Freshman Guide to IU: Everything You NEED to Know
Are you searching for potential colleges? Have you been admitted to IU? Do you have a lot of questions? Well, look no further! I have answered nearly every question I could think of and created this ENORMOUS post. The following information contains everything you need to know about Indiana University, based my experience at IU. First off, let’s start with a little history…
Quick note: EVERYTHING is linked, if you would like to see more information, click the bolded and underlined text to send you to a corresponding website. Additional links are located at the end of the post.
Indiana University was established in 1820 (2020 is the Bicentennial!) and its first class contained just 10 male students. Over the next 200 years, IU has made history as being one of the best colleges in the country. IU’s specialties include: the Jacob’s School of Music (which is the BEST school for music in the country), Kelley School of Business (in the top 10 best business schools in the country), Mauer School of Law, and the School of Education. Not to mention being in the NCAA Division 1 Big Ten Conference and hosting the annual Little 500 race.
But what is a Hoosier? Well, nobody really knows. It’s kind of a joke thrown about, but generally speaking, a hoosier is a person who is a native of Indiana. Technically, IU doesn’t have a mascot, everyone is just considered a Hoosier. Our colors are cream and crimson and the IU symbol is called the trident.
IU is located in Bloomington, Indiana. The county it is located in, Monroe County, is highlighted in red on the map below. IU is about an hour from the Indianapolis Airport, 4 hours from Chicago O’Hare Airport, and 2 and a half hours from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport.
Now that we have a background, let’s get into specifics…
Bloomington / Kirkwood
Bloomington is the city of which IU resides. It is known as one of the best college towns in the country. There are a plethora of things to do, for any type of person. Parks, lakes, restaurants, activities, events, concerts, history, etc. They have it all.
Bloomington holds Indiana’s largest farmer’s market, the Bloomington Community Farmer’s Market, every Saturday in April-November.
If you are wondering if there are any close malls or grocery stores nearby, don’t worry, there are tons! The College Mall, three Krogers, Walmart, Kohls, TJ Maxx, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Fresh Thyme, and many more are all within 5 miles of campus.
Kirkwood is the main street by IU’s Sample Gates which has many popular restaurants and bars in Bloomington. There is always something going on to check out, not to mention delicious restaurants such as Nick’s, the Village Deli, and the ever-most popular Kilroy’s.
Crimson Card
Your Crimson Card is literally your key to campus. It is your lunch card, your key to your residence hall and dorm room, your printing pass, and more. It can also be used as a debit card. Simply go online and deposit however much money you would like, and then you are able to use it at several locations across campus and at select locations in Bloomington. This is called your Crimson Cash. An easy way to access the website to deposit money or check your balance is to go through One.IU.
Meal Plans
I-BUCKS are different than Crimson Cash. I-BUCKS are used at eateries and restaurants on campus only. There are 5 meal plan options:
- 60 Max: For the athlete who eats WAY more than the average Joe. The priciest option.
- 60 Plus: For the person who eats extra healthy (AKA more expensive foods) or for the person that eats a little more than most.
- 60 Standard: The basic plan and what any average person should get. If your parents are worried that you won’t be able to eat enough, trust me, you will be. I had this meal plan for my entire freshman year and I had plenty of bucks left over. *What I Recommend
- 60 Mini: A little bit smaller than the standard, but not by a whole lot. If you eat less or want to cook in your dorm often, opt for this plan.
- 25: This is not available for freshman, but if you are an upperclassman or curious, this plan is a small amount for those periods in between classes when you need a snack. NOT a full-on, three meals a day plan.
I-BUCKS DO roll over to the end of the fall semester of the next year.
IU offers over 200 majors, minors, and 550 academic programs for students. Even though it seems like a lot to choose from, you still may not find a major that is right for you. In this case, IU offers a program titled the Individualized Major Program (IMP) for students who want to create their own major. It is a very unique program that few universities have.
At IU, all freshmen are required to live on campus during their freshman year. There are several dorms to look into, try not to get overwhelmed!
There are three neighborhoods: Southeast, Central, and Northwest. (Disclaimer: the following dorms do not include campus apartments)
Southeast:
- Read: This is the dorm I lived in for my freshman year. I would highly recommend this dorm, especially for Jacobs School of Music Students, Education students, & Biology Students. In my opinion, it has the best location for a dorm on campus. It also has a few eateries and the BEST waffles on campus (you can get ice cream on top!). It’s just a 5 minute walk to Wright Eatery and it is next door to Forest
- Forest: A standard dorm with an eatery on the first level.
