When we were little, prepping for the first day of school was easy. All our friends needed the same things we did; teachers gave us lists, and our parents dragged us around Target gathering all the things we needed. Not at OU! At best, you get notified of the books you need, and the luckiest get a syllabus, like, 3 days before the academic year starts. No one likes to walk into a class unprepared – it’s like those dreams where you show up to school naked. And you don’t have to start your first day unprepared; you just have to DIY your supplies list and try to cover all your bases.
Here’s our best advice for how to make sure you hit the ground running when OU’s classes start back up:
Registration
We cannot stress enough how important being on top of your class schedule is. Learn how to read your DARS, learn what’s required of your major, and plan two entire schedules before your appointed registration time opens. Then, on the day and time you’re allowed to register, get on it ASAP. The more on top of it you are, the more likely you are to get your Plan A schedule without incident!
Laptop
Your laptop doesn’t have to be anything fancy. In fact, a Chromebook or the like is the best option for something that you can take notes on with a long-lasting battery. They’re small and fit into almost any bag, and if you’re just using Docs, the battery will last you 12 hours.
Books
Many professors will give you the general vibe of how important the books they use are for your success in the class. You really should always get the recommended books ahead of time, because some profs dive right in on the first day of classes. But don’t go straight for the bookstore – you can save hundreds of dollars by renting from online sources, buying used, or getting the previous edition of the one listed on the syllabus.
Schedule
Whether it’s a physical planner or a Google calendar, once you know your class schedule, write it out. This will help you manage your time – studying, going to work, hanging out with friends at the bars uptown. The more prepared you are going into your semester, the smoother it will be.
Budget
We don’t have to tell you how quickly the weekly cost of Bagel Street lunches, after-class beers, weekend cocktails, and late-night burritos from Big Mama’s gets out of hand. We don’t mean you should cut any of that out, but you should have a budget set that you keep track of. It’s especially easy now with apps like Mint. You don’t want to have a really fun September only to find that you’ve only got money for rent and ramen in October.
Supplies
You need folders, notebooks, bluebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters, and a calculator. You know – all the not-fun parts of our elementary school supply lists. If it hurts your heart too much, pick up some crayons and an adult coloring book while you’re at it, because mental health is important.
Where to Live Next Year
Seriously. Athens has enough apartments, sure. But there aren’t infinite quality apartments close to uptown and campus, and the ones that are fill up fast. In this town, it’s a good idea to get an academic year ahead on your living situation. Or you should at least have next year’s off-campus apartment on your radar by fall, at least.
Remember that some leases are May-May and some are August-August, so there’s a little wiggle room depending on when you’d like to move into a new student rental. Design your search around your schedule, but keep in mind signing a lease on OU housing at least 6 months ahead of time, if possible.
This checklist is crucial for any student, whether a Freshman or a Senior. If you make sure you’ve got all your ducks in a row before that first morning when you realize that your Summer fun truly is over and it’s time to resume your 7 am Starbucks habit, so that your semester starts and stays streamlined.
Feel at Home Living at Any Kleinpenny Rental Student Apartment or House
Staying on top of your academics and maintaining a healthy social life is a juggling act. College is a time for exploration and stepping outside of your comfort zone. That’s exactly why plenty of people search for the best places to rent in Athens and live off-campus.
Deciding to move out of the student dorms requires some planning ahead. From looking for the right place to move into to searching for roommates that won’t drive you insane, you’ll have a lot on your plate if you choose to live in an off-campus apartment near OU.
But this entire process doesn’t have to be dreadful. To start your apartment hunt, look up trusted rental companies here in Athens. Once you’ve read the reviews for each rental company, take a look at what sort of properties they have available.
Don’t know where to start your search? At Kleinpenny Rentals, we offer a range of OU student rentals, from one-bedroom apartments to large 8-bedroom houses that can accommodate an entire friend group. We try our best to give each of our clients a stress-free renting experience by keeping our amenities and properties up to date and well-maintained.