Independence Day in the states is full of cookouts, food trucks, music, and fireworks! On this day, families come together to celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and our country’s freedom. You may already have plans for the fourth, but if you don’t and are going to be on the East Coast, it’s not to early to make some, listen up! Here are just a few things that will be going on:

1. Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Show

Find a great view of the East River, get comfy, and watch the fireworks! The show lasts 30 minutes and over 60,000 fireworks are launched. Bring a blanket and a picnic basket and enjoy the holiday the patriotic way!

2. NYC 4th of July Boat Party

If you’re looking for a more lively experience, you can watch the fireworks from a party boat! The Liberty Belle boat party will include an open bar, delicious food and a live DJ! You and your friends can get a perfect view of the fireworks as well as the beautiful New York skyline.

3. Sterling National Bank July 4th Fireworks Show

If you’re in Long Island, you may consider heading to Jones Beach with a few friends to watch a spectacular firework show set to an array of patriotic songs! The show begins at 9:30 PM, be sure to arrive early to ensure a good seat and avoid traffic delays.

4. Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Looking for some amusement and good food? Head to Coney Island to watch the annual hot dog eating contest hosted by Nathan’s Famous. The event will be held in front of Nathan’s Famous on the corner of Surf Avenue and Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island.

5. Cornwall 4th of July Celebration

This celebration will be a full day of festivities including a pie eating contest, pet show, crafts show, parade and (of course) fireworks! Get outside and join the community in celebrating our country and Cornwall’s 69th Annual Fourth of July Celebration. No matter how you choose to celebrate, the most important thing is to have fun, eat lots of watermelon (or hot dogs) and remember what it is to be an American!

Door To Dorm, owned and operated by Collegiate Storage and Rental, is celebrating 10 years of providing east coast students with a better on-campus living experience. We are proud to serve over twenty universities and colleges throughout the northeast, giving students access to affordable storage, shipping and rental services.

Alongside storage and shipping services, we also provide refrigerator rentals that are delivered directly to colleges as well as moving bin rental programs, dorm furniture installation, exhibition hall management, move in-move out logistics, and many other university-specialized services.

It has always been our philosophy that living away from home (most likely for the first time) shouldn’t be an unpleasant experience for students. Rather, it should be a fun and thrilling one. It is our mission here at Door to Dorm to make dorm life as easy as possible.

We are thrilled to be celebrating this 10 year mark, and we look forward to many more years of making students’ lives easier by providing them with the services they need.

To celebrate, we’re providing new, even more affordable pricing for storage products! Just pick your storage, place your order, pack up your stuff in the box(es) we provide and we’ll do the rest! You literally don’t even have to leave your room!

You realize you need some help paying your rent while you go to school. Where do you start?

Inner Circle

To find a college roommate, start off by asking anyone you know if they need a place a to stay, or if they know anyone else that needs a place to stay. It is easier to deal with people who are already a part of your social circle. A social media post prompting interested parties to private message you for details is a great way to get this done- just make sure not to post pictures or your address publically.

Low-key marketing

If noone you know is currently looking for a place to stay, try reaching out to fellow students on your college campus. You can do this by printing out flyers with the necessary information for potential renters, and posting them on cork boards in different buildings. Microsoft Word has a template called “flyer with tear-off tabs” which is perfect for this purpose. Be sure to contact your Campus Activities department to find out where you are allowed to post flyers, otherwise they may be taken down by cleaning staff.

While you’re posting flyers, keep an eye out for other people seeking a new roommate. You may find their flyers on the same cork boards.  People seeking roommates can also post an ad on Craigslist. It is easier to hide your personal information this way, but it also means that your advertisement can be seen by people outside of your campus—it can be seen by anyone.

What To Look For

So, you found someone who is interested in being your roommate. It’s time to vet them and vise versa. Set up an interview to get to know each other more and discuss expectations. When it comes to favorable qualities in a roommate, it is important to find someone who is cooperative, easy for you to get along with and can communicate effectively to avoid misunderstandings.

It is not necessary to find a roommate who is currently attending college, but a fellow student or someone who has been to college will understand the weird schedule you’re dealing with and how you’ll need quiet time to study and do course work.

