As we push into the halfway mark of the semester, we can all look forward to Spring Break and planning for our room and board situations for the next year. So whether you are voyaging through the Grand Canyon or navigating the streets of New York City, we should all take some time during our vacation to consider what our living situations will be.
Although I am not an expert on how the campus housing lottery works, making sure that you have backup plans is a safe way to ensure that you will not be living on the streets of Troy come Fall ’09. Unfortunately, freshmen do not have squatter’s rights so we must partake in the housing lottery.
So, when returning from Spring Break, make sure that you bring with you some four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, and avoid walking under ladders and breaking mirrors in order to assure that you have the best luck possible when numbers are given out. To avoid any unforeseen events, getting all the necessary paperwork and information finished will make your Spring Break much more enjoyable. I am not sure if the theory that “the early bird catches the worm” applies to the lottery system, but it never hurts to be early, hasty, or premature when looking for a place to live. As we all know, the economy is in the crapper. Times are hard, and extra funds flee quicker than the blink of the eye. So, making sure you secure the funds needed for your tuition, room and board, and other fees early is a great strategy when planning for the future semester.
Frankly, Rensselaer is not the cheapest school on the list. However, with careful economic planning, tactical money management, and meticulous budgeting, future years at Rensselaer may prove easier on the wallet.
Spring Break may be the time to go crazy and have outrageous fun, but remember that when we return for the last half of the semester, things will quickly pick up as we catapult through exams and land right in the middle of finals. While I felt January was a slow grind, February flew by faster than a speeding bullet. So, although it is great to party and have fun, we should all remember that time waits for no one. Planning ahead, staying on task, and studying hard will see us through to the end of the semester peacefully. Have a great Spring Break, do not drink too much, and come back refreshed and prepared to work.
