Ten Benefits to Living On-campus

See 10-6 in THE HERALD at www.asuherald.com
5. Gas: This is another common complaint from off-campus residents. Even if the drive is short, in the long run gas can add up. Making trips back and forth from campus each day can become expensive. Also, on-campus residents seem to use their vehicles less altogether, walking to meals, entertainment, and classes that are all located on ASU’s grounds.

4. Cafeteria: If you eat in the Caf often, you probably think this isn’t much of a benefit. True, the food can get old quick, but the money spent on food off-campus adds up. Also, much between-class hanging out is done in The Acansa Dining Hall. This is yet another way to get connected by living nearby.

3. Campus Involvement: Again, being involved is not dependant on living on-campus, but it does make it easier to initiate participation. Many club and organization meetings are also held at ASU and much of the efforts made by these associations are connected to on-campus life.

2. Roommates: Being stuck with a random roommate from a town you have never heard of can be one of the best things to happen in college. Many students meet life-long friends by living in the dorms with someone they barely know at first. Being in such close quarters forces students to bond with other people and create new friendships faster.

1. Social Opportunities: Finally and most importantly is the social aspect of living on-campus, simply hanging out with people. So often do spontaneous get-togethers happen at any hour of day or night, both in the dorms and around campus. This is where lasting memories are made. If you came to college looking for that “college experience,” campus residency is your first and greatest step in making it happen in the best possible way.

Top Ten Things You Can’t Leave Home Without

10. Movie/ Book collection.
You have put years into developing your perfect collection of entertainment and reading material. This is an essential to bring with you to college.
9. Favorite article of clothing/shoes/accessories.
Back –to-school clothes are great, but nothing can replace that broken pair of jeans or shoes that fit you, and only you, just right.
8. Music.
This generation lives for their ipods, and for good reason. There’s no better comfort than your favorite music when you’re getting use to a new place.
7. Your Signature.
You all have something that makes you you. Whether it’s a style you sport or a thing you do, this signature can’t be left behind.
6. Home-cooked snacks/food.
The Caf gets old quick and before you know it, you’re missing mama’s cooking. Invest in some Tupperware and stock up on those home-baked cookies and leftover lasagna.
5. Journal.
Girls and guys need that place to vent. Bring your memories and leave room for new additions.
4. Pictures of friends and family.
Just because you leave home doesn’t mean you forget about the one’s you leave behind. Keep pictures of your favorite people close by.
3. Homey Items.
You can’t leave home without bringing a little of it with you. Homesickness is inevitable, but keeping a throw blanket or plant in your dorm keeps the place from feeling too uncomfortable and creates a new place to call home.
2. Guilty Pleasure.
Whether this is a secret stash of chocolate or every full season of Lost, if it’s your secret joy at home it will be on your own too.
1. Security Blanket/ Teddy Bear.
You can’t leave home without that one thing that keeps you feeling safe and secure. Everyone needs their special keepsake that always confirms everything is going to be alright.

Your Lists Are Back

Hey readers, I hope you all had a great summer. More than that, I hope you are having a great first week back. Perhaps you've missed the informative listing of this student journalist...
Not to worry, Campus Catalists is back in action this semester and ready for a great Fall of letting you know what you want to know in a fun, quick, easy-to-read kind of way.
If you are a freshman, transfer student, or just new to The Herald's blog site, welcome. This blog is dedicated to keeping you up to date on need-to-knows and fun facts around campus.
There may be a few changes this year, but I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it for you.
So, be sure to check out The Herald on Mondays and Thursdays either online at www.asuherald.com or in newsstands around campus. Also, be keeping up with your favorite blogs coming your way from your very own peers.
Enjoy!

Four Tips for Finals

Here it is! Finals week. Classes are over! But we still have those ever-anticipated finals. So, as a somewhat experienced students, here is my advice for handling the stress of five tests piled up all at once.

1. Sleep. This one should be easy. On the days you don't have tests, get extra rest. Don't go crazy and stay up or party all night every night. Be smart. Besides, college will teach you to appreciate sleep if it hasn't just yet.

2. Study methods. This is important. Take advantage of some online tips to help you study. These are particularly helpful when you have so many at once. Check out some of my previous blogs for some of my favorite methods.