Get The Logistics Right

Having your roommate sign a leasing agreement with you and your landlord is 100% necessary. This will help you avoid dealing with eviction issues with your landlord in case your roommate is being disruptive and/or not helping pay for their half of the rent. Roommates who are not on a lease are potentially dangerous, because if something goes wrong and your landlord gets dragged into it, everyone could be evicted, instead of just your troublesome roommate.


Becoming Sympatico

via GIPHY

Now that you’ve found a roommate who signed the necessary paperwork, here are three important tips for getting along with them:

  1. Keep shared spaces clean. Try your best to keep your belongings secluded to your space and respect your roommate’s space. This is where that interview discussion comes into play. You should have discussed expectations for cleanliness in your shared spaces- maybe you have mapped out a chore schedule and now it’s all about sticking to it.
  2. If you find yourself having to take an early morning class, make sure you wake up to your alarm and turn it off. Don’t make your roommate suffer through your perpetual hitting of the snooze button.
  3. Don’t stay up with the lights on studying all night. If you absolutely have to pull an all-nighter, there are usually study spaces in the lobbies of dorm halls and there’s a good chance you can access your campus library at any hour of the night with a student ID. Let your roommate sleep in peace.

Resolving Conflict

Try your best to be a shining example of a good roommate at all times. Hopefully, this will encourage your bad roommate into being better.

When it comes to addressing a difficult roommate, it is important to communicate clearly and early. Voice your expectations of behavior and establish boundaries from the very beginning, that way everyone understands what is expected of them and they are not surprised or indignant about any incidents.  Do not assume your roommate already knows what bothers you and what doesn’t- they won’t unless you tell them.

Make sure to explain to your roommate how certain behaviors affect you in order to demonstrate why it is important for them to adhere to your requests—but always be open to compromisation. Never conduct conversations in a passive aggressive manner and always refrain from any form of abuse.


College is expensive, which is why it’s important to find easy ways to save or make a little extra cash. In the age of the internet it is easier than ever to find opportunities to grow your savings fund, or what we like to call, your “fun money” fund.

Ibotta

Ibotta is a smart phone application that allows users to make a grocery shopping list and match it to rebates offered by stores near them, they can then make a list of rebate offers and go shopping with that list. Once users finish shopping, they can upload their receipt using the ibotta app and are rewarded with either money on PayPal, Venmo or a gift card. Users can make back hundreds of dollars a year with ibotta.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a website that prompts users to create an account and then complete tasks such as filling out online surveys, watching videos and shopping online. They get paid back in points on the site that can be redeemed for gift cards to retail outlets.

Door To Dorm Ambassador Program

Get paid to refer your friends to Door To Dorm. Here is how it works:

You can apply to be an ambassador by clicking here.

Wrapify

Wrapify is a good application for car owners, especially those working as drivers for a ride sharing application like Lyft or Uber. To use Wrapify,  users sign up through the app and give details about where they drive and how long they drive for. Wrapify then offers drivers car decals for companies that want to advertise on your car. Payment is processed through direct deposit and increases the more you drive in specific locations and the more decals are on your car.

Amazon Mechanical Turk

Amazon Mechanical Turk offers online gigs for users to complete in exchange for money. While most gigs don’t pay a lot and their payment is not guaranteed, it is an easy way to get spare cash for filling out surveys and transcribing audio.

We hope you enjoy these hacks. Go forth and make it rain!!!!

Whisper has some pretty crazy confessions from people posting anonymously. Here are a few we found on their website about college life.

1. The Matchmaking Professor
If you ever wanted a real-life cupid, this professor has your back.

2. lim ax = a lim x=?
“College is hard,” said every student ever. This student found a hack, that we don’t condone, but it worked out for them.

3. Unprofessional Professor
Um…… We’ll just let you read it.

4. Chemicals Are Dangerous
This science professor might have  seemed a little out there, but who would have guessed that this was why?

5. Breakups Are Tough
We’ve all secretly been there…

6. Shy Guy Problems 
You’re supposed to learn stuff and flirt? Navigating college is a journey.

7. Resident Advisor
Wow, that took an unexpected turn!

8. It’s Like Watching a Dog Walk On Its Hind Legs!
Janis Ian from Mean Girls described the situation favorably, but have you ever stopped to think what it’s like for professors when you run into them outside of class?

