Do you remember when you moved to Ames? For many students, moving to a college town for the first time is monumental to their college experience. New hangouts, friends and plenty to do make living in a college town an exciting experience.

“Coming from a really small town with like 600 people, it was definitely a culture shock for me,” said Carter Anderson, a junior in advertising. “I kind of felt like a grain of sand in an hourglass all of a sudden.”

Moving to a college town can be an adjustment, but it can also be a taste for the real world. Being on your own helps you grow, and isn’t that what college is about?

“When I came to Ames for the first time, it was surreal that all of a sudden you’re on your own,” Anderson said. “For 18 years you have your own unit, and then you have a adjust to a new town by yourself.”

While moving to a mostly student populated town can be daunting, it can also make it easier to find friends. With a student population of over 36,000, there is an immense amount if new people to connect with.

“I found a lot of people in my major that I’m friends with now,” said Eliana Crabb, a sophomore in hospitality management.

“I’m not from Iowa, but I have some family here,” she said. “I like living [in Ames] because I feel like there’s always something to do. Also, just being around people my own age all the time is nice. It’s just easier to relate to people.”

Dylan Engle, a freshman in Meteorology, agreed .

“Moving in, I had a mix of butterflies in my stomach and excitement,” Engle said. “I came to Ames because the environment felt right, the program was good and I felt like it was welcoming here. I feel like it’s a nice community. It made it easy to adjust to college life.”

Living in a college town can make it easier for students to find jobs, make friends and get around. CyHire and the Student Job Board are online resources that provide job opportunities to students. In addition, working on campus can help build long-lasting connections.

 “I’ve worked for ISU dining all four years here,” said Amy Collins, senior in finance. “Obviously the convenience aspect of it is nice, but they’re also really accommodating for students.

“I actually ended up talking to my boss about interning here, and I wouldn’t have gotten that opportunity had I not worked here.”

Iowa State offers a variety of on-campus jobs great for students to both gain industry experience and work around their busy schedule.

Morgan Allen, a junior in child, adult and family services, works as a peer wellness educator.

“My job is really good about being understanding with my other commitments, and it’s nice to have coworkers that you can relate to as a student,” Allen said.

Ames also offers an efficient and convenient bus system, many of the routes making stops around campus.

“I use CyRide a lot,” Allen said. “It’s worth figuring out the stops and utilizing the buses. It’s really accessible to students and it does a good job of going to a variety of stops.”

For those who aren’t used to public transportation, CyRide can be confusing and intimidating at first. Don’t be afraid to ask your bus driver any questions, and to use the MyState app to learn the routes.

Once you become familiar with CyRide, getting around campus gets much easier. For students that live off-campus in particular, CyRide can be a lifesaver.

“I use CyRide to get to campus every day,” Collins said.

Finally –because it’s a college town– Ames offers attractions and activities that are catered specifically to students. Be sure to check out the student activities calendar for upcoming events that are just minutes away from you.

Don’t limit yourself to campus; take a drive around the city and see what you can find. The Ames Farmers market, movie theaters and shopping are unique parts of the town.

“There’s a lot to do around campus, but places like Main Street are worth checking out,” Anderson said. “Ames is a fun town, you just have to get out of your comfort zone and explore it.”