Leaving for college is such a love-hate relationship. On one hand you’re like, “Get me out of here! I can’t take this place anymore! I’m ready for my next adventure!” But on the other hand you’re saying to yourself, “Wait! What do you mean I have to leave, and be on my own, and be without my mom? I’m not ready. Please don’t make me go”.

When I was heading for college my freshmen year, I had spent the entire summer working at my local theater. I had only taken two weeks off, one to participate in a sleep away camp (my first, I might add), and the other was the week before I left for Santa Barbara. However, it was a decision of how I would spend that final week. I had the option of using it to have one last hurrah with my friends, saying my final goodbyes, and celebrating my birthday with my family. The other option was moving to Trop, my home for the next year, a week early to settle in, get to know people who would be my friends, and get myself acquainted with beautiful Santa Barbara. I opted to stay home to say my farewells.

At the time it seemed like the better choice. Shortly after arriving to college, however, I realized I had chosen poorly.

Returning to Tropicana Gardens as a Resident Assistant (RA), I was able to experience the magic and wonder that is TEMPO (Tropicana Early Move-in Program & Orientation). I honestly regret not doing TEMPO my freshmen year because ,while I would’ve been homesick for those first few nights, I would’ve been able to make friends sooner which would have bettered my overall freshmen year experience.

I got to see firsthand the amazing perks these residents experienced by moving into Tropicana Gardens a week early.

First off, residents could get their room unpacked and set up with no worries having to be in bed by a certain hour because of starting classes the next day.

Secondly, they got familiar with the City College campus. One of the great opportunities Trop offers is a “field trip” to SBCC. This is great preparation in figuring out where your classes are, so you won’t have to be that kid with a map when the first day arrives. You can also take advantage of this time to stop by the student center to get your student ID, which also includes your bus pass. That will help you save a few bucks getting to class that first day, and every day thereafter.

Third, you’re going to have more of a feel for both Santa Barbara and the Isla Vista community. Trop and SBCC offer a few programs to help you know your way around. One of the most popular that Trop offers is the famous Landshark, an amphibious vehicle that drives you through the downtown State Street area of Santa Barbara and right into the Pacific Ocean for a harbor cruise. Within Isla Vista, you will get to eat at many of the popular joints, so that you become familiar with places to get a late night study snack (my all-time favorite being Silvergreens).

Point Number Four: At Trop, you’ll also be able to stop in for some helpful advice from your RAs on topics that might be of use to you this year. They’ve “been there and done that” and are a great resource on everything from classes and teachers at SBCC to getting along with your new roommates.

Finally, there will be the opportunity to make friends with a variety of events that will be planned for incoming freshmen, including a trip to Zodo’s bowling, an ice cream social, and a scavenger hunt through Isla Vista. One of the coolest things that I witnessed during the scavenger hunt was two girls who were both friendly but a little nervous, finding out that they were both going to be on the Track and Field team. Connection made!

So if you weren’t already planning on coming a week early, I really hope you learn from my mistake and create an experience that will last a lifetime. For more information on TEMPO and other early move-in options, click here.

Whether you want some late-night munchies, or just a change of scenery from the Trop cafeteria once in a while, Isla Vista has a plethora of eateries in its two square miles. Hit up these places in IV for something different and delicious.

