I’ve romanticized the idea of living in an apartment since my first-year at Albion. After getting a taste for being on my own in the dorms, I wanted to take it to the next level, but I had no idea how hard it was going to be.
If I could go back in time, here’s what I’d tell younger me, and any student considering apartment life.
Have a Back-Up Plan
When I first visited an apartment on campus, it was my sophomore year. I was hanging out with a couple of my sorority sisters and their friend on my birthday in Munger. I thought their apartment was so nice and comfortable, but I didn’t want to live there because it was such a long walk from the main campus.
Fast forward to junior year, when I visited the Mae and thought to myself, “I’m definitely going to live here.” My friend had one of the apartments that had single rooms, which was really nice.
Unfortunately, with Community Living’s ever-changing housing process, my dream of living in the apartment closest to the Quad was crushed.
Thankfully, my suitemates and I did get our second choice, Munger, but not a four-person apartment. I was upset, but when I moved in I was grateful because I couldn’t stand living with multiple people in a confined area where we share everything.
I still love them though, and living on the same floor is fun.
The walk from Munger to campus is honestly not that bad. It takes about ten minutes, less on a good day, to get to my classes.
Listen to Your Tunes!
One of the few reasons the walk is enjoyable is because I wear my headphones everywhere. It doesn’t matter if I’m walking from the Library to Vulgamore, I always put them on.
I suggest making a playlist for your walk over from your apartment. It makes leaving your more comfy, larger living area enjoyable.
Or, if you have a car, make a nice little driving list.
If I don’t have my music because I either forgot my headphones in my room or didn’t charge them, I get really cranky. What am I supposed to listen to? The birds?
While they do sound nice, their songs are not the music I’m looking for.
Pack the Necessities
You may think that you’ll frequent your apartment throughout the day, but you would be wrong.
Most of the time, I just stay on campus because I have so much stuff going on that it doesn’t make sense to go back home.
If you are planning to be on campus till the late evening, make sure you bring your chargers. And I mean all of them: phone, laptop, headphones, iPad etc. If your electronics die, and you don’t have time to get back to your apartment, you’re out of luck. Don’t be like younger me, left to my own devices, without my devices.
The second thing you should always pack is food.
I don’t know many people – besides my roommate –who live in apartments and have a meal plan.
It doesn’t matter if you’re going to be on campus for a couple of hours, pack a snack. I only have one class on Tuesdays, but I feel like I’m going to starve if I don’t remember to bring an apple with me in the morning.
On my longer days, I try to remember to pack food, but that doesn’t always happen. So, I’m telling you now, put a reminder on your phone to pack a breakfast, lunch and/or dinner.
I’ve lost count how many times I’ve bummed a swipe off of one of my sorority sisters or just went hungry. Don’t be like me.
Get Cozy
Your apartment is yours, so make it look like it! Turn it into an environment you want to do things in, even if that is just homework.
If you’re planning on bringing things from home, it’s important to only pack what you know you’ll use. The apartments come with appliances like a fridge as well as furniture. I recommend bringing a coffee maker, toaster and air fryer. A microwave too if your apartment doesn’t supply it.
For decor, I would consider bringing cute pillows because the ones supplied by the college are kinda crusty. Bring posters, blankets, hanging plants or anything that matches the vibe you want to go for.
Rugs and couch covers are a hit or miss. Personally, I could have lived without the rug my roommate bought, but it’s nice to have it.
We don’t have friends over as much I would like, but we have tried to keep the living area open for whenever we do. All our furniture is pointed at the TV, and we can clearly see each other from wherever we sit.
…But Not Too Cozy
I can almost guarantee you won’t want to go to the library on the weekend, so designate an area, as well as time, to do your school work or anything else that needs to be done.
I’ve noticed that my motivation to do anything has gone down when I’m back at my apartment. I don’t want to do my self care routines, my homework or any of my hobbies. That likely has to do with my lack of routine.
Don’t make the same mistakes I did. Force yourself to get out of bed and take care of yourself. It sounds hard, and it is, but it’s worth it if you don’t catch senioritis your first month of your last year.
Surround yourself with positive energy. Whether that be from people near you or yourself, don’t lose your spark.
Think of living in an apartment as living in adulthood after you graduate. Live the way you want to live after you leave Albion.
It’s never too early to get into the right mindset.
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