Hotty Toddy and welcome to the University of Mississippi! Whether you’re coming from across the country, one state over, or you’re a local Mississippian, here are some tips to help you transition into life at Ole Miss!
Plan Your Move
To prepare for campus life, start by planning and creating a checklist of essential items you’ll need to bring, whether you’re living in a dorm or an apartment. Consider what you already have and what you’ll need to purchase to ensure you have everything necessary for a successful move.
Tip! Ole Miss is in Oxford, Mississippi and is smaller than most other college towns. With the increase in residents during the school year, the local stores run out quickly. Consider shopping out of town and shipping via Collegeboxes or using Amazon for your basic needs, especially during moving week!
Explore Housing
Oxford is a rapidly growing town with a wide range of off-campus housing options. When considering a move off campus, research is essential to secure the best accommodation. Starting the housing search early is crucial for finding a desirable place at competitive prices. Since housing options can fill up quickly, beginning your search in late fall for the following school year is highly recommended.
Living on campus typically involves a more straightforward process. You’ll receive essential information about the dormitories beforehand, including details on communal versus private bathrooms. When selecting a dorm, you’ll generally choose from the remaining options, so hope for an early selection time!
Campus Culture and Sports
Ole Miss is known for its high-spirited traditions and campus culture. One of the most iconic expressions associated with Ole Miss is “Hotty Toddy.” While this phrase doesn’t have a specific meaning, it serves as a spirited rallying cry for students, alumni, and fans, and is a staple in conversations about Ole Miss beyond Oxford.
Another central element of Ole Miss culture is the grove, which is 10 acres of grass in the center of campus, that is famous for hosting the tailgates and being a center piece for many student-oriented events throughout the school year.
Whether you’re participating in a tailgate or enjoying a campus event, Ole Miss’s unique traditions like Hotty Toddy and The Grove are essential to the university’s identity. Beyond these iconic elements, there are more traditions that make Ole Miss special.
- Walk of champions
- Trash can Fridays
- Ole Miss fight song
- Red and Blue
- Lock the vaught
- Home run showers
- Double decker art festival
Get Familiar with Campus and Oxford
Although Oxford is a small college town, you’ll always be able to find new places. If you attend in-person orientation, this is a great time to get a feel for the town before you move in. It’s important to do some research beforehand to Identify where essential services are located, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and medical centers. Knowing these spots and having a general idea of your layout will help you settle in more quickly.
Also, learning your way around campus will help you prepare for the start of school. Before school starts, I would recommend walking to each of your classes so you can get a layout of how long it’ll take to get to each one.
For food and shopping, here are a couple of Oxford staples you’ll want to check out:
A great steakhouse, good for special dinners but can also be a casual place to go out and eat.
A chipotle-styled Mexican food place
Best wings in Oxford with a huge range of flavors
American/southern food, this is a great place to go out when your family comes to town.
Great Italian food, good for dinner dates and family visits.
Amazing breakfast with an old diner feel. Make sure to get there early or join the waitlist because there’s usually a wait.
Authentic southern food, if you’re coming from out of town, you want to try this place to tap into true southern cuisine.
While you’re getting settled in planning your move to the University of Mississippi, use Collegeboxes for all your shipping, moving, and storage needs! We will help you with moving all your belongings so you can focus on exploring Oxford!