College Advice Guide: New & Returning Students
- Mikaela Bartlett
- Apr 27, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Whether you’re new to the college campus or a returning student, we’ve put together this guide to help you navigate college life and shop for the essentials.
So, whether you’re after practical advice like dorm room shopping lists and student checking accounts, or you want some ideas of what to ask on your college tour or advice on joining Greek Life – it’s all here.
In this guide:

College Dorm Storage Solutions To Keep Your Room Organized
Getting your dorm assignment is exciting—it’ll be your living space for the next year! But you’ll quickly want to make the most of the small space you have. Believe us, you don’t have nearly as much storage space as you think you do.
So, as you start paring down what you actually need to bring with you to college, be sure to check out these storage tips to help you keep everything in its place.

10 Best Back To School Laptops & Deals
Your college laptop is a huge investment that you want to seriously consider—you definitely shouldn’t just up and purchase something without thoroughly thinking it through and weighing your options. That’s why we’re here.
Here’s our roundup of the best places to shop for student laptops from brands like Apple, Samsung, HP, Acer and more, along with great deals to help save you some money. College is expensive enough, after all…

10 Best Student Checking Accounts
If you remember anything before heading off to college, it’s that saving money while you’re there will set you up well once it’s time to graduate. You’ll establish credit, have spending money and learn how to manage a budget. There’s lots of when it comes to checking accounts, but not all are created equal.
That’s why we’ve rounded up 10 of the best checking accounts for college students – including Capital One, Chase Bank and PNC Virtual Wallet – with each offering its own perks and kickbacks designed for you to hold onto your money and spend it on what’s important.

12 Questions To Ask on Your College Tour
Heading to your prospective university is more than just checking out campus, in fact, it’s the ideal time for you to ask questions and learn more about what life is really like at that college. However, you’re going to have to ask the right questions if you want honest answers.
We’ve put together a list of 12 questions that’ll help you really suss out if the college is really right for you or not. From questions for admissions to queries for the students themselves, we’ve covered all the bases so you’ll be prepared once you start touring schools.

Coffee Station Ideas For Your College Dorm
If you’re the kind of person who needs coffee to get going in the morning, an afternoon pick me up to get through the midday slog, or a little something extra to help you cram at night, a coffee station is an essential part of dorm living.
Luckily for you, there’s plenty of great ways to configure the ideal coffee station for your living space!

10 Dorm Room Decor & Storage Ideas For Guys
Dorm decor might seem like something just for the girls, but gents, let’s be real—your dorm shouldn’t be a complete disaster. This is the space you’re going to be spending a lot of time in, and it needs to be functional and look reasonably nice. Think beyond slapping a few posters on the walls and make your dorm room somewhere you actually want to spend time.
We’ve rounded up some easy decor ideas and the best storage solutions to keep everything in it’s place. With just a few little adjustments, your dorm will be your home away from home in no time flat.

A new school year is a chance to reinvent yourself. Enter, two aesthetics that have emerged and quickly become wildly popular: dark academia and light academia. The subculture places an emphasis on writing, poetry, the arts, and classic Greek and Gothic architecture. Colors are muted in tone – with black, white, beige, browns, dark green and navy featuring heavily.
The fashion focuses on styles popular during the 1930s and 1940s worn at British Ivy League schools like Oxford and Cambridge, including Doc Martens. Popular articles of clothing to own are cardigans, blazers, dress shirts, plaid skirts, and anything made out of houndstooth or tweed. To find out everything else you need to know, check out our essential guide below.

Cheap Dorm Room Decor Ideas & Where To Buy
College is already expensive enough, so furnishing your dorm shouldn’t be another financial strain. But at the same time, you also want your dorm to look cool, right? That’s why we’re here to help you!
Learn how you can get your dorm feeling like home without totally burning through your bank account.

Everything You Need To Know About College Sororities & Rush Week
The decision to rush a fraternity or sorority when you get to college is a big one. It can feel overwhelming, especially if you school has a vibrant Greek life on campus. So what all do you need to know before you take the plunge? That’s where this handy guide comes in.
We’ve answered all your biggest questions you might have when it comes to Greek life, rush week and everything in between. That way, you’ll be an expert by the time the fall semester rolls around.

What Should I Major In? College Major Guide
Deciding what to study at college can feel like one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make and, while you might be feeling the pressure to decide right away, you need to take the time to explore all your options. If you’re at a loss on how to choose which subject is right for you, this guide is here and ready to help.
Keep all these things in mind as you start narrowing down your list of potential subjects to study.

The Ultimate College Shopping List & Where To Buy
Look for your one-stop shop for back to campus shopping? Of course you are, and you’ve come to the right place.
Why waste your time hunting around countless stores trying to find what you need when you could let us do all the heavy lifting, and all you’ll need to do is click to purchase—no leaving your house or putting on real clothes required.

Dorm Room Essentials List for Starting College
It’s about time to start thinking about prepping for another season of back to school shopping, which means all the fun (and chaos) of moving into your dorm room. But what do you really need in your room? And what can you leave at home? If you’re already feeling overwhelmed at the thought of getting everything ready, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve compiled a list of everything you absolutely need to grab before you head off to college. From shower mats and mattress toppers to storage bins and kitchen necessities – we’ve covered everything – including a list of stuff to go ahead and leave at home!

Elevate Your Back-To-School Fashion
Whether you like it or not, it’s almost time to head back to campus for another semester. And while you’re probably stocking up on all the typical items like backpacks and dorm gear, you can’t forget about one crucial element: your closet.
That’s why we’ve put together our picks for back-to-school fashion. There’s everything from slouchy sweaters to bomber jackets. Take a look.
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