The Check List…

 

Well Beautiful People,

July has ended which means blast off for college is just around the corner. So it’s time to ask ourselves yet again, are we prepared. Have you had your college shower yet?   What is a college shower you might ask? Well, a college shower is just like a baby or bridal shower just with the theme and gifts centered around you going off to college.

Make a list of all the things you already have for your room, but if you haven’t picked up everything yet…great, the college shower was invented just for that purpose! It will also allow your family and friends the opportunity to be a part of celebrating you going off to school. Make a new list, now of everything you still need and add it to the inside of your invitation so that friends and family know what kinds of gifts to bring you. The beauty of a college shower is that everyone wants to bring something that you will be able to use. So make sure your list has everything on it that you need. From the colors of your room to the kind of deodorant and soap you need in stock; Gift cards are always great as well. Below is a partial check off list to get you started. To get the list in its entirety you can purchase the book from my website at www.freshman101.net.

These are also a few sites I like that offer great advice on what to take and how to organize:

• www.dormco.com
• www.dormsmart.com

The Check Off List

• Land phone and answering machine: you’ll find most dorms still have a land line. A landline is good to have just in case you get bad service or reception in your room. Not to mention some schools still call your landline to let guest up to your room and it saves on using your cell phone minutes
• Bedspread comforter or  a duvet cover
• A cassette or digital voice recorder in case you choose to record lectures from your classes
• Chair cushion for your desk chair
• First aid kit travel size for your room
• Organizers for your clothes, shoes and etc.
• Sheets and pillow cases: 3 to 5 sets of sheets just in case you do not make it to the laundry room every week
• Printer with a scanner
• Laundry bag and supplies
• A bathroom bucket or caddy
• Slippers and waterproof shoes for the showers
• Five sets of towels: because you won’t be able to wash every week but you should change your towel once a week
• Blender: for healthy breakfasts smoothies (or smoothies anytime really)
• Bug spray for those unwelcome guests
• A clock and alarm clock with extra batteries
• Dishcloths for washing your dishes
• Microwave-safe dinnerware
• Refrigerator with freezer and mini microwave: these two you should be able to order from the school
• If you plan to bring a bike verify that there are bike racks or storage facilities near your housing and on campus
• If you plan to bring a car be sure to have an automobile travel club membership just in case you encounter any problems with your vehicle
• For every car there should be a toolkit which should include basic repair tools such as a socket set, wrenches, and somebody told me don’t tape fixes almost anything, so I guess duct tape to.

 

 

More Tips

• In order to not have to ship all those items yourself, consider shopping online.
• If you take your car remember to budget money for student parking.
• As soon as your college schedule is known, checkup appointments should be made with hometown doctors and dentists for times when school is not in session.
• Make sure that all your prescription medication are transferred to a pharmacy near your dorm.

I hope this atrial list was helpful. Be sure to check out the entire list on our website. Happy hunting!

 

-Deljah

“I PROMISE” A Parents Pledge

A Parents Pledge  “I PROMISE”

As a student I was blessed to have the kind of parents that were committed to my success inside and outside of the classroom. Now, as an adult,  a mother of two, and an educator, I see just how important their personal commitment and promises were to my development as a successful, functioning human being. I wasn’t perfect, I made mistakes just as your students will, but knowing that you are there, on their team to help maneuver them through the most vital years of their life, will ensure their success and yours. I have listed below 10 promises I have made to guarantee my students success  from elementary to high school to give them a solid foundation for college,  I believe this  is a pledge every parent should make.  Great parents rock! So thanks for being awesome parents!

1)      I promise to set and follow a schedule. I promise to have a specific bedtime schedule.

Its no secret that students do much better when they know what is going to happen on a daily basis. There is a comfort and assurance to a set schedule that just can’t be beat. In addition to that, it allows you to be able to keep task with what your brilliant student is or should be doing.

Ex: Mom calls home from work. Mom says “it’s 4:00, t.v. and snack time is up; Its homework time.  Have it done and on the table when I get home…” now after a week or so of this, the student becomes accustomed to following the daily routine. Structure is something we use everyday in life, giving them a schedule and routine lets them learn this lesson young. Having a schedule helps me get things done in a timely manner

2)      I promise to plan and prepare healthy meals.

