Before moving to college, make a site map for your college life. You know, like website site maps that break down where everything is. College life basically breaks down like this: reading, researching, eating, drinking, washing (yourself and your clothes), entertaining (yourself and your friends), and sleeping.

Think about each topic and the stuff you’ll need to make your college life productive and enjoyable.

Reading: You’ll be doing that a lot with books that cost a lot of money, but that’s a topic for another time. You’ll need reading lamps and someplace to read, besides in bed.

Research: There’s always the library, but if you want to research from your apartment, you’ll need a computer and an Internet connection. That means you’re going to need a desk or at l...
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Student moving is a lot different than regular moving. After college, you will find yourself on many occasions saying things like, “Hey, man, will you help me move?” Your friends will say, “Sure, bro.” Then you’ll all share beer and pizza. And if you’re unfortunate enough to own a pickup, then you’ll be involved in helping virtually all of your friends move at one time or another. But all that happens after college (especially the beer drinking, right? After all, you’re not legal age yet.)

Moving to college doesn’t work that way at all. You’re on your own. Why? Because every one else is moving to college too. They have no time, much less the inclination, to help you or anybody else move, even if they have a pickup.

Fortunately, you don’t have that much stuff when you’re moving to college. It’s not that yo...
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Moving to college is a trip. Literally.

First you have to find a place to stay, unless you’re staying in the dorm, in which case the college will assign you a place to stay. Here’s my advice: find a place as close as possible to where you’ll be attending classes.

Walking or biking distance is best. If you’re in an urban area with public transportation, check out the routes and make them a part of the decision-making process. For example, is there a bus stop near by and what time of day do the buses run?

Here’s why that’s important. Parking.

It’s not just that parking spots are extremely rare on college campuses; it’s the fact that most of the spots you’ll find open are reserved for Not You.

You’ll find yourself driving t...
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