21 replies to this topic

[starknight75]

I'm getting ready to send my first Sim to University, and in following someone's advice on this forum (can't remember who anymore, but thanks to whomever it was), I want to send her with some furniture and stuff to minimize how much she has to spend once she gets there. She'll be going into the dorms (too expensive to get her a house, though I could probably swing that cost if needed), and I'm not sure what to send with her. Her family can afford it, but not knowing what is available in the dorms, I don't know what will be there and what won't.

For starters, I plan (unless someone tells me it isn't needed) to send her with a bed, a desk, a table, two chairs, a computer, a phone, and possibly a television and game system. Will she also need lights, a burglar alarm, refrigerator, bathroom furniture, etc?

I can also probably load her down with items she can sell upon reaching University--like I said, her family can afford it--so costs aren't an issue, but...

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[dharden]

OK, you can enter a unoccupied dorm to see what's there, but your ability to modify it is limited. Also, dorm rooms occupied by non-controllable Sims appear empty while in Live Mode. (I think they may appear occupied when accessing the inventory and rewards panels.)

Dorm rooms will have beds, but not very good ones. She'll be able to put the existing bed in inventory (or sell it) and use a better one.  I prefer using the inventory so it can be put back when the Sim moves out of the dorm.

Dorms will have a communal television and computer. A few dorm rooms have either computers or empty desks. Sending them won't be necessary, but they'd be nice to have when she can afford to rent a house. A few dorm rooms have dressers, but most don't, so sending a small dresser would help.  

Dorms have communal bathrooms with showers, and dining areas with food service. Tables, chairs, and bathroom furniture comes in the "she'll have it later" department. Note that campus rental houses usually have furnished bathrooms and kitchens, though they may not have dining tables.

A mini-fridge for the dorm room might be nice, but food service runs from 4 am to midnight, so it's not really necessary.

Sending things she can sell, if only so she can buy clothes, is a good idea. Students can only use clothes they buy on campus, so they can't buy clothes for college in advance.

[dharden]

Also, dormies aren't noted for cleaning, so arranging for her to have enough to hire a maid would be helpful.

[grandmajam_of6]

Most dorm rooms have either a desk and chair with or without a computer, or a dresser. If you have a cheaper smaller dresser that would be helpful. I usually will go into the dorm before I move my sim in and put in a regular table in their room for spots for both computer and homework otherwise your sim could be sitting on the floor doing homework...desks and tables fill up pretty quick with the NPC students' homework. If your sim has a hobby other than art or games...whatever they need to increase their hobby activities. Not all dorms have chess tables or telescopes so having fun can be an issue if your sim does not like to watch TV or dancing to the radio. All dorms have at least one easel. As DHarden said a bed is a must! Otherwise your sim will spend a great deal of time sleeping getting both energy and comfort levels up.

I usually fix up two rooms in advance before moving my sims in. Proper bed, dresser, table, chairs, curtains, computer, maybe a picture or two, etc...and then when I send my sim to college they just pick that room. Since I plan generations of sims, it only made sense to have one dorm they all stayed in. Yes, your sims and your parent sims will have the same friends because college NPC's never age although they can "graduate" from college after three generations of playable sims have graduated. I didn't know this for years.

Grandma

[starknight75]

Thanks for all the info. So, then, the best inventory for her to take with her would be: 1 small dresser, 1 higher-quality (single) bed, 1 easel, 1 crafting item (I'm thinking sewing machine or pottery wheel), maybe 1 violin, 1 desk, 1 table, 2 chairs (1 for the desk, 1 for the table), 1 computer, 1 sink, 1 toilet, 1 shower stall, 1 television, 1 video game unit, 1 bookshelf, and 2 curtains. Most of this would be "if needed" or "for later." I may also send her with a car or two (a lot of extra money) to cover expenses and a maid.

Will my Sim need to bring a phone unit? She has a cell-phone, but would the same rules apply as in the neighborhoods, that they need a land line for the cell-phones to work?

Also, is there a roommate situation in the dormitories? If I were to send one Sim to college, and then send another from another family, would I be able to make them into roommates? Would they have to be sent at the same time, one going and dragging another along? Or if I want them to be roommates, would I have to have them rent a house instead?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[wordlesswriter]

I was probly the one who told you about supplying them in advance.

my sims normally don't bother with assignments.

like everyone already said. the dorms will have most of what you need. I normally pack certain things for convience.
a cheap wall mirror, their childhood (single size) bed, a small kitchen table (for the computer), a kitchen chair, a computer, small dresser, and an esile.

Richer kids might get a wall mounted tv, and a few items to cozy the room. each dorm has different types of lay outs and will vary in size. If I can pack them with things that reflect personality, I will. like sports hobbiest I'll get sport themed wall hangings. Violens are nice if you have a music hobbiest. but if you don't have room in the dorm room then it will have to be placed in the common area and then all the other dormies will be using it. remember to have your sim lock their door or you'll have dormies in the room using the computer and well, just being annoying.