They say we are what we eat. And super sweet snacks, soda, juice with high fructose corn syrup, chips, candy etc. lead to not just hyper active kids, but slow thinkers. We become lethargic. Foods that are high in good protein, fiber, and potassium are a great place to start. We should all be eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, find creative ways to make sure they meet their requirements.

 Ex: an apple with breakfast, a fruit cup and salad for lunch, trail mix with nuts, or tofu etc.

 Fact: complex carbohydrates like red potatoes are an excellent source of energy and because you burn them off slowly, your energy will last quite a while. An entire school day for sure.

3)      I promise to pay close attention to the completion of homework.

Double checking homework is always necessary. Many students lose points because they don’t complete or hand in their homework. Double checking at the end of the night ensures that they have finished it and it is put away for class the following day.

4)      I promise to set goals with my children.

Setting goals is a great way to one, stay on task and two, allow your student to feel a great sense of accomplishment when they reach their goals and if by chance they do not, it will help them get focused and determined to reach them. With your help and support they will exceed them.

5)       I promise to get to know their friends.

Your students’ biggest influence is the world around them right now because they spend so much time away from you. Getting to know their world and the friends in it allows you to stay connected to your student, to help them make good decisions and if necessary, help them deal with peer pressure.

6)      I promise to find out what my kids are watching on TV. And setting parameters for shows and length of daily TV. time:

Social media steers the trends of our society and more importantly that of your students. Make sure the things they are feeding their brain don’t go against the lessons taught and moral code of your home.  There should be more book or brain activity time than there is TV. time at home. Books, puzzles, word games etc. it gives them the opportunity to have fun and entertain themselves while also boosting their mental stamina, problem solving ability, vocabulary, and patience.

7)       I promise to teach them how to lay their clothes out and prepare lunch at night.

This teaches preparation and the importance of being on time which comes in handy years later for job interviews, meetings etc. it also teaches independence, the beginning of healthy meal planning, and it takes some pressure off of you.

8)       I promise to make myself available and approachable to my child, that we might build trust.  

Your student should have the utmost confidence that you, their guardian will listen to them when they have a problem, concern or just need to feel that they are important to you.

9)      I promise to encourage my children daily as a person, as a student, and most of all as my phenomenally brilliant child

If you do not encourage your student, who else will? If you don’t build up their confidence while you have the opportunity to do so, who else will? No one, that is our job as parents. The world can be a very cold place and so before your student finds themselves in it, make sure you’ve equipped them with the kind of self-confidence they need to not allow people in life to make them think less of themselves or  ever give up on their goals and dreams

10)   I promise to assure my child that I will listen to them in regards to their teachers

Nobody is perfect and teachers are not always right. Don’t always take their word for everything. Get involved in their classes. Ask your student about their teachers and what they think of them. Ask them about their classes. Doing this routine daily will give you insight into who the teachers are and if an issue should arise with one, you already have a good idea of how to go to bat for your child. Be your students’ advocate. If you don’t, no one else will either.

How Prepared Are You? Life – Part II: College #2 Understanding your Financial aid package

 

Let’s talk about financial aid.

 

 

 Once you’ve chosen your college you will receive a financial aid award letter. In it will be a grant, usually two loans, either a subsidized and a parent plus, or a subsidized and an unsubsidized loan.  You would receive the unsubsidized loan if your parents applied for the parent plus and were turned down. For these, you will need to sign a promissory note.

 

 There may also be something called work study. Work study is a job that you have on campus that pays you directly. This is great because that extra pocket change can go a long way to stretching your budget and not putting too much extra pressure on your parental units, if they are the ones paying for college. If you receive your award letter and there is no work study on it, you can request it. You can also show up on campus with your resume and a cover letter and take it around to the different colleges or departments at your university and apply for an on campus job.

 

 

If you have the opportunity to work on campus you should. It can open up doors for you in other areas that you may not have known about. It is a great way to network and meet people in your field. It is also a great way to find out about jobs and internships domestic and abroad in your field. So do a little digging, and ask some questions about work study and on campus jobs.

 

 

Outside of on campus jobs, if you do not have to work your first year I would suggest not to, unless the hours are minimal and they work well around your class and study schedule. Having money can be important, but failing your classes because you were spread too thin between work and school will cause you problems that it will take years to repair.  So take your time, learn your rhythm for how you learn, study, understand, and retain information. Once you know how to work at your best, you can add a job to the equation without compromising your grades.

