Tips for Coming Back to HU After the Summer
When I think about getting ready to come back to HU after summer break, I think about rom-coms and cake. Why, you may ask? For my family, “back to school” means buying a chocolate cake, picking a movie to watch (which ends up being a dramatic love story instead of a historical drama, much to my dad’s dismay), and settling in for a night of reminiscing about the adventures of the summer. As I prepare to enter my senior year of college and eat one last piece of "back to school” chocolate cake, I am beginning to think about the other ways HU students can get ready to come back:
1. Check in with your roommate
Moving back to college also means moving in with a roommate. I would suggest contacting your roommate and having a discussion about what you are bringing before you start to pack. For example, at the end of summer before my sophomore year, I knew that I wanted to have a lofted bed and to hang lights and ivy in the room. So, I texted my roommate, and we worked out the layout and decoration scheme of our room. She said that she would bring her mini fridge so that I didn’t have to bring mine, and I said I would bring my Keurig. Communication is a key factor to having a successful living situation with your roommate, and talking beforehand about what and what not to bring as you are moving back to HU will help your packing process be less stressful.
2. Order your textbooks and school supplies
The HU Bookstore is your go-to location for rental textbooks, school supplies, res hall essentials, and so much more! A few weeks before I move back to HU, I usually log in and order the textbooks and materials I need for my courses. The HU Bookstore makes ordering textbooks simple: type in your Student ID and check off the books you need from your courses to order them. I recommend ordering your books at least three weeks in advance of the semester starting. This timeframe gives the bookstore enough time to process your order and get you your textbooks in time for classes to start. To check out all the items the HU Bookstore offers, visit the HU Bookstore website or the physical location in the upper HUB.
3. Check your email
Over the summer, it can be tempting to ignore your HU email account. However, as August starts, try to make a habit of checking your email a few times a week. You may have received an email about move-in times, residence hall information, or billing for the fall semester. A professor may have emailed your class about a reading you need to have completed for the first day of class or a syllabus that needs to be printed. Taking time off from the busyness of school is necessary to relax and recharge during the summer, but staying responsible in reading and responding to emails is also vital to your success at HU.
As you prepare to come back to HU after the summer, remember that you have an entire Forester Family to welcome you to campus and help you make the transition. Moving back can be stressful, but remembering the exciting and rewarding aspects of life at HU can be a tremendous encouragement. For me, coming back becomes easier when I know I am coming back to a place that feels like home.