- Spruce: Very nice dorm, but pricier. Right next to Forest.
Central
- Wright: Older dorm, no AC, but has the largest Eatery on campus
- Teter: Right next to Wright, older dorm
- Eigenmann: Very, very far from classes
- Collins LLC: Living Learning Center to those that are eligible
Northwest
- Briscoe: Closest to the stadium, nice, but a pricier option. A party dorm.
- Foster: Currently CLOSED for renovations *as of 2020
- McNutt: Currently CLOSED for renovations *as of 2020
What to Pack: Luckily, I already have this one figured out for you. Click here to view my College Dorm Packing List.
Safety: If your parents are concerned about your safety in the dorms, tell them not to worry. It takes three scans from a Crimson Card of a student who lives in that dorm to get from outside to inside your room. Each floor has a scanner, as well as the elevator. Your dorm door will also have a scanner, which only allows you and your roommate(s) to enter. I personally have never had a safety issue at my dorm (that didn’t involve people living in my dorm).
Laundry: Tide Laundry Service IU does offer a Tide Laundry Service, which is VERY expensive ($352/semester) but nice, if you can afford it. Your laundry will be picked up from your dorm, washed, dried, folded, and delivered back to your dorm without you having to do a thing.
If you are going to do laundry the old fashioned way, AKA by yourself, I have some tips for you:
- Set a timer. The washer takes 30 minutes and the dryer takes one hour. If you do not take your clothes out when they are finished, someone will take them out to use the machine you had your clothes in. Set a timer for 5 minutes before to allow time to get to the machines, which are typically in the basement of the dorms.
- The machines take quarters or Crimson Cash. I would recommend using your Crimson Card because it’s easier than carrying around quarters and it actually costs less than quarters. You save about $0.50 per load.
- A rolling laundry bin or a laundry bag can be easier than lugging a regular laundry bin. Plus, if you use a laundry bag, your dirty clothes and undies won’t be out on display for whoever you share an elevator with…
There are tons of options for eating on campus, whether it be meals, snacking in between class, or grabbing some quick items for your dorm. There are Campus Cafes, Campus Stores (C-Stores), and Eateries (dining halls).
There are three main eateries on campus: Gresham, the Woodlands at Forest, and the largest one in Wright. There is also a small buffet in Collins, but it is kind of out of the way, compared to the other locations. Campus Cafes are scattered throughout campus in several buildings. These are for quick snacks and smaller items. There are five C-Stores across campus. These are similar to convenience stores, or if you were to get small snack from a gas station. They have food, as well as other household items such as dish soap, deodorant, plates, etc. Some places have more funky hours than others, so make sure to check the hours here before you go.
There are SO MANY events happening during welcome week. Some examples of past events include, but aren’t limited to: a carnival, a concert, escape rooms, trivia, games, movie showings, and much, much more. Get out of your dorm room and GO. Not only will you learn how to navigate campus, but you will also experience what fun activities IU has to offer, along with socializing with new people.
In-between events, walk around campus and get a feel of your schedule. Find where your classes are, locate bus stops, shortcuts, and prepare yourself for the first day.
The Indiana Memorial Union is the second largest Union building for a college in the country. At over 500,000 square feet, this building has everything: a bowling alley, a billiards room, restaurants, the IU bookstore, a hotel, and more. On Friday nights, the IMU is used for Late Nite, which I will get into a little more detail later (see Events).
You WILL get lost in the IMU, as it is inevitable. The IMU is a popular spot for lunch and in-between class hangouts inside and out. There are microwaves if you need to heat up your lunch, as well. Last year, I was in the IMU almost everyday, and sometimes up to three times a day.
IU has two awesome recreational centers: the SRSC (Student Recreational Sports Center) and the Intramural Center.
SRSC: The SRSC is huge! It houses an olympic-sized swimming pool & diving well (the CBAC), an indoor track, five basketball/volleyball courts, strength & cardio areas, group exercise studios, and more. There are group classes to take, clubs to join, teams to compete, or just leisure and exercise.
I highly recommend doing a tour of the SRSC during orientation. Not only will you be shown around, but you will also get to play and get a free t-shirt! The SRSC is located on the northeastern part of campus, right across the street from Teter and Eigenmann.
