Freshman Boot Camp: Last Minute Packing Tips

Casey Doten, Financial Aid Administrator

Believe it or not, it’s almost time to move in to your new home at Purdue!

Depending on how far you’re travelling, forgetting something at home could be a quick trip home on the weekend or it could be “looks like I have to sleep without blankets until they can be shipped here”.

If you are feeling panicked because you haven’t started yet, don’t worry! Take it from someone who didn’t actually pack until the morning he left, it can be done in a pinch but that’s also a great way to forget a bunch of important items like I did. So don’t be like me and have to sleep without a real pillow for the first night.

Because move-in day and the packing leading up to it can be stressful even for those who plan ahead, it’s good to be prepared with a few last checks to make sure you have everything you need!

Label everything – This first tip comes from University Residences’ Tips for a Successful Move-in Day. Put your first and last name as well as your room number on everything. There will be people helping to bring your stuff into the residence halls but don’t leave any room for question in where it is going.

Pack light – Another great tip from University Residences article. Dorm rooms aren’t huge and trying to fit everything from your bedroom at home just isn’t going to do. If you’re doing anything more than filling an SUV with your stuff, you’re going to want to cut back. This might mean only bringing clothes that are in-season and leaving the winter parka at home (for now).

Buy it here – Believe it or not, West Lafayette is more than just Purdue! There are plenty of grocery stores and other shops like Wal-Mart, Target and Meijer where you can buy most anything that you need. Whether it’s something replaceable that you forgot or you don’t have room for, consider buying it once you arrive.

Don’t forget it – Remember to bring along any items that can’t be replaced or it’s unnecessary to have extras at home! Some ideas:

• Laptop charger
• Pillows, blankets, and sheets
• Personal care items like tweezers, bandaids, etc that you’d rather not have to run to a store when you need them
• Scissors
• Tape and command strips
• School supplies – you could buy these before classes but you might be too busy
• Clothes hangers
• Long (6′ or longer) phone charging cord
• Water bottle
• Fan – these sell out quickly at the local stores
• Towels

It may not be everything you’ll need but there’s a few things that are easy to forget that you’ll regret. So finish up the packing, have one last weekend with your high school friends, and download the Purdue app.

We’ll see you on Monday!

Freshman Boot Camp: Your Student Discount

Casey Doten, Financial Aid Counselor – Purdue University

Student discounts are one of the nicest perks you get from being a student. Combined with all the events that hand out giveaways and free food, using your student discount can help keep you within a budget.

So here’s a list of places that you can get a student discount at! Just keep in mind that this isn’t everywhere that offers one, so always ask when you buy something if they offer a discount!

Shopping

• Amazon: Join Amazon Student for free two-day shipping for your first 6 months. Just remember to cancel it before the 6 months is up if you’re not interested in subscribing for $49 a year (50% of standard Prime cost). Not to mention with the Amazon Stores in the Union and Krach, you can get packages delivered directly to campus!
• Apple: $5/ month Apple Music subscription and a bunch of random discounts on macs, iPads, and other products
• Banan Republic: 15% off
• Charlotte Russe: 10% off
• Dell: $150 off PCs
• FedEx: 20-30% discount on documents and packages
• Microsoft: 10% off
• Toms: Free shipping on all orders
• Sam’s Club: $40 membership plus $15 gift card given to you

Entertainment & Travel

• Amtrack: 15% off if you book ahead
• Wabash Landing Movie Theater: Save on your movie tickets $.50 – $1.50 depending on the time of the movie. They also have a rewards program that is free to join for free concessions.
• Rugged Xscape Escape Room: $2.00 off
• Purdue sporting events!

There are also other discounts around the area, but unfortunately they are difficult to track down individually online.

Food*

• Arby’s: 10% off
• Buffalo Wild Wings: 10% off
• Burger King: 10% off
• Chick-fil-A: Free drinks with a meal
• Chipotle: Free drink with a meal
• Dairy Queen: 10% off
• Kroger/ Payless: 5% off
• Papa John’s 10-20% off
• Pizza Hut: 10-20% off
• Qdoba: Free drink with a meal and burrito meal for $5
• Subway: 10% off
• Taco Bell: 10% off

*All of these are depending on the location, but it’s worth it to ask!

