It’s been a long time since most of us have been on campus this much (a year and a half to be specific). Or maybe this is your first time on campus EVER! Either way, it’s a huge adjustment. Here are some ways you can get acclimated a little bit easier:
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Allot a few extra minutes for elevator wait times. Because you’d rather be earlier than late, right?
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Until you get your schedule down, make it your lock screen on your phone for a quick glance of where you’re going next!
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Have your student I.D. ready to quickly grab to get into buildings. This will save you time digging everywhere in your bag looking for it.
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The closet spots to grab coffee on our campus: Starbucks on Roosevelt Rd, Peets on E Eight (right across from the Student Center), Dunkin’ on Roosevelt, Wabash, or Clark. I personally love to order ahead on their mobile apps to skip the line. Because, trust me, those lines can be long.
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Pack a snack! A lot of us have back-to-back classes, so packing a lunch and/or snack is essential. The first floor of the Student Center is a great place to take a break.
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As a senior with one year left, I didn’t take full advantage of Columbia’s events and amenities during my first two years and then COVID hit, so I encourage you all (as well as myself) to push yourself out of your comfort zone and get involved!
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I would recommend writing down your assignments in either a planner, your notes app, Google Sheets, the site/app Notion, or anything else. Canvas can be overwhelming to look at, so just break it down by day and/or week.
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Some days are super long, so my phone/computer cannot last all day. Bring a charger!
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Dress in layers! Some rooms can be hot, while others are freezing.
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Wear comfortable shoes. Even if you’re just walking to class from the dorms, you’ll want to feel comfortable walking around campus.
And when in doubt, reach out. To your roommates, professors, security guards, colum.edu, or anyone around the buildings. Everyone I’ve encountered is understanding and helpful! Don’t be too hard on yourself, this is a lot at once to get used to, but in no time, you’ll be adjusted!