Intramural Center: The Intramural Center is quite smaller, but it is still a large facility. It houses ten basketball/volleyball courts, cardio & strength areas, group exercising, a sauna, a six-lane pool & diving well (Royer Pool), and more. It is located in the center of campus, connected to the School of Public Health, and across the street from the IMU.
I have been to both centers and both are very nice facilities. I prefer going to the SRSC because there is more space for everyone and less of a chance that I would have to share a lane when I go to swim laps. All students are automatically charged for a membership in their student activity fees (Just for reference, students are only charged around $76, while a person who wants to a membership who isn’t a student or staff member is charged $742! Take advantage while you have it!).
All you need to enter is your crimson card. Lockers are at either center for use, but locks aren’t provided. Locks can be rented. Hours can be odd, (for the pools especially) so make sure to check out the hours before you go.
Click here for hours for each center!
Sports, Clubs, & Student Organizations
Being involved on campus is a great way to meet new people and enhance your experience outside of the classroom. There are over 750 student organizations to be apart of at IU. During Welcome Week, there is a student involvement fair, where clubs and organizations are set up for students to look over and consider signing up for. Some include: The Sweet Potato Club, the Harry Potter Society, and of course, the Weather Club (which I am Vice President of this year!).
The Intramural Center also holds RecFest during Welcome Week to encourage students to join sports teams and sports clubs. Some sports include: Log rolling, swim team (or swim club for those who would rather be on a recreational team), and basketball. Make sure you schedule your classes around these in order to participate.
Sports: IU offers a wide variety of sports for men and women. There are recreational sports clubs and competitive teams. Unfortunately, students do not get in for free for football and men’s basketball games. Football games for students cost $15 for a spot in the student section. Basketball games vary, but are more expensive.
Football season tickets for students are $90, or you can purchase the Football/Basketball combo season pass for $410.
Other sports, including baseball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, and women’s basketball are free to enter with student ID.
Bus Systems / Getting Around
There are many different methods of transportation available on and off campus. From buses to scooters to walking. Here’s a quick little guide to all:
Campus Bus: The campus bus system involves buses that go only around campus (and only clockwise). There are a few different routes, with buses coming to each stop about every 5–10 minutes. *Heads up: The A Bus will ALWAYS be super crowded and the buses will be especially crowded on rainy and cold days. Most of the time, it’s best to just walk.
Bloomington Transit: Bloomington buses go around campus and all around the city. Make sure you show your Crimson Card, or you will have to pay to ride. If you forget your card, or you are riding with non-IU friends or family, the cost is just $1. There is no change though, so always carry one dollar bills! The routes are numbered, but there can be multiple different routes per number, going in opposite directions. When the bus comes, make sure the bus is reading towards the direction you are wanting to go. For example, there are two “3” routes, one goes east and one goes west. Don’t get on the wrong bus by accident! I may or may not have done this…
Apartment Buses: If you are not a freshman, chances are that you live in an apartment off campus. Many apartments offer shuttles that will take you to campus and back. I would recommend these places first when choosing an apartment to live in, rather than a place where you would have to drive to campus and purchase an expensive parking pass.
Bird and Lime Scooters: Bird and Lime scooters are scattered all around campus and Bloomington. You can ride them on the streets, but it is not recommended to ride them on the sidewalks, even though everyone does. The cost for either is $1 to start, and then Birds are $0.15/minute and Limes are $0.40/minute to ride. If you do ride them, be mindful of everyone around you. There have been several people injured and hospitalized in the past year from riding without caution. Birds and Limes are prohibited inside dorms for charging (If you didn’t know, if you have a charger for a scooter, you can get paid to charge them).
Bicycles: If you are bringing a bike to campus, make sure to register it online. The cost is $10 per bike registered. Same rules apply as Birds and Limes for safety.
Walking: The simplest and easiest way to get around campus. Yes, some classes will be QUITE the walk, but sometimes it’s nice to enjoy the surrounding nature and take in the fresh air. For reference on exactly how much you could potentially walk a day, I wore a tracker and averaged about 15,000 steps per day. Some days I surpassed 20,000, but I hit 10,000 every single day (minus Sundays), while in high school, I walked about 3,000 per day. On the bright side, your calves will look great!
