<p>Hey y'all! I wanted to create this thread for class of 2017'ers because I feel like some of some questions are so insignificant but pressing... and I don't know any current students! Hope this helps everyone! </p>
<p>First: I checked google maps and saw that there's a Target close the school, which is pretty exciting. I'm arriving two days before school starts though and want to know... could the target run out of necessities and variety before I even get there??? I'm sure other Carleton students will be doing their shopping there too, and at the same time, I'm afraid that MOA is going to be too expensive.</p>
<p>Also, what do students typically carry with them between classes or on weekends? I carry a 3 subj notebook and a few fat folders, a water bottle, and miscellaneous junk, but when I add my mac, the wieght is really bothersom. Packing for a day outside my dorm sounds like a nuisance.</p>
<p>As far as Target, what do you mean by “necessities”? The only things I’ve ever had trouble buying right at the beginning of the school year are those $7 floor-length door mirrors. I’ve never tried to outfit an entire dorm room based on the contents of the Northfield Target on the first week of September, however. Since St. Olaf’s school year begins before ours, the Oles have first dibs on the more dorm-specific stuff. If you’re just in the market for, say, Ziploc bags and groceries, no problem. </p>
<p>If you’re driving, I’d advice buying your bedding and decorative dorm items in advance and bringing them with you. You can also order online and have stuff shipped to school, which would help with the variety issue. </p>
<p>As far as your second question, might I suggest a backpack? :)</p>
<p>Yeah man, join the group on Facebook! There are hundreds of us on that page.</p>
<p>I’m also curious, though: what else do people usually bring to their dorms? I can see a laptop, bedding, and clothes, but what else us usually brought?</p>
<p>This year it started snowing in late October, and there was nearly a foot of snow the first week of May. Last year, there were only a few decent snowfalls all season. So it’s really hard to say.</p>
<p>Northfield Lines is generally great – it’s the same company that runs the airport shuttle at the beginning and end of every term. Their buses make multiple trips between Carleton and the Cities every day. It does get expensive ($12 each way and $24 round trip), so your cheapest option would be carpooling in a friend’s car and splitting the cost of gas.</p>
<p>Some of the shuttles can definitely carry bikes in the back, but I’d advise you to call Northfield Lines and ask beforehand. Also, campus has a rideshare program (WeCar) that was really helpful to me freshman year when I was looking to go into the cities.</p>