Life hacks for college in Manhattan — Part 2

Last year, I shared with you my life hacks for college in Manhattan. As a senior and a seasoned Kansas Stater, allow me to impart some of my hard-earned wisdom with round two of my favorite hacks.

1. Need a low-stakes way to get to know someone? Grab ice cream with a friend at Coldstone Creamery on Tuesday nights from 7-10 p.m. for its “College Night” deal, which is buy one, get one for 50 cents.
2. Create a shared TikTok with your friend group and use it as a space to post sentimental video montages and funny memories. This is a great centralized place to keep all your videos and stay updated on each other’s lives post-graduation.
3. Drop all your photos into folders using the shared album feature on your iPhone. This is another great way to share memories with friends, and it’s easier to use than the alternatives like AirDrop or Messages.
4. Have a designated meeting spot in the ‘Ville for your friend group. If phones die or the group gets separated, a meeting spot will help you find each other.
5. Choose one football game this season and line up with your friends before the gates open so you can nab front-row seats. Trust me, it’s worth missing two hours of tailgating to have the experience.
6. Know your professors’ AI policies. If allowed, use it. Your peers are.
7. If you need to use DALL-E for a class but it’s not generating what you want, ask ChatGPT to write you a short phrase to plug into DALL-E based on a longer keyword description.
8. Don’t buy a parking pass! Park on the side streets instead. A five-minute walk from a nearby neighborhood is worth saving $200.
9. K-State doesn’t write parking tickets during the first week of the semester. Shhhh… keep this one under wraps.
10. When the temperature starts to drop, cut through buildings like the K-State Union or the Engineering Hall to warm up. 
11. Curate your TikTok “For You” page. If you’re prepping for an interview, follow career coaches. If you need to get better at Excel, follow accounts that teach you Microsoft suite tips. Let’s be honest, you’ll be on TikTok anyway — you might as well force yourself to learn something.
12. Create a Manhattan bucket list and check off everything before you graduate so you have zero regrets about how you spent your time.
13. Have trouble getting up in the mornings? Try Alarmy, an app that forces you to do math or other little assignments before you can turn off your alarm. You’re welcome.
14. Write thank you notes until your hands hurt. Show your professors, employers and friends you appreciate the relationship you share; people will come to know you as intentional and thoughtful. A kind note could even get you your first job.
15. Get free headshots at the Berney Family Welcome Center every first and third Friday of the month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
16. Put together a “lucky outfit” for interviews, important meetings and presentations. Whenever you put on that blazer or blouse, you’ll feel ready to take on anything. Plus, the last thing you want taking up space in your brain on a stressful day is what you’re going to wear.
17. Many interviewers will ask you to describe yourself in three words. If you’re struggling to come up with three, take a personality test and pull words from the results. I recommend the 16 Personalities test.
18. Take advantage of the K-State Rec while you can. Gyms are crazy expensive in the real world.