Some of you have been here at ETSU for sometime (and it feels as if you will never graduate), and others of you are just beginning the long quest for knowledge through education.
It is for those fresh faces I write this article. If someone would have told me some of the things I am about to reveal to you, I might have saved some time, money and energy. Here is some advice “they” might not have told you.
First let’s talk about financial aid. The office is located in Burgin Dossett Hall. If you don’t know where it is now I assure you that by the time you graduate you will know all the workers’ names and faces by heart.
The concept of financial aid is really simple; you apply, you get money from the government or a bank depending on your need, you pay it back or don’t pay it back and you attend classes. In the real world, they will try to tell you it’s way more complicated. Believe me, it’s not. Just fill out the papers EARLY, wait for a reply, take it to the financial aid office, sign the paper and confirm registration.
The secret is that the early bird catches the most money. I can’t tell you how much hell you will be put through if you procrastinate. It is just easier on everyone if you complete your financial aid before the week prior to school.
After you have completed these initial steps, all you have to do each fall is sign a paper and confirm registration. It’s that easy.
Another plus is that the earlier you apply the more money you are likely to be rewarded.
While we are on the subject of financial aid we will also explore the world of book purchasing. My advice is that you wait until the syllabus has been passed out in each class before buying books. The reason is that more than once I have purchased books early only to find out that one of the texts will not be used or is only suggested reading.
Try to find sources other than the bookstore to purchase books. They are extremely overpriced and don’t buy them back for half of what you paid. A company outside the university manages the bookstore.
While ETSU receives “rent” from the store, the rest of the money goes to some big wig in a corporate office who has never even heard of East Tennessee. I would much rather give my money to someone here in the community and help stimulate our regional economy, or purchase books online. You will find you get more money when you sell your books back if you seek other sources.
You may also look on the corkboards in the dorms or halls of each building to find a student willing to sell the book you need. It will save you money and it’s like the buddy system. They will be happy to receive the money and you will be happy to have paid a reasonable price for a book.
Now on to the parking issue.
I heard a professor say once “we do not have a problem with parking on this campus, just lazy students who expect to park right outside the front door.” I’ll let you be the judge.
But whatever you do, do not pull through a space. You will receive a $20 ticket. Don’t back into spaces. The trunk of your car must be in plain sight with your ESTU parking decal clearly displayed. I guess this is so the officer doesn’t have to walk around the car to see if you really are a student here. Whatever the reason, just don’t do it.
“Try” not to park in a space designated for faculty or staff. The violation also costs a whopping $20. Not only that, but a woman reported me to Public Safety for parking in a faculty space when I was already 20 minutes late to class. I was only there for a measly 10 minutes. Professors and staff are very protective of their spaces.
Also, if you have a long break between classes, stay on campus. It will help you keep your mind on school and maybe even expand your circle of friends.
My sophomore year I had a two-hour break between my classes and I stayed on campus everyday. I used this time to study, work on a research project or just whatever. In the end, I had better grades than any semester I have had here at ETSU. I promise it works.
Stay on campus during the weekends if you have moved away from home to go to college. ETSU doesn’t have to be a “suitcase” college. Along with the rewards of making new friends, you also learn to become more self-sufficient. College is the time to cut that umbilical cord and find out what you can handle on your own. Plus we have some great things to do here in Johnson City.
I know they tell you to get involved, but my suggestion is wait until you have at least one semester under your belt. But do start thinking about which organizations you would enjoy being a part of and sign up when you have started a routine schedule. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Get into the groove of college first.
Last but not least, enjoy your time here at ETSU. You are going to be here for at least four years. We offer all kinds of activities, festivals, lectures and entertainment. Go see a play by the theatre department, go see a sports event or an art exhibit. You pay for all of these things. You will soon find that sometimes your money works in ways that are pleasing to you and at other times falls short of your expectations but that, my new college kid, is life.
Always remember the government runs ETSU, and anytime the government runs something, it won’t sail along smoothly. It is inevitable that you will, at one point, be angry at this university, but just think about this “revised version to fit my own lifestyle” creed: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change right now, the courage to change the things I can change right now, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Enjoy your journey through higher education.

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