What’s a Purdue ID Good For?

What is your Purdue ID good for?

It’s your personal identification number, it’s how you get into your residence hall, it’s your meal ticket if you have a meal plan, it’s your verification when turning in an exam, it’s what offices require to see your student account information, and it’s how you ride the bus for free.

Not to be dramatic, but you can hardly without your Purdue ID! Although memorizing the number is highly recommended, there are other reasons to carry around the card with you.

Housing:

If you live in the residence halls, this is how you swipe into your building, and potentially even the wing you live on.

Meal Plan: 

If you have a meal plan, this is how you swipe into the dining courts. Each swipe counts as a meal. Some dining courts offer premium “double swipe” meals, like steak or other higher quality options. Double swipe meals count as two MEALS, so be careful how often you partake!

On-the-Go! uses swipes in a similar fashion. On-the-GO! is your carry-out option for dining. Located adjacent to Earhart, Ford, and Windsor Dining Courts, On-the-GO! provides a variety of hot and cold sandwiches, salads and snack items. Signs are posted in the On-the-Go! locations stating much each item is worth. You add up all the items until it totals one meal swipe.

Dining Dollars: Dining Dollars are additional meal swipes on top of the meal plan that can be used. These are used more for eating out or in the mini marts around campus. Cary Knight Spot and Harrison Grillé are restaurants on campus that accept student’s Dining Dollars. Restaurants in the Union also accept Dining Dollars. Dining Dollars can purchase other items besides food though. Mini marts also accept Dining Dollars, and while they have food items, school supplies, shampoo, etc. It’s similar to a small convenience store.

If you have any questions on how meal swipes, dining dollars, and BoilerExpress work, be sure to check out this article from Purdue Dining and Catering.

Boiler Express:

Boiler Express is like a pre-paid debit card. Please note: Boiler Express must be set up separately, I repeat Boiler Express is separate and your refund does not automatically go into a Boiler Express Card. Boiler Express can be used at the same places as Dining Dollars. It can also be used in the laundry facilities. Each residence hall has a laundry room and you can swipe your Purdue ID to use your Boiler Express funds instead of quarters. They do offer a discounted price if you use Boiler Express instead of quarters! Click here, for more information regarding this program.

Discounts and Freebies:

You can ride the bus for free with your Purdue ID card. Did you also know that many places offer discounts to students? Not sure how the bus system works? Check out this article.

You never know, flashing your Purdue ID might give you the unexpected, but oh-so coveted discount. So be sure to show it any time you make a purchase around town. Also, many Purdue-sponsored functions (Convocations, Union activities, sporting events, or even resident hall activities) often offer discounts to students which is a good reason to keep your ID on you to verify that you are a student.

Create Your FSA ID Today!

October is the first month you can begin the FAFSA for the 2017-2018 school year! An important part of the FAFSA is creating your FSA ID.

This video by Federal Student Aid walks you through the creation of your FSA ID, which you will use annually to file for federal student aid.

https://videopress.com/embed/RMxM3v1R?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

Now that you know how to create your FSA ID, click here to get started!

High School Seniors Week 4: You’ve Picked a College…Now What?!

Raysha Duncan, Financial Aid Administrator & Purdue Alumna
www.purdue.edu/mymoney

Get excited! Your future awaits you! Take some time to absorb the good feelings after months of stress and financial aid inquiries and balancing senior activities on top of preparing for college. Then, get down to business.

Enjoy Your Last Month of High School!

You only go to high school once. Enjoy being in the same hallways with the same people for a few more weeks and knowing nearly everybody you’re in class with because unless you’re going to a very small college, that will never happen again. I know my high school has a lot of silly senior traditions, and even if they seem silly, participate! You only get to do them once. Pick out a nice outfit for graduation too. You’ll be taking pictures, and they’ll last forever.