[wordlesswriter]

if you don't plan to move them back to the family home, then you can pack some nice starter furniture for when they graduate and get their own place.

[starknight75]

Thanks for the initial advice, then, wordlesswriter. I think it was you who mentioned it to me--so long ago now...

I like the idea of also packing their starter furniture. Actually, I started most of my families in cheap, tract housing (that is, all the houses on the block were exactly the same) where only the color differed, and the paints and flooring were chosen to promote higher environment but still keep the cost down. When I moved the families out into their "permanent" homes, I kept their initial furniture and planned on passing it along to their children for when they left for college, to either use there or to take with them into their first homes (which would probably again be the tract housing since they'd only have $20,000 to start with. The only things they wouldn't have, necessarily, would be bathroom fixtures and ceiling lights since those got reinstalled into their families' new homes.

I'll probably drop the desk since it seems I might not need it, but I'll probably keep the violin anyway. In my experience, asking some non-game Sims to play chess disappoints them, but they all seem to enjoy playing the violin. I may be wrong, though...

Thanks again!

[dharden]

Dorms will all have at least one phone, so sending one with her is not essential. My experience is that Sims with cell phones can _make_ calls even if there is no land line, but cannot *be* called unless there is one.

There is no roommate situation in the dorms. The special dorm doors (the "Myne Door") allows a Sim to claim a dorm room, and can be locked to keep other Sims from wandering in, but it's one room per Sim. (This is separate from, and different than, the ability to lock other doors.) You /could/ put two beds in a room, but it would be crowded, and there might not be room for much else.

One thing to know is that students can build skills and hobby enthusiasm on college community lots. They still get back to the home lot at about the same time they left, but the 72-hour semester timer still runs. They'll even go to class from community lots, though I always cancel that and let them go to class from their home lot.

If you haven't gotten it already, I suggest you get the Less Addictive Espresso Bar mod from DJS Sims. Without it, the espresso bar advertises so strongly that it can overwhelm Sims' attraction to other things on a lot, such as a Sim plying and instrument for tips.

[ratsrbest]

If you need to do some construction work on an existing dorm or create a new one there are cheats to enable you to do this:

Changes to an existing dorm: boolprop dormspecifictoolsenabled false

To create a new dorm: changelotzoning dorm

I've got these off the internet rather than go into my game, but I think all lower case and the gaps between words is correct.

i used to have fun making several dorm rooms just the way I wanted them and moving in the eldest child from a family, then after s/he'd finished the first year or two at Uni I'd move in a younger sibling. I could do that for several kids, one or a couple per 'year' and it made getting a family through University a lot quicker and more fun.

Another thing, using the Tombstone of L & D I could make a young couple have a baby. It's lovely bringing up kids in Uni because the parents have so much more time to look after and play with them. If the kids grow to school age a school bus will come for them.

Getting them back into the neighbourhood requires a bit of doing. i used to conjure up an adult sim from the tombstone of L & D and that adult could move into the neighbourhood with the child. The parents would move into the new home separately when they'd graduated.

[grandmajam_of6]

starknight75, on 17 January 2012 - 09:13 PM, said:

Thanks for all the info. So, then, the best inventory for her to take with her would be: 1 small dresser, 1 higher-quality (single) bed, 1 easel, 1 crafting item (I'm thinking sewing machine or pottery wheel), maybe 1 violin, 1 desk, 1 table, 2 chairs (1 for the desk, 1 for the table), 1 computer, 1 sink, 1 toilet, 1 shower stall, 1 television, 1 video game unit, 1 bookshelf, and 2 curtains. Most of this would be "if needed" or "for later." I may also send her with a car or two (a lot of extra money) to cover expenses and a maid.

Will my Sim need to bring a phone unit? She has a cell-phone, but would the same rules apply as in the neighborhoods, that they need a land line for the cell-phones to work?

Also, is there a roommate situation in the dormitories? If I were to send one Sim to college, and then send another from another family, would I be able to make them into roommates? Would they have to be sent at the same time, one going and dragging another along? Or if I want them to be roommates, would I have to have them rent a house instead?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Star you are providing well in advance for your sim if you provide bathroom fixtures. Most have easels, and a television. LOL There are no roommates in university dorms. The only time the phone rings...it is for your sims since NPC's do not answer or make phone calls in the dorm. If you have freetime installed when your sim graduates the guy will show up with one. Most dorms have bookcases, desks, at least 1 computer which NPC sims will play on,...Now if you wanted to set up housekeeping in the future that's up to you. Your sim will graduate and have the same amount of funds as a normal sim in your town so they can buy a house right off the bat...your sim can also earn money while in college selling painting, playing instruments for tips, working in the cafeteria or coffee house, tutor other students for cash, AND they can also write novels. So it's not like they can't earn money in college towards the purchase of their own home.