9. The Introvert’s Secret Weapon
This is a nifty trick when you’re trying to get to class and not feeling particularly loquacious on the way there.

10. Watch out for that…
This may have cost a pretty penny, but it seems like it turned out to be worth it! We wonder how it turned out for the pole.

1. Name Tag

This is an all too overlooked 90’s classic that involves simply going to an office supply store and getting a sticker name tag that says either, “Hello! My Name is:” or “Hi! My Name is:”- just like those found at support groups and other friendly gatherings of strangers for organizations. Once you have your name tag, dress however you want and write anything on the tag that isn’t your name. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Willow’s boyfriend Oz, famously wrote “God” on his name tag as a Halloween costume, much to the chagrin of other characters who wore knight armor or James Bond suits. You may even give a nod to the famous rapper Eminem by wearing a “Hi! My name is: Slim Shady!” name tag. Put whatever you want on one of these bad boys. Topical name tag ideas could be: Karen, Chad, Stacy, Becky etc.

2. BBQ Becky, Permit Patty, I.D. Adam or Pool Patrol Paula

It seems like youtube is littered with videos of random people angrily calling the cops for no apparent reason. You can poke fun of these people by making them your Halloween costume. First, put on your most casual, comfortable party attire. Maybe bring some sunglasses that you can wear on your head. Most importantly, make sure you have your cell phone at the ready at all times for anytime you need to pretend to call the cops. This hack is easy in the preparation, but your improv acting ability is the key. Whenever someone asks you what your costume is or has the audacity to say that you aren’t wearing a costume, just put your cell phone to your ear as soon as possible, do not actually turn it on of course, and say something like, “Hello?! 911?! There is someone here asking me what my costume is!” Make sure to add some vocal fry and some obvious shaking to really sell the costume.

3. The Living Meme


First, take some construction paper and markers or colored pencils. Next, separate the paper like a pie out of triangle like shapes in order to draw attention to the center of the paper. You can even cut colored paper into triangles then paste them to the board you use to hold them all together. None of the triangles have to be uniform in size. In fact, the more distractingly unorganized, the better. You can then stuff this down the back of your shirt for maximum laziness, or you can glue, tape a stick to the back of it and hold that stick to the back of yourself, using the back of your belt. That way, the colorful display you’ve made is behind you like a halo but with a far more nefarious purpose. For bonus points, actually cut some white paper out into text to paste onto your multicolor halo. You can use any random phrase on it, or maybe use the text from your favorite meme. You’re a meme now, dawg! Your parents should be proud.

4. Facebook


This one literally takes a few seconds to put together. Write “book” on your face. But for the sake of safety, make sure you get something that is easy to wash off, like eyeliner from a dollar store. Do not use a permanent marker, like a sharpie.

5. Ask a Ninja


 Well, I am ninja, he is ninja, she is ninja too! I am ninja we are ninja, but I believe that you are ninja too!

If you haven’t ever watched an “Ask A Ninja” video, check out the famous youtube channel here.  If you want to be super cool and stealthy-looking, but are short on time for a party. Fear not, you can be a ninja. What you do is take a t-shirt and put the shirt on, but only so the collar of the shirt rests on your nose. Do not pull your arms through and do not pull your head all the way though. Your mouth and nostrils should be covered by the shirt at this point. Grab the back of the shirt and flop it over your head so that it rests just above your eyebrows. Take the t-shirt arms and pull them behind your head so that you can tie up the arms in order to adjust the t-shirt fabric securely to your face. Folding the areas of the t-shirt around your head and nose will make it seem less like a t-shirt and more like an actual ninja mask. Need a video tutorial? Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W_xveAHp_g

This can be paired with blue, green or yellow clothes for either a Sub-Zero, Scorpion or Reptile from Mortal Kombat costume. You can also just wear black or red clothes with your mask to look like something out of your proverbial Facebook uncle’s worst nightmare. Just throw together whatever clothes and t-shirt you have. You can say you’re whatever kind of ninja you like. It may help everyone else around you, though if you have an identifiable t-shirt, like that of a band or movie to go with your ninja mask so you can be the Nirvana or Adidas bandit…. or something like that.