Research Your University

Look into some specifics: Where will you live? Do you need to do/register/pay for anything else before you can officially become a (insert school mascot here)? Know what is expected of you before you enroll. Getting all set up way in advance is a good idea because you’ll have enough to worry about with moving out of your parents’ house and into a dorm without having to find a room last minute. Make sure any and all fees and deposits are paid so this transition from high school to college is as smooth as can be.

Make Sure You’re Happy with the Major You’ve Chosen

Changing majors is a really common occurrence with college students. You’re likely to change your major at least once in your undergraduate career. Take a few moments to sit back and make sure you’re still happy with your choice for your first year of college. Chances are that you’re completely satisfied, but it’s been almost six months since you applied, you could have changed your mind. And, if changing your major sounds like something you’d like to do, get in contact with your university and see what steps need to be taken in order to make the switch and any impacts that could have on any scholarships you received. Don’t jump into it right away though; mull it over before making the call.

High School Seniors Week 1: Choosing A College

Raysha Duncan, Financial Aid Administrator & Purdue Alumna
www.purdue.edu/mymoney

Congratulations! You’ve been accepted into the top 5 colleges of your dreams! Your future is bright and many good things will come in your future…the typical fortune cookie stuff. But, how do you choose which college will be graced by your presence?

High school seniors headed off to earn their Bachelor’s degrees have about a month to make this decision…and it’s a big one. There are many things to take into consideration when choosing a college including, but not limited to: financial aid offers, location, major/program, and personal/lifestyle preferences.

Financial Aid Offers

With a lot of students, the final decision comes down to the money. And with student loan debt rising each year, this is a very responsible way to choose your college. It’s important to sit down with your family and hash out what they, realistically, can help you with and what you as the student are going to be expected to pay.  Remember, college is a four or five year investment, so think long-term financing; not just the first year. This is a tough conversation to have, any conversation about money always is, but it’s an important one.

Location, Location, Location

This can be a BIG factor in where you go to college, and you probably already thought this one over when you were applying to schools. How far away is too far? Or on the flip side, how close is too close? Some students like the idea of being able to go home every other weekend, while others are okay with going home just for breaks. Don’t try to be tough about it, if you like to be around your family then stay near home (and maybe even live at home)! But, if you like your space and you’re okay with having your family 1,000 miles away then go and be free! We homebodies envy you.

Major/Program

It’s really important that the college you attend has a program you’re actually interested in pursuing. While it may tempting to apply to that college because your BFF is going there or they have really awesome-looking housing or you may run into a celebrity there, the real reason you’re going to college is to learn and get your degree. If you’ve already made sure that all of your top picks have your major/program, then be sure to research and compare them. Look into their rankings, job placement percentages, faculty, and classes offered. And if you’re interested in a specific concentration, make sure they have that too. Purdue’s Computer Science program, for example, has a variety of “tracks” for students to choose from when pursuing their degree allowing students to focus in more narrowly on what they’re interested in, a good option for students who have a specific interest.

Personal/Lifestyle Preferences

I’m sure you’ve heard this one before… But there is a big difference between a big school and a small school, a rural school and an urban school, a liberal arts school and a STEM school. If you like access to museums and art and culture, then a rural school may not be your best choice but if you want access to the outdoors and hiking trails, then a rural school may be perfect. Most schools, like Purdue, don’t necessarily fit perfectly into these few categories (besides, BIG!) but they can have a bit of everything. Look into what each school has that matters to you: How many people go to this school? What are the average class sizes? How big are sports? Do you have access to the local community or is campus off by itself?

 

You know what you like better than anybody, and you’re going to be at your college of choice for four years, you need to make sure you’re making a reasonable choice for you.

High School Seniors Week 4: You Picked a School! Now What?!?!

Raysha Duncan Purdue University Student and Peer Counselor
www.purdue.edu/mymoney

Get excited! Your future awaits you! Take some time to absorb the good feelings after months of stress and financial aid inquiries and balancing senior activities on top of preparing for college. Then, get down to business.

Enjoy Your Last Month of High School!

