*streaks through!*

I didn't even know who Ke$ha was before I saw those videos. XD I've listened to the parodies more than the original songs.

Some of the parodies have led me to find new people I like, others I've listened to the parody so many times that I actually can't listen to the original.

Sorry, but my favorite parody person is Weird Al! <3

Is he still making videos? I've barely heard about him since High School.

Since youtube came out, anyone can be a parody artist. Its harder for him to remain relevant when so many other people are doing the same thing in more creative ways than him. YouTube is a crazy thing, turning tons of people famous every day. Gotta love it.

I'm a fan of youtube. Though, when I joined it back in 2006 it had almost no original content.

Doesn't Disney own youtube now?

No, Google does.

I like youtube....sometime when I get a camera I'd like to start my own vlog......however I doubt many people would actually watch it I'm not that funny xP

I'm a big fan of YouTube - shane's Channel and YouTube - petrilude's Channel 's channels. Shane is just funny, and Josh is AMAZING at makeup tutorials and plus, he's kind of amusing xD

I'll be asking college questions shortly for anyone who wants to help me out in my planning!

Oh THAT'S who Kesha is? I used to hear that song on the radio (Tick Tock) when I drove to uni since the local Canadian station played it all the time. I really really don't think she's talented, based on that song, so I never would have thought she was so popular. It sounds like she's talking in a whiny voice the whole time with a bunch of auto-tuning thrown in, which I also generally dislike.

But that's just my opinion. Also, I'll throw out another parody of her song: Sing Talk (Tik Tok Parody) - CollegeHumor video It's more mean than it is funny, however. >__>;

I'm not a big fan of College Humor. I know they're really popular and all, and every once and a while they have something funny, but as a whole I guess I just don't get their style of humor.

Seiki: I'll be available when you're ready.

College humor was funnier when it first started -- at least I think so.

I also like shane seiki, I used to watch his video's all the time xP

And yes, I'll answer any college questions to the best of my ability.

Oh yeah, I can answer college questions too. :D

@Youtube Channels: I'm a huge fan of Mystery Guitar Man and Candee the makeup artist. And Annoying Orange, because I am seriously messed up in the head. And The Gregory Brothers!

@Weird Al: I never really liked Weird Al. I mean, yeah, it was pretty standard parody, but it wasn't particularly good or anything. I don't like his voice, and I found very few of his lyrics to be all that creative.

@Seiki's College thinger: I'll help with college questions! I'm graduating this semester... so I'd like to say I have -some- knowledge on the subject. xD

Sometimes all you need is a little standard parody. :)

So basically, I'm trying to take the 10 months or so that I have before school starts next fall to prepare and have everything I could possibly need ready for when it does start so I'm not stressing about not having something or not knowing what to do. If you guys have any advice on things to remember to do before starting your freshman year that you wish you'd have done that you didn't or little tips for preparation? Things that you should have taken with you that weren't on a typical "dorm check list" etc. This is my prep work so far, list of stuff that I have to do still and all that that I can think of off of the top of my head.

----------

Not a lot so far. I've been looking into their dorms to figure out which one I want to try for before I submit my housing agreement for that. I'm pretty sure I have a hall picked out but only about 900 students get into it. I'm hoping because I'm applying early enough it'll give me a better chance of making it in.

Ive also been looking at common dorm checklists. Thinking of things that I can start buying now to make it seem like less of a hassle when it gets closer to time to move in.

I need to figure out when exactly I should be moving in so that for work I can try and get a transfer to a store closer to campus if I'm still working there at that time or start looking for a job on campus somewhere so I can continue to make my car and phone payment without having to resort to using loan money.

Trying to find out more about the campus health plan they offer since I don't have health insurance and don't entirely know if I will before then. It all depends on if my mom finds a job at a dental office and if she can add me otherwise I need to find out if campus health insurance versus work or state insurance is more affordable. I've heard some college health insurance plans kind of stiff you so I'm a little iffy about that.

I also want to do a proper campus tour and meet with my counselor so I can work out the route for my major program. I don't want to waste any unnecessary time taking classes that I don't need and having to spend more money to be there longer if I can help it. I also want to set up a possible transfer program for my junior year I think and try to either study abroad or do a semester in new york and try for internships at any of the major publishing houses there. That I want to be super prepared for so I want to make sure both academically and financially I'm set up for that.

I plan on going to campus quite a few times between now and when I start to get a better idea of the campus and familiarize myself with it so I'm not freaking about about being lost on the first day of classes.

Aside from that my to do list right now shows that I need to do my citizenship verification and sign my dorm agreement and pick my dorm. I can't do the dorm thing yet because it's a hundred and twenty-five dollars that I won't have until I get paid on Friday so like I said I'm trying to make final decisions on halls to live in.

That's all I've got so far.

900 people? XD My college dorm only had 60 people. It was tiny.

And also awesome.

