The last summer before starting college is the perfect opportunity for students to check some much needed items off of their to-do list and to get prepared for the journey ahead. Here are a few things that you, as a soon-to-be college student, should squeeze into your schedule as you approach your first day of college:
[RELATED: 5 Things to Do the Summer Before High School]
Freshen up on the basics
Been a few years since you took algebra? Are you forgetting the difference between “you’re” and “your,” or other grammar rules? And how old do you have to be to be President again? If these are the questions you seem to be asking yourself with no answer on the nearby horizon, it would be wise of you to take the summer before college to refresh on some of those topics that have slipped your mind over the years. You can bet that college will take all these subjects to the next level of difficulty, so the basics are a great place to begin if you do not know where to start your preparation.
Buy school supplies
This may sound obvious, but make sure to get prepared for the school year by getting all of the supplies you will need (back-to-school shopping isn’t just for younger students!). Remember, though, how college is very different from high school—you are going to need items not only for your classes, but also for dorm life if you are living on your school’s campus. Books are expensive, so begin your research on potentially cheaper ways to obtain them now, versus waiting until the last minute and having to stand in that long line at the school bookstore. You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got other necessities like folders, pens, highlighters, and perhaps even headphones and a laptop or tablet. Getting these things taken care of now, before you make the big move to campus, will save you headache later!
Travel
College is full of traveling opportunities over spring, winter, and summer breaks, but why not take advantage of this time before you’ve got new academic responsibilities and fit in some completely stress-free traveling? Gather up your friends and family and take a trip of a lifetime. Take a good hard look at that bucket list of yours and start crossing items off! Road trip across the states? Visit all of the baseball parks in America? European backpacking adventures? The possibilities are endless.
Take care of financial aid
Getting your finances in order before college starts is essential. If you are opting to take loans in the form of financial aid, make sure you have completed and turned in all of the necessary documentation. Call your college’s financial aid office to obtain information and get any questions you have answered. You do not want to have to deal with a lack of funding halfway through the year because you forgot little financial details that could have been completed easily during the summer months.
Set personal goals
Once you start school, it can be easy to get wrapped up in everything that is happening at once. Before you start college, it would be wise to step back and think about your priorities for the next four years. Do you know what you want to major in? Is joining many organizations important to you? What types of jobs or internships do you hope to obtain? While the answers to these types of questions will probably change over the next few years, it is important to begin thinking about these important decisions. You will be so much better prepared if you have at least an idea of the things you want to accomplish in college.
College is a very exciting time, so the more preparation you can do now, the better. Go into college with an open mind and get ready for a life-changing chapter of your life!
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