<p>So I have one final ? before I-day. Should I pack my cell phone in my back pack and have it get locked up or should I leave it with parents and have it sent out Aug 8? The only reason I would pack it in my back pack is if there is a chance I would be able to use it one doolie day out.</p>
<p>Another question: what service provider/plan did you guys find was the best?</p>
<p>As said in other threads, the ONLY time you'll get access to it again is Parent's Weekend. </p>
<p>I have T-mobile, its been very good for me here. I think Verizon might be good too.</p>
<p>How does Cingular/The New At&T work out there?</p>
<p>I've found Cingular works really well too</p>
<p>You can't use your cell phones until September....leave 'em home! Sheez. Bring it and count on it getting lost. What's the point? </p>
<p>don't worry about what carrier works best now, when you won't be able to use the thing until September. Whatever plan you have you will have then. If you don't have a plan now, you will find out between now and then what works best. </p>
<p>Worry about making it through BCT. Don't weigh yourself down with cell phones and things that will be taken away at Inprocessing. You will merely waste your energy carrying all that stuff only to have it taken away and lost.</p>
<p>Yes, I brought too much myself (didn't bring the cell phone though) and it was a huge hassle to carry around all day. BRING BARE MINIMUMS!</p>
<p>I'm kindof confused why people keep talking about personal items weighing you down. Unless it is in a metaphorical sense, the in processing line after getting off the bus involved room assignments then taking you to your room to drop off your personal belongings. They'll later take most of them away from you. Sure the bags issued items weighed a lot, but you're not carrying your personal belongings around that much.</p>
<p>Good luck with BCT!</p>
<p>I had to carry mine around for about 1.5 hours before dropping it off. Mine was bulky (just the type of backpack) and I had to hold my boots in an awkward way, so it hurt.</p>
<p>OK one comment on cell phones. Verizon is the WORST on campus, It works sporadically. Cingular is the best and I believe T-Mobile is "ok." We had to switch services for our son (who had Verizon) because it was too frustrating. You WILL want one for parents weekend. I realized, most of 2010s are already gone. Oh well!</p>
<p>I agree with AFDAD2010... I brought my Verizon phone to summer seminar and it only worked enough for me to talk in a small spot around 2 feet from my window, pretty much nowhere else. Text messaging worked on the bed, but if I was a cadet I would definitely switch away from Verizon.</p>
<p>Yep, that's how Verizon works here. You have to search out spots.</p>
<p>I agree with afdad2010 that Cingular works the best there. I used my cingular phone during summer seminar and it worked perfectly without me having to search out good spots.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that while some providers are better "overall" there can be significant differences between different locations with the same phone/provider.</p>
<p>I have Cingular with a standard Samsung free-with-plan phone. I have yet to find a single spot on campus where I do not get reception.</p>
<p>Also, Cingular/AT&T's "global plan" is very convenient when travelling, which we cadets do frequently.</p>
<p>dam so verizon sucks over there?</p>
<p>sddfgd</p>
<p>Both the dorm buildings, as well as the dining hall and academic building are giant metal cell connection blocking 6 story buildings. TOp floors and outside rooms will have slightly better reception, but inside is going to be bad no matter what carrier you have. Same with radio antennas later on.</p>
<p>I had great reception at SS and I have verizon. Although I did sit in the chair by the window I never had to search for a good spot and I never had trouble with the quality of the connection. I was on the north side of vandy, though.</p>
<p>My son has Sprint and has never complained about the reception. The phone itself seems to make a difference. As phones get older they seem to become less reliable. Don't know the science behind that, but it's been true for us.</p>
<p>That is one thing I can vouch for. Make sure your S/D has a new phone. I had a old junky phone with Cingular at the beginning of the year and I couldn't get reception anywhere inside and not even reliably outside. I got a new, standard "comes-with-the-plan-for-free" Samsung phone and it works everywhere, including the lower floors of Sijan Hall.</p>