I've also heard bad things about campus health plans, but they're better than nothing.

I don't have anything off the top of my head for you, but I'll think about it. <3 There are always unexpected expenses. Like books and supplies for art classes, and notebooks/pencils/pens/bookbags/etc.

Uh, school supplies like notebooks pencils and junk aren't going to be a problem. I'm a bit of an office supply freak. I haven't really bought much since I left high school, but when I'm in school and stuff like that, I'm a freak. I go office supply shopping weekly. Always looking for cool new pens and funky paper clips and all that stuff. I still probably have a ton of my stuff from high school stashed away in a closet somewhere DX

But yeah, if you think of anything that would be great : D

I'll think on it as well, but you are already being much more prepared then I was o.0

Hmm... As long as you keep on top of your financial paperwork and schoolwork (make a schedule if you can or frequently refer to the ones your professors give) then you should avoid most major frustrations. There's only so much you can do before you start your courses, but it shouldn't be long before you get used to the routine.

If you can, I'd try to find out what books you'll need in advance and buy them online. If your school is anything like mine, they'll ream you for the cost of textbooks. While I understand the reasons behind it, it's better if you can avoid the lines and extra fees by buying online. Unfortunately, things purchased online typically won't arrive in time unless you plan in advance.

I definitely recommend studying abroad if you get the chance. :) Keeping in touch with a school counselor/advisor to determine which courses to take is also a great idea. It's important to take some time for yourself too, though. If you try to plan for too much and take too heavy a course-load, you can get burnt out pretty easily.

I don't think I would have survived another year at college if I didn't get into JET because I became completely burnt out at the end. I had so much riding on my last two quarters, which included the most difficult courses for my major. However, I'm warming up to the idea of pursuing my Masters now that I've had a break working and living on my own. :P

I didn't have that problem so much as I found out I had stuff I didn't need. If you have a two-year dorm requirement (like I did), don't invest in anything that is provided in a common area. Like a microwave. For whatever reason, I bought one, and now, there are FOUR in our apartment, because the people I'm rooming with each have one, plus one came with the apartment and is mounted in the cabinet above the stove. Mine is sitting in my dad's basement since he already has two (one doesn't work and he just uses it as a clock, but still). Also, don't invest in furniture just yet. That stuff is heavy and a pain to move. Don't even get those stupid circular bucket chair things. Ugh.

Do invest in cinder blocks though, especially if you don't plan on building a loft (but don't worry about it if your hall provides loft kits or if you're already planning on building a loft). Yes, there are little plastic "feet" you can buy for beds to raise them up, but they don't get the bed up as high as cinder blocks do, and they tend to actually be more expensive. My first year, with my bed on blocks, there was enough room to stash all sorts of stuff underneath, including the mini-fridge and these plastic drawers for clothes (my complex only had closets and no dressers, so I got a cheap portable one for socks and underwear and stuff that you can't really hang up). Also, get a good laundry bin. The fold-up springy cloth ones are nice, but they really don't last very long. A hard plastic one will be a better investment.

Finally, don't buy anything until you know what your room assignment is and who your roommate is. Your roomie's contact info should be provided to you by your school as soon as the assignments are done, which is usually early in the summer. Talk to your roommate and work out who is buying what (for larger items like a TV or window air conditioner or a mini fridge or anything else you'd share). But even then, it's okay to choose to buy nothing, because if you do have the two-year requirement, there's no telling what your second roommate (if different from the first) is going to have. So you still might wind up with doubles of stuff if you buy a lot of things.

Short version: If you're strapped for cash, and it's provided in the common area, don't buy it.

Applying early definitely helps. Turn that sucker in as soon as you can. After current students get their assignments, they basically assign freshmen as the applications come in.

If there's an "opening week" type program, plan on moving in about a week before classes start. If that's not required, it's usually the weekend before classes start (like for upperclassmen here).

This is really a mixed bag. I don't have the campus plan here, but it's through the same company that my insurance is, so I asked my parents about it. My dad's girlfriend (who works in HR and is privy to all the benefits and stuff) said that it really was a steal for what they offered, but that it still wasn't comprehensive. Yes, your deductibles are going to likely be pretty high, but your premiums can be ridiculously low. It's also easier to buy, I think. My campus offers per-semester plans (fall, spring, summer, fall/spring, and full-year rates), which is pretty convenient. Definitely do the math though. You could be getting a good deal, especially if you don't have any major health problems that require a lot of doctors visits.

Thanks for the advice so far guys. It's actually been pretty helpful :yes:

I'm a little cranky now though. I feel like I need to take out a loan just to pay all the entrance fees to get into college. $125 for the dorm deposit which offers me no guarantee of getting the dorm I want, $300 to reserve my spot as a freshman. who knows what's coming next? DX

I'm just cranky because I've been up since 5 a.m. Wednesday x.e I don't even want to think but I have to work on stuff. =.=