While it is possible to make it through four years of college without your own computer, it is much more convenient to have one. Instead of walking to the library or computer lab at two in the morning to finish your term paper, you’ll be able to stay in your dorm room (or relocate to a local 24-hour coffee shop). This is especially nice at the end of the fall semester, as it can get really cold late at night in the winter! Buying a computer, however, can be an expensive proposition, especially if you purchase peripherals, like a mouse or keyboard, or a warranty plan. There are a few ways that you can use to save a significant amount of money, however, and make it a more financially feasible idea.

First, see if you can get a deal on a computer through your school’s bookstore. Many schools have deals with companies like Apple, Dell, and HP. You can often save a couple hundred bucks by buying through your school, making this one of the best ways for saving money on a new computer. You might be able to get these deals through your school’s website as well, so you can get your computer before classes start.

You should also consider purchasing a refurbished computer. These are computers that have been used, restored, and put up for resale. You can save a great deal of money by buying a computer this way, and there are very few disadvantages to buying refurbished. Shop around online and locally, figure out what kind of computer you need (or would like), and start your search for a refurbished PC. With a little searching, you should be able to find exactly what you’re looking for at a good price.

Once you have your computer, you’ll probably start looking at investing in software. This is another opportunity to save some cash. Every student needs (or is strongly recommended to have) the Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Almost every class that you take throughout your college career will use at least one of these programs for assignments or presentations. Office can be expensive, but you can save money by going through your school again; many schools offer Microsoft Office at greatly reduced prices. You may even be able to get a student copy for free. If you can’t get a good deal on Microsoft Office, you should consider Open Office, a free productivity suite that is very similar to Microsoft Office. Most files can be converted from Open Office formats directly to Microsoft formats, making it easy to transfer files between your computer and others’.

Although it can seem like a bank-breaker, it’s usually a good idea to invest in a computer. Use the above tips and you’ll find that they’re not nearly as expensive as they first appear. Spend a little time shopping and you’ll be saving money on a new computer in no time!

Many incoming college freshmen have questions about the college party scene and would like to know if it’s as crazy as it’s rumored to be. The following lists will attempt to give you a general picture of what college parties are like.

Things You’ll See at College Parties

Drinking.

Yes, a lot of drinking can go on at college parties. This is certainly not always the case, however. There are many parties where there is very little or no alcohol served. And the majority of people stay within their limits and maintain control of themselves.

Games.

Whether it’s board games, card games, darts, pool, video games, foosball, or something else, a lot of people like to play games at parties. This is a great social opportunity, as you can get to know people that you may not have talked to otherwise (if you can get a cute guy or girl to play on your team, you’ve now created a great reason to introduce yourself and get to know each other—take advantage!).

Dancing. The combination of loud music, open space, and alcohol often results in dancing. While there are very few actual “dance parties,” many people like to dance whenever they get the chance. Either get in and show your stuff or sit back and relax—there’s no pressure.

A lot of people.

While there won’t be any busting down of walls, you may find that some parties can get awfully crowded rather quickly. Especially parties in houses, where there are fewer noise restrictions than in dorms or apartments.

Things You Won’t See at College Parties

Animal House-like antics.

Some parties get pretty crazy, but National Lampoon took it to the extreme. You may see a few toga parties, though!

Drugs.

Let’s be honest—many people wonder about college students doing a lot of drugs. And yes, some do. But the vast majority of people (and parties) are drug-free. This largely depends on your group of friends; but like dancing, there is no pressure to be part of this scene.

Girls Gone Wild.

If you’re hoping that you’ll be seeing a bunch of naked people running around and hooking up with each other in hot tubs, you’ll be disappointed. The most that you’ll probably see is a couple making out in a corner. And that usually doesn’t last long, because they quickly realize that everyone’s watching them . . . and that’s just weird!

Really, college parties are like any other parties. A bunch of people get together to relax and socialize. There’s no need to be stressed out about fitting in at parties or being the only one that’s not drinking. Just go out and have fun!

If you’re like most college freshmen, you won’t be bringing your car with you to school. You may have the opportunity to have a vehicle on campus in the next few years, but as a freshman, it’s much less likely. Because you’ve probably been relying on it for the past several years as your primary means of transportation, you may not be used to traveling using other means. So you’ve left your car at home . . . now what?

The easiest, cheapest, and most common method of car-free travel is walking. Most college campuses are small enough to walk between your destinations without too much trouble. You don’t have to wait for a bus, beg for a ride, or get your bike ready. You can just lace up your shoes and go. Walking is the primary means of transportation for the vast majority of students. Many campuses are close enough to places like grocery stores, movie theatres, gas stations, liquor stores, and restaurants that you can get to almost everywhere that you need to go fairly easily.

If you have to go a little farther, such as across a big campus, or a few miles away to a grocery store or friend’s house, you may want to invest in a bike. Using CraigsList is a great way to get a bike without spending too much money. If you already have a bike, you don’t have to worry about this—just bring it to campus, keep it in your dorm room, or lock it up outside. While you can’t carry as many things on a bike as you can in a car, you can add a rack and panniers to your bike and have enough storage room for two grocery bags. This should be more than enough to get you through your day-to-day routine. Having a bike on campus makes living without a car much easier, and is often the best way for students to get around.

