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Daily Advisor Archive

Mark your territory

Whether you’re bunking up with a total stranger or your BFF, make a list of rules with your roomie at the get-go to avoid huge blowouts later.

Be your own study buddy

Test different methods of studying -- from reading out loud to rewriting or even highlighting notes. Find the perfect fit and make it stick.

Get quiet

Dorms are loud and libraries are packed, so find a unique quiet space on campus to call your own. Most academic buildings have study lounges or empty classrooms that can be great homework nooks.

Pad your mattress

Dorm beds are notoriously hard, so splurge on a mattress pad -- your back will thank you later. An "eggshell" foam pad is a cheap, comfortable choice. Bonus: It'll minimize squeaking springs.

Hello, dolly

For the frequent moves you’ll make during college, buy a furniture dolly (about $25) to help you with the heavy stuff every single time you pack up.

Open for bash-ness

Leave your dorm room door open to mingle with new faces and be in-the-know about nightly festivities and shenanigans. Plus, it says you’re friendly and inviting.

Say goodbye to germs

Close quarters, from co-ed bathrooms to communal computer labs, make college campuses breeding grounds for illness. Don’t fall victim! Carry hand sanitizer and apply when needed.

Tons of toiletries

Rally your roommates and go to a local bulk or budget store to stock up on basics, like TP and paper towels. It’ll be a pain to haul, but you’ll never run out … and you’ll save a ton!

Make that 8 a.m. class

Place your alarm clock at the opposite end of your bed. You’ll have to get up to shut it off -- or deal with your roommate’s wrath.

Hi, my name is …

Lectures are rolling 300 deep, and you're not in Kansas anymore. Hit up your instructor during office hours to be remembered when you're walking the thin line between B+ and A-.

Apply early

Look for a job on campus before you get there. You’ll beat the crowds to score the best job (aka one with plenty of downtime to do classwork while on the clock).

Bring your family to you

Homesick? Avoid escaping campus. Set up a live video chat with your family. It’s fast and free, and it will feel like they’re right beside you.

Love laundry

When washing clothes, set your phone alarm to know exactly when to go back. A five-minute delay and your dirty -- er, clean -- laundry might be hanging out for everyone to see.

Yearn to intern?

For a fall internship, search and apply long before the leaves start changing. Do it now! For spring, apply by December. For summer, apply by March.

Keep busy

Embrace the perks that come with full-time tuition by joining at least one club. Nothing of interest? Most schools will let you start your own, within stipulation.