The shift from high school to college is a huge step for students—both in terms of personal and academic growth. While the move can seem sudden, you have the entire summer break to plan it all out. Preparation can make the upcoming college challenges easier, as you’ll have the ideas and tools to solve them.
Considering that, here are the ten essential things you should do before college.
1. Start Networking
Social life is a big part of the college experience. Instead of walking into a room full of unknown faces, get to know your classmates before school starts. You can do that by:
- Join your class’s Facebook group
- Connect with students from your high school who will attend the same university
- Find out if alumni organization from your colleges has a meet-and-greet for freshmen
- Reach out to your roommate on social media (if you got their name)
- If you are a transfer student or attending a college without on campus housing, then start to find roommates
2. Get a Health Check-Up
Go to a family doctor whom you trust for a complete check-up. If you take any medicine, ask for a prescription. A routine check-up will allow you to move to another town with a calm mind. You also won’t have to worry about finding a new doctor while you’re still settling.
3. Prepare for Dorm Life
Instead of stressful last-minute packing, start making to-do lists for the move during the summer. Whenever you think of an item, you’ll need in the dorm, write it down. Gradually planning for the move will ensure that you don’t forget anything.
4. Clean Out Your Closet
Dorm rooms have modest closets, so you won’t need all the clothes you have. Organizing a closet cleaning can be a good idea. Go through your closet, and set aside clothes you rarely wear. You can sell them online or give them to a charity.
5. Review the Syllabus
To get a jump-start on the fall classes, ask the professors about the syllabus. Looking into it will allow you to start reading ahead of time. You can also find free essay samples for certain subjects or put together a list of helpful resources. The courses will be less intimidating when you know what to expect.
6. Write Down a Financial Plan
Learning how to manage your budget is a necessary skill in college. Begin honing it before you get there. Create a financial plan that covers how much you can spend and how much you need to earn. Calculate your food, school supplies, and social life expenses. This plan will help you stay moderate with spending.
7. Find a Summer Job
College is expensive, and a summer job can relieve the burden on your wallet. So, put together a resume and begin your search. You don’t need to get a full-time job. A side gig like dog-walking, selling crafts on Etsy, or nannying will do just fine.
8. Build a Collection of Useful Study Tools
There is an endless number of helpful resources that can speed up studying at college. For example, you can use the Biobrain app to learn biology. You can also find a service where you can buy plagiarism free essays. Thus, you’ll have a solution when you get swamped with essay assignments. You can find a helpful digital tool for any subject.
9. Meet Your New Town
Build up the excitement for the move by getting to know your new town. You can research the best spots for hanging out, beautiful parks, hiking trails, great coffee shops, and so on. Look into places that interest you, so that you can start enjoying the city as soon as you move.
10. Spend Time With Your Loved Ones
One of the toughest parts of going to college is being apart from your family and childhood friends. Use the summer break to spend quality time with them. Make some long-lasting memories that all of you will cherish.
Final Thoughts
Walk into this new chapter in life with certainty and a strong belief in yourself. That’s what this preparation can do for you. Taking a fraction of time during the summer to get ready for college will take away the intimidation and replace it with excitement.
Christian Duke is a content writer, researcher, and editor. He has vast experience with writing, as he worked in the fields of technology, education, biology, and robotics. He found his purpose in inspiring people with well-researched content. Next to writing, reading is his biggest passion.