1. Blenders in The Grass: Blenders is known for having the most delicious smoothies! They are a bit expensive at around five dollars a smoothie, but it’s worth it for an occasional treat. 6560 Pardall Road
2. Starbucks: This well-known coffee shop is perfect in a college community for a late-night pick-me-up. 888 Embarcadero del Norte
3. IV Pizza Pub: As a new pizza joint in IV, it has already been credited as one of the best pizza places in the Santa Barbara area. 6533 Trigo Road
4. Freebirds: The best Mexican food in IV! It is conveniently located in the middle of IV and one of the most popular restaurants. Their nachos and burritos are huge and very good! 879 Embarcadero Del Norte
5. Isla Vista Food Co-Op: The Co-Op is one of my favorite places because it has organic foods and bulk candy, granola, and trail mix. I recommend Sunny Bears, which are candy gummy bears that are all natural. Their granola is amazing. 6575 Seville Road
6. The Habit: This is a cost efficient and savory burger place with really good burgers and shakes. Their famous charburger is perfect when you need a break from dorm food or just want something filling. The Teriyaki Charburger with pineapple is my favorite. I get mine with a veggie patty. 888 Embarcadero del Norte #C
7. Kozy Coffee: This café makes the BEST crepes. My favorite is the Nutella crepe with strawberries. They are not too expensive and you can even get ice cream on your crepe. 6549 Pardall Rd, #B
8. Domino’s: Domino’s is an American favorite, perfect for late-night munchies. Every Tropicana building has a Domino’s kiosk where you can order pizza, pasta, sandwiches, wings or breadsticks, to be delivered to you right to Trop. Choose a 2-topping medium or large pizza for a special Trop only discounted price. 955 Embarcadero del Mar

1. Get a Planner.
   The SBCC campus bookstore has many different planner options, one of which is the official SBCC planner which has all of the school’s important dates in it. It’s perfect for pulling out during class to write down the due dates of homework assignments or projects.
2. There’s an App for that!
   If you have migrated into the modern age of technology, you might prefer pulling out your smartphone and typing it out. There are many different apps that can help you in this. I prefer to use iStudiez Pro because you can sync it to both your phone and computer. You can put in your classes (days and times) as well as your finals and it will remind you. It has 4 tabs at the bottom: Today, Calendar, Assignments, and Planner. The Today tab shows you what classes you have that day. The calendar has all of your classes and assignments. It’s also synced with your phone calendar so you can see those dates as well. The Assignments section is where you put in any homework you need to do. You can mark it for a specific class and set a due date. The Planner is where you can see each class you are taking for that semester.
3. Own a Whiteboard.
   In elementary school, one of my favorite things to do was draw on the big whiteboard in the front of the class. I love being able to write things in bold colors with dry erase markers and then obliterate them and start new when I’m done. Because of this, I have a giant whiteboard in my room and it is a life saver. I am able to put my many different to-do lists on it, an inspirational quote, a random thought, or a doodle to bring a smile on my face.
4. Map it out on a Calendar.
   Whether it’s on your phone, in your planner, on your computer, or hanging it on your wall, a calendar is a necessity. It’s great for remembering all of those important dates: spring break, finals, birthdays, Trop programs and events, etc.
5. Keeping it Clean.
   This concept is so basic and yet is easier said than done. In order to stay on top of school, you need to be in an uncluttered environment. This can be achieved by a weekly cleaning of your room. You will find that you are able to think more clearly when your surroundings are neat and tidy. Schedule a clean-up day in your planner, sync it to your phone, add it to your calendar and draw it on your whiteboard!

It’s my first year in college and my experience so far has been incredible. The past few months have been filled with meeting new people, beach volleyball games, epic ping pong tournaments, biking around Isla Vista, and much more. As a freshman, I didn’t know what to expect when moving to Isla Vista because of its party reputation. Trop’s location is perfect because it is sort of on the outskirts of IV, so it’s not too caught up in the craziness of the party scene. You can walk five minutes to Starbucks, Freebirds, Woodstock’s Pizza, you name it. I personally recommend Blenders smoothies and Silver Greens, which are both pretty healthy and so very yummy!

SBCC is such a beautiful campus and I am so grateful to be a student there. I am a theatre major and the theatre classes that I am taking are great and the new theatre is beautiful. I really recommend SBCC because it is reasonably priced and you feel like you are going to school in paradise every day. I actually look forward to going to school and doing my homework in the library overlooking the ocean. I feel such a sense of serenity when I am there. I am so happy with where I am right now and I wouldn’t do my first year of college any other way. I am having a fantastic first year and every day feels like a new adventure!