Fall in Ann Arbor brings cooler weather, football weekends, apartment gatherings, and more opportunities to spend time with friends. For students, these plans often happen alongside managing coursework, employment, roommates, rent, groceries, and other responsibilities. Planning ahead can help you enjoy the season while staying aligned with your academic, financial, and well-being goals!
Whether you’re attending a tailgate, hosting friends, going out for the evening, or watching a game at home, make a plan before the event begins. Decide how much you are comfortable spending, how you will travel safely, who you will be with, and what limits feel right for you.
Make the most of game day
Game days are a major part of fall at U-M! Our Best Fan Experience page encourages students to talk through their plans with friends, eat and stay hydrated, pace themselves during long game days, follow venue guidelines, and arrange a safe ride home before drinking begins. Planning ahead can help you remember the key plays, stay connected with your friends, and get more of what you want from the day.
For students who choose to drink, our Stay in the Blue campaign provides practical strategies for getting what you want from drinking while avoiding the things you don’t. The campaign focuses on keeping blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at 0.06 or below, plus it offers a variety of tools and information to support lower-risk choices!
Plan for your budget
Fall activities can add up quickly… before the weekend, decide what you can comfortably spend on food, transportation, tickets, and other entertainment. Keep money for rent, groceries, tuition, utilities, and savings separate from your social budget.
If sports betting is part of the plan, visit our Beyond the Bet campaign before placing a bet. The campaign emphasizes that gambling should not be used as a strategy for income. It encourages students to set a budget using only money they can afford to lose, set time limits, consider the odds, and reflect on whether betting adds to (rather than detracts from) the enjoyment of the game.
Plan with your community
Fall gatherings are more enjoyable when everyone feels included, respected, and supported! Before hosting or heading out, check in with your friends & roommates about expectations for guests, shared spaces, transportation, and spending. Small conversations can help create a safer, more welcoming environment for everyone! Check out our newly revamped Social Gathering Guide.
We offer education, harm-reduction tools, workshops, and referrals that support students across a range of experiences with alcohol, cannabis, gambling, and more! We recognize that every student’s story is different and focus on minimizing harm while helping students meet their own well-being goals. Consider scheduling a wellness coaching appointment if you’d like 1:1, personalized support in any of these areas.