How-To

How to Find a New Place to Live: A Guide for the Clueless

-Sam Bouchat

That time of year has come around—it’s time to reserve your fall living situation. This will be my fourth time moving in as many years, and through hardship, annoyances, and difficultly learned lessons, I have become something of an expert at finding new places to live. Here is a simple guide to make finding your next home less stressful.

1. Determine Your Priorities

Every person has different needs in a living situation. For me, I don’t mind a long commute to campus; but I cannot, under any circumstances, live in a loud environment. Quiet and tranquility (along with price) are my highest priorities. As such, this limits my living arrangement options—this is both a good and a bad thing. It’s good because I can narrow down where I want to live (areas around frats are out of the question), but bad because it gives me less options to choose from. You must figure out what is important to you, and use that structure when finding places you want to live.

2. Research Your Landlords

Utilize websites like Yelp and Google reviews to determine if your future property manager is responsible or god-awful. For instance, there must be a reason Von Klein Property Management has 17 reviews on Google, every single one of which is 1 star. But you don’t have to stop at the internet.

When I was living in my sophomore quarters, the landlord showed my place while I was there. The entire time, I was astounded that the groups to whom the place was being shown did not once ask us, the current tenants, about the rental. Talk to people who live there! You will never get a more honest opinion. And people LOVE to talk about their homes.

3. Read the Fine Print

READ. THE. LEASE. The whole lease. Every last word. Because you might end up being screwed, and you would have been warned if you had just read that last, 8 point clause. Ask questions about everything. What does “common area” imply? Who do I call for noise complaints? What’s the emergency number?

And make copies of EVERYTHING. Your lease, your checks. Write down who you talked with on the phone that promised that August rent would be half off. Keep documents, because they might be the only thing between you and a miserable year.

4. Talk to Friends

Your friends have great and awful living experiences—ask them for advice. Oh, you love where you live? How do I apply? Oh, your landlord never came to fix your dryer? I’ll be sure to avoid him.

5. Start Early

Don’t wait until the last minute to begin looking for and applying for fall apartments or houses. You’ll end up with the dregs. Find a place that you love now, and cut your stressing short. You’ll be thankful come September.

Top 5 Cheap and Easy Eats

-Whitney Barton

Most college students don’t come home after a day of classes, homework, projects, meetings, etc. with the energy and resources to whip up a gourmet dinner. So here are some of my favorite affordable, everyday ways to have a something resembling a home cooked meal at the end of a long day.

1. Spanish Rice

I love Spanish rice, but it can be a bit time consuming to make from scratch.  Out of a box though- easy.  I use Rice-A-Roni mix and alter the ripe a bit for added freshness and flavor.

  • 8 ounces canned diced tomatoes (note this is a different quantity than is provided on the box)
  • 8 ounces chopped fresh tomato (about 1 tomato)
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups water
  • 2-3 minced garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional:  Cayenne pepper to taste

Brown the rice with butter in sauté pan (I add a little more butter than the box calls for).  Add water, seasoning packet, tomatoes and garlic.  Let come to a boil, then lower temperature and allow to simmer 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with parsley or cilantro.

2. Chicken nuggets

Chicken nuggets are one of my all-time guilty pleasures.  I can’t get enough of them.  I typically buy Foster Farms, but any kind will do.  I dress this childhood classic with an aioli sauce and I have to say- it’s a match made in heaven.  And of course you have to break out the ketchup.  This is America after all.

Aioli (quick and easy version)  (French aioli, more involved)

  • ¾  cup mayonnaise
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2½ tablespoons lemon juice
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Mix mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

3. Faux Pho

Pho is one of those salty, spicy dishes that is so perfect on a cold, rainy day.  But frankly, it’s great any time of the year, and any time of day (personal theory:  it’s a valuable component on hangover cure list).  This is my inexpensive, college student take on the real thing, made with little more than ramen, and Sriracha sauce.