You only go to high school once. Enjoy being in the same hallways with the same people for a few more weeks and knowing nearly everybody you’re in class with because unless you’re going to a very small college, that will never happen again. I know my high school has a lot of silly senior traditions, and even if they seem silly, participate! You only get to do them once. Pick out a nice outfit for graduation too. You’ll be taking pictures, and they’ll last forever.

Research Your University

Look into some specifics: Where will you live? Do you need to do/register/pay for anything else before you can officially become a (insert school mascot here)? Know what is expected of you before you enroll. Getting all set up way in advance is a good idea because you’ll have enough to worry about with moving out of your parents’ house and into a dorm without having to find a room last minute. Make sure any and all fees and deposits are paid so this transition from high school to college is as smooth as can be.

Make Sure You’re Happy with the Major You’ve Chosen

Changing majors is a really common occurrence with college students. You’re likely to change your major at least once in your undergraduate career. Take a few moments to sit back and make sure you’re still happy with your choice for your first year of college. Chances are that you’re completely satisfied, but it’s been almost six months since you applied, you could have changed your mind. And, if changing your major sounds like something you’d like to do, get in contact with your university and see what steps need to be taken in order to make the switch and any impacts that could have on any scholarships you received. Don’t jump into it right away though; mull it over before making the call.

High School Seniors Week 1: Picking Your College

Raysha Duncan Purdue University Student and Peer Counselor

Photo by: christmasgrapicsplus.com

Congratulations! You’ve been accepted into the top 5 colleges of your dreams! Your future is bright and many good things will come in your future…the typical fortune cookie stuff. But, how do you choose which college will be graced by your presence?

High school seniors headed off to earn their Bachelor’s degrees have about a month to make this decision…and it’s a big one. There are many things to take into consideration when choosing a college including, but not limited to: financial aid offers, location, major/program, and personal/lifestyle preferences.

Financial Aid Offers

With a lot of students, the final decision comes down to the money. And with student loan debt rising each year, this is a very responsible way to choose your college. It’s important to sit down with your family and hash out what they, realistically, can help you with and what you as the student are going to be expected to pay.  Remember, college is a four or five year investment, so think long-term financing; not just the first year. This is a tough conversation to have, any conversation about money always is, but it’s an important one.

Location, Location, Location

This can be a BIG factor in where you go to college, and you probably already thought this one over when you were applying to schools. How far away is too far? Or on the flip side, how close is too close? Some students like the idea of being able to go home every other weekend, while others are okay with going home just for breaks. Don’t try to be tough about it, if you like to be around your family then stay near home (and maybe even live at home)! But, if you like your space and you’re okay with having your family 1,000 miles away then go and be free! We homebodies envy you.

Major/Program

It’s really important that the college you attend has a program you’re actually interested in pursuing. While it may tempting to apply to that college because your BFF is going there or they have really awesome-looking housing or you may run into a celebrity there, the real reason you’re going to college is to learn and get your degree. If you’ve already made sure that all of your top picks have your major/program, then be sure to research and compare them. Look into their rankings, job placement percentages, faculty, and classes offered. And if you’re interested in a specific concentration, make sure they have that too. Purdue’s Computer Science program, for example, has a variety of “tracks” for students to choose from when pursuing their degree allowing students to focus in more narrowly on what they’re interested in, a good option for students who have a specific interest.

Personal/Lifestyle Preferences

I’m sure you’ve heard this one before… But there is a big difference between a big school and a small school, a rural school and an urban school, a liberal arts school and a STEM school. If you like access to museums and art and culture, then a rural school may not be your best choice but if you want access to the outdoors and hiking trails, then a rural school may be perfect. Most schools, like Purdue, don’t necessarily fit perfectly into these few categories (besides, BIG!) but they can have a bit of everything. Look into what each school has that matters to you: How many people go to this school? What are the average class sizes? How big are sports? Do you have access to the local community or is campus off by itself?

 

You know what you like better than anybody, and you’re going to be at your college of choice for four years, you need to make sure you’re making a reasonable choice and that you’re comfortable there.