Yay!!! Buy NOW, use Amazon Prime, or look at other discount places. You can probably skate a couple of days without a book, but I would try to have it by Wednesday (Ideally have it, have read the TOC, Index, and intro paragraph to each chapter, as well as the preface and most of the first chapter for each book).
Pack tonight. Get unpacked with your parents tomorrow. Your sister can help you arrange, get last-minute touches, and basically help decorate/style and move you in proper when she comes down on Monday.
Go (physically) to the transportation office on Monday and pick up a parking permit.
And celebrate- go out to dinner with your parents on Sunday night and with your sister on Monday night and explore a bit.
Good for you! I was wondering how things were going. You will figure it all out, one thing at a time, the packing, trip down, parking permit and books! Congratulations!
I got moved in and everything. I guess I have the standard homesickness going on. One thing I miss is just being able to drive my car to the building I’ve got class or an appointment in, being able to park anywhere I feel like, and not worry about getting a citation. I’ve learned to ride the bus and know which bus I should and shouldn’t get on (that’s a story on its own!) simply because it takes about 35 minutes walking to get from my dorm to the math building. The bus cuts that down to about 15 minutes.
It’s a bit of a culture shock at the moment since I’m used to walks across campus being pretty quick, but I’ll get over it. One thing that I’m worried about though is that I haven’t been eating regularly very well. There’s tons of places to eat, but I just hate making dents in things like the meal plan I’ve got because it goes away that much faster. But it’s all part of growing up I guess. Over the last couple of days I’ve been here, I’ve eaten a cup of Mott’s applesauce, two granola bars, and two microwavable cups of pasta. That’s definitely a problem.
I haven’t spent the whole time holed up in my room though. I’ve actually gone out and tried to get some junk done like turning in a degree plan and such. Since it’s the first week of class, I’m hoping some people drop so that I can get into better classes.
I’ve talked to my dad and my sister over the phone yesterday. They’re worried about me it sounds like. I guess it’s totally up to me to figure out what to do and when to do it though. And whatever happens… happens.
Your meal plan should cover your meals per day, typically 2 meals each day during the week and one meal per day during each day of the weekend, plus snacking. Most cafeterias are "all you can eat’, so eat well there and leave snacking for home.
At Texas Tech, it’s called the matador plan. (I agree it’s quite confusing and others may want to chime in to explain how many meals are included because the flow chart seems to focus mostly on snacking? But if I count right, the matador plan means 2 “all you can eat” meals a day for the whole semester, plus occasional snacks/brand purchases.) http://www.depts.ttu.edu/hospitality/first_year.php
There are lots of “all you can eat” locations where 1 meal costs the same as brand-name snacks elsewhere on campus: Hulen/Clement, Bledsoe/Gordon, Horn/Knapp. http://www.depts.ttu.edu/hospitality/dining.php
So, eat
Even though not all meal plans are like that, you should be fine if you eat in the cafeteria twice a day (that’s what the meal plan’s for).
For everything else, good job getting used to the bus (yes, it’s an adjustment!), going to class, going to office hours, etc. Go to classes where you’re not registered yet and go meet the professor afterwards o get the syllabus, then go see him/her during office hours. See if s/he can add you to the class! If they’ve seen you in class and notice you’re interested, come to office hours, etc, it gives the professor an incentive to add you to the class. (Professors can sometimes over-ride the cap by 1 or 2 students).
You are getting great advice from others, so I haven’t been posting. But I’m still following and I really do believe you can do this! What you are discovering is that the hard part of college isn’t just doing the academic work, it’s carving out a new life. Believe us, it’s well worth the trouble.
After reading your post and some of your follow ups, it sounds as if you are organized, frugal and thoughtful. You have your future planned out for the next few years. That is fantastic! You have compared the programs, and from what I am reading, TTU will offer you many more opportunities. Your parents sound concerned, but have had experiences which have colored their views. You will continue to experience their doubts if you live at home/nearby. You will experience them less if you go to school further away, and also be buoyed by your successes which you will be making. Most of success in life is had by people who persevere. You’ve already shown that you persevere by your saving $, by your studying, and by your winning of your major scholarship (which demonstrates that you have already worked hard). Do whatever you can to get to that orientation.
Full disclosure: I’m the first college graduate of my family, and was determined to get away. My family was somewhat poisonous. I obtained a major scholarship award as well. I went. It was the best decision that I made as a young person.
Yes, definitely keep busy! You will get used to the new routine. You already got great advice from others about the bus and food. You are getting tuition paid for, right? And you said you have money saved for room and board. Don’t worry about the food cost, you have to eat, so definitely take advantage of the all-you-can-eat places especially. You can always get a campus job maybe later or tutor people to make some extra money or take out a small loan if need be. You already have an associates degree from CC, right, so only two more years of school.
Do you have your car there? Did you stop by to wherever you have to go for a parking permit?
… In a couple years, “first college graduate in the family” will be cameraphone,too!