  • 1 package of ramen noodles (I use chicken or oriental)
  • 1 egg
  • chopped cilantro to taste (about 2 tablespoons)
  • Sriracha to taste

Bring water to a boil, then add noodles, and spice packet.  Crack egg directly into pot and breakup with a fork.  Once egg starts to turn white, turn heat down to medium low, allowing noodles to cook to desired consistency.  Add Sriracha and cilantro.

4. Margherita Pizza

Who doesn’t like pizza?  Ordering out can be expensive and it’s always annoying when there’s a long wait.  I try to keep a frozen pizza on hand for an easy dinner option, but I like to zest it up with some fresh ingredients.

  • 1 frozen pizza (I used a thin crust Margherita Pizza by California Pizza Kitchen)
  • 1 Roma tomato
  • 1-2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
  • ¼ cup shaved Parmesan Romano cheese

Cut tomato into thin slices, and julienne basil.  When pizza is about two minutes from done, take out of oven.  Place desired amount of tomatoes on pizza, then sprinkle basil and cheese on the top.  Place back in oven and allow to finish cooking.

5. Jalapeño Quesadilla

I am a Tex-Mex fan.  It’s flavorful, cheesy, and tastes as if it should be enjoyed in a hot, sunny climate with a pool or ocean nearby.  This quick and easy dish is great for a light meal, or to share with a friend over lime-laden beers (… if you’re of age of course).

  • 2 tortillas
  • Shredded cheese (I used a prepackaged “Mexican Blend”)
  • 1 fresh jalapeño pepper, deseeded and julienned
  • 1 tablespoon of butter
  • Fresh chopped cilantro

Heat butter in pan on medium to medium-high until foamy.  Place first tortilla in pan with desired amount of cheese, then add desired amount of jalapeño slices and chopped cilantro (I also sprinkle a seasoning salt and cayenne pepper).  Once cheese is almost completely melted, place other tortilla on top and flip (this typically corresponds with when the heated tortilla is crispy).  Continue to cook for a few minutes, or until other side is golden and crisp.

Bon Appétit!

How to Keep Yourself Organized

-Callie Gisler

Let’s face it. Between four classes, homework, a part-time job, hobbies, and trying to have some sort of a social life, you’re busy. College students are constantly on the move and keeping track of everything is no small feat.  From papers and exam dates to meeting with friends and visit from families, I don’t think a normal person could keep track of everything there is to do in a day.

So how do you keep yourself organized during a busy day? Here are a few useful tips to stay organized and avoid the stress:

Buy an organizer or calendar

Consider picking out a planner or wall calendar to write down dates and important reminders. You can find one at just about any store like Target or Office Depot for relatively cheap. Even one of those fancy mortarboard planners from the Duck Store are a great option. Take a look at different layouts and find out which one works best for you – daily, weekly, or monthly? My planner goes everywhere with me. It’s one of the most helpful tools I have to keep dates and tasks straight.

Make lists and keep track of things to be done

Making lists is one of the most effective ways to stay productive, and there is a little reward in crossing off something when you’re finished. Make it a habit to start writing things down. Add sticky notes to your planner or calendar to remind yourself of tasks that need to be done on a certain day.

Spruce up your workspace

Whether you work best at home or at the library, an organized workspace will definitely help you feel more productive and focused. Invest in file folders or desk organizers to keep assignments, notes, and other important papers organized. This will also help to maximize your work time and prevent you from wasting time looking for something you’ve misplaced.

Set a schedule and stick to it

If it’s hard to find time during the week to hit the gym or get homework done, designate a block of time to it. Write it down on your calendar and treat that time as though you cannot miss it – like a shift at work or a final exam. Creating this mindset will help you make dates and stick to them.

Organization is one of the most helpful skills you can have – now and in the future.  How do you stay organized? In summary: write it down, stick to it, and cross it off when it’s done. Soon enough it will become a helpful habit that will make this busy college life seem a little more manageable.

