OwenBloggers Summer Advice: The little things around Owen

Since Orientation is just around the corner, I figure it’s time to “add a little value” here on my page and share some tips with the incoming class.  I’m going to focus on the little things around Owen--- those things it might have taken me weeks to find on my own, but now I couldn’t live without.

1. The library study rooms.  We have roughly 25 small study rooms around the library (and three in the 8:10 café…).  These rooms hold between 4-8 people.  Booking a room is pretty easy; there is an online scheduling tool (available through the Owen Intranet).  Here’s a tip though--- the rooms book up pretty early in the day (you have to book the day of the reservation, I believe).  If you have any inclination of finding a nice quiet place to have a group study session--- book early.  I book before I leave for class in the AM if I know I’m going to need a room.  If you need a room and they’re all booked (which happens a lot during exam time), don’t worry.  “Squatting” is always a viable option.  People (rude people) often book rooms and then don’t use them--- I’d say at any given time ¼ of all the “booked rooms” are actually not taken.  It’s ok to slide into a room that shows “booked” as long as you’re willing to leave if someone with a reservation shows up.
2. If you have a big group study session (say, 5+ people), at night you can often book the classrooms.  This is really helpful around exam time.
3. The rest of Vanderbilt campus houses a lot of great resources.  Take some time to explore all the various buildings and areas--- you’ll find the Main Library is a great place to study, Rand hall has some great food (the Pub rocks), and there are tons of amenities tucked around campus for the large undergrad population.  For example, there is an on-campus dry cleaning facility, the Bookstore has about every school supply you’d need, and

   Peabody

   campus has some great spots to sit outside and study. 
4. The Law School Café isn’t bad for a light lunch or breakfast.  It’s about 100 yards from Owens’ rear entrance.  They don’t include taxes in the price (even for things like soda, which I think is the most bizarre thing ever…), but they make a pretty good quick lunch spot.
5. Get to school early for parking.  The surface lot and
   Wesley Place
   garage fill up before 9AM (usually about 8:30 or before).  Otherwise, you’ll be parking in Terrace garage, which isn’t that much farther, but if you’re running late for Froeb’s econ class, you’ll wish you would have gotten there just 15 minutes earlier.  If you do show up later in the day, just cut your losses and head to Terrace.  I know many people that will wind around Wesley place for 10 minutes looking for a spot, give up, comb the surface lots for another few minutes, and then finally give up and head to Terrace.  My advice is just to head to Terrace in the first place if you’re getting there mid-day--- unless you don’t mind fighting for a spot.
6. Utilize the librarians.  They are a WEALTH of knowledge.  If you have a question about a company, doing research, or chasing down a journal, they can find it faster than you could ever imagine.  Don’t hesitate- just ask.
7. Through its.vanderbilt.edu, you can purchase educationally-discounted software.  Lots of useful stuff here--- MSFT office, productivity software, antivirus, all reduced cost or free.
8. The Vanderbilt bookstore carries every book assigned by professors- however, like many monopolies, the prices are all jacked up.  My advice--- but the classpaks at the bookstore, but your textbooks from Amazon.  I got many of my books for half the price of the bookstore. I saved $150 in one Mod alone.  As long as the Prof is clear on the version you’ll be using--- Amazon is a safe bet.
9. Don’t sign up for every club.  Please don’t.  I did this.  I signed up for about 6 clubs in all.  How many did I actively participate in?  Yeah, one.  That’s over $150 down the tubes--- just because I didn’t know any better.  If you are really into Marketing/Finance/Operations, sign up for the club and attend the meetings; you’ll get a lot out of it.  Just because your concentration is Marketing doesn’t mean you have to sign up for VMA.  It’s not a prerequisite.  People try and tell you it’s something you “have to do”--- but you don’t. That goes for every club at Owen. 

Ok, so that’s my list of the “little things” about Owen.  I’ll probably revisit this topic closer to Orientation--- if anyone has any questions, shoot me an email at OwenBloggers@gmail.com and I’ll answer it.