Throughout my first semester of college, I learned a lot about what it means to be a student here at Iowa. It was a bit stressful at times, but I found a few tips/resources that helped make my life easier. 

1. Checking the marketplace menus online

I cannot tell you how amazing this is. You can look up what food each dining hall is serving that day and visit the one that sounds the most appetizing. Checking the menus online ensures you never miss your marketplace favorites. In order to view the menus, go into the Hawktools app and click dining. From there, you can find the menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all three marketplaces.

2. Bus Apps

There are a few different apps to help you track Cambusses and each one has a unique quality. Iowa Bus is helpful because it not only tells you how long it will take for the bus to arrive, but it gives you the exact time. This is a great app to utilize while getting ready for class because it gives you a distinct time to be ready by. Another popular app is Transit. What I like about Transit is that it displays the exact location of where the bus is on a map. During the winter, I can wait inside a building and watch on the app to see when a bus is close to know when to run outside. Even if you prefer one over the other, it doesn’t hurt to have both. Sometimes, one of the apps has incorrect times and having the second  gives you a back up.

3. SI (Supplemental Instruction) and tutorial labs

In college, it can be easy to feel a little confused. Luckily, Iowa has a lot of support to get you back on your feet. Supplemental Instruction is a group study designed for a specific course which is taught by an undergraduate student. SI is around three days a week and it is a great resource to go to. You not only meet other people taking the same class, but are given extra guidance. Another resource are tutorial labs. These are places you can go with many tutors available to assist you with your classwork. I went to the Math Lab right before finals and it made a world of difference. I was able to speak 1 on 1 with an instructor and communicate with other students who had similar questions. If you ever feel behind at school, these are awesome places to be.

While college may seem scary at first, Iowa has a lot of resources to help make life easier. Through apps and free tutoring, college gets a little bit better.

Most freshmen decide to live in a residence hall their first year. While living on campus has its benefits, I certainly get tired of it. Starting and ending my day where I go to school was something I wasn’t used to.  Living in the same building as students in my classes was nothing like high school. After seeing the same people seven days a week and going to the same buildings and market places every day, a break is definitely needed. One of the best ways to take a breather is by leaving campus. 

 Here are two awesome places to visit while at Iowa.

The first place I recommend is Coral Ridge Mall. This mall is about 10-15 minutes from campus and a great way to release stress. Don’t worry if you don’t have a car, the Iowa City Bus will take you! 

1.  It has a movie theater. If you want to see the premiere of a movie, then this is an option for a place to go. 
2. It has an ice skating rink. Yep… right across from the food court there is a full size ice skating rink. Certain days they have public skating which is perfect for us college kids.
3. Food. Now and then I choose to skip the dining hall and eat out. While there are a bunch of restaurants downtown, there are even more options at Coral Ridge Mall.
4. Shopping. If you are like me and love to shop, then this is a great place for you to go!

The second place is Wilson’s Orchard. You may have seen students sporting Wilson’s shirts or sweatshirts around campus. About 15 minutes away, this is the place to be in the fall. You can pick apples, buy apple cider, and take some artsy pictures. Visiting Wilson’s Orchard is a great way to kick-off the Fall season.

While the University of Iowa has a great campus, sometimes a break is necessary. There is a lot of fun stuff to do so take advantage and have a fun time!

Most people know that the University of Iowa is a big football school. While I knew it was big, when I attended my first football game, it certainly exceeded my expectations.  Kinnick Stadium holds over 69,000 people. It seems hard to be filled, but the stands are often packed. Students, families, and LOTS of alumni all come to the games to help cheer on the Hawkeyes. On game days, the streets are lined with tents of those tailgating and fans dressed in black and gold. 

I live on the west side of campus where there normally aren’t too many cars driving by. But, that completely changes on these special Saturdays. Cars are lined up waiting to get a parking spot near Kinnick and some roads are closed.  Having so many people gathered together to see the Hawkeyes win, really connects you with the school. There are fans of all ages and it is super cool to see everyone show their love for the University of Iowa. Not only do you connect with other Hawkeye fans, but you also get to see football!

Even if you are not a fan of football, you should at least go to one game… for the ‘Iowa Wave’. You have probably heard of the wave where everyone in the stands turns toward Stead Family Children’s Hospital and waves up at the kiddos. It sounds so sweet, but to actually do it is on a whole other level.  Looking up and seeing flashlights sway back and forth are sure to bring you to tears. It gives you a step back from college and connects you with the outside community. Being a part of such a special moment will make you fall in love with Iowa all over gain. 

With many fans, fun cheers, and the ‘Iowa Wave’, Hawkeye football games provide an experience like none other.

Moving from high school to college is a big step in someone’s life.  All the stores you used to go to, the food you used to eat, and the faces you’d always see changes.  It’s a big transition in your life that can certainly be made easier with some quick tips.

1. Leave your dorm room door open.

Before I left for Iowa, all my family members told me to keep my dorm room door open.  I decided to do so and left my door open the first day on campus. Within those 24 hours, four girls came in and said hi. Keeping your dorm open lets others on your floor feel comfortable stopping by and introducing themselves.  It’s a great way to meet other students who live in your new community and an easy thing to do.

2. Go to some of the On Iowa activities.  

The first few days on campus you have nothing to do.  No school, no clubs, no homework. While you have no obligations, I recommend going to the On Iowa activities to meet other people and make new friends. One of the biggest events for On Iowa is Kickoff at Kinnick where you go on the football field and take the iconic “I” photo. During the picture, I met a group of girls and we all started talking. We bonded together and got along super well. To this day, I can thank Kickoff at Kinnick for introducing me to some of my first college friends! On Iowa activities are made for freshman and new students…. so take advantage.  It’s a great opportunity to meet others and learn about Iowa.

3. Get involved. 

 I knew that in college there were going to be a ton of clubs to join. The problem is, I didn’t exactly know what there was or how to sign up.  That is what the Student Organization Fair is for. You walk all throughout Hubbard Park zig-zagging between rows filled with almost every club at Iowa. You get to speak in person to representatives of each organization and get to have all of your important questions answered.  If you have any interest in joining a student organization at Iowa, this is the place to be!

Moving from high school to college is a big change and there is a lot to take in. While a lot is thrown at you, there are little actions you can take that make the whole transition easier.