You'll be typing a lot of papers and you're sure to use the Internet to do some of your research. The school does not require students to bring a computer. Radford University has computer labs in several buildings across campus, and just about every academic department has its own lab for students studying in that department. Some of the dorms have their own labs, so you don't have to go very far from your room. Many of the labs are also open late for anyone who procrastinates. Some labs close around 11 or midnight, but Walker stays open as late as 2 a.m. most nights. There are PC and Mac labs across campus, so you can stick to the operating system with which you are most familiar.

When I started school my freshman year, I did not have my own personal computer. I went to Walker or the library to take care of my computing needs. I didn't mind too much. I was without a roommate, and going to the lab gave me an excuse to get out of the room for a while. Sometimes, I would find one of my other computerless friends in the lab, or I would have an excuse to go pay a visit to one of my friends in the dorm who had a computer.

There were a few downsides, though. I only knew of about two or three of the labs on campus back then. Sometimes, they were pretty full, and I had to do a little searching to find a free machine. During those times of peak activity, I didn't feel like I could take my time because I knew someone was waiting on a computer just like I had been earlier. I could also only save and download as much information as the disk I carried with me would hold.

I decided that I wanted a computer of my very own that year. It was the only thing I asked from my parents for Christmas. My parents weren't sure about it at first, but they caved in and bought me one. I am really glad that I have my own computer now because it has changed my life a lot. I am a lot more computer literate now. I can type Whim articles, essays, and research papers at 3 a.m. I can browse the Internet at any time I want and spend as much time as I want doing it. I've been somewhat of an artist most of my life, and thanks to having my own computer, I have devoted a lot of time teaching myself graphic art, which landed me a great summer job. Working as a graphic artist was also the major reason why I joined Whim. Working with Whim has also made me think about getting a career in Web design. All this might not have happened without owning my own personal computer.

If you are still undecided about whether or not to get a computer, here is my advice. If you only want a computer to take care of typing papers, email, or occasional Web browsing, and you don't plan on becoming much of a computer geek, then I suggest you take advantage of the labs. If you think you need a computer for these same jobs, then I recommend that you don't get the biggest, “baddest,” most expensive computer on the market if you won't use all of it's capabilities. Get a computer that's suited for just the jobs that you need done. If you don't have a lot of personal experience with computers, than I highly suggest you use the labs where a lab proctor can assist you if you need help. If you feel you are pretty computer literate, want to do a lot more than the basics and really use it to it's full capabilities, then you might want to consider bringing your own to school. Again, you'll want to pick one that is tailored to your needs. Also, for anyone who is always glued to his/her computer and has a hard time getting away from it for anything (including eating and sleeping), then don't bring a computer to school. Otherwise, you might wind up hardly leaving your dorm room!