Emotions and feelings after high school graduation are all over the map. There is excitement, anxiety, and overwhelming nerves. You are about to embark on a journey into one of the most growing experiences of your life up to this point as college begins.
To prepare for the changes and freedom of university life, here are 10 things to do to feel ready for university life and be able to focus on your exciting new adventure.
1. Register for classes
Plan ahead to make sure you get the courses and times you want. Fall classes generally fill up, so you should make plans ahead of time and register as soon as your registration window opens up. Schedule classes that coordinate on times so you have 15-20 minutes between them. Often you will be moving from one building to the next so give yourself enough time.
Just a heads up… you don’t need to run. Nobody wants to re-live 7th grade. You are fine, so calm down already!
Not sure what to sign up for? It may be a good idea to meet with a registration counselor to discuss options, what classes will get you to your goals, and potential courses to explore if you are still deciding on a major. Registration counselors are trained to help you figure out what general education courses you need as well as what can be used for a degree and dual coverage so you can save time and money in the long run.
2. Order your books online
I am all about getting the cheapest deal possible. Once you’ve registered for your courses, check to see what books are required. Then, search online for the best deal. I actually checked every single site to compare prices for both rental and purchase costs and made notes before purchasing.
I check the following sites before deciding:
- Chegg.com
- Bookfinder.com
- Textbooks.com
- Campusbooks.com
- Valorebooks.com
- Amazon.com
- KSL.com classifieds (This is super helpful for Utah/Idaho)
Keep a notebook out during your research and write down the store you located the book on, and the price so you know where to go back to for the best deal.
3. Research clubs & organizations to join
One of the best ways to make friends and get involved is by joining a club or group that you are interested in. Finding others who are passionate about the same things you are is a perfect way to make new friends. College is a time to explore new hobbies and adventures, and why not do it with awesome people?
4. Apply for scholarships/loans
Let’s get real for a minute. College is expensive these days. It is grossly overpriced and can cost the lung of your unborn first child on the black market to afford an advanced degree nowadays.
But since we want your future kids to keep their vital organs intact, I recommend you plan ahead for the costs with a few different methods.
Don’t get me wrong. If you are coming into a wad of cash from a relative or a college savings fund from your parents, that’s dope. I’m happy for you! But you are one of the minority in this situation. The rest of us will be over here paying back school debt for quite some time.
In order to alleviate the costs of university, apply for ANY AND ALL scholarships and grants you can find that you qualify for. I recommend that everyone fill out FAFSA as a backup plan just in case the scholarships don’t pan out.
It would be super disappointing to not be able to afford school because you didn’t get a scholarship and never had a backup plan with loans. These interest rates on federal school loans are awful though, so only take out what you absolutely need if it comes to this.
A few websites that offer scholarships:
How to apply for FAFSA: HERE
When the time comes, here is how I paid off my school loans…save this one for later guys, because I guarantee this will help you in some way down the road.
How I paid off over $26,000 and became debt free
5. Reach out to your new roomie/nail down housing
Whether you plan to stay in the university dorