Whether this is your first university or your third, here is a list of some tips and tricks to help acclimate you to Murray State.
Think about budgeting your Flex
Every meal plan offers some glorious Flex, the untaxed on-campus currency that can be utilized at virtually every dining option. Going to Chick-fil-A and purchasing a meal without said meal hitting your bank account will feel awesome—until you run out of Flex. With the default Premium meal plan option allotting $75 of Flex to be used throughout the semester, consider strategically budgeting your Flex so as to not run out within the first month. On a Flex-heavy plan? The good news is that Flex from the fall semester rolls over into the spring, but you will need to use it up before the academic year ends.
Go to your professors’ office hours
This is a tidbit of advice you will hear over and over again. Regardless of whether you are seeking help on something class-related or not, going to office hours is an easy way to establish yourself apart from your classmates and further build a professional relationship with your professors. Getting acquainted with the professors in your field could be a huge boost, as they can offer you valuable career and academic advice. Some professors have hundreds of students and scheduling a sit down within their office hours increases your chances of becoming more than a name on a roster.
The lunch hotspots and maximizing your lunch break
When it comes to lunchtime on campus, the most popular of the campus restaurants solidify themselves with unwavering, long lines filled with eager, hungry students. Lunchtime favorites, Chick-fil-A and Tres Habaneros, face the heat after classes are dismissed and ravenous students scurry into the Curris Center looking for their next meal. While the lines are inevitable, most of the restaurants are simultaneously available on Grubhub, which means you can skip the lines and use your meal plan at the same time.
The battleground of Downy and mismatched dirty socks
Laundry on campus is an . . . experience. While the number of machines available in each dorm varies, the complaints are shared across the board. Despite signs and an initial meeting that will inform you of the important rules regarding the laundry rooms, there will be people who will forget to set alarms or take your laundry out mid-wash to make room for their own. Nobody wants that, and the best way to avoid said situations is to beat the system. CSC GO Laundry is a new app that works with the laundry machines that provides insight into available machines and timers for each individual floor and residential college. Know in advance whether the laundry room is packed or not.
Surviving in the dorms
Some of the funnest moments you will experience will take place within the confines of your residence hall, but there are a few things you’ll need to ensure that you have all the fun imaginable. For your sanity, and that of your residential advisors, create a roommate and/or a suitemate agreement at the beginning of the academic year. You might think that nothing will come between you and your roommate, but if and when something does occur, you’ll be glad that the boundaries and expectations were established before the problem, and not because of it.
Get involved in everything, everywhere
The first onset of on-campus activities takes place the moment you arrive, Great Beginnings. There will be various events across campus meant to get students acclimate to the University environment and make new friends before classes begin.
“We try to make sure that we reach every aspect of the student, whether if it’s educational or social, and making sure that they understand that we’re here to support them,” said Re’Nita Avery, the director of student life and the Curris Center.
Beyond Great Beginnings, keep your eyes peeled for various clubs and events that pop up around campus as the semester unfolds, but keep in mind that you do not need to join every event imaginable and spread yourself thin.
So join some clubs. Do a load of laundry. Make friends. Have fun. And welcome to Murray State.