3. Eat. Stay nourished and energized. The caf remains open through finals or just keep some snacks in your room. Make sure to get some fruit and granola in there, but don't totally neglect the fun salty sweet snacks either. And then, of course, there is the late night breakfast on Dead Day. Always a great way to store up for your upcoming week of stress and exams.

4. Finally, just have fun. I mean, it may be finals, but it's also a really fun week to hang out. This is a great way to relieve stress. Go hang out with people. After all, you may not see some of them all summer. Don't spend all week studying in the library. Take some time to chill. It'll pay off.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my rants for the past semester. Have a great summer!

Five Things to Consider When Registering for Classes

It's that time of the semester. Time to pick and register for our Fall classes. Before you make anything official, try a few pre-registration tips that will help you assure a satisfying semester.

1. Think ahead. It's easy to think of next semester as very far away, but don't forget that you are setting up yourself. In only a few months, you will be faced with the way you set things up now. So, although it may seem doable to say now, "Yeah, I'll just sign up for an eight o'clock...," if you aren't the best at making those early classes now, you probably won't be in August either.

2. Trust your adviser. When you go in to meet with your adviser, don't just see it as a requirement that gets your hold lifted. Believe it or not, they know what they are talking about. They have experience with this sort of thing. Make sure your classes are lining up with your plan to graduate. You don't want to just make things easy until your senior year, when you have no choice left but to take a full load.

3. Try talking to upperclassmen. If you know someone older than you in your college, ask them for their advice. These students will be able to suggest classes, teachers, and even whether or not you will really need your books for certain classes, despite what the syllabus may say.

4. www.ratemyprofessors.com-This site, while controversial, really can be of service to students. Maybe you are about to enroll in a course that you are sure will be tough for you. If so, this site can give you an idea of how helpful the teacher may actually be. It can be of more use than seeing whether or not you actually have to attend class.

5. Even things out. Don't pile all your difficult major classes up for the end. Even if it is your freshmen year, it is smart to get some gen eds out of the way, as well as some of the harder classes if you can. Have a plan and write it out. Use one of the advising sheets for your major. Be smart about the way your collegiate career will begin and end.

Three Fun Ways to Celebrate Easter in the Dorms

Easter is this weekend and as students, we may not have to opportunity to do something major with our families, especially if our homes are a distance away. We do, however, have some options of how to enjoy ourselves right here in the dorms on campus. Here are some of my favorite ideas...

1. Easter Egg Hunt. The Student Union supposedly held one of these this week, but I have yet to see any eggs on campus. I suggest a hunt between friends. Go buy some cheep eggs at WalMart and fill them with candy or little toys or even nothing as a joke. Hide them all around your dorm or apartment parking lot and around the buildings. Then have everyone take off in search of them. Maybe even make it a contest for whoever finds the most eggs and have some sort of a winning prize.
For ideas try: http://www.celebrating-easter.com/party/egg-hunt-ideas.shtml

2. Egg Toss. You know the traditional game. If you want to make it really interesting, use raw eggs. Grab a group of lively friends and head to a lot or field on campus. Put team members on each end and toss away, trying not to break too many. The person with the least broken wins. Feel free to incorporate fun rules such as standing on one leg or tossing backwards.


3. Egg dying. This one is my favorite! It can be messy of course, but still fun. Get a group together in your room or the lobby of your dorm. Have everyone bring a dozen or so eggs and have some colored dye ready. Bring napkins. Lots of napkins. There are even some fun designs and ideas you can research online to make it interesting. Go egg crazy.
Try: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/easter/dye.htm or http://www.celebrations.com/article/easter-activities-20-easter-egg-decorating-ideas

Happy Easter!

Three Words for Building Your Vocabulary part 5.

We are getting on through the alphabet here. Three more words to expand your vocab: here they are...use them! I dare you...

1. Matriculate. 200 (to enroll as a member of a group) This could come in really handy in our current status. This word applies especially to a school or college. How about the use even in the case of a greek organization? Try this as a verb in describing someone joining your group in the fall.

2. Nestor. (a leader in one's field) This is also quite pertinent to our season of life. As students, we are surrounded by leaders. Try this word in reference to one of your professors or the dean of your college. This could even apply to someone in your major who is especially gifted in leadership in your field of study.

3. Ostensible. 279 (shown in an outward way) A synonym for this word is apparent. Not as relevant as the first two words, but still useful. Usable in describing someone's work if it is outstanding. Perhaps this word could also describe the actions of one student or authority towards another.