5 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Attending Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State University is located in the small town of Huntsville, Texas. Recently, the school has enrolled a large number of online students that now attend virtually from all over the globe. All of my classes took place on the main campus in Huntsville, TX. I greatly enjoyed my time at SHSU, but even as a second generation student there was a lot that I didn’t know before I got there. Here are five of the things I wish I had known.

1.) Orientation is the best place to make lifetime college friends.

The cost of the in-person first year orientation prevented me from attending. My mother told me it was an unnecessary expense, and I thought she’d know best since she’d attended the school 10 years prior. I learned down the road that I would be forced to take an online version of the orientation later that would still cost nearly $200 anyway. My first few days at the dorms were the scariest moments of my life, as, for the first time, I was away from home with no connection to anyone I knew.

I learned over the course of that week the reason it seemed everyone else had a friend on campus was because they had met at orientation or the University Summer Camp (Bearkat Camp) the previous summer. My best advice for anyone not wishing to find themselves alone in their dorm on move-in day is to attend Orientation and collect phone numbers and emails.

2.) The one office you will grow to hate beyond all others is Financial Aid.

More often than not, paperwork is always lost unless you walk it in to the office. Never, ever fax your financial aid papers if you can avoid it. Also complete your FAFSA early as it will assure that your money is awarded in time. The later in the summer you complete the FAFSA the later your money will hit your account. If you are taking classes online and do not have access to the main campus, always fax multiple copies of everything and call to make sure it has been received. If you take classes on campus, handle your financial aid business in person.

3.) Parking on campus is ridiculous.

The area is very easy to walk around, though quite hilly, so be aware that you will get a workout if walking through the campus or nearby town. The University Police are also very strict about handing out tickets for “illegal” parking. What a lot of students don’t realize: after 5pm, faculty parking spots open up to students. If you are planning to live off campus and commute (many students do), get there between 7:30am and 9:30am; after that, parking is very difficult to find.

Another trick to remember that I didn’t learn until much later: cars with green permits can park in the orange parking areas. Orange parking spots are located much further away from the rest of campus, but when you just need a place to legally put your car so you can get to class it’s not a big deal. If you choose to live in town, many off campus apartment complexes offer shuttle service to the school.

4.) The cafeteria food was horrible.

After eating terribly the first year, I avoided the main cafeteria my last three years on campus. The food courts at South Paw and at the Student Center (LSC) never disappointed. They had Quiznos, Subway, Starbucks, multiple burger choices, Mexican food, and Chick-fil-A. If you’re eating here, try to use the Bearkat Bucks instead of cash or cards for a small discount. Though this might seem like small change per purchase, over time this money can add up, especially if you don’t have a meal plan.

5.) Where to find jobs on and off campus.

Having a job on campus was convenient and much more flexible than I imagined. In addition, it gave me added benefits that not all students receive. As a campus worker, I became familiar with the close knit faculty and staff. Check in with the Career Services office early on so you can start working as soon as you want to.

Brittany Gregory graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2014 where she received a BA in Sociology with a minor in French and Creative Writing. Currently she lives in Austin Texas writing for various web publications, she also has back stage access to the Austin food scene.