The goal is simple: Make a beef Wellington exclusively with ingredients from Paws & Go. It will not be easy. It may not even be remotely possible. But there’s only one way to find out, and that’s to go grocery shopping. I decided to go with my friend, first-year Diya Gupta. As it turns out, Paws & Go is not really into the whole “groceries” thing, so we’re really going to have to get creative.

As much as we love our mothers and the internet, when it comes to packing for college, they sometimes lead us astray. So, if you’re unsure what to pack and who to trust, look no further! Luckily, the two of us (Nicole and Eliza) are still in college and know a thing or two regarding college life in the 21st century.

Living with other people can be many things — it can be the best part of college, or it can feel like a social experiment where you’re constantly being rage-baited. Regardless, you don’t have to feel like you’re living with a bunch of strangers. Whether you’re bonding with your suitemates for the first time or trying to procrastinate on your next assignment, here are five fun activities to do together.

There is nothing wrong with looking for sameness. It’s natural. But we don’t grow and learn about the world when we’re around similar people to us. Instead, we grow around those who are radically different.

If you were anything like me when you got to university, you didn’t have a ton of stuff to decorate your room with. I had a few things: tarot posters gifted by my friend’s younger sister, a local newspaper that I liked the front page spread of, and a museum catalogue.

Some fun recipes you can make in your dorm!

As WashU students, most of us have dozens of other things going on in our lives, and organizing is usually the last priority. Keeping your space tidy doesn’t have to take hours of your life every week. These are easy tips on how to get your sh*t organized (and actually keep it that way).

Moving between semesters is weird. Not good or bad, just a little bit weird. Finding a new space and living with new people can make the fall and spring semesters feel even more distinct than they already are. My junior year, I moved homes in between semesters; in the fall I lived on Limit Avenue behind the Lofts, and in the spring, my apartment was on McPherson Avenue. It was a planned move and made the most sense for me given my housing situation at the end of sophomore year. Moving between semesters can be a pain or a joy, and for me, it was both at different times. There is not a ton of time to adjust, but there lies the chance of getting to meet new people and explore a new neighborhood. Below are some tips, based on my experiences, that will hopefully help you with you too. 

Yet housing decisions do not need to be so fraught. Not living with your friends is not the end-all, be-all of your housing situation, and your housing situation is not the end-all, be-all of your friendships.

A good dorm pet is quiet, low-maintenance, and keeps you company while you study. For some students, that means keeping a fish on their desk; for others, it means hiding a cat in the common room. Although both of these options are viable, college is a time for exploration and new experiences.