Being a Scarlet Knight is an exciting journey full of new experiences and new insights. Stepping into a college environment for the first time can be a daunting endeavor. Suddenly you are no longer surrounded by the peers you have known for the past four years in high school. Suddenly there are no more bells to trigger the start and end of class. Suddenly you are on your own. Rest assured, the following guide is designed to give you an insight to help prepare you for your first year on campus.
Live
Most incoming freshman students have never experienced a college environment. While freshman year may be daunting, it is one of the best years to engross yourself in new experiences and adventures. Some of these experiences may include checking out the local food spots, shopping, and even taking a train on your own for the first time! Here are some tips for life on campus:
Dining Hall
The opinions on dining halls vary from individual to individual. In my opinion, the best dining halls are Livingston Dining Hall (Livingston Campus) and Neilson Dining Hall (Cook Campus). They offer the most variety of food options so you are guaranteed to find something you’ll like. There are also plenty of cafĂ©s around campus where you can use your meal plan. The dining hall websites provided above highlight specific locations where meal plans are accepted.  Woody’s (Busch Campus), Cook CafĂ© (Cook Campus), Harvest CafĂ© (Cook Campus) are just some of the most popular cafes on campus. These cafes are different that dining halls because they provide a different environment than a typical dining hall, the food is more along the lines of breakfast/lunch meals, and also offer other items for sale (snacks, school supplies, tissues etc). Â
RU Express
You can add a certain amount of money onto your RU Express card that you can use for laundry at your dorm and various places around campus that accept RU Express as a form of payment. RU Express. Here is a list of places that accept RU Express.
Housing
Don’t be hesitant to reach out to the housing department if you have any issues (such as an incompatible roommate, inconvenient dorm location, bugs etc.) You can contact them here.
Get involved!
Rutgers is an ENORMOUS school. There is bound to be at least one thing here that will pique your interest.  There are hundreds of organizations and clubs (from political parties and religious communities to board game clubs and language clubs), fraternities and sororities (business and social, all with their own types of brothers and sisters), and intramural sports and rec teams. You can check out every single officially recognized student organization and their upcoming events at Rutgers on GetInvolved. You can also get lit by checking out the local party and bar scene, as there is almost always a house party, frat party, or basement show going on- you just need to find it. Partying not your scene? RUPA is always planning events that Rutgers students can enjoy, such as Beats On The Banks and trips to the city. You can also get your blood pumping with the events that Rutgers Recreation sets up such as Sunset Paddle boarding and Bike N’ Brews. At Rutgers, you are guaranteed to find a community of your own.
Buses
Buses are FREE. They are there to help you commute back and forth across different campuses throughout the day. However, you will need to plan out your schedule ahead of time to ensure that you get to class on time. The buses can get overcrowded or run late so plan accordingly! The Rutgers app is a great resource for all things Rutgers-related, including bus times. The Rutgers app is available on iTunes and Google Play. Â
Â
Learn
Let’s not forget the real reason we are in college….to LEARN! While college offers a lot of flexibility in choosing courses that truly peak your interest, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Rutgers offers many resources to encourage academic success. Some of those resources are highlight below, but your professor holds the primary key to assuring your academic growth and success.
The Academic Calendar
The academic calendar highlights various important academic events happening during the school year. For example, Rutgers add/drop week is based on the number of credits a student has obtained. Add/Drop week is an opportunity for you to add or drop classes during your first week. It is a great opportunity to really immerse yourself in classes you enjoy, which is key for academic success. If you have previous credits from A/P courses or transfer credits, you can add additional classes earlier than someone with 0 credits. The complete schedule can be found Fall 2018 Academic Calendar.
The Libraries
One of the best resources on campus for studying is the library. There is at least one library on every campus. During exam season, the libraries tend to be extremely crowded. So if you plan on studying at the library, make sure to arrive early or reserve a study room for yourself and your study group. You can book a study room here. All of the libraries also provide study materials you can rent for free, such as extension cords, whiteboards, and expo markers.
Studying
Studying for college exams is EXTREMELY different from studying for exams in high school. In high school, perhaps you were able to study for a test the night before for a few hours and achieve your desired score. In college, however, you need to begin studying for an exam at least a week in advance in order to do well.
The Rutgers Learning Centers
The Rutgers Learning Centers are a great resource to assist you as you study for your classes. The Learning Centers offer free tutoring services, academic coaching, study groups, and more! Check out their hours here.
Professors
In today’s day and age, there are few things that can’t be found online. Fortunately for students, reviews about professors is not one of them. Get familiar with your professor before taking the class using ratemyprofessor.com. It is a great resource to make sure you don’t end up in a class that you will dread.
Â
Love
Love yourself! College is the ultimate period in your life for self-discovery and self-awareness. Love yourself and take care of yourself. Life may get tricky during your college years, so be sure to take care of yourself. Fortunately, Rutgers offers many campus resources that can help you practice self-care.
Rutgers Pharmacy
There are on campus pharmacies that are much cheaper and convenient than other local pharmacies. The location and hours are: Busch-Livingston Pharmacy, Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Rutgers Pharmacy (Hurtado), Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Willets pharmacy services are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., where prescriptions are filled within 24 to 48 hours. (Source)
Rutgers Health Center
If you are ever feeling under the weather, check out the Rutgers Health Center for assistance. The Rutgers Health Center provides many services from annual physical checkups to routine personal care. Making an appointment is as simple as calling 856-225-6005.
CAPS
College can be extremely stressful. Rutgers offers many resources for students struggling with mental illness. If you ever feel extremely stressed out, feel free to reach out to a CAPS center near you. For more information about the hours and location of various counseling services offered at Rutgers, click here.
Relax
Take a deep breath and just relax. The Rutgers campus is beautiful so take a walk to admire the beauty of the campus. Be sure to check out Rutgers Gardens or the Rutgers Ecological Preserve!
Â
Although the first few weeks of college may seem intimidating, Her Campus Rutgers wants you to remember that this is all a learning process. As you advance into your college careers, you will realize that there is no one-size-fits-all for success at a university, which is why it is important to take care of yourself. This article does not include every possible detail of things you have to know but serves as a solid guide to help you begin your freshman year on the right foot. A final tip for all incoming first-year students: approach every experience as a learning experience. Have fun discovering yourself and the world around you!