Life as a Husker

Out-of-State Students

Approximately 30% of students at UNL are from out of state! We know that coming to college in a new state comes with many different questions and concerns. Below are some resources and topics to help with your student's transition.

If your student is not an out-of-state student, feel free to skip to the next page!

Hi, I'm Madison! Check out my POV on transitioning as an out-of-state student!

Watch Madison's POV

POV: Being an Out-Of-State Student

Navigating a new city

Getting a feel for Lincoln
- Before coming to campus, your student can find some of their favorite chain stores and restaurants around Lincoln on an online map.
- Locals refer to most locations according to their street intersections, with the numbered street coming first. For example, the Nebraska Union is at 14th and R streets. Getting familiar with the grid system as well as cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) can help make navigating easier. A tip for orienting yourself using cardinal directions is that the State Capitol is south of campus. Memorial Stadium is on the western edge of campus.
Don't forget about banking
- Many out-of-state students find it more convenient to have a local bank when at UNL. Union Bank & Trust is a great option for students. They offer student bank accounts with great rates, can print new debit cards on site, and have a location right on campus! (See more on UBT in Module 3)
Using the University Health Center
- The Health Center offers a wide range of medical services to students at little or no cost. Many of our students will utilize these services for sickness rather then going off campus to an urgent care center.
- Pharmacy - get prescriptions transferred to the Heath Center pharmacy right on campus to make reordering and pick-up simple.
- Dental - no need to search for a dentist. We offer comprehensive dental services right on campus!
- Insurance - The Health Center accepts most major insurances, but if your student needs insurance, they can purchase the university's student insurance plan.
Community events
- Check out Downtown Lincoln and the Haymarket District for great local events all year round

Homesickness

It's OK to be homesick! Many students experience homesickness when they come to college, even some of our in-state students. Students often think that it is "too small" of an issue to talk to someone about, but it's not. Homesickness affects everyone differently, and we have resources here at UNL to help.

Mental health resources

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers free sessions for students.
Big Red Resilience and Well-Being offers peer to peer well-being coaching.

Tips

Find a communication balance with your student. Talk with them about expectations - how often would you like to hear from them, and how often are they expecting to hear from you?
Connect with other out-of-state students! Who else understands your student's experience better than other students who are also making the transition to a new state?

Friends and Community

Involvement
- A great way to meet new people is to join a student organization! Finding an organization that fits your student's interests makes for easy icebreakers when talking with other students!
Residence halls and your student's Resident Assistant (RA)
- Encourage your student to utilize their roommate who is also new to UNL! They can make a plan to go to on-campus events together the first few weeks of classes so they don't have to go alone!
- Your student's RA is an upper-class student who lives on their floor and is there to help them! Your student can ask them questions or for advice any time. They will also plan events for your student's floor throughout the semester. Students can attend those to meet people on their floor.

Travel

Getting to Lincoln

Car
- If your student brings a car to campus, be sure they get a parking pass for campus. (learn more in Module 2)
- Don't have a car? That's OK! Many out-of-state students don't bring a car to college and are just fine. We have lots of restaurants and stores within walking distance from campus as well as a great city bus system to get all over town. Many students also find it easy to get rides from their roommates or new friends.
Airport options
- If your student is flying in to Nebraska, they can fly into Omaha (60 minutes from campus) or Lincoln (10 minutes from campus).
Train - the Lincoln Amtrak station is located about 5 minutes away from campus by car. The California Zephyr route, which goes from Chicago to San Francisco and includes a stop in Denver, runs through Lincoln.
Bus - the Greyhound bus runs through Lincoln. The Lincoln Bus Depot is approximately 15 minutes away from campus by car.

Getting to and from campus without a car

Shuttles to and from Omaha Airport
- OMALiNK is a safe, licensed shuttle service that specializes in airport transportation. To reserve a shuttle, visit OMALiNK's website. A one-way shuttle from Omaha Airport to City Campus or East Campus is approximately $85 per person. If your student's destination is off campus, the price may vary.
- N-E Ride to UNO is a charter bus run by the UNL College of Engineering. This bus runs between the Lincoln and Omaha campuses during the week while classes are in session. It is free for all UNL students with a reservation. To get from the University of Nebraska-Omaha campus to the airport, your student will need to get an Uber, Lyft, or taxi.
Options to and from Lincoln Airport, Bus Depot, or Train station
- Uber, Lyft, taxi
Rideshare groups
- UNL students have created rideshare groups on Facebook to help facilitate carpooling between students. Students can ask for rides to the airport or find people who live near their hometown!
  - UNL Rideshare
  - University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Rideshare Group
  - There are many Facebook pages for students from specific states or regions, like UNL Students from Illinois, UNL Students from Minnesota, UNL Students from North and South Dakota, UNL Students from Iowa and Wisconsin, and more. Trying searching "UNL Students From..." to find a group for your state.

Can I ship boxes/packages to my residence hall before move-in?

If your student would like to ship boxes ahead of their move-in that is fine! University Housing requests that boxes to not arrive more than one week before your student's move-in date, if possible. Make sure you have the correct address for your student's residence hall!

All mail is collected at the front desk of your student's residence hall for them to pick up. Small mail will be put in their mailbox (they will be given a key), and larger packages can be picked up from the desk staff. Often times, students will receive an email letting them know when a larger package has arrived.

My student is coming from a warm state. What do they need for winter?

Lincoln experiences four distinct seasons throughout the year. Nebraskans often joke that "if you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes" because the weather can change significantly in the same day. The extreme climate (very hot in the summer, very cold in the winter) is typical of the Midwestern region of the United States. High temperatures of 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit are normal in the warm summer months (June, July, August), and high temps of about 32 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit are normal in the winter months (December, January, February, March). Low temps in winter are usually between 10 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but can easily drop below that. It does snow in the winter so we recommend a good coat for walking across campus and boots or warm shoes for snow. The fall and spring seasons are milder, with high temperatures ranging from 40 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

"Coming from Texas, I was not prepared for the cold temperatures my first winter. I asked my roommates for help and they were great! We went shopping and were able to get me things like a coat, scarf, and gloves. They also gave me tips like how to layer my clothes and the best way to get the ice off my car. Now that I am prepared, I love the winter weather here!"

Sofia D. | Fort Worth, Texas