Beating the Back to School Blues

With the first day of classes only three weeks away, most Ohio State
students are frantically finalizing (or in some cases beginning) their preparations to
return to Columbus. Making the transition from relaxing summer break to hectic
school year can be tough for both seasoned upperclassmen and inexperienced freshmen.
This includes the women of Alpha Xi Delta, who each have had their own share of stressful
back-to-school experiences. Here are some of our tips for making the journey back to Buckeye Nation just a little bit smoother.

1. Don’t break the bank when buying books.
Summer break offers the perfect opportunity for finding great deals on textbooks. Avoid the never-ending lines and expensive costs that come with purchasing new books at the bookstores and instead opt to buy used or rent. Better yet, borrow! The university library allows you to borrow books from its archives for free! If a
textbook cannot be found through the library services, rental options are also offered through many bookstores. Not only is this option significantly cheaper than buying new or used books, but it is also much easier to return rented books to the bookstore at the end of a semester than trying to sell books back. It’s the same stress that causes students to sell their unwanted textbooks dirt cheap, so don’t forget to ask around on Facebook, in class, or with friends before making the trip to the bookstore.

2. Keep calm and leave your closet alone.
There is no need to overhaul your wardrobe for college. While it may seem like a great
time to try new styles or trends, stick with what you know. If you have only ever worn
heels to family weddings, there’s a pretty good chance you won’t be wearing them to your

9 a.m. bio lecture. Don’t drop your entire summer savings on a closet makeover if half the clothes will never leave your room. Instead, spend your cash on versatile items that can create new outfits with the clothes you already own. What’s awesome about Ohio State is that the diversity of its student body also applies to their style — so wear what makes you comfortable and save yourself some cash.

3. Make a list and check it twice.
When packing for school, it can be easy to assume that you can simply throw all of the
stuff lying around your room in a suitcase and hit the road. But the truth is, even the most
careful packers need a point of reference. If you want to avoid arriving in Columbus with
only three pairs of shoes and without your hair dryer, start making a list. You’d be surprised to find that taking the time to formulate a packing list actually helps you to remember all the little things that never seem to make it into your suitcase. So instead of waiting two weeks for mom and dad to finally ship all the stuff you forgot, use a list and pack it the first time.


4. Hold a roommate roundtable.
If you are planning to living with one or more other human beings this year and want to lessen the stress and potential roomie warfare, communicate before move in. Discuss what items each of you will be bringing that you will all use. If you are living off campus in an apartment or house, discuss such costs as rent and utilities and how they will be paid each month. You don’t want to arrive at your dorm with two T.V.’s, or at your apartment without first month’s rent. Living with others can be difficult, so make it a little easier on everyone by practicing good communication prior to move in.

5. Map it out.
No one wants to be the lost soul wandering around campus on the first day of classes, so get to know you’re way around beforehand. Search for class buildings online and familiarize yourself with the routes you will be taking each day. When you get to campus, take a day to find any buildings you may be unfamiliar with or shortcuts you can use to cut down on travel time between back to back classes. Whether you are a returning student or incoming freshman, make yourself comfortable with the locations of the university’s student health and resource centers. Take the time to do all this now, and you can be sure it will save you time and hassle later.


6. Get to work during the summer.
In high school, summer assignments were usually blown off without consequence. In college, summer work is nothing to scoff at. Professors assign homework for a reason, meaning the assignments will have a relation to what you will be doing in class for the rest of the semester. By neglecting your summer work, you set yourself up to be behind in class on the very first day! You also risk creating a bad first impression with your professor. This can be a costly mistake if you want them to write a recommendation or reschedule your exam time in the future. Summer work may seem annoying now, but it doesn't compares to the annoyance of having to play catch up for the rest of the semester.