What are /r/UNC's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Addendum on the advice posted by /u/squiggyfm:

If you're comfortable with e-textbooks, and also comfortable with gray-area of legality, don't even rent.

https://libgen.is/

Type in the ISBN number of the book.

Boom. Free textbook.

Here is a good overview of the tax treatment of scholarships and taking any college-related tax credits while going to school on scholarship (basically you only get to take credits if you spend money going to school, like for textbooks). Read the article, it’s pretty easy to understand.

Protect your eyes! Spending all day looking at your computer and phone can cause headaches, fatigue, increased stress levels, trouble sleeping, and a ton of other interrelated issues.

Here's a bunch of information about Computer Vision Syndrome and tips to prevent it: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/computer-vision-syndrome?sso=y

Also, here's a link to download f.lux. It adjusts the coloring on your screen depending on the time of day. As you get later into the evening and the sun sets, your computer screen starts to yellow. This reduces eye strain and limits blue-light exposure at night, helping to improve sleep. https://justgetflux.com/

I dont know what type of mask you mean, this or this

haha yeah I can't complain at all– working at IBM is a much more relaxed culture than Apple or Amazon for example. The information science major is really good (IMO) and i'm sure you will like it. Leetcode is just a popular website for cs students to practices programming questions that are common in interviews.

Well this is awkward, I'm now the person who has opinions about handheld vacuums. I wanted to say to not buy the $29 vacuum linked below. I've had that exact model and it's made of such cheap plastic that the parts holding it together just broke with very light use. It also has terrible suction compared to slightly more expensive models. I've replaced it with this https://www.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-Dustbuster-Cordless-CHV1410L/dp/B006LXOJC0/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=mini+vacuum&qid=1625819801&sprefix=mini+va&sr=8-4 and while it's not super powerful it's still loads better than the original one.

My favorite major class was Compilers taught by Jan Prins. He still teaches it! COMP520. It's really fascinating to see how a program can take another program in a language like Java and translate it down to machine language.

My favorite non-major class I don't remember the name of but it was on graphic novels out of the English department. It was fascinating and the subject matter of the graphic novels selected was fantastic: Holocaust, Palestine, Systems, and then a great book on how graphic novels are made which I feel is one of the best visual communication books I've read by Scott McCloud: https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Comics-Invisible-Scott-McCloud/dp/006097625X

Not a course, but a neat book about UNC during the antebellum period. I highly recommend: https://www.amazon.com/Intellectual-Manhood-University-Society-Antebellum/dp/1469618397

Yes, bikes are stolen somewhat regularly. The goal is not to have a bike lock but rather make stealing your bike more difficult than the next bike. Personally I use this bike lock from Amazon:

Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 1016
https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Evolution-Integrated-Chain-Orange/dp/B009IH7RR0/

Being a chain, it is difficult to hold steady and it has lots of measures to slow the thief down. Any bike lock can be broken, rather it is a matter of how long it takes that deters a thief.

Yes, bikes are stolen somewhat regularly. The goal is not to have a bike lock but rather make stealing your bike more difficult than the next bike. Personally I use this bike lock from Amazon:

Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 1016

https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Evolution-Integrated-Chain-Orange/dp/B009IH7RR0/

Being a chain, it is difficult to hold steady and it has lots of measures to slow the thief down. Any bike lock can be broken, rather it is a matter of how long it takes that deters a thief.

So I dont have any specific job in mind, but there's a part time job list serv you can sign up for that sends you weekly emails about part time jobs in CH and all around NC. Also here's a link to an updated list of jobs that the list-serv put together: https://airtable.com/shrqVDi54pm5v4lvT/tblRK0bXhT6bZZcC6

I posted for you on a couple local neighborhood forums (Chapel Hill Carrboro Chat on Facebook; Nextdoor.com).

You can look on other Facebook groups those are the ones I know. Good luck!

This same thing happened to me. I felt so alone, lane, homesick, overwhelmed. I cried everyday. It really is such a big transition. Give yourself the grace that you don't have to compare how you are experiencing this to how other people are doing. It is understandable that you are feeling this way, and pushing those real emotions away will only make you feel worse. Sit with those feelings when they come up, and then pick yourself up to do the things that are aligned with your college goals- studying, meeting new people, getting involved with extracurriculars, taking care of yourself, etc.

It absolutely improved for me with time. I got into a routine, learned how to meet people and make friends in this foreign environment, and just felt more at home. I learned how to study for classes well.

It is really easy to worry about the future when it seems that everything in college is all about your future. Mindfulness is so important- what am I doing/thinking/feeling right now, and is that in line with the demands of the current moment? For example- you could be worrying about an exam and thinking about how inadequate you think you are and completely miss the joy of fall colors as you walk across campus. Or you could be reading for class but not digesting any of it because your mind is racing about other things. The book Mindfulness for the Next Generation is specifically targeted to college students and I recommend it!

As for readings, try out a quick mindfulness meditation before you start to get yourself in a good headspace. Then try setting a timer for 20 min to read, take a 5 minute break, repeat. After a couple of those, take a longer break. Take some notes if it will help you stay engaged.

A lack of light won't kill your succulents but it will cause them to etiolate (stretch out). However, low light will make them more vulnerable to overwatering and root rot, which will kill them quickly.

If you don't have a window with direct sunlight, it would be worth looking into a grow light with a timer. LED and compact fluorescent lights don't use much energy, but it's not like you're paying the electric bill in the dorms.

A 6400k fluorescent bulb like this in a lamp or flood light fixture (connected to a timer) would be a great way to supplement the sunlight from your window.

Can't speak much for durable since I got it during the pandemic so it doesn't get out much, but I love this backpack. I got the regular size to limit my excessive packing, but still a solid amount of room.

Himawari Laptop Backpack Travel Backpack With USB Charging Port Large Diaper Bag Doctor Bag School Backpack for Women&Men (1881-QZ） https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088QD88XP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_YBRWCZMJ9N5PAARY5VFP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Pool noodle in the gap is real news, there are also special bed connectors you can buy to bridge it. It’s not against the rules because it’s your room and you can do what you want with it. That being said unless you have a partner that will be staying over often or you plan to be a playa, I’d recommend bunking them because the extra bed space is less versatile than the extra floor space

Lonk: BEDIA 12 Inch Bed Bridge Twin to King Converter Kit | Mattress Connector Kit with Strap | Non-Slip Design https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TLYLYZH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_YQQ4DJN74G4QRGPZSD3E?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Like many other people have said, your best option would probably be to get the 10.2-inch 8th generation iPad with the Apple Pencil (1st generation). To get the best deal on those, you can get them off of Apple's education store, or Best Buy (which currently has a deal to get the iPad for $299, not sure how long this deal will last though). However, if you are interested in a Windows tablet, you could get a Microsoft Surface Go 2 with the Surface Pen (amazon always has these on sale, they have one currently for $64).

I don't have much experience with iPads because I have always used Surface devices, but a notetaking app that has worked really well for me is OneNote, or the Notes app that's pre-installed on an iPad is a good option as well. Both OneNote and the iPad Notes app are free, but other notetaking apps that I heard work well for others are GoodNotes ($7.99) and Notability ($8.99).