College Survival 101
The document that tells you your professor’s policies, assignments, grading and schedule.
What is the syllabus?
The person you call when your dorm sink is leaking or something in your room needs fixing.
What is maintenance?
Your campus ID often doubles as this when buying food on campus.
What is a meal card/meal plan?
College students are most likely to need this item for taking notes, doing assignments, and accessing online classes.
What is a laptop?
You walk into class 10 minutes late. Your best move is to do this rather than explain yourself in front of everyone.
What is quietly take a seat?
These scheduled times are when professors are available to meet with students outside class.
What are office hours?
These communal machines mysteriously seem to eat both socks and your free time.
What are washers and dryers?
Buying this instead of individual bottled waters can save you money all semester.
What is a reusable water bottle?
According to a 2025 college packing guide, which of these is considered a basic dorm necessity: a printer, a Twin XL sheet set, or a gaming chair?
What is a Twin XL sheet set?
Your roommate is blasting music at 1 a.m. and you have an 8 a.m. exam. Before involving an RA, you should probably do this.
What is talk to your roommate?
You’ll probably need this number to find the correct room in a large campus building.
What is the room number?
This student leader lives in the residence hall and helps residents with problems and policies.
Who is the RA (Resident Assistant)?
This campus resource may let you borrow textbooks instead of buying them.
What is the library?
According to the 2026 National Retail Federation, college students and their families plan to spend the most on which category when shopping for back-to-college?
What is electronics?
You're completely lost in a class after the first two weeks. This person should probably be your first stop for academic help.
Who is the professor/instructor?
This academic status can occur when your GPA falls below your school’s required minimum.
What is academic probation?
This simple agreement between roommates can establish expectations about guests, cleaning and quiet time.
What is a roommate agreement?
Unlike a grant or scholarship, this type of financial aid generally has to be repaid.
What is a student loan?
In 2026, back-to-school shoppers estimated they would spend an average of approximately how much on back-to-school expenses such as clothing, supplies and books?
What is $600
You receive an email saying your university password expires TODAY and asking you to click a strange link. You should suspect this.
What is phishing/a scam?
Dropping a class after the add/drop period often results in this letter appearing on your transcript.
What is a W (withdrawal)?
Pulling one of these without an emergency can evacuate your entire residence hall and get you in serious trouble.
What is a fire alarm?
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student _____.
What is Aid?
According to the 2026 National Retail Federation, college students and their families are expected to spend a record-breaking total of approximately how much on back-to-college shopping?
What is $103.5 billion?
Your friend has had way too much to drink and says they're driving home. The correct number of times you should let them drive is this.
What is zero?