I would play my teenage sim until they at least have browse a hobby capability. If they are not a nature sim I would hire a gardener for the dorm property. The maid is optional because with enough influence points your college sim can influence another sim to clean. Personally, I hate the cow mascot. It will come in and make a mess with the overhead sprinkler system. I always influence them to clean since they can clean both male and female bathrooms. <WEG>

Now for college life, the freshman year is easy. Go to class and call your professors for an easy "A." But later semesters will involve assignments and in the senior year a term paper to get an "A"...that's if your sim wants to graduate with honors. Just like in the home game...assignments and term paper writing can really drain your sim's fun points.

I'd take a look at the sororities on campus before moving your sim into a dorm. Write down the list of who's in what sorotity (male or female if you are playing the State or Tech colleges). If your sim wants to join a sorority- click on the phone, call the college get the directory, and call the sims in the sorority of choice. Make friends with them by phone before they try to join. The secret society will kidnap your sim at 11PM once he's/she's made friends with at least three of them. Just some helpful hints here.

Grandma

[starknight75]

@grandmajam_of6: Thanks for all the tips. I'm not sure about this first Sim joing a sorority--I'm kind of rushing her through so I can get her back into the neighborhood and start her family (I'm still working on recreating my Sims 1 Old Town and she's supposed to be a family matriarch, so she needs to start having kids). But I'll keep it all in mind for the next Sim I send to college. As far as pre-stocking their inventory for After Graduation, as I mentioned, a lot of it will be hand-me-downs from the family prior to their moving into their "permanent" homes. The bathroom fixtures and stuff may not be necessary, but if the family can afford it, well...and of course the private computer is so the NPCs CAN'T use it whenever they want. And I suppose if I take the computer, I won't necessarily need the TV since the computer has games on it, right?

@ratsrbest: I actually hadn't planned to have the family Sims share in the dorms, but rent out a house instead that they would use over the generations. I also hadn't planned on starting families while in university, and it sounds really complicated...what if the child isn't school-age yet when the parents have to leave college?

@dharden: so no roommate situation, huh? I guess, in recreating my Sims 1 families I'll have to go with college dormmate instead of roommate. Out of curiosity, though, if a Sim starts a relationship with another Sim while in college, will that relationship continue after one or the other graduates and leaves, or does it--like that of a teen advancing to young adult--get cancelled and have to be re-established when they're both adults? Originally I had some of my Sims 1 Sims start their relationships with their college roommates, but if I can't do that...

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions and ideas. I appreciate them all.

[dharden]

Quote

if a Sim starts a relationship with another Sim while in college, will that relationship continue after one or the other graduates and leaves

All relationships between two college students persist after one of them leaves college. In fact, a playable Sim who becomes friends (or more-than-friends) with a non-playable dormie, and then leaves college, can invite that Sim over and propose moving in. If that peoposition is accepted, the non-playable Sim will become an adult, and part of the household.

[starknight75]

dharden, on 18 January 2012 - 11:58 PM, said:

All relationships between two college students persist after one of them leaves college. In fact, a playable Sim who becomes friends (or more-than-friends) with a non-playable dormie, and then leaves college, can invite that Sim over and propose moving in. If that peoposition is accepted, the non-playable Sim will become an adult, and part of the household.

So, when my Sim leaves college, s/he becomes an adult, while any dormmates s/he had a relationship with would remain a young adult until the time when and if my Sim invites that Sim over and proposes the move in action, at which point that Sim would now become an adult Sim? Just out of curiosity, IS there any visible difference between an adult and a young adult, or are they so subtle that it doesn't really matter at all? Would there be any aging transition like there is between other ages?

And may I assume that any and all professors are considered adults?

[wordlesswriter]

there is very little noticiable difference that I can tell, but for the most part they look basicly like adults. the age transition is when they graduate, they change some. young adults and adults can have relationships so if they fell in love at uni, and one leaves they will still be in love. it is possible for your uni students to fall for the professors. I actully did that once. they had three chemistry and a great marriage. female uni students can't become mommies while at uni without a cheat code (I've never used one ) but male uni students can become daddies with their non-uni adult girlfriends. (did that a few times ).
the only time a love status changes is when they go from teen to either a young adult or adult but after that it doesn't change.
if your young adult falls for a dormie, if after your sim graduates and wants to marry their college sweetheart, the college sweetheart hasn't graduated and won't have the extra benifits that the uni graduate gets. however if your sure you want them to be together foreverish..then have your sim save to up to rent a house and propose move in while at uni.

