Top 18 Things you Don't Want to Forget to Bring to College

1. Cleaning supplies – Multipurpose cleaner and easy-to-use products like hand vacs and Swiffer sweepers are key. You’ll be surprised how quickly your dorm floor gets dirty. Also, bring extra laundry detergent. It’s more expensive than you think—take advantage of your parents buying it for you now.

2. iPod docking station – Perfect for dorm rooms. And you and your roommate can alternate your iPods.

3. Ethernet cable, extension chords and power strips – No matter how many outlets you have, it won’t be enough. And where you want to put your TV is almost always on the direct opposite side of the room where the outlet is.

4. Quarters – You’ll be surprised how glad you are to have a quarter collection come laundry day. Plus, some college dorms don’t give you change without requiring a purchase.

5. GPS – If you’re moving to a new city, you don’t want to have to rely on Mapquest or Google Maps to get everywhere. Let’s face it—sites like this often get you quite turned around.

6. Ear plugs – I can’t tell you how vital ear plugs are. Whether it’s nap time and your neighbors are hammering nails or it’s a Tuesday night and there’s a party next door, you’re guaranteed to need them.

7. Digital camera – You’re going to have a lot of great memories in college so it’s important to document them with a camera. Also, I recommend one of the new Olympus waterproof digital cameras. Whether it ends up in the toilet bowl or the punch bowl, you’ll be glad it’s waterproof.

8. Duct Tape – So underrated. From covering up chords to hanging posters on the wall—you’ll need it.

9. Personal information – Your car and health insurance paperwork, Social Security card, Passport, AAA card, checkbook, etc. College was the first time I realized how much I needed a checkbook. They’re expensive, too, so have your parents get them for you before you leave.

10. Tools – I thought a tool kit was the lamest graduation gift EVER, but I can’t tell you how many times my roommates came running to me for a screwdriver or hammer.

11. Dorm vault and laptop safe – Unfortunately, college dorms are notorious for theft, especially if you have suite mates or unlocked doors. Keep your valuables locked up at all times—it’s a pain, but you’ll be thankful later.

12. Can opener – This is definitely one of those things that completely slipped my mind. You’ll be sorry when you’re on your last can of soup with no opener.

13. Printer paper – When you’re late for class and haven’t printed out that paper you finished at 3 a.m., you’re going to be glad you have extra printer paper. But don’t bring too much. You won’t have room and you won’t use as much as your family does at home.

14. Anti-virus and security – Your computer is even more susceptible to viruses and hackers when using insecure networks that are on most campuses. You’ll realize why you did it when your roommate’s computer crashes right before finals and you’re good to go.

15. Umbrella – It’s easy to forget if you’re packing during a summer drought, but you never want to be that person who shows up soaking wet to a freezing auditorium for class.

16. Vitamins – Just in case you’re not getting them all in your new college diet. Also, yet another one of those items that a college student doesn’t have room for in their budget.

17. Stapler – I recommend the small, portable kind. You’ll be surprised how many weird professors dock heavy points for missing staples.

18. Voice recorder – One of the easiest ways to take notes in class. You won’t miss a beat or have to worry about writer’s cramp.

5 Ways to Cut Corners on a College Budget

Whether you’re heading off to college for the first time or taking a victory lap, we’ve got some great tips for living on a budget that you probably haven’t thought of before.

Free Stuff
Everyone wants freebies and these days it feels like everyone's giving them out. But how do you know if it’s just a scam or if it’s a legit freebie? Check out these tips to avoid spam and get the free goods!

Online Grocery Guide
Have you ever been standing in the grocery store aisle, deciding whether or not to buy a product, and wished you knew if you could get it cheaper at another store? With this grocery guide, you can search businesses in your area and get a comprehensive list of products and their costs compared to other local businesses. It even allows you to send the list to your phone so you can use it on the go. Still not cheap enough? You can also search coupons for the product you’re looking for.

