Stop slouching. Students need to sit up straight and eat well, says Tara Black, associate director for the Simon Fraser University health promotion team.
Falat, a vegetarian, worked in a health food store while living in her hometown of Fernie, B.C. and says she plans to keep on top of her diet and exercise plan while attending school.
"I eat really well. I eat organic. I'm quite active. I run, bike, ski and rock climb. I want to learn to sail. I want to bike to school every day," she says. "I'll be fine."
Lia Sampson says she doesn't know how much shampoo costs, but she'll soon find out. Like many first-year students, when she arrives at UBC in September, it will be her first experience living away from home.
"I'm trying to figure out how much money I'll need. I have no perception [of] how much money shampoo costs and that sort of thing," says Sampson. "I'm going to set up my bank card so I can only have $300 or $400 spending money per month. I think I'll be okay."
"We want students and their families to think about financing their education before they get here," says Robinson. She says a student typically needs $16,000 for the year, including shared accommodation, food and spending money.
Dylan Rawlyk is paying for school through scholarships and help from his parents, including profits he'll make when he sells one of the family cars upon arrival in Vancouver.
"A lot of what I need will be provided through residence and my food card," he says. "I haven't really thought about the specific budget each month."
"It's all part of growing up," Robert says. "They go through life not knowing where things come from. It's important for him to learn to make his own decisions."
Diana Yeung, 18, doesn't plan to move away from her Vancouver home to attend Kwantlen College in September but is still finding it necessary to save for post-secondary school.
She is applying for student loans to supplement her bank balance and plans to work at an animal hospital while studying science for her pre-veterinarian studies.
"The Internet is pretty much everywhere on campus," she says. "It's an important piece of the study groups and the academic success of a student."
Sampson says she isn't interested in buying any high-tech gadgets for her first year at UBC. Instead, she says she plans on using her laptop -- an old computer that "does the job" -- for sending e-mails, surfing the Web and typing up essays.
"I don't need much," she concedes, although she admits to one high-tech, musical vice. "I have an iPod, and it's really important to me since I'll be on the bus a lot."
Dylan Rawlyk also plans to keep his digital equipment to a minimum. Since he's already got a laptop, he says he plans to buy a printer that can "do everything" from printing to scanning. "That's all I need," he says, budgeting $100 for his purchase.
Rawlyk's father, Robert, says he'd like to use technology as a way to stay in touch with his son. He is considering buying a web camera for the family computer so he can video-conference instead of just speaking over the telephone.
Dylan Rawlyk plans to use a combination of biking and busing to stay mobile. "I'll use transit to get around the city," he says. "And I'll bike around campus."
As a UBC student, Rawlyk can take advantage of the U-Pass program -- an unlimited student bus pass that costs about $22 a month. It is available for students at both UBC and Simon Fraser University, and it's valid for eight months.
Rawlyk's dad, Robert, says he is not concerned with his son's ability to get around Vancouver. "He'll have to hoof it and use the bus. He knows how to do that," he says.
Falat's mother, Dawn, says she is also confident her daughter will find her way to school and back: "She's been to Vancouver quite a few times, and she's used transit already. She'll be fine."
If students don't like transit or the rigour of pedalling up hills, they should consider an electric bike, says Thomas Shaw, a spokesman for e-Ride scooters in Vancouver.
"It's a good bike for someone frustrated with gas prices, who enjoys time outside, and is environmentally conscious, because there are zero emissions," says Shaw. "You don't need a license. You don't need gas to fill it. It's a one-time purchase."
The silent scooters cost about $1,300 and require 10 cents worth of electricity per battery charge, says Shaw. Each battery lasts 40 kilometres and takes four hours to charge.
Amy Lu, a fashion stylist in Vancouver and Toronto, says this season's hottest looks are perfect for university students because they are cosy and comfortable.
Dylan Rawlyk plans to save money on fashion by using his portable sewing machine to mend holes and update his wardrobe. He recently "took in" his jeans to get the hip, tapered look.
"The main thing is to make sure to eat three meals a day and a well-balanced diet, which can be difficult," Yung says. "People shouldn't skip breakfast. That's the most important thing."
She says this is easier said than done since students are often too busy to plan ahead. She advises to keep food choices simple: Eat cereal for breakfast, bring fruit and vegetables to snack on, and make a sandwich for lunch.
Dylan Rawlyk says he already eats well and intends to keep up his healthy habits. He plans to eat cereal in his room, then eat two meals in the school cafeteria using his pre-paid food card.
"You really do need a steady supply of nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day -- every three to four hours -- and that will help you have energy to learn more efficiently," says Black. "Simply eating breakfast boosts energy and brain power."
"I have an eating card for the cafeteria," she says. "The food looks pretty good but pretty fattening, so I'll probably stick to the salad bar."
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