Whether you’re an eager-eyed freshman who can’t wait to make a chore list with your new suitemate or a seasoned senior who plans on couch-surfing for the semester, choosing where to live during your college years is one of the most important decisions in a young adult’s life.

Student housing? Off-campus apartment? Mom and dad’s house? The steps of the fraternity house that you’re not really a part of, but sorta?

At Door To Dorm, we know that decision isn’t an easy one, which is why we’ve come up with a few ways to help you narrow down the best digs for your lifestyle.

Living on Campus

Accessibility:

Campus living not only allows you to make the most of your freedom as a college student (take that, curfew!), but also offers the unparalleled convenience of being able to roll out of bed after a long night of studying and into the classroom of your early morning lecture.

We get it, 10 a.m. feels a lot earlier than it used to and being the overachiever that you are, you’re not just running on college o’clock, you’re also bearing the burden that accompanies financial irresponsibility. Guess what? That’s totally okay, because living on campus means not having to waste your precious in-between-the-cushions quarters on commuting to class. Go ahead, spend all of your money on Christmas lights and other, erm, necessities for your dorm––it’s called budgeting. Hop on the campus bus, ride your longboard, or get a head start over the “freshman 15” by giving those back-to-school kicks a test drive.

Resources:

This whole college thing can take some getting used to, and you’re bound to have a few mishaps along the way. Luckily, living on campus means having access to every imaginable support system to ensure that never again will you go to your Tuesday building on a Wednesday. Repeat after us: “Never. Again.”

From academic advisors, recreational facilities, computer labs, residence dining halls, and libraries, campus life brings all of the means necessary to better navigate college life to your doorstep.

Social Life:

Living on campus can also improve your chances of getting to know the people around you. Got class with a cutie? Treat them to a late-night study sesh at the library; maybe even stick around for an all-inclusive Netflix binge courtesy of the free Wi-Fi. Seriously though, campus living can be a great way to build a community for academic support and friendship. Why wait until next week’s class for answers? Take a stroll down Greek Row and check in with your sorority sister who totally aced Ochem last semester, or seek out that resident assistant who always has a solution to your dormitory doldrums.

Additionally, getting involved with different clubs and activities around campus can broaden your social circle. Whether you’re looking to toga party like Dionysus himself, or join the debate team like a true Socratic, college campuses are full of great networking opportunities that are both academic and extracurricular.

Living Off-Campus

So, you lucked out and your top school is only a few miles away from your old stomping grounds…well, you sort of lucked out. While the idea of living with your parents probably doesn’t ring of the freedom bell you’ve been daydreaming about, living at a home is a fairly reasonable option. Not only do you save big, but you can always count on your parents to help with the newfound tedium of college life. What beats a night-in playing board games with your folks, your parent’s home baked cookies on the regular, or that convenient washer and dryer just down the hall instead of up or down many stair flights?

If that doesn’t sweeten the deal, you’ll have access to free (or at least cheaper) food, rent, and some peace and quiet. Not every student finds the campus library the ideal place to study; luckily for you homebodies, you can cop a cup of coffee from dad’s Keurig, and take a seat in the familiar décor of your own living room.

Of course, saving money might not be worth it for those of us with helicopter parents––always getting on your case and forgetting *sigh* that you’re an adult now. Or maybe your parents decided 18 years rent-free was long enough, and they’ve suddenly started charging you to sleep in your childhood bedroom.

Enter the apartment.

You know you’ve always wanted that messy, windowless studio with exposed plumbing to complement your “starving artist” lifestyle. And how liberating would it be to finally bump those tunes full-blast without suburban moms from the neighborhood watch yelling at you from their minivans?

For those noncommittal types, the downside of getting an apartment is the pledge to a lease. Fear not! This option will not only build your credit and rental history, but will put life truly in your control for the first time. The trial and error period of living on your own comes with its own headaches, but the experience is a priceless one that will pay off in the end, just like your degree––especially if you’re an engineering major.

There’s no right answer when it comes to living on-campus, at home, or in your first apartment, but we hope these points will help take the edge off your transition into college life.

