Colleges are all about getting things for free. Well not really, because tuition and all - but in a sense colleges love to deck out their students in free gear and fill their tummies with free food. Finding the best free stuff around campus seriously should become a job, because there's always something free happening but it can be tough to navigate what's worth it and what's not.
... at least stop by every free event. You never know what you might find on your college campus! At the beginning of the year, a lot of clubs will host interest meetings with free food to entice students to stop by and see what the group is all about. There's no commitment and you may meet some incredible people that you otherwise would not have connected with. Just go! If you don't like it, you never have to go again.
... feel obligated to stay if you're not interested. Don't get me wrong, lots of kids show up at events just to get free food. Honestly it's no big deal, so don't feel bad about going to get food and then leaving. One time, my friend and I camped out in a particular hall all day because we heard there would be free cupcakes. During the middle of recruitment, some club decided to have free Cheesecake Factory cheesecake - it was like a nightmare with rush going on and all the people lined up for free dessert! But no matter the occasion, you don't necessarily need to stay for the main event.
... follow Facebook groups and other social media outlets that will let you know about these great events! Lots of clubs and organizations on campus will have their own Facebook group, and you may even have a Facebook group for your class year at your university. In order to gain interest and attendance at many events, students in said clubs will post about their events and what sort of free stuff will be available. I've found out about some great free stuff on campus because of friends and peers posting on social media!
... miss out on symposiums, speakers, and lecturers. Schools frequently have guest speakers come talk to students. Whether they are open to a particular class or the general public, if someone that interests you is making an appearance at your university, you should make a serious effort to attend the event. Sometimes speakers will meet and talk with students afterwards to answer questions; it can be a great networking opportunity or a chance to talk to someone you admire about their work.
... move your schedule around if you must. A lot of the major speakers that came to talk at my university were scheduled to speak during my dance rehearsals. However, if a particular event was of high interest for all of us, we would sometimes cancel practice, or end a bit early so that we could all run to the big auditorium together! Also, schools may videotape lectures and presentations and publish them online for students to view later on. If you really can't make it to an event, I suggest trying to watch it at a later date. However, you only go through college once and some of these opportunities are once in a lifetime things. Don't miss out on something special for a practice or homework assignment that can be completed at a later time.
... be afraid to ask if there is free stuff. One of my favorite events last year was a very important Big Ten lacrosse game against Penn State. The school organized a lot of interesting tailgate stuff, as well as a barbecue on the quad. My friends and I saw so many people walking around with shirts, cups, and foam fingers that we decided to ask where they had gotten them, and just to our luck the Resident Advisory Board and The HOP (a student event planning group) were giving them away! We snagged some of everything, and I have to say my special Hopkins foam finger is the perfect addition to my memorabilia collection. Plus, the shirt from that tailgate was incredible - it's one of my favorite Hopkins shirts ever!!!!
... take one of everything. Seriously don't feel bad about taking all sorts of free stuff from your university that you don't even need. One day you'll be looking for a cup or a pen or a highlighter, and what do you know?! You've found an opportunity to make use of the free stuff you got. And of course, there are littles and younger siblings and other people who will probably find some of that stuff to be really cool and or useful for themselves. Don't forget - at the end of the year when you have tons of extra tee shirts and school themed junk (which you will have because you should take one of everything and decide what you really need later), you can donate them to Goodwill or send them to the Vets. Lots of campuses have clothing/item drives for students to drop off things they don't want or need anymore, and someone else could benefit immensely from it too.
... pass up free food. Ever. I don't care how much you've eaten or if you just came from Chipotle. Get whatever it is that's free and bring it back to your room. Put it in the fridge if need be. But believe me, your 1 AM self will thank you.
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