 

 

Lastly, when you get on campus, make one of your first stops at the financial aid office to meet your officer and let them see your face. Become a regular there. They receive scholarship information year round and many times they have no one to award them to because no one applied for the scholarships. Students had no idea they even existed. To avoid this happening to you, make sure your officer knows who you are so when scholarship opportunities come across their desk, you are the person they have in mind. You will have much to pay for in school and every little bit helps.

 

How Prepared Are You? Life – Part II: College #1 What College Will you Attend?

 

 #1  What College Will you Attend? 

Have you made the decision? Do you know what college you will attend?

 

By now you should have an answer to this question, but if by chance you do not, because you are still collecting acceptance letters (congratulations) then let’s begin to narrow down our options, by starting a pros and cons list. Great reasons to select this school vs.  A few reasons why NOT to select this school.

 

For example:

 

 Pro: it’s close to home …………. Con: it’s close to home

 Pro: it is highly ranked in my desired area of expertise 

Con: It’s across the country, so I’ll only make it home for major holidays

 

Based on where your school is, ask yourself are you prepared for the climate change if there is one? I am from Los Angeles, California and I went all the way to the east coast for college in Washington D.C. which was a major climate change. Because I had been exposed to snow and cold weather, it was not a big deal. I just made sure I purchased the right kind of clothes for each season and when winter came around I already knew  how to layer my clothes from skiing most of my life; so I just applied the same layering concept while at school and whalah I was ready for anything.

 

What city and state is you school located? Will you need a new wardrobe to fit the climate change? (Have you added that into your budget?)

 

Will your school be located in the heart of the city? Or is it in a rural area? Will you need transportation? Or will you need to learn the public transit system? Each city is different. If you do your research before you get there it will be less for you to figure out once you get on campus. Trust me; you’ll have more than enough to think about.  Take your time and research the transit system. It’s not always recommended to have a car your first year. However if your school is located in a rural area you might consider having that discussion with your parents.

Graduation !! Celebrate!!

That awesome  time of year is here once again… graduation!!! Which means… PARTIES!!!! CELEBRATIONS!!!!!!!! And what is a great party without a few awesome party eats?! NOT a great party… so without further ado, I give to you, a sneak peak from the second book in the Freshman 101 Series, Eating for Survival The Cookbook!

Take a gander at some of these recipes and see if any peak your palatable interest. They are fast, simple to make, healthy, and most importantly, crowd pleasers. Try a few, let me know what you think.

Mexican 7 Layer Dip, Salsa, Dill Dip + More

High School Seniors – Are You Prepared ?

Graduation is around the corner!!!! Yaaaaay!!! I’m sure you’re thinking you’ve waited all your life for this! And you have, but now here comes the REAL work.

Life – Part II : College

How prepared are you?

Have you made a decision as to what college you will attend?

If so, have you taken care of your financial aid package? If not, be sure to schedule a meeting to see them once you get onto the campus.

Are you going away or are you staying close to home?

Will you need a plane ticket and possible hotel accommodations once you get there?

College Freshman: The Final Exam Survival Kit

Ladies and gentlemen, the New School Year has come and gone. February and March flew by and  we are already at the end of April, which means your first year of college is almost over and it’s time to get geared up for those finals. Finals season can be a stressful time if proper preparation has not taken place. If you have kept up with your notes, homework, and study groups you should be in excellent shape. If you did not however, fear not, you can still come out on top, we just need to make some mental and study habit adjustments.

Whether you are over or under prepared there are a few basic questions you can ask yourself and your professor to prepare:

1. Will the final be comprehensive? Or just cover the last few chapters I worked on in class?
2. Do I have a study group that I can be a part of that will help me prepare or understand things I’m still unsure about in class
3. Do I have my homework and previous tests that I can use along with my notes to help asses my knowledge of the material?
4. Should I give myself a practice test?  And lastly,
5. Has my professor dropped any hints as to what will be on the final exam?

Allow Me To Introduce Myself…

My name is Deljah S. Dickson. I’m an author and public speaker on the college experience.

My expertise comes strictly through my own personal experiences at Howard University. I have been there and definitely have done that.

College can be a rewarding on all levels for both students and parents. I began this blog and wrote Freshman 101 to help you get through the highs and lows.

Welcome 🙂