Advice...

[AKA_Monet]

I graduated from Spelman College.

I had roommates for 3 years.

I only got along with 1 roommate.

Locking up stuff: It's more about how much you can make a Costco or Sam's Club runs... If you can have a car on campus. And if you did, you might want to bring a bucket because your stuff will get stolen.

And do not bring the kitchen sink with you. Just purchase the essentials on a budget. I wish my family taught me that logic. Like how to eat after the cafeteria closed for dinner... Your food options become beyond ramen--more like chicken broth cubes. You learn the importance of longterm food storage.

Then clothes washing--yes, you wear and rotate your 3 varieties of pants for 2 weeks because at most HBCU's even the high end ones, do not have functional washing machines that wash and dry your clothes.

And since most HBCU are in the relative southern region, for some logical reason not all the dorms have air condition, then a square fan if your friend. And to keep cool, drink the sugared ice tea...

And purchase some the school ware: like large cups to take back and forth to the cafeteria. And the food will be yuck. But, PBNJ's are your BEST friend!!! Be creative.

Okey, dealing with an HBCU admin... Love standing in lines and have things in quadruplicate. Then turn on Southern charm, like "I would certainly enjoy life if you would so kindly assist me in this manner". Humility goes a LOOOONNNNNGGGGG WWWWWAAAAAYYY.

And if you like living on the internet, well, let's just say it doesn't happen often. They have energy crises there... Many of buildings are in disrepair. There are numerous reasons.

But, one thing they will teach you is how to stand on your own two feet and confidence in your abilities.

And if you skip class, you professors will know and be all up in your business. So don't do it.

It is like 1950's there...

[1908Revelations]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Then clothes washing--yes, you wear and rotate your 3 varieties of pants for 2 weeks because at most HBCU's even the high end ones, do not have functional washing machines that wash and dry your clothes.

And since most HBCU are in the relative southern region, for some logical reason not all the dorms have air condition, then a square fan if your friend. And to keep cool, drink the sugared ice tea...

Okey, dealing with an HBCU admin... Love standing in lines and have things in quadruplicate. Then turn on Southern charm, like "I would certainly enjoy life if you would so kindly assist me in this manner". Humility goes a LOOOONNNNNGGGGG WWWWWAAAAAYYY.

And if you like living on the internet, well, let's just say it doesn't happen often. They have energy crises there... Many of buildings are in disrepair. There are numerous reasons.

And if you skip class, you professors will know and be all up in your business. So don't do it.

It is like 1950's there...

The dorm director I had freshman year changed her schedule to night shift so she could watch us at night! She really went old school and moved in! Z, you will learn what is meant by dorm mother depending on the director! Tuskegee wanted to keep up with our every moment. I didn't mind it that much, but she did kinda flip out on us....she wouldn't let guys walk to to the door...the front door. Microwaves were not allowed, but my room mate and I had a George Forman grill, microwave, and a toaster (never got caught ) please don't get caught doing anything wrong, because you will be fined! I am sure NinjaPoodle, and Monet can attest to that (not saying you were fined).

Soror Monet, Tuskegee would just shut our power off as if it is not hot enough in Alabama! You were soooooo right! Standing in line will become your new hobby! My room was nicknamed HELL, when everyone else in the entire dorm had air conditioning my room didn't! My pictures on the wall curled up it was that hot!

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by 1908Revelations

The dorm director I had freshman year changed her schedule to night shift so she could watch us at night! She really went old school and moved in! Z, you will learn what is meant by dorm mother depending on the director! Tuskegee wanted to keep up with our every moment. I didn't mind it that much, but she did kinda flip out on us....she wouldn't let guys walk to to the door...the front door. Microwaves were not allowed, but my room mate and I had a George Forman grill, microwave, and a toaster (never got caught ) please don't get caught doing anything wrong, because you will be fined! I am sure NinjaPoodle, and Monet can attest to that (not saying you were fined).

OMG, curfew flashback!

[ziasha07]

Curfew? Please explain...

[1908Revelations]

Not all schools have curfews. We didn't. Plus you will find ways to get around stuff.....trust me!

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by 1908Revelations

Not all schools have curfews. We didn't. Plus you will find ways to get around stuff.....trust me!

That's cuz there ain't nuthin' but a blinkin' yellow light left on in Tuskegee... :P J/K

Curfew: several HBCU's are reinstituting them. Spelman DEFINITELY had one when I was there. I heard they stopped it, then restarted with a more relaxed version. Too many of the girls getting pregnant...

All freshmen had curfew: You have to be in by 10 PM on the weekdays and by 2 AM on the Weekends.

If you got caught after curfew, you were written up and had to be in your room at 6 PM for 2 weeks!!! That's happened to my roommate.

Freshman year, I had a buckwild class--Engineering Graphics, when I thought I wanted to be an engineer and this what B.C.--before computers. My final, I had to "spend the night". So, I asked my Resident Hall Director if it was okay. She said yes. I got a B outta that crazy course.

[1908Revelations]

Quiet hours wer 24 hours a day in my dorm and the fine for violation was $100! Let's say you go to class and your alarm is going off....when you get back from class.......$100 fine! No questions asked. We didn't see guys until we went to class and she probably didn't want us to see them then. I remember on girl was moving a huge trunk in the dorm and it was full. The director suggested (told) that a bunch of girls got together to move it b/c she was not going to let any males (unless it was someones dad) in her dorm. Despite all of that I had fun and I appreciated her for her views, because my roomie and I went to Alabama State to visit some of her former classmates and it was a whole different world.

[NinjaPoodle]

All the dorms were single-sex, doubtful if there is a co-ed option now but I could be wrong. At GSU, the guys were on the other side of the campus. When I was there, doors closed and were LOCKED at midnight. You were S.O.O.L. if you were out after midnight and hopefully you left your window open on your 2nd floor dorm room and you wore flat shoes and you know how to climb a window. (seriously) Male visitors had to be out of the lobby by 11. No male visitors to your room. This rule changed the 2nd semester I was there.

[ziasha07]

Originally Posted by NinjaPoodle

When I was there, doors closed and were LOCKED at midnight. You were S.O.O.L. if you were out after midnight and hopefully you left your window open on your 2nd floor dorm room and you wore flat shoes and you know how to climb a window.

I'll have to remember that.

I think 3 of 12 dorms at the college I looked at are co-ed. However ALL freshman dorms (male and female) are single gender and say members of the opposite sex can only be present in the lobby. For upper-classmen it changes to in the any area of the hall (I assume) at designated times. I'm hoping to luck out and get one of the upper-classmen dorms specified for the band, which may or may not be a good thing. How do you regulate who is where in co-ed dorms?

It says all that but doesn't mention curfew. Only key card entry with (I think) the doors that beep like hell if left open too long which can be DETRIMENTAL to sneaking in at 1 a.m.