So, I'm moving into my college apartment (my university has apartments instead of dorms...) on the 16th, though I am leaving the 15th (which is later today, yes) because the school's a few hours away. I am just so... Not nervous, exactly; I'm just sad. :( And I am worried because I am eligible for work-study, but all the work-study jobs require 20 hours of service a week. That's not a lot, but A) The work-study jobs are only on weekdays, and B) My first semester schedule makes it really difficult to squeeze work in since my parents and I don't want me staying out from 9 in the morning until 8 or 9 at night. I need to study and have a social life. =/ So that's my main concern, that I will be too busy on the weekdays to enjoy being on my own. Assuming the responsibility doesn't overwhelm me and I can stay disciplined.

Sigh. :[

It's also very strange. I'm very close to my parents and brother, but because we live far away from my other relatives, I don't feel much of a connection with them. But while saying goodbye to one of my aunts and uncles (also my godparents), I got all teary-eyed and choked up. It seemed pretty stupid since I rarely see them anyway, and it's not going to make a difference in my relationship with them if I move to another city LOL.

While straightening up my room about an hour ago, I also just burst into tears. I admit, I cry very easily over emotional things like this, but it's just so... unreal. I don't feel overcome with sadness; the crying seems like reflex than anything else lmao.

IDK, I'm rambling, haha. :[ Anyway, it will be very sad to say goodbye to my pets and my brother, since he's not going with us to help me move in and stuff. :[[

Any other incoming freshmen out there? How's the leaving process going? :[

EDITS: Also, I have been spoiled to death. Not that my parents buy me everything I want - far from it. It's just... They've kind of done a lot of things for me. I've never had a job (they didn't pressure me to get one), I don't really know anything about checking/savings accounts, or anything financial related, really. Lmao ughhh. D:

You're right. You are spoilt.

I'm in first year university, and the complaint I hear most often is how people can't get enough shifts, or have to work two jobs to stay above the poverty line.

I was so worried about starting my freshman year of college - the funny thing is, it was our local community college, so I wasn't leaving home. XD But now I guess you could say that I'm an incoming freshman. I just finished my two years at the community college, and now I'm actually moving into an apartment to go to a school about 3 to 4 hours away.

I'm pretty nervous about it, I suppose... I think the worst part of it will be living in a new neighborhood and getting used to local bus lines.

I would just suggest to relax and enjoy your time there. I'm sure you'll be a nervous wreck for the first week or two, but once you get into the swing of things, you'll feel more comfortable with college life. And if you're that worried about missing friends and family, make sure you have their phone numbers and call them when you can. You're not leaving forever, you'll probably be back visiting for holidays and whatnot. :]

And have fun! You'll meet alot of people who could be lifelong friends. :]

Right now my problem is getting payroll to let me work more... I'm working a TA job, an IT job, and hopefully a few other freelance gigs on the side, if I can get away with it... I'm non on Financial Aid, so I'm not so limited in my hours, but there's still some red tape I need to bust my way through...

Can you get a work-study job that you can do homework while performing? I know there are a lot of jobs on campus here where all you need to do is supervise and make sure nobody blows up the computer lab or anything, and be available to answer questions if anyone has them (which they never do). You can get a lot of work done while "working."

But really, college is amazing. I love it. Hell, I got a campus summer job just so I could stay here more (I'm a sophomore now). I was pretty freaked when I left as a Freshman (I'm very much a homebody, and I come from a very family-oriented background), but after a month or so, I was completely into the swing of things. College is a big step, and it takes a bit of adjusting, but pretty soon you'll be laughing at how emotional you were and having the time of your life.

As far as finances – taking an Econ class might be to your advantage, or having someone with more experience sit down and go over some of this stuff with you. I got my first checking account right before I started college. The most important thing is to keep track and not to spend money you don't have to. :)

That was extremely rude. She's not complaining- she's sad and scared about leaving home and was looking for people who could relate to this, not looking for people to insult her for something she has no control over her. You can call her spoiled all you want, but you don't know her and it's not at all fair of you to belittle her feelings on this.



Sunday, I leave on the 19th and I feel like I'm running out of time here. I've been saying for years how ready I am to go to college and whatever, but now I'm freaking out. My best friend is going to be 11 hours away from me, and my boyfriend will be over 4 hours away. I don't know any other freshman at my school. I couldn't find an on-campus job and don't have a car. I'm still having problems with my back and shoulders that my insurance might not cover once I leave... there's a whole list of thoughts running through my mind now and stressing me out.

While I am not an incoming Freshman (In fact, this is going to be my 4th year), I can give you a lot of valuable advice.

