Hi,
I’m a new international admit at UToronto’s Innis College! I’ve accepted my residence offer at Chestnut Residence.
I want to run a desktop PC in my room during my time in college, and I want to buy the computer after arriving in college. I also might want to make other purchases online later on.
Am I allowed to receive courier/postal mail or parcels directly in residence? If not, where can I collect them? Also, does the residence accept parcels or mail for me if I am out attending classes?
Thanks,
newadmit
———————————————
newadmit,
Your answer:
After finding nothing and just wanting to be sure, I did a little undercover work (read: contacted Chestnut — the people there are so helpful btw!) and was told that for mail can be received at the res and your giant packages will be kindly held at the front desk.
But some extra:
And daaaamn a desktop? In university? Are you suuuure that’s what you want to do?
Most students use laptops just because they’re nice and portable. If you ever have a giant lecture at con hall — looking at you SOC101Y! — you can see luminescent apple after luminescent apple on the laps of many a hipster.
Also, if you’re living at Chestnut, you’re going to be a bit of a walk away from campus. While I get that that’s totally a valid reason to want a desktop > laptop, don’t you want to be able to take your laptop with you to lectures? To the library? It can be quite a pain to get a computer at Robarts during the day, or any other library for that matter.
Except the Innis Library — that’s basically the best place to go if you’re looking for a quiet working space and free computer.
Likewise, since you’re an international student, you’re going to have to think about where you plan to store that thing for the four months of summer, assuming you don’t extend your stay with a couple of summer courses or whatnot. Granted, you could probably start a May lease for where you stay in your second year and keep it there…
Eh, up to you.
But either way, I totally recommend taking a look at what the UofT Bookstore has to offer in terms of electronics. They’re usually nicely priced and pretty accommodating to we poor student folk.
Cheers!
aska
3 Comments
newadmit
Hi aska,
newadmit here. I don’t want a desktop- I *need* one. I’m a gamer through and through, and surely you must be aware that laptops don’t cut it in gaming. Sure, you have alienwares, clevos and and whatnot, but seriously, those are just way to expensive for what they have on offer.
I do realize the constraints posed by the towering hulk variants of desktops, but Mini-ITX and microATX form-factor based computer cases are perfect for lugging around as carry-on baggage in airlines. If anything, the monitor is more trouble than the system itself, but a large suitcase should be more than enough.
Also, I will get a very cheap laptop-exclusively for college work and emergencies. Probably a $400 device in the 13″ size.
I will definitely snoop around the UofT bookstore. But I am hoping there is some variety. The online computer shop doesn’t give much hope honestly. I am quite selective about my purchases- $$$ is $$$, after all.
Regards,
newadmit
PS- I didn’t understand how Chestnut being far away makes getting a desktop a totally valid reason 😛
Tom
My advice when it comes to summer storage: Become good friends with a student who commutes from their family home. Chances are they’ll be happy to spare a little bit of space in the basement or garage to hold your items until you come back.
It’s worked out for me pretty well so far XD
newadmit
Hey tom,
I don’t think I will even have to leave it in canada. I could probably lug it around in a flight without issues 😛