Preventing Theft on Campus

College students already have enough to worry about between classes, work, and finances. But in this age of technology, there is one more worry to add to the list: theft. The personal gadgets we own are becoming more and more expensive, which increases the potential for theft. Also, with the use of social media on the rise, it is easier than ever for identity thieves to steal your information. In this post, we’ll list some ways to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of theft at college.

Leave valuables at home – Keep the most expensive things you own at home, especially those that have sentimental value. A good rule of thumb is that if it can’t be replaced, then it probably shouldn’t be at school. Other items, such as social security cards and passports, may not have monetary value but are incredibly important. Unless you absolutely need these for a specific purpose, keep them at home.

Keep an eye on your stuff – It’s very easy to lose track of your belongings, especially if you feel comfortable in your dorm or library’s common area. No matter how familiar you are with the people you’re around or the place you’re in, it’s very easy for an opportunistic thief to nab your stuff. Take your personal items with you everywhere you go, even if you’re only leaving for a short while.

Protect your financial information – Phone bills, credit card statements, and other documents that contain sensitive information should be kept in a secure location within your room. Shred any and all paper items that you no longer need. Better yet, switch to electronic billing to make it harder for thieves to gain access to your information.

Keep track of bank statements – College students are often prime targets for identity theft because of their relatively clean credit history. In addition, it takes college students longer on average to recognize and report identity theft. During this time, identity thieves can rack up more charges that you may end up being responsible for. It pays to consistently check your financial statements to ensure your accounts are not being charged for fraudulent purchases.

Limit personal information online – Social media websites can potentially give someone access to a wealth of your personal information. With just a name, address, and date of birth, a thief may be able to gain access to your financial accounts or apply for credit cards in your name. Also, by posting that you are going away for the weekend, you are advertising to hundreds of people that your belongings will be unprotected during that time. Keep personal information to a minimum online, and ensure all your online accounts are protected with a strong password.

Be careful when surfing the Web – Thieves love “phishing” (the practice of sending unsolicited emails that look like they originated from reputable sources but are really phony) in the hopes that you will provide them with personal information. But apart from online thieves, beware of potential snoopers who may peer over your shoulder to observe the information you enter into a computer. And always remember to log off when using a public school computer.

Theft is a substantial threat on college campuses, but by following these tips you can ensure that you are doing all you can to prevent becoming a victim.

Five Important Reasons to Get Involved During Your Freshman Year

So you’re an incoming college freshman this fall and you’re excited to embark upon this new phase of your life. Among all the advice you’ve likely been given during the past few months, you may have received a few exhortations that sound a little something like this: “Make sure you get involved on campus!” There are various reasons your parents, older siblings, or high school guidance counselor may have encouraged you to get involved early; we’ll list five of them here.

1. There’s more to college than the classroom – There are so many things to be experienced at college apart from academics. Your college campus likely has a plethora of clubs and organizations that organize fun and enjoyable events. In addition, most colleges have facilities designed to give you something to do when you’re not studying: from gyms and fitness centers to game rooms to even dedicated student centers! You’ll find that frequenting these resources will help you to relax and unwind after a tough day of classes. Take advantage of these opportunities!

2. You’ll become a part of something big – Let’s face it: the transition from high school to college can be incredibly challenging for many. For the first time, many people move away from home and become essentially independent. Or, they find it challenging to find an entirely new group of friends. Participating in campus activities provides a number of benefits to assist you in the transition. By attending club meetings that interest you, you are sure to find people you can relate to. In addition, joining organizations provides a sense of belonging, which is especially helpful to combat feelings of homesickness. College is a new experience for incoming freshmen, but participating in campus activities can make it less daunting.

3. It’ll help you boost your resume – Remember that feeling at the start of your senior year of high school, when you realized that you had barely any extracurricular activities to list on your college applications? Make sure you don’t end up making the same mistake twice by getting involved early in college. Being involved outside of the classrooms displays excellent time management skills to potential employers. Not only that, your extracurriculars will help set you apart from the rest of your peers and will shape you into a well-rounded applicant for graduate programs.

4. You’ll be in the loop – Networking, networking, networking. It has commonly been stated that landing a great professional opportunity “is not about what you know, but who you know.” This is especially true in today’s competitive job market. By getting connected to relevant groups and organizations, you will be able to network with numerous people who have established themselves in your field of study. They can give you career advice, serve as a reference, and sometimes even provide you with job opportunities. Any way you slice it, it’s always a good idea to get to know people.

5.  You can give back – One of the best parts about getting involved at your college is the opportunity it provides you to give back to the community. Have a special talent or unique ability? Various clubs on campus will allow you to exercise those gifts for the benefit of others. Also, most organizations are actively involved in community service projects. By serving with your fellow members, your group’s sense of identity will be strengthened.

In short, your four years at college will blow by before you know it. By the time you reach your senior year, you’ll wish you had just one more year to participate in all the awesome programs and organizations that you became a part of during your tenure at school. Get involved NOW and reclaim that extra year!

Getting Along With Your Roommate

Living on campus as a first-year student can often prove to be a rocky experience. As a resident, you are housed with another student (or potentially, other students) and are expected to spend a significant portion of the day interacting with them. Now, if your roommate ends up being the coolest people you have ever met, then you won’t have much of a problem in this regard.

But of course, it’s not that simple for most people. Your roommate may very well have grown up in a manner radically different from your own, which can lead to a clash of lifestyles. Many a college student can attest of “horror stories” where they shared a room with someone they considered themselves severely incompatible with. However, many people fail to do all that they can to ensure they not only survive their rooming experience, but actually enjoy it.

HOW TO GET ALONG WITH COLLEGE ROOMMATES:

1. Introduce yourself – Before you jump right in and attempt to establish “ground rules”, give your roommate a chance to get to know you and you to know them. The more familiar you are with each other, the easier it will be to communicate.

2. Don’t make rules, do negotiate – Don’t attempt to tell your roommate what will or will not fly with you. Instead, try to come to a common ground to establish a living environment that is mutually acceptable for you both.

3. Communicate – Nobody can read minds, so make sure you speak up if you are uncomfortable with one of your roommate’s actions. It’s easy to assume your roommate is doing something to purposefully annoy you, but they may simply be acting upon a habit that they have grown accustomed to. Air your concerns with them so that the problems don’t pile up.

4. Be realistic – Some people are lucky enough to find a new best friend in their roommate, but keep in mind that many people do not grow incredibly close to their roommates. While it is a good thing to be friends with your roommate, there is also nothing wrong with simply sharing a space with them.

5. Invest in some good headphones – Many a roommate conflict is sparked by a roommate playing or listening to audio at a level considered much too loud by the other. Use headphones to watch your favorite TV show on your computer, or to block out your roommate’s unconventional musical taste.

6. Find ways to appreciate them – Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of your relationship with your roommate, try to highlight the good parts. This will help you to appreciate them for who they are, as opposed to trying to make them conform to your standards of a good roommate.

7. Make other friends – Sometimes, you just need a break from your roommate. The more time you spend cooped up with the same person, the more likely it is that you will begin to get on one another’s nerves. Be sure you have another group of friends you can spend time with to prevent driving your roommate up the wall.

8. Talk to your RA – RAs, or resident assistants, exist to not only to ensure you are healthy and safe on campus, but also to act as a mediator between roommates. If all else fails, discuss your situation with your RA instead of going to war with your roommate.

These are just a few tips to make the best of your first-year dorming experience. By incorporating them into your interaction with your roommate, you may find that you no long resent having “that other person” in the room. Instead, you may develop a friendship that will last through your college years and beyond.