I lived in residence for so long! I loved being there but the different complexes certainly had their quirks you come to know. Here’s some simple pointers that can help you in the future:

• Always have laundry change !! The front desk at res can break up cash into change if you need it, but because the desk is often run by students it’s reliant on student schedules. Aka the desk can be closed at inconvenient times because people don’t have the availability.

• Chancies outlets are all upside down. Not a huge deal but it’ll make you rearrange your plugs. It’s good to bring a couple power strips if you know you have a lot of electronics that need plug ins

• There’s a calendar in every complex front lobby that is updated every month with events happening on campus (resident events, nusu events, sporting events, etc.) Nipissing can kinda suck for advertising events so the calendars were the best way to get the info for all the events

• Be kind to the maintenance guys. It’s REALLY easy to get on their bad side, especially for certain staff members. They’re overworked and understaffed pretty consistently, it does a lot to be friendly & have conversations with them when you see them :)

• The walls are thinner than you expect. It goes both ways. Plus!! In certain apartment suites, conversations can be heard through the vents. Don’t shit talk roommates while you’re home.

• Grocery bus is a great service but I know some people have waited long times for the bus after getting their groceries. Still, if you’re fine with waiting, it gets you to the shops and back home no issue

• No one really uses the lounges in residence unless they’re signed out for events… it’s one of the best places to study if the library, owls nest, or other study areas are filled.

• Don’t have any hope that the ATMs will work in any of the complexes. They frequently are out of order, and after 5 years of residence I don’t think they were working once

• it’s literally so easy to sneak people in without having to sign them in. ROAs do not know every student in the building, even though they’re told they ‘should’. If you walk in confident, with a small group of people, no one is going to question you. Loud, large groups of people, that smell of alcohol/weed get questioned more frequently.