Technically, you can walk to any academic building within 15 minutes, but if you are in Swain West going to Psychology, for example, you would have to walk so fast that you would nearly be jogging. When you are scheduling during orientation, ASK someone to look at your schedule before you complete it in order for you to be able to make all of your classes on time, and without dripping in sweat when you get there.
ALWAYS watch out for bicyclists, electric scooters, and people running before you cross the street, or pass a slow walker. People will FLY BY without a care as to if someone could take one step to the side and get knocked out.
Parking
A big debate going into college is whether or not you should bring a car when you are living in a dorm. In my opinion, I would say it is not worth it because the bus systems will take you anywhere you need to go and most of the time, your car will be sitting at the stadium, which can be over a mile away from your dorm, not to mention you have to move it on game days. On the other hand, I would recommend bringing your car if you plan on going home very often, if you have a job off campus, or if you do not have a meal plan. If you do decide to bring your car, chances are you will be driving all of your friends around all the time.
Parking on campus can be expensive and buying a pass can be confusing. If you are purchasing a pass, buy a Student Pass or a Campus Housing Pass (which allows you to park by your dorm).
Because IU is such a large school, we are able to have many celebrity guests and performances. The Auditorium has a number of shows that come every year, with new shows being added throughout the year. Students get a discounted price for seats (or sometimes even free seats!) for shows. Some examples of past shows are: The Book of Mormon, Mamma Mia!, Kinky Boots, the Sound of Music, etc. Some examples of past celebrities are: Josh Peck, Terry Crews, Steve Martin & Martin Short, Mark Cuban (an IU alum), the cast of Whose Line and more.
You can even become a volunteer usher and watch any show for free!
IU has 23 libraries across campus. Pretty crazy. However, the only one you will probably use the most is Wells Library. Wells Library is in the top 10 largest college libraries in the country. There is a good chance that you could get lost in there, too! They have private inclosed study stations along with lots of seating areas. The Lily Library is the other large library on campus. There aren’t any study areas in Lily, but it hosts different interesting exhibits to check out throughout the year.
Use the IUCAT to search for what is in stock at the libraries. You may have a class that requires you to watch a movie, which you will almost always be able to find here.
Helpful Resources
Center for Career Development: If you are unsure of what you want to major in, what job you want to have after college, or anything career/internship related, visit the CDC on drop-in hours, or schedule an appointment.
Writing lab: The writing lab is an AMAZING resource that IU offers to students. The tutors can aid you in writing a paper, concepts and ideas, grammar, and essentially anything you could need assistance with while writing a paper.
If you don’t have the time, or don’t want to go to the tutors, they have many helpful video tutorials online that are great at explaining. I used these tools for my W131 class and they were really helpful for my papers.
Tutoring: For larger intro classes such as Finite, Calculus, and Intro to Business, there are tutoring sessions held multiple times a week. There are also off-campus tutoring services if you really want to pay for a tutor.
There is ALWAYS something happening on campus. Here are a few major events:
First Thursdays: This is a monthly “festival” put on at the Fine Arts Plaza on the first Thursday of every “warm-weather” month. They have musical performances and booths set up for diverse interests for students.
Late Nite: Every Friday night starting at 9pm-1am, the IMU hosts Late Nite. There are a multitude of activities, free bowling & pool, games, food, movies, crafts, and free stuff! Each Late Nite has a different theme as well. It can be a really fun time if you are wanting something to do on a Friday night. Some past events include indoor roller skating, glow bowling, a real-life game of the Price is Right with money prizes, and more. All you need to go is your Crimson Card. My friends and I went quite a few times and really enjoyed ourselves!
Always know the activities and theme for the next time! Follow them on twitter @IULateNite
Bowling & Billiards: The IMU has a bowling alley and billiards for anyone to play. You can actually take either as a class for 1 credit each. If your family is in town and wants to bowl or play pool, have at it! Hours may be odd, due to the area being used during class hours. Check prices and hours here
The first semester of my freshman year, I took bowling and it was a blast! Not only did I get to compete and bowl every class, but my team won the tournament and therefore, we got an automatic 100% on the final and didn’t have to take it! I would definitely recommend if you need an extra credit or a break from stressful classes!
Concerts: During Welcome Week, IU hosts a big concert to welcome students back to campus. This year’s performer was by Kaskade and last year’s was Diploid. There are also pop-up concerts happening throughout the year, so make sure to keep an eye out for announcements. I got to see The Mowglis last year at the IMU. It was a fun pop-up concert and wasn’t expensive at all.