[grandmajam_of6]

starknight75, on 20 January 2012 - 11:01 PM, said:

So, when my Sim leaves college, s/he becomes an adult, while any dormmates s/he had a relationship with would remain a young adult until the time when and if my Sim invites that Sim over and proposes the move in action, at which point that Sim would now become an adult Sim? Just out of curiosity, IS there any visible difference between an adult and a young adult, or are they so subtle that it doesn't really matter at all? Would there be any aging transition like there is between other ages?

And may I assume that any and all professors are considered adults?

Star,
Be cautious when choosing a love interest for your sim in college. There are some nonplayable sims like sorority house sims, and others who are in houses on campus other than dorms that your sim CANNOT be married to (althoug they can get engaged to them). They will be stuck after the transition to adult engaged to that sim and unable to marry anyone else.

Professors and dorm-mates are free game. While with other students you will have to ask them to " move in" before the adult tranformation will take place...this does not apply to professors. Your sims can wohoo in the dorm, photo booth etc just like a regular sim without the pregnancy option. Keep in mind the jealousy thing in npc's. If they are angry with your sims even after they move home...the college NPC will call or show up on your home lot stealing newspapers and kicking trashcans.

As DH says there is no diffence in the transition between young adult and adult except for the clothing choices.

Grandma

[dharden]

IME, some profs are adults and some are elders. BTW, watch out for the Drama profs.

Young adults age-transition when they leave campus; they can stay for 72 hours after graduation. There's not a lot of difference between young adults and adults. Their voices change when they transition; young adults have teen voices. Their faces may or may not seem to change slightly. Young adults and adults use the same bodies. In fact, much of the adult clothing you'll find here is cross-categorized so it can be bought and worn by both young adults and adults. (YAs still have to buy it on campus, and can't take it with them when they leave.)

After a Sim leaves college, if they invite a non-playable friend from college to come over and move in, that Sim will become an adult and move in. The Sim moving in will be (well, should be) treated as if he or she had left college in the same way as the Sim who makes the Move In proposition. So, if the Sim making the proposition graduated, the Sim moving in should get the extra want slots and lock (occasionally, you'll need to use the "batbox" debugger to make sure they do). They should also get a degree, though it will never be an honors degree even if Move In is being proposed by an honors graduate. The degree's major will be one that's consistent with their skills, and it will let them access the Uni careers. Note however, that a dormie with very low skills may receive a degree in "Undeclared", which will *not* qualify them for the Uni careers, though they'll still get the extra slots and lock.

[starknight75]

grandmajam_of6, on 21 January 2012 - 02:23 PM, said:

Star,
Be cautious when choosing a love interest for your sim in college. There are some nonplayable sims like sorority house sims, and others who are in houses on campus other than dorms that your sim CANNOT be married to (althoug they can get engaged to them). They will be stuck after the transition to adult engaged to that sim and unable to marry anyone else.

So even after my Sim leaves college and becomes an adult, I cannot invite over these non-playable Sims and invite them to move in? Would the option simply never come up? I actually hadn't planned on getting an Sims engaged during college, but waiting until they returned to their neighborhood as adults, so would this apply if they DIDN'T get engaged during college but after they left?

dharden, on 21 January 2012 - 02:27 PM, said:

IME, some profs are adults and some are elders. BTW, watch out for the Drama profs.

I'm fairly certain I will be able to tell the adults from the elders, but Drama? I'll assume that the Drama professors will be the ones who teach the Drama classes, but do these professors remain consistent--that is, barring removing them from college via move-in and marriage, will they always teach the same subjects, no matter how many different Sims I send to college, or are they only Drama professors for a particular Sim but might be another subject for the next one? Or, would Prof. A teach Drama to Sim 1 while she is in college, but when Sims 10 attends, would the professor now be teaching Math instead? Or is it once a Drama prof, always a Drama prof?

[NINAWR]

Like other posters have suggested, you can modify the dorms (somewhat) and definitely can add and.or change the furniture i the dorms beforehand that will not cost your simmie students anything extra.
Aw, sending a sim to uni for the first time! I remember my first time, the uni EP theme music played when the neighborhood view opened up. Then, placing Don Lothario's daughter in a dorm and opening up the that dorm lot, Don and his daughter appeared outside her dorm as he was seeing her off. He hugged her tightly and then a streaker ran past.
Have fun at uni!

[dharden]

Quote

So even after my Sim leaves college and becomes an adult, I cannot invite over these non-playable Sims and invite them to move in? Would the option simply never come up? I actually hadn't planned on getting an Sims engaged during college, but waiting until they returned to their neighborhood as adults, so would this apply if they DIDN'T get engaged during college but after they left?

The premade Sims in Greek houses (fraternities and sororities), and in campus rental housing, are /playable/. You can, if you wish, play those households. A Sim who has left college can invite them over, and they will come. However, since they are playable, they cannot be invited to move in; they can only leave college through graduation, dropping out, or being expelled. If they are never played, they will be students forever.

Profs are consistent, they always teach the same subject.