The Collegiette Head-to-Toe Colegio Survival Guide

There are certain indispensable items any college student should have with him or herself like, say, your notebooks, knapsack and binders or folders. However, there are certain things you should always have handy as a temporary resident of Mayagüez.

The basics: your backpack

Invest in a sturdy, lightweight, preferably impermeable backpack with a laptop sleeve. It may seem like a big investment at first, but if you’re fortunate enough to find a good one it may last your entire undergraduate career. And you’ll be thanking yourself later for your backpack’s impermeable fabric—Mayagüez’s torrential, unpredictable weather is merciless!

But as we all know, it’s what on the inside that counts. Having certain items on hand at all times—like extra tampons or pads—is second nature for young women. Here’s a checklist of other personal items you should carry that aren’t as obvious.

Survival items and personal hygiene:

• An umbrella
• Bottled water
• Snacks!
• A fan: when classrooms aren’t igloos, they’re Satan’s armpit
• A light sweater or shawl–more on this later
• Chargers for every device
• Cash: the cafeterias aren’t open 24/7, and the ATH system goes down often. Having a few dollars on hand will always come in handy.
• Tissue, hand sanitizer, aspirin/ibuprofen: you never know!

School supplies:

• A planner: if you’re not used to keeping one, you should invest in one that is comfortable to use, and actually use it. You’ll undoubtedly become involved in many extracurricular activities, clubs, and groups and it’ll be impossible to keep track of everything and your classes on your own. A must!
• A stapler, liquid paper, highlighters, page tabs, loose leaf paper.
• Don’t think you’ll be able to carry all this? (trust us—it’s easier than it sounds!) Some departments have lockers available for students. Find out if yours is one of them, and separate yours ASAP!

What’s the best outfit to wear to campus?

As seen on these stylish chardonitas last year!

You will see people dressed in every conceivable way in Colegio: people in jeans and t-shirts, girls in dresses, and even people who go to class in their pajamas or gym clothes. While all kind of clothing is accepted on campus, some professors prefer that their students dress nicely for class. For some, this means no hats, shorts, sleeveless tops or open-toed shoes allowed. Even though these professors are in the minority, it is recommended that you put a bit of effort the first few days of class to test your professors’ dress codes.

In general, practicality is key when coordinating your outfits for class. This is possible even if you like wearing a full-face of makeup and dresses every day! Here’s how:

• Layers are your friend: while outside the weather may be 100 degrees with 89% humidity, your classroom will feel like an igloo. Dress comfortably enough to be outside, and keep a sweater or shawl with you to stay warm during your lecture.
• Wear SPF! Especially if you walk to and from campus every day. Your skin will thank you (and Mom will be relieved!).
• Wear shoes with good grip: everyone knows the Colegial juju—if you don’t fall at least once as an undergrad, you won’t graduate. However, this is no good reason for you to fall on your way to your Psych test. Some of the older buildings in Colegio, particularly Chardón, Stefani, and the student center, were designed to not require air conditioning. To make the most of our island’s tropical breeze, they were built with open hallways, which get very slippery when it rains. Sneakers and sandals with a good grip will help you not fall on your butt—wear Crocs and flip flops at your own risk.
• Remember your labs: If you have chemistry or biology labs, you will be required to wear long pants and closed shoes (sneakers preferred) always, without exception. On days that you have labs, remember to dress accordingly—and to pack your labcoat!

  What not to wear:

• Skirts: These are quite hit or miss. A skirt hiked at a hem that you’re comfortable with is a total blessing, but keep in mind that the floor is the most common sitting area for students, as there are very few places to sit to wait for class. It’s doable—in fact I wear skirts practically every day—but it all depends on what you’re comfortable with.
• White pants: similar to the conundrum above. As long as you don’t mind sitting on the (dirty) floor in your white pants, go ahead!
• Heels: hazardous and admittedly unnecessary unless you have an important presentation, and even then you should carry them in a bag until it is time for your lecture.

With these tips you’ll be surviving and thriving around Colegio in no time. But remember, the most important thing you could carry with you is your confidence–you’ve already made it this far, now go conquer this academic year!

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