Money and Resources Tips and Tricks From an Upperclassman
Starting college can be a nerve-racking experience, but I’m here to share with you a few things I’ve learned at Arcadia over the past few years to make it a little less scary. Arcadia’s campus has many resources for you to use to make your experience here as seamless as possible. Here are 6 tips of resources you should take advantage of.
Tip #1: Use all of the Knight Points that come with your meal plan. Depending on your Arcadia meal plan you will receive a certain amount of ‘Knight Points’ which can be used as cash or in place of a meal swipe at the Chat, Easton Cafe, Global Cafe, and the Dining Hall. For example, I am on the 80-block meal plan, which comes with 250 Knight Points. I often use these points if I need caffeine, either a Starbucks drink from Easton Cafe or Global Cafe or a Celsius from the Chat. It’s also a good way to keep stacked on snacks, especially if you don’t have a regular means of transportation to the store. There are full-shelf stable meals available at the Chat and Global Cafe you can use points on. These points do not roll over to the next semester so I highly advise you to keep track of your points and use as many as you can before the semester ends.
Tip #2: Take advantage of the Knight Resource Pantry. It’s there for your benefit. Located in Knight Hall and Oak Summit B, the Knight Resource Pantry offers perishable and non-perishable food items, personal care items, and household cleaning supplies for free to ALL Arcadia Students regardless of level of need. Per visit, you get 20 points to spend on whatever items you wish, and there is no limit to the frequency of visits. My roommates and I have used the pantry for years for fresh fruit, snacks, pasta, oatmeal, toilet paper, pads, razors, hairbrushes, fresh bread, I could go on.
Tip #3: Student Health Services for treatment and items. Not only is Student Health Services (SHS) available for physical exams, prescription refills, free counseling, and more, but there are also free items available including soaps, COVID tests, condoms, and feminine products. Located in the basement of Heinz Hall, SHS has plenty of services available to help you out.
Tip #4: Go to events on campus! Free food, a good way to connect. Keep an eye out for posters around campus and for emails about on-campus events. Most events are free to attend and offer food and drink or merchandise. These events vary from carnivals, food trucks, ice skating, crafts, movie screenings, etc, and all you need is your student ID card. These events are incredibly fun to attend with your friends and great ways to meet new people.
Tip #5: Use Arcadia’s Gym! Arcadia’s campus has two gyms, one in the Kuch Center and one in the B Lobby of Oak Summit. These gyms are both free to use and only require your Student ID Card to get into. There is a variety of equipment to use, including weights, leg presses, treadmills, bikes, and so much more.
Tip #6: Purchase a SEPTA Card. As a student who is not from the local area, I cannot express how helpful a SEPTA Card has been. Your SEPTA Card is reusable and gives you access to the bus, subway, and regional rail. It gives you access to the city and the freedom to be able to travel freely. For anyone who lives out of state (I’m from Florida) who needs to get to the Philadelphia Airport I advise getting one to use the regional rail which goes through downtown Glenside.
