One of the most challenging aspects of living off campus is staying motivated in your classes. When you live on campus, the library, professors, and any other resources are available within walking distance of your room. Being off campus, it’s a lot easier to sit around and watch Netflix than it is to force yourself to drive to the library to get any homework or studying done. To combat this, I usually try to schedule my classes with a break in the middle of the day so I can grab lunch on campus and work on anything that may need to get done. Having a meal plan for off-campus students is a great idea if your student wants to spend more time on campus or if they don’t want to deal with the hassle of driving home in the middle of their day. Staying on campus from about 9:00-3:00 has really helped me make the best use of my time, instead of wasting it travelling between class and my apartment or on any distractions that may be at home.
While spending time on campus between classes, encourage your student to check out the commuter lounge in the Arkansas Union! The Off Campus Student Services office has an awesome lounge area with couches and study tables for students to relax or work on assignments. They also offer free coffee and donuts on Wednesday mornings starting at 8:30. This is an awesome place to hang out and to study.
Another great way to stay connected to campus and the University is by becoming a member of an RSO. There are over 200 registered student organizations at the University of Arkansas. There are many different types of organizations, such as Greek, service-oriented, special interests, and academic. Having a group of people that you share similarities with is always great but it’s especially nice once you no longer live in a residence hall on campus. Encourage your student to check out the list of RSOs on campus and if they can’t find one they like, they could even start one of their own!
In my opinion, one of the best ways to stay connected to campus and the University is to get a student access pass and enjoy Razorback athletic events! A student access pass gets you into the Trough for football games, men’s basketball games, and you get a t-shirt. Going to football games is something that unites all different types of students from the University and there is nothing better than watching the Razorbacks win! Your student can purchase his or her access pass by following the link in the student center of his or her UAConnect account, or by going to http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/student-tickets/.
The University of Arkansas has a lot to offer and has, in my opinion, the best campus. It’s important that your student take advantage of everything about this awesome campus during their time here. Living off campus is a huge change at first, but with your help and encouragement your student will adjust in no time!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meet Molly Churchwell! Molly is a sophomore Chemical Engineering major from Greenbrier, Arkansas. In addition to serving as a Lead Parent Ambassador, she is also a Student Ambassador for the College of Engineering. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, playing with dogs, and exploring the city of Fayetteville.