much better off if you know what your body can handle before you attend Syracuse Move In Day.
12. Double up the Dorm Shop!
Dorm shopping can be stressful, so doing it with a friend and his or her family, in addition to your own, can make it a lot more fun! Pick Target, Ikea, and Bed, Bath & Beyond stores that aren’t too far from each other and make a day of it! You can go to lunch and see who can fit more unnecessary (but absolutely adorable) bright orange throw pillows in the trunk! Make sure you have everything you need before Syracuse Move In Day, you can always send extra things back home!
13. Take a self-defense class.
It may sound crazy, but college is crazier! I’m not here to make anyone paranoid, but it’s beyond important (especially for all you ladies) to be able to defend yourselves. You’ll also be Nikita af.
14. Learn to cook… it’s easy as (orange meringue) pie!
As great as Taco Tuesday sounds now, it’s a good idea to know what you’re doing with a skillet and a spatula. Learn to make chili, flip pancakes, sauté veggies and, hell, flame a brûlée- you’ll be scoffing at the salad bar.
15. Learn how to be organized.
In high school, sleepwalking into the classroom and finding out there was a test or a project due called for an, “oh, shit” and a bit of improv, but now you’re in the big leagues. Work hard, play hard cuz das the motto. If you were a great student in high school, this is old news, but don’t lose your mojo. If you slacked off, practice some organizational skills!
Create a summer schedule, even if it consists of:
1. Wake up
2. Shower
3. Eat
4. Netflix
5. Eat
Sticking to a routine and budgeting your time are essential skills that will really come through over the next four years.
16. Eat from your favorite places around home.
Head over to your favorite food spots. While studying at two a.m. during finals week, you may be hit with an overwhelming craving for the udon noodles from the little Thai place by your house. Insomnia on Marshall Street will be open but Insomnia on Marshall Street won’t be good enough!! Go order a bowl savah the flavah now.
17. Have a mix tape exchange.
OK… maybe a playlist exchange for those of you who don’t know what a tape recorder is. Download whichever songs make you think of each of your close friends an put them on a CD or playlist. Use songs that you want them to remember you by and songs that will always make you think of them. Ask them to do the same and exchange them before you leave for school. Down the Field is always a nice choice.
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18. Download a budgeting app.
We’re college kids and we’re pinching pennies like nobody’s business. Yo, you got a Pita Pit coupon?? It’s so lit. Apps like Mint, and Slice will help you make sure your friends don’t hate you for getting alligator arms at Faegan’s.
19. Change up your look.
Shop till you drop, ladies! While it’s not the best idea to max out your credit card right after you accept some student loan offers, you should revamp your wardrobe before you show up at a college party in the brandy crop top you’ve worn to 22 high school parties. By now, you probably have a pretty good sense of your personal style, (even if you’re going into school undeclared and you have know idea what you want to do with your life- we gon’ make it) so soak up the summer sales and find some nifty thrift shops to introduce yourself through fashion during first semester. Then put on some Cuse sweatpants and never look back.
20. Go a little crazy.
It’s summer baby! And probably one of the last you’ll be truly free. Between internships and summer assignments, college summers will call for responsibility. This one, however, is calling for grad parties and last hoorahs with your high school friends. Go to six flags, watch the sunrise, stand in the sunroof at 2 a.m., and take countless polaroids. Just don’t get arrested and not make it to Syracuse Move In Day.