Love that Ramen!
Nothing says college student like Ramen noodles. But if you get burned out on plain old Chicken and Beef flavored soup, check out these dirt cheap Ramen recipes for everything from Chicken Diablo Ramen to Three-Bean Ramen Salad. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can try out one of these unique recipes, like Chocolate Ramen Cake!

Keep a budget
Of course, the best way to pinch your pennies is to keep a budget. But this is often difficult for college students who are just now having to start thinking about where their money is going. In order to make things easier, you can check out this college budget worksheet to keep track of your money and figure out how you can improve your spending habits in the future. The best way to do this, though, is to go paperless with an easy-to-use program like QuickBooks or Quicken.

You gotta save to spend!
After you figure out how much you should be spending per month, the only way you can increase that number without putting yourself into debt is to earn more money than you spend. This may seem really simple, but how can you earn some quick and easy cash? Check out this ultimate list of how to save money in college or if you want to earn a few extra bucks, here's a list of 31 ideas to start with!

Different Offices, One Team!

Every year we have a summer party here at Academic Superstore before the busy Back to School season begins. This year's party was given the "One Team" theme to emphasize the unity of our "team," despite being in different offices.

I sat down with Kelly Garrott, the marketing coordinator for Journey Education Marketing, to get the inside scoop on this year's party...

What went on at this year’s party?
Kelly: During the party we had a potluck BBQ. The company provided the hot dogs and hamburgers and then each employee was asked to bring in their favorite side dish. Throughout the day we had different contests, including a root beer chugging contest and a pie eating contest! But the main event was the Picture Contest where each office was asked to submit a team picture with the theme of "One Team." The pictures were judged and the winning office received a catered lunch.

How was this year’s party different from other years?
Kelly: This is the first year that we have had a "One Team" party. In previous years we have had different themed parties to rev company spirit during busy times.

Why do you have the party during the summer?
Kelly: The party was done during the summer to amp people up before our busy season, "Back To School."

Explain a little bit about “One Team” and the idea behind the name.
Kelly: This year we had a "One Team" Party in order to show the unity between different offices. We used to only have an Austin office, but now we have offices in Fargo and Dallas, as well. The idea behind the party was to get everyone connected and working together.

What was the most memorable moment from this year’s party?
Kelly: The most memorable moment of this year's party was the picture contest. We took two different pictures outside in the middle of the afternoon during Texas heat. It was nice to see us working together even though it was incredibly hot. It really made me proud that everyone hung in there until we got the perfect shot. Even though our office didn't win, we had a great time and were really proud of the way our picture turned out. It is nice to work for a company where everyone has such a great team spirit.

And the winners are...

Dallas and Fargo!

How to spend the last few days of summer break

The lazy days of sleeping-in, laying out by the pool and hot summer nights are coming to an end. Whether you're excited or dreading getting back into your regular routine, proper preparations should be made.

Here are some basic tips to help students and parents get a jump start on the fall:

1. Check your mail, e-mail and/or school websites for information periodically. These may include change in timings, bus routes, schedule/class assignments, etc.
2. Go shopping for new clothes. Set a proper budget and choose clothing that expresses you (or your kids) as individuals but is appropriate for school and your climate.
3. Call up friends. Talking about upcoming events and issues can help to relieve anxiety and verify information.
4. Go shopping for supplies. Make a supply list or use the one you're given and stick to it. If not, try to stay near the necessary things such as backpacks, laptops, printers, software, storage media, and of course, basics like calculators, binders, notebooks, pencils, etc.
5. Get onto a better schedule. Chances are, you or your kids have begun to sleep in over the summer, which is perfectly fine. However, it is now time to get back on track. Each day, go to bed/wake up one hour earlier. Stop when you have reached your normal timings. If you have trouble falling asleep, read a book or take a warm shower. For trouble on waking up, set multiple alarms.
6. Do some meditation or yoga. School is important, but not worth your health.