Mass transit is an efficient and environmentally-friendly way to get from place to place if you have to travel several miles very quickly. Many campuses offer free shuttle services between buildings or campuses. This provides the advantage of not having to walk from a bus stop to where you need to go; you can probably get dropped off right in front of it. If you need to go somewhere else, like to the mall, or downtown to the bars or clubs, you can hop on a city bus for a few bucks. It’s a lot cheaper than getting a cab, and you can fit a much larger group on a bus than in a car.

If you’re not planning on bringing a car to campus your freshmen year, there’s no need to worry about how to get around. If you can’t walk somewhere, you can probably bike there. If it’s too far to bike, hop a bus! You’ll learn very quickly which methods of transportation you’ll need while you’re in school, and you’ll find that living without a car is a lot easier than it may seem.

Because they provide a needed break from the rigors of academic life, video games can be a lifesaver in college. Your brain is on overdrive at least 20 hours of every day—why not take an hour out every once in a while to let your gray matter rest a little? Playing a mindless video game can provide a good outlet for academic stressors. But while gaming by yourself can be fun, there’s nothing better than playing games with a bunch of other people. Below are some of the best party video games that every dorm floor or apartment should have.

Guitar Hero

Everyone knows Guitar Hero—even if you haven’t played it, you certainly understand the concept (and if you’ve been living under a rock, go to http://www.guitarhero.com/ and check it out). Take a plastic guitar and start ripping out chords to popular songs. Just press the colored buttons on the guitar as they come up on the screen and you’ll be jamming. Sounds easy, right? Wrong—be prepared for one of the most challenging tests of hand-eye coordination that you’ve ever had. Fortunately, the game provides four levels of difficulty so that you can hone your skills before trying to show up the greatest guitar players of all time on songs from Avenged Sevenfold, Nirvana, Slayer, Pearl Jam, Fall of Troy, Guns N’ Roses, Senses Fail, Van Halen, and many others. . A group of friends, a big TV and stereo, and some beer will make for a Guitar Hero battle for the ages!

Mario Kart

This is a classic party game that has been around for a long time. And why not? What could be better than racing at ridiculous speeds around brightly-colored animated tracks and blasting the hell out of each other as cute cartoon characters like Mario, Bowser, Peach, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi? Mario Kart is tough to top for sheer fun factor. Playing on the Wii adds a new dimension to the game, as you can now use a wheel to direct your kart instead of the directional pad on a traditional controller. Don’t be fooled by the whimsical environment of this game—it can get very competitive very quickly and lead to some pretty serious rivalries!

Golden Eye

This may not appeal to as many people as Guitar Hero or Mario Kart, but it cannot be left off of a list of the best party video games. N64’s GoldenEye was a pioneer of the multiplayer shooter game, paving the way for games like Halo, Gears of War, and Call of Duty. Instructions are simple: choose your character, then stay alive as long as possible while taking out your opponents. You can choose a variety of levels and weapons. As it’s a very easy game to become familiar with, all you need to do is fire it up and start shooting!

These are only a few of the popular party video games; as you spend more time at parties, you’re likely to see more games. A great way to get a lot of people together is to have an old-school video game party: play games like Duck Hunt, Sonic, and Mario Brothers. It’s like going back in time for a few hours!

Unless you’re taking a J-term class, you’re likely to have almost an entire month free from class. Although it’s tempting to do as little as possible, you’ll feel better about your break if you get at least something marginally productive done. One of the best ways to keep your brain working over your winter break is to read a book. While it’s best to make your own winter break reading list, you can start with one or two of the following suggestions.

1) Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.

Although the idea of reading a book about economics and causality sounds like a terrible idea right now, you’ll find within the first few pages of Freakonomics that this is one of the most fun and interesting books that you could read over your break. Two economists explore “the hidden side of everything,” and delve into some of the modern world’s mysteries that you may or may not have heard of. It’s a bit of a leap of faith to pick up this book, but you won’t be disappointed. In fact, you’ll probably want to read it again!

2) The latest Harry Potter book.

The Harry Potter series is hugely popular among college students, probably because of its less-than-seriously-challenging reading difficulty and engrossing story. These books are notoriously difficult to put down and will keep you up late at night. With all of the people out there that have read these books, it’s likely that you too have read at least one—and now that you have a month off of class, it’s time to catch up! Read the latest one and make sure that you’re caught up with the movies (because it’s a lot less fun to read the book after seeing the movie).

3) The Onion.

This isn’t a book, but it’s still a college reading necessity. If you’ve never read a copy of The Onion before, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by just how funny it is. It’s one of the best modern satires available, and will keep you laughing from the first page to the last. You can find issues of The Onion for free on many street corners and newsstands. You’ll also often find them at restaurants, on campus, and at bars or clubs. They come out weekly, so make sure to read a few issues before you get back to reading textbooks. If you’re feeling slightly more motivated, pick up either Our Dumb World or Our Dumb Century, both books put out by the crew at The Onion. These are two of the funniest pieces of work that you’ll be able to get your hands on.

Whatever you decide to read over winter break, make sure that you have fun reading it. Reading something light is a good way to enjoy your reading, but you may also find yourself inclined to pick up a piece of classic literature; just because it’s old and may be slightly difficult to read doesn’t mean that it can’t be fun! Sit back and relax with whichever book you’ve chosen and enjoy your winter break reading list.