No matter what your next move is, Door To Dorm’s shipping and storage services have got your back. And for an extra cool addition to any space, make sure to check out our fridge rentals at https://doortodorm.com/#

2017 was the year of minimalism. This trend has spilled into 2018, and there’s no doubt it is here to stay. Minimalizing your space is a refreshing way to decrease unwanted clutter and recognize what possessions are important to you. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “minimalist,” making room for important things in your life is a healthy habit to implement.

Clean Out Your Closet

Cleaning out your closet is a great first step to minimalize your possessions. A good rule to follow is to go through your clothes and shoes and throw out anything that you haven’t worn in the past 6-12 months. Throwing out doesn’t necessarily mean the garbage. There are plenty of shelters and donation organizations that will happily take the clothing off your hands.

If the twelve-month rule doesn’t apply to you, try to pick out staple items in your closet that you can’t go without. You probably don’t need five of the same sweater in different colors.

Decorations

Your taste in decor will probably change over the four years of college. Figure out if all of your decorations are coordinating. If not, throw out the misfits. Getting rid of decorations is a great way to decrease clutter and unwanted busyness that your dorm room has accumulated. You’ll be thankful for this tip come graduation when you are getting ready to move into a new place.

Organization

In such a small space, organization is key. Storage cubes are good for closet and shoe organization. If the bed in your room is higher up, shoe racks are also helpful. Have a basket on top of your MicroChill  for your non-refrigerated snacks. Invest in desk drawer organizers. This way, you will know exactly where your skinny pink highlighter is.  If you’re lacking ideas, Pinterest is a great tool to take advantage of when it comes to organization.

Going to college can be an adventure all in its own. Some students get preoccupied with their academics and forget to take advantage of all the great things their school has to offer, like student organizations and clubs. Luckily, most colleges and universities offer a wide selection for various interest clubs. So, why should you join?

If you’re a first-year student, chances are, you might not know many people in the area. Joining a club will help you meet new people who are in the same boat. It’ll give you the chance to network with people on and off campus. Joining a club is also a great way for you to learn new things and gain new skills to add to your resume. You might even end up having some fun!

We’ve listed some interesting clubs from a few universities in New York below. If your school isn’t listed here, or you want to see a full list of clubs at your school, stop by your student union office and ask for information on organizations at your campus!

 

New York University  

Clubs, comic book, door to dorm

  • The Comic Book League (CBL) – If you’re a comic book lover, then this club is for you! Stop by the 7th floor lounge in Kimmel every Thursday night at 7PM to get your dose of discussion on superheroes, graphic novels, Internet memes, movies, and pop culture. It’s also an ideal club if you’ve ever wanted to write or draw your own comics.

 

Pace University

clubs, acapella, door to dorm

  • This one is aca-awesome: You probably aren’t the only one to have watched PItch Perfect and thought “I want to do that.” Now you can make all your acapella dreams come true. Check out Tonal Recall, Pace University’s premiere Acapella group.  

 

Hofstra University

clubs, music, meisa, door to dorm

MEISA or Music and Entertainment Industry Student Organization is the group to meet with if you’re planning a career in the music and entertainment business. Members get to work on projects for promoting music, artists, and events. Students are even given the opportunity to network with industry pros!

We don’t want to stir up any treble between groups on campus, but if you’re into drama (and puns), check out Makin’ Treble, the only all-female acapella group on campus. Don’t worry guys, we haven’t forgotten about you. There are plenty of co-ed acapella selections, including The Hofbeats and Chai Notes. The Dutchmen (Hofstra’s all-male acapella group) is also an option. Click here to check them all out.

 

Fordham University

clubs, meditation, door to dorm

Classes got you stressed? Check out the Meditation Club at Fordham. They want to help students find happiness and well-being.

 

Columbia University

clubs, yarn, door to dorm

If you’re an undergrad at Columbia, then you have numerous choices for student clubs and organizations. Choose from several cultural, sports, greek, and music groups. If you want to join something creative and relaxing, check out Gosh Yarn It, Columbia’s official crochet and knitting group.

 

St. John’s University

clubs, step, door to dorm

Step Ya Game Up is St. John’s official stepping team at Queen’s campus. They perform at various events all over campus, promoting discipline and cultural unity.  If you’re looking for something new and exciting, we challenge you to take a step into this rhythmic group today!