5 college life hacks you never knew you needed (until now)

It is universally understood that being a college student is quite time consuming and costly. For this reason, businesses and colleges sometimes offer the best benefits to their students with the hopes it will make students’ lives just a little easier. When you are lucky enough to live in a town centered around your university, it’s easy to discover many things that students can benefit from. The following are just a few college life hacks here at the University of Florida.

1. Supply vending machines

Here at Library West (or as we like to call it, Club West) there are many of us who enter the library with the intent of leaving the next day. These supply machines carry necessities for studying and homework like papers, pencils, and calculators for those on the rush. No need to run to the nearest store when you can simply walk upstairs and grab a folder for that essay!

2. Loft-style cubbies

These are hidden gems here at the University of Florida, located at the Architecture & Fine Arts library. Though my major is Public Relations, I often find myself studying for big exams here. The reason—these convenient cubbies. Just climb up into one of these cozy solo cubicles, and find yourself isolated in a comfy space to work! They come with soft benches inside and walls on each side of the desk for optimal productivity. Though napping is strictly off-limits in these, it’s so hard sometimes to remember they’re not for great sleep.

3. Starbucks inside the library!

Hello, need I say more?! Let’s face it, entering the library is sometimes met with the thought that you’ll be leaving again with zero hours of sleep. These all-nighters and homework binges can’t fuel themselves, and lucky enough my university knows that. A Starbucks inside the library is a genius solution. Coffee is your only friend when your enemies are an 8 a.m. statistics exam and a 3,000-word essay.

4. Gator Greenbacks

Gator Greenbacks, or as I like to refer to as my financial saviors, are these booklets handed out at the beginning of every semester on campus to any and every student that chooses to get them. Inside are hundreds of coupons from car repairs to frozen yogurt and even … pizza! Every deal is exclusive to students, and they’re sometimes unbeatable. It’s almost as if they know ice cream coupons can cushion the blow of a college tuition

5. Midnight Cookies (literally!)

Finally, I saved the best for last. Craving cookies but it’s 1:30 a.m. and everything else is closed? Well, here’s a place heaven sent just to make you delicious sweets. By far my favorite discovery since beginning at UF, Midnight Cookies offers over 15 different types of freshly baked cookies to be delivered to your doorstep. (Even with milk, too!) What is the freshman 15?

These are just a few out of plenty of college life hacks that can be found here at UF, and I'm sure many other universities offer great features at their campus, too. Coupons and cookies are just some highlights of the benefits of being a college student. If your college also offers awesome life hacks, let me know!

About the author

Cecilia will give us an inside look at a day in the life of a college student, sharing her journey with us every step of the way. She’s a second-year public relations major at the University of Florida. Her hometown is in south Florida, in the small town of Clewiston, and she’s ready to make her mark. “Not only am I learning to adjust to a bigger city, but all of the adventures this big university brings along with it.” You can follow her adventures right here on Unigo!

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