Going to college is an exciting chapter of every student’s life. College allows you to experience new freedom and opportunities. However, it also comes with new responsibilities, like taking care of yourself and staying safe.
Personal safety should be top of mind on the list of responsibilities college students have. When you go to a new place, it’s important to be safe. Read on for some tips on campus safety.
Explore the Campus and Learn Your Way Around
Before starting classes, students should consider getting a campus tour. Visiting the campus will allow you to be able to navigate the campus better, and it can enable you to identify essential locations such as the campus police, dining halls, residence halls, the library, etc. Students should also consider “walking their schedule” before classes begin. Students should walk around school as if they are in class to know where to go to get from class to class and how long the walks will take. This will help you to be more prepared, rather than scrambling and getting lost on your way to class.
Know Your Campus’ Safety Procedures
It’s important that students read and respect their school’s safety protocols in order to prevent problems. The safety procedures are there for a reason, so students must know what they are because failing to respect these procedures could result in a student getting into trouble or even in danger.
Lock Your Doors and Windows
Whenever you leave your dorm, make sure that you have your key with you, and be sure to lock your door. Locking your door is not only crucial for safety, but it is also essential to protect your items from being stolen. Make sure to keep your key in a safe place; if it gets stolen or lost, be sure to tell your residence administrator, and they will help you proceed with the situation.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings, Especially at Night
When you are walking around either alone or with others, it is important to be alert. Do not look distracted by being on your phone and making yourself a target. Instead, walk with a purpose, and make sure you observe your surroundings for danger. If you have to leave at night, try not to walk alone and go with a friend. If you are alone, make sure you tell someone, like your roommate, where you are going, and consider taking the school’s transportation like the bus rather than walking alone. Share your location on your phone with a roommate or close friend for added peace of mind.
Trust Your Gut
If you do not feel safe in a situation and you have a bad feeling, trust your gut and excuse yourself! Also, if you do see or experience unusual or questionable situations, it is imperative that you report it immediately to campus security. If you feel like it might not be anything, report it, as you could be keeping yourself and others safe from harm.
Be Cautious of What You Post
College is such a fun new experience, and it makes sense that you would want to share all the new things and fun times you are having at school on social media. However, students should remember to be careful about what they post. For example, students should not be giving out their exact location on social media because this can lead to grave danger, like a break-in of your residence.
When you’re away from home, avoid posting your current location on social media. Instead, consider posting it once you’ve returned back home safely.
How GradGuard Can Help
When it comes to your safety, you can never be too cautious. Making sure that you and your belongings are protected while you are studying will help put your mind at ease.
GradGuard’s Renters Insurance can protect you from financial losses at college. Most colleges and universities don’t replace stolen or damaged student property, but GradGuard’s Renters Insurance can help cover the cost to do so.
Check out some of the highlights below:
- Affordable coverage for your belongings, including electronics.
- Avoid high deductibles that come from filing a claim with your homeowners policy.
- No credit check and no penalty when filing a claim.
- Liability and worldwide personal property coverage.
Things happen, and we can’t stop them. However, we can be prepared for them, and thankfully, there’s a simple way to not only protect yourself but your stuff. Keep safety top of mind at college, and when your laptop gets stolen or your dorm room catches fire, renters insurance can take the stress away of covering the cost of the item or damage.
Author:
Rylie Conrad is an Arizona native who loves to spend her free time hanging out with friends and listening to music. She is excited to intern at GradGuard on the Membership Services Team. She is currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies.