Leaving home IS scary. It's a very overwhelming experience. What helped me was that I was ready to get the hell out of my grandmother's house because she was driving me nucking futs (switch the 'f' and the 'n' and you'll get my emotion). There were girls on my floor, however, that cried when they left home - and these women were older than I am.

Here is what I'm going to say about your work situation. I'm going to be honest with you here - the beautiful thing about college is that you learn how to stick to a schedule and you will learn how to plan. The two most important things are school and work. You'll get a social life, but you have to do so in your hours where you aren't in class, aren't studying and aren't working. 20 hours a week is actually not that much at all, especially considering the fact that (I'm assuming here, correct me if I'm wrong) you don't have extracurriculars, and that you're planning your work schedule around your classes. And since you will be working on weekends, you'll have to learn how to make the most out of weekdays.

Something that you'll learn in college is that the weekend often starts on Thursday - not on Friday.

In spite of sarahj's consternation that she gave Vanity, Vanity is very correct. Many students are working those extra shifts with a huge smile. 20 hours a week is actually above average - the minimum for my job now is 16 hours a week, though I can work overtime. Something that explains college very well is "sink or swim." You have to learn how to go on without your parents. You have to cut the cord from your parents. And no disrespect to your folks, but you should have learned about finances WAY before you went to college. You should have probably also worked a job too. You'll have to do such things as budget your income, learn what is essential and what isn't, etc. You will have to buy food, books, money to wash your clothes, etc. - and those are just the basic things. If you're like me, I have to pay for gas (because I do have a car), insurance, part of my tuition, my parking sticker, extracurricular fees, etc. I budget the crap out of my money - because an OVERDRAFT is very difficult to get out of. If you qualify for financial aid, thank your lucky stars - because I don't.

But seeing how strong you appear to be on the boards, you are going to make it. Most people who go to college really do swim - very few actually sink unless you can't make it academically - and even then, most universities give you a chance. I thought that I wouldn't be able to make it at first, but now, I can't WAIT until I go back to school. College is truly the best years of my life, and university even more so.

Don't be worried about leaving your family - you will see them quite often. Additionally, what helps me is that I live in a dorm with people that I consider my family for at least 8-9 months out of the year - and we really are like family. We laugh, we party, we go out to bars, we cry, we protect each other and watch each other's rooms, and we were devastated when we had to leave each other for the end of the year. You will make so many friends. You'll need to plan around your schedule, but JOIN an extracurricular. You'll make so many friends. College campuses are so big that you'll totally find someone that is just like you - someone that you can relate to. Some of my mother's best friends - she met while she was away at school.

You can make your own fun on these campuses. It is not hard at all. And people will be willing to have fun with you. You never know how many people are going through same thing that you are - which is a lot. There are a lot of girls that had never been away from home. What helped me was that I moved out of my mother's house when I was 18 - I was able to use my grandparents as a grace period for a while - though in the meantime I worked, went to school, and got my finances up, and then went away to school. If there is anything that I regret, it was not having a job when I went down there - so be HAPPY that you're working a good job during your first year at uni. And when you become a junior, you'll likely be taking major-specific courses, so, while Gen-Eds are pretty easy, Major Specific courses can sometimes be easier (though you often can't get any lower than a B or a C.)

sarahj - Your school should have a Health Services Center. Granted, university health centers often aren't all that great - and you get better service at a hospital, sometimes, you will need to go to them. Some universities have an insurance plan there - so even though you're covered under one insurance company, the uni will help you as well. (Example - I'm covered under Aetna Healthcare. My university insures me as well, but Aetna is my primary.)

For those of you who need employment before starting school, what is good is applying for jobs BEFORE the school year starts - usually in late July. The job market is slower then, and you should get more callbacks. When you get back to school, you can pretty much kiss your chances of employment goodbye, because EVERYONE who is unemployed then, and townies as well, are going to be looking for jobs. Your university Financial Aid Office Website should have a list of On-Campus and Off-Campus Employment.

Seconded. However true it may be, this isn't the time for tactlessness. Bravo to antisocialist for actually making it sound not confronational.

I think I understand, Rachel Facial. I'm really worried myself, and seeing all my friends leave before me is making me really sad. Like I'm saying good-bye to all of these people, but no one is going to be around to say good-bye to lil' ol' me. I know that sounds kind of selfish, but I never said I wasn't selfish, hahah. Anyways, um, once I settle into things in September, you can most definitely read me the university riot act, 'cause you'll be big (short?) chica on campus for sure. I don't doubt it at all. <3