7. Get on campus and track down your classroom(s). This will help ease stress on the first day.
8. Clean out things from last year. You might need storage space for extra items


9. Wrap up the summer. Read up on courses that you are taking this year. Make a plan of how you will utilize your time wisely and do well.
10. Get some exercise. Play out in the sun. When school starts, you may or may not be able to do so due to weather or time restrictions.
11. Relax. Have a quiet, relaxing night to yourself. Take a bubble bath, give your self a manicure, whatever you do, just focus on relaxing.
12. Get some sleep. Make sure to get at least eight hours of sleep the night before schools starts.
13. Take a shower or bath in the morning. You'll feel more energized and be more pleasant to be around.
14. Brush your teeth. If you didn't floss your teeth the night before, do so now. Nobody wants to talk to a person who has bad breath!
15. Wash your face. Remember to put on moisturizer, as well. You'll look happier, feel more energized and you're preventing future break-outs and infections.
16. Dress to impress. If your school allows you to wear home clothing, wear the clothing that works for you. Wear your style and what makes you feel comfortable and confident.
17. Get ready for school - your backpack, your lunch and other things. It helps to make a list on a white board in your room, or a note on your desk at night. Before leaving, look at it, and make sure you have everything.
18. Eat a good breakfast. It must be a well-balanced and healthy one so that you can stay energized all the way until lunchtime. Toast or cereal and a piece of fruit is quick, easy and nutritious. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You need it because you will perform worse in school if you were to skip it.

Original Content from WikiHow.com

10 questions to ask when you choose a music notation program

By Laura B. Whitmore

Here are some suggestions to help you select the product that’s perfect for you.

What are your needs?
It’s important to know how complex your notation tasks will be before you can figure out which program to choose.

How many staves does the program allow?
Just about every program out there can allow you to create a simple lead sheet, but multi-stave orchestrations are another matter. For example, in a top-level program like Finale 2010 you can have unlimited staves. However, when you move to something like Finale Songwriter, it allows a maximum of 8 staves.

What are your input options?
You can link a controller to your computer and play the music in, scan in pre-printed music, input the notes using your computer keyboard or even use a keyboard or fretboard screen on your computer to “play” in the notes. You can even import a MIDI file and it will appear as notation. So think about how you like to get your scores into the program and how much flexibility in this area is important to you.

How easy is it to add marks, lyrics and other instructions?
A good notation program makes it easy to add things like dynamics, codas and other performance instructions, and helps keep those items together with the notes and measures that you intend them to relate to. For example, Sibelius 6 has a new feature called magnetic layout that not only connects these items to the right notes and measures, but also makes sure they appear properly without crowding or overlap.

Appearance matters!
Top end programs offer more flexibility and features in this area so your frustrations with getting your notation to look perfect are eliminated.

How quickly does your program update the changes you’ve input?
If you ask a program to do something like transpose a horn part or an entire orchestra score, consider how long that might take. Top-level programs like Sibelius excel at updating your requests in the blink of an eye!

How does your notation program sound?
This might seem like an odd question, but today’s notation programs come with amazing sounds built in so that you can play back your compositions and hear how they sound. For example, Finale 2010 comes with over 300 sounds created by the makers of the Garritan Orchestra samples. Lower end versions come with less sounds of lower quality. And programs like Sibelius and Finale allow you to create an audio file or burn a CD of your score as well.

Can you extract parts?
If you’re writing for a band or orchestra, you can create your whole score and then automatically pull out the part for each instrument. Or play back just that part of the score. More flexibility here saves you time and aggravation.

Are options like guitar tab and lyrics manipulation important to you?
There are software programs out there that are focused on notating for the guitar. Both Sibelius 6 and Finale 2010 offer top-notch flexibility that allows you to write in guitar tab and add chord fingering charts.

What other enhanced features would make your life easier?
Sibelius 6 offers new features for teachers like the ability to control students’ satellite programs in a lab, the ability to track and see all changes in the file and include “sticky” notes comments. Finale enables you to convert your notation files to SmartMusic accompaniments or enter notes by playing a brass or woodwind instrument using its MicNotator® feature.

Today’s notation products bring a huge amount of power and flexibility to your computer, so don’t be afraid to jump in!