[krisakira]

Some of you know that I start college again in august. I went to college full time for 4 years to 2 different colleges, after high school graduation. But after relocating I took 2 years off and I have switched majors, from Electronic Media to Graphic Design. So I have been accepted to Wichita State University. Well I have my classes set up and financial aid awarded so I am ready to go. Got orientation done, and working on some of my transfer credits. I start August 20th. My first day of classes consists of 3 classes, and my first class starts at 9:30am and my last class ends at 3:15pm. I still don't know what I'm going to do for lunches, but I think I might bring sandwiches or something. Gotta figure out where the cafeteria is so I can eat too. I am nervous. I wish I only had like 1 class the first day. But Monday and Wednesdays I have 3 classes. Tuesday and Thursday I have 1 class. Friday I have no classes (3 1 3 1 0). The buildings that my classes in are far apart from each other too. I have 15 minutes to get from one class to another and it takes me 8 minutes from one class to another if I drive to the other side of campus. But that's if I get good parking spaces. I need to time it walking. I am not in the best shape either, and August has potential for very hot weather, 100s possibly like how it is now. I also have to get disability services set up. I am too large of a person to fit in some of the desks in the classrooms so I have to get disability services to provide a table and chair for each class. I also need to sit in the front of the class, because of my difficulty concentrating. Then I have to wait till I get the balance from my financial aid (what's left after tuition and fees), so I can buy books, but I was told that might not be till 7-10 days before classes start. What if I don't have time to buy my books in time! I want to try to get cheaper books online than in the book store.

I think that's all. Just wanted to get all that out there.

[SeekingZen]

Hi Krisakira. Congratulations on going back to school next month! Did your school give you a list of books for your assigned classes? If so you can check out Chegg, Half and other sites to see if you can get your books cheaper through them. Chegg is great and I highly recommend using them if renting textbooks is something you are open to.

Make sure you take a bunch of snacks with you on days when you have several classes in a row. 15 minutes usually isn't enough time to stop and grab a snack at a campus cafe. I would also take a bottle of water or something with you.

I am not familiar with your school but the beginning of the semester is always hectic and parking is usually VERY hard to find! You should probably time how long it would take you to walk to each of your classes across campus to make sure you can make it w/in 15 minutes. I know at my school I would never be able to walk back to the parking garage and move my car to another parking deck on campus in 15 minutes so I just walk.

Also, you can try to cut through buildings to get out of the heat.

[krisakira]

Thanks that's a great idea to cut through buildings! Hopefully I don't get lost in them haha. I can check out chegg but I usually just use amazon.com and then sell the books there after the semester is up. I think there are a few books I have to buy new at the book store though because they come with a CD and workbook or something...

[Perna]

I love this site:

http://used.addall.com/

It searches all the used books out there. You might want to look at investing in a book Reader or seeing about online textbook deals or rental, etc.:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/text...oks/379002366/

Does your school have an orientation for Freshmen/transfer students you can go to? Or, I'd try going to school the week before classes start and see if you can get into any of the rooms where your classes will be, check out the layout, time it takes you to get one to the other, etc. You might not need to request the table/chair (they might already be there/the style of class) or might find there are other problems (stadium seating with no room up front for table and chairs).

Maybe you can make an appointment with someone to take you around to your classes beforehand and discuss your needs/figure out your choices and what you might like to do (change sections/times, etc. that meets in a different/more compatible space).

[krisakira]

Originally Posted by Perna

Does your school have an orientation for Freshmen/transfer students you can go to? Or, I'd try going to school the week before classes start and see if you can get into any of the rooms where your classes will be, check out the layout, time it takes you to get one to the other, etc. You might not need to request the table/chair (they might already be there/the style of class) or might find there are other problems (stadium seating with no room up front for table and chairs).

I've already done that

[krisakira]

I finally went today and timed myself walking from one class to another (the ones on the opposite of the campus) and out of the 15 minutes I have in between 2 of my classes, it took me 12 minutes to walk. I don't think its enough time, so I just switched one of my classes to tuesdays and thursdays instead of MW. That way I don't have to run to get to any classes, and I have plenty of time to get to each. I have 2 hour lunch periods, in which I could also go to the computer lab or something in the library which would be really nice. Or catch up on some homework. I think this is the best option.

[Perna]

That's wonderful that you are so prepared and have it organized to fit your desires. So, did you go to the Student Union and find the eating place(s)?

[krisakira]

Originally Posted by Perna

That's wonderful that you are so prepared and have it organized to fit your desires. So, did you go to the Student Union and find the eating place(s)?

Well.... the Student Center is under construction so I can't go there yet boo hoo

[Travelinglady]

You are wise to be making all these plans! I am excited for you. After the first few days I expect you'll be getting it all figured out. I remember all those PB & J sandwiches I ate when I had to stay on campus all day.