r/IowaState

My nephew is starting at Iowa State this August as a freshman and will be living in the dorms with a meal plan.

I’m putting together a small gift for him and was thinking a few gift cards, but I’d love to make them actually useful.

For current students or recent grads:

• What places around Ames/campus did you end up using the most?
• What’s easy to get to without a car?
• Any gift cards you got that were really helpful?

I'm trying to keep my cool aunt title so obviously also including cash! Any help is appreciated.

Hi! My younger brother will be starting at ISU as a first-year student in the fall. I'm a bit concerned because he is fairly autistic (he has a hard time in social situations, hasn't really had friends in his life so far, etc.). He's a really sweet kid, and very bright, but I'm concerned about a couple of things during his transition to college and was wondering if anyone here has insight on what to do.

1. Roommates: I'm a bit concerned with him going the random roommate route. He is very anti-alcohol, and I think both he and his future roommate might have a tough year if they aren't aligned on this. I'm also concerned about the social dynamic when sharing a bedroom with someone for a year. What's the best way to make sure that he can find a roommate who will be a good match for him (and them)?
2. Social life: Social situations have been a challenge for him. Are there any spaces or clubs on campus that are active and particularly good for students like him?
3. Any other advice: If you or someone you know has been in this situation, I would love to hear your thoughts on what helped/if the school was a good choice for you. I'm excited for him to start a new chapter of his life, but nervous that he'll be ultimately isolated and lonely.