Ultimate Checklist for Freshmen at FIU

As you embark on your academic journey this fall, you may be struggling to find the right materials that you will need to survive this semester. Rest assured, whether you are a freshman entering your first year at FIU or a returning student trying to pack light and right, everyone should have a checklist-even if you do not live on campus. Here are some essential items that you will need for the the year!

1. An umbrella!

Needless to say, Miami is a tropical area, never forget to bring your umbrella around. Even when the sky seems clear, you never know when it will suddenly turn into a tropical storm. It rains a lot at unexpected times so be ready.
Just bring your umbrella or raincoat along, it will keep you dry when you least expect it.

2. An everyday jacket.

I know this goes totally against what I said about Miami being a tropical area, but do bring a jacket around when you’re going to class. When it’s crazy hot outside you will find that inside most of the classrooms it freezing. The cold can sometimes make it hard to concentrate. Some people might like the cold but if you don’t bring a jacket just in case.

3. A water bottle.

You are gonna need this! It’s usually hot all day and you will need to walk around quite a bit to get to your classes. By mid-day, you will have already drank your entire bottle so It’s crucial to bring your own water bottle and refill it at water fountain around campus.

4. Don’t forget your Panther ID!

Unless you want to go straight to class and back, do not leave your Panther ID at home. You will need it for the dining Fresh Food Company, Panther Tech, the bookstore, the library, the gym, the Student Health Center, and all FIU giveaways especially during Welcome Week!

5. Make sure you scope out the parking spots.

If you do not want to wait in line for half an hour while running late for class, get to campus early to get your desired parking spot. Parking is scarce at FIU and planning ahead of time is the best way to make sure that your car is parked with no problems.

6. A portable charger.

Although FIU SGA have charging stations all around campus, they get filled up quickly once the day starts. Whether you have an Iphone or an Android, having a charger on you is the best way to ensure that your phone don’t die on you when you need it the most.
As a backup plan though, consider checking out a charger at the library Tech Hub if one is available.

7. A good alarm clock (seriously, sometimes a smart phone isn’t the most reliable).

You might have heard of people who run on “Miami time” or “Cuban time”. Well believe it or not, classes start promptly on time and teacher don’t wait on people to start lecturing. Make sure you have a good alarm clock that will wake you up the proper time. Calculate walking distance and the time the first time so you can include that into your routine.

8. A laptop.

It may not be what you’re expecting but the funny thing is that it’s hard to find a computer when you most need it. During midterms and final exams, not only the library is packed but all of the computers are taken. So when you need some quiet time to study, just bring your own laptop if you can to make it more convenient.

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9. A lot of dorm snacks.

You get hungry easily after walking on the sun and taking a bunch of notes for your class, it is convenient to have healthy snacks readily available when you walk back to your dorm. This includes but not limited to: peanut butter, cookies, bananas, cereal and other things you can eat on the go.

10. A friendly attitude!

Seriously. On top of everything else, the best thing to make sure you have when you walk on campus is a friendly attitude. Especially on the first few weeks of the semester, people are just trying to make friends.

Don’t be shy and interact with others and you’ll never know what connections you ca make. FIU is a very diverse community where you can meet a lot of people from different countries and cultures. Do take advantage of that!