Secondly, about lockdown. Surely complete lockdown has exceptions for people who have to get back to their homes? Regardless there must be some college authority that can provide you with information about this. Someone more familiar with the American colleges might be more informative about that though.
I'd like to preface this by saying that I don't live in the US.
About that... last time lockdown happened, my sister (a college student) had only two options: stay or get out in one day. If you couldn't get out (which unfortunately happened to some of her friends), you had to stay your ass in that campus until lockdown ended. And since it's a total lockdown, the canteens and the usual food-places were all closed or operating at minimal capacity. People had to step in and give food to those stranded students until the government said "nope" and put an end to that. Gov did give food, but you know how it is, it's a bit slow, and you probably have to know people, so on, and so forth. Those were not good times.
Both my parents are doctors, so they can say that they are essential workers and they need to do so-and-so, and cross state borders, but I'd rather not do that.
Thirdly, are you planning to do the thing from the other thread yesterday? If you want help with what yo write we can talk it through and then run it by some of the less socially awkward people of the forum so it's not completely awful. I think a lot of the fresh students are feeling like you right now and it would probably help to try go get to know some of those who have already been there for some time.
I mean, I stumbled across a group of guys today, and they told me that I could just ask to enter someone's room, and usually, they'll either let you in (and you can make conversation with them) or they'll just say that they're busy or something. That's apparently a normal thing. Those guys met by doing that, which is probably a testament to how effective that strat is. My intuition says to do that after 6 pm or so, since that's a time where people are almost certainly not busy with classes.
Speaking of asking to enter stranger's rooms, I did that once today, and I managed to acquaint myself with a dude who has a car. Eventually the conversation went on, and I managed to a) go somewhere out of campus and have dinner, and b) stock up on enough instant ramen to last 3 - 4 weeks assuming no additional food. That is some incredibly good luck and execution. I don't even know how I managed to do it. I thought I'd weird him out in the first few minutes, or like, eventually, but that didn't happen.
I spent a winter in isolation when at uni, meth. Food was available in the form of an hour trudge through snow. It was fine, but not particularly stimulating. If in lockdown, I presume it would be similar. Boring, but quiet. I'd suggest heading back if you're just doing lessons online and think it's likely the place will get locked down as well. I, of course, don't know your home situation, though.
Thing is, this is literally the first time I'm living alone. I want to have the training to live alone, because later on, I'm going to have to live like this too. And if I screw up, I'd rather screw up now than screw up later.
Home situation... my parents aren't terrible by any means, I'd say they're actually good. Just massively homophobic (and it's for religious reasons, too, and they're devout). They wouldn't listen if I tried, and it would be an incredibly dangerous thing to come out to them. It's one thing to be homophobic for secular reasons, but if the reasons are religious... I am not fucking touching that.
Oh also I forgot to tell you the very first thing you should take in consideration, your budget. Start by making one out.
In my case the would be expenses are generally larger than the budget, then you have to call in which things will be cut, what is not absolutly essencial to keep your methabolic functions going.
In the case you actually have a surpluss after all the needs are covered, then depending on the size it will go out all for savings or you could even split it on fun money and savings.
Budget-wise, even if I ate at the canteen for all 3 meals (which isn't actually possible; COVID makes businesses open for short periods of time), I should be fine. My expenses do not exceed my allowance in the worst-case scenario, and for now, I can rely on my stocks of instant ramen to make up for the times I can't eat out.
Thankfully, I have an ATM card compatible with the ATMs on campus. My parents are willing to send me more money into my bank account if I run out, so as far as money goes, it's not a huge concern. If anything, that's one of the lowest.