Apps
First Year Experience (FYE): This app is recommended for first year students. It displays all of the events happening at IU. I used this app the most on Welcome Week, but didn’t find it very useful after that.
Bird/Lime: If you will be taking a ride, you’ll need the app and your driver’s license.
Doublemap: This app is a MUST HAVE. It shows all of the bus systems that you need while seeing their exact location on an interactive map. You are able to choose which systems and bus routes you would like to display and view their corresponding stops. Some stops also have a wait time for the next bus. It seems confusing, but when you try it, it is really not bad, and it’s very convenient!
Canvas: A no-brainer. All of your courses, assignments, grades, and basically everything for each class is on this app. Some profs use it more than others, but you can’t go without it.
Quizlet: This app is especially nice to use in your basic lecture classes such as any foreign language, biology, etc. I personally use it for my French class and it is a vital tool to help me learn the vocabulary each chapter.
Mobile ID: Not completely necessary, but if you want to access any locked door in your residence hall, including your room door, without your crimson card, then this app is for you. Just log in with your IU credentials, and your crimson card will show up on the app. Select the door you would like to open, and hit go.
IU Mobile: You will have to use One.IU at some point, whether it is to access your schedule, deposit money onto your crimson card, etc. It is more convenient to have it on your phone.
DUO Mobile: This is such a pain, but when logging into Canvas, you have to go through a two-step identification system. When you download the app, it’s super important that you turn notifications ON, or you won’t be able to access Canvas on the same device that you have this app.
Rakuten: I absolutely LOVE this app! If you online shop for anything, go through Rakuten. This app gives you cash back for online shopping. Simply search for the website and hit “Shop Now”. After you purchase something, a percentage of your spendings are given back to you. Checks are then sent out a few times a year. I have been using this app for a few years now, and all my friends and family use it too and love it. Click this link and receive $10 when you sign up and make a purchase!
Venmo: I always heard that I would get this app in college, but I never thought I would need it. I totally needed it. It is so useful to pay your friends back. Going through a drive-thru with one credit card? Venmo them your share. Roommate bought your groceries? Venmo them. Most people don’t have cash on them to pay everyone back, just use Venmo.
Uber/Lyft: Hopefully you won’t be needing to call a driver while you are at school, but just in case, it’s good to have the app and have an account set up.
GroupMe: If you are living in a dorm, you will need to get this app in order to be on the floor group chat. Many clubs and student organizations use this app instead of emails.
Book Stores
There are two bookstores on campus: the IU Bookstore and T.I.S. Both are virtually the same, but more often than not, I would go to T.I.S. There are a few other stores scattered about, but these are the only two that have textbooks.
Wait until you go to your classes before purchasing the textbook for the class.
Some classes will not use the textbook and others will recommend skipping the bookstores for a cheaper alternative online, or rented from Amazon. This semester, I only had to rent one textbook because all of my other textbooks were either given to us for free, or online.
IU Bookstore: Located in the IMU, the IU Bookstore is the “official” bookstore of the college. I found this store to be slightly more pricier than T.I.S., but they are nearly the same in the end.
T.I.S.: Located on 3rd street, this bookstore is arguably more popular because of their slightly lower prices and, in my opinion, more convenient location. It was really close to my dorm and I would often go for textbooks or their T-shirt deals.
Other stores: There are a few stores scattered around Bloomington. There is one in the mall and a few on Kirkwood. One store that I would recommend visiting is Tracks on Kirkwood. Not only do they have a wide selection of vinyls, but they also have IU apparel and $20 sweatshirts.
Fanatics: If you or your family is solely interested in apparel, but aren’t on campus, definitely visit Fanatics. They are going to have similar “official” items that can and cannot be found in other bookstores. They also always have coupon codes and free shipping offers.
Last Remarks
Your freshman year is what you make of it. Someone who spends all of their time in their dorm probably won’t have as good of a year as someone who did not. If it seems scary, do it anyway. This is a major time in your life where you are free to move far from home, or stay nearby, if that is what you want to do. Explore what multiple colleges have to offer before deciding on one. If IU gives you everything you wanted, go for it. It is a welcoming community in the middle of a cornfield. I personally think that IU is one of the better colleges I’ve ever researched or visited. Explore and do what is best for YOU! You’ve made it to the (hopefully) final four! Whoop Whoop!
Resources