Follow Callie at @calliegisler

How to Study for Finals like a Boss

-Sam Bouchat

It’s almost finals week. Are you ready? No? Well, join the club. And enjoy some of my personal steps to ensuring an efficient and effective study session.

Midterms mean everything

Odds are that your midterm will look a lot like your final. Get a hold of that old scantron and study it! What did you get wrong? Why? Figure it out, because professors love to reuse questions. Additionally, most professors will let you see the midterm test if you go into office hours.

Flash cards, flash cards, FLASH CARDS!

Everything from foreign language to chemistry can benefit from the usage of flashcards. Na is (flip it over) SALT! 骨means (flip it over) BONE! Good job. Creating and then using flashcards is a fantastic way to memorize things. Also, a stack of index cards are a lot less daunting than a stack of textbooks.

If you can avoid cramming, do so

Cramming is wasteful—you’re studying to remember information for a single test, and then will inevitably forget it. That’s not fun! I, for one, want to remember how and why human activities are affecting fluvial systems. You shouldn’t be in class to pass; you should be there to learn. And remembering this stuff now will save you valuable time in the future!

Time Management

Be aware of your priorities. Sure, my geology final is on Tuesday while my Japanese final is on Wednesday, but I also know that my geology final won’t have kanji on it. Label each test with a priority level, and study accordingly. It will save you time, energy, and will help you mentally organize the upcoming nightmare of a week.

Make Blackboard your new best friend

If you’re lucky, your professor put some class materials online. Anything from PowerPoint lectures to the keys to the homework assignments is now a vast field of knowledge. Get to know that stuff. If your professor thought it was important enough to put into immortal online form, odds are it’s also important to know.

Once a textbook, now a canvas

Those textbooks are yours. You bought them for inflated prices and, no matter what you do or how fantastic the condition is, you will only ever sell it back as used. So use it. Mark the corners, doodle notes, put stickers on pages, stuff it with color-coded Post It notes. Highlight passages, underline captions, and draw creative crayon graphs in the margins. Even if you never open it to that page again, marking a passage or phrase will help you remember it infinitely times better than simply reading it.

Follow Sam at @sambouchat

How To Deal with Noisy Neighbors

-Callie Gisler

Apartment life can suck. This is especially true when you live below people who seem to be hosting a party every Friday night. If you’ve never dealt with a scenario like that, you can take my word for it. Eventually, apartment living will introduce you to problems with neighbors. How do you deal with the problems when they arise?

The adult solution.

By this point in our lives, we college kids have learned to solve our own problems. Adult conversations and discussions are possible without screaming and fighting…Right? Approach your neighbors during a calmer and quiet time, maybe the day after a loud night filled with partying. Remember your manners. Avoid accusations and incriminating tones, especially if you don’t know these people well. Remind them that apartment living can be loud and you’re having some difficulty dealing with the noise levels. More than likely, he or she will be happy to take your honest and civil requests to heart.

The landlord solution.

If your attempts to deal with the problem aren’t helping, don’t be afraid to turn to your landlord or complex manager for assistance. This is one of the perks of being a renter – these people exist to help solve your living problems. Let your manager know that you’re having problems with your neighbors’ noise levels. If the situation is more serious, consider calling the non-emergency line to file a noise complaint.

The college kid solution.

When all else fails, sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. Turn your music up a little, talk a little louder, and remind them that apartment walls are thinner than they appear. If you can hear them, they can certainly hear you. Though this solution does come with a disclaimer – you could easily piss people off. Be careful.

Apartment living is one more necessity to the college experience. And some would claim that so are the noisy neighbors that often come with it. The thumping base, the window-shaking music, and thundering footsteps will add up to cultivate that first-apartment experience. Approach the situation with a little understanding – we’ve all been “that” neighbor at some point.

Follow Callie at @calliegisler