As millions of college freshmen get ready to make the great trek toward membership in the Class of 2009, students and their parents must navigate the transition from the comfort of home to the potential discomfort of the dorm. Major stressors can be predicted and partially mitigated with proper planning. A survey done by Best Buy found that students share six “major stresses,” including managing their time, making new friends, failing their courses, living in close quarters with someone else, being away from home and fitting their stuff into tiny dorm rooms.
To help them manage time and stay connected, parents should consider equipping students with all-in-one cell-phone/PDA (personal digital assistant) devices. This gives students all of the benefits of a stand alone, pocket-sized organizer without having to worry about carrying multiple devices.
And with the tiny size of dorm rooms it is also important to consider cramming the most technology into the smallest space. That means combining devices by purchasing a notebook computer which can function as PC, DVD player, stereo, etc. To guard against theft, the notebook should be equipped with both physical locks and biometric access devices if possible. Plus, don’t forget to install virtual security in the form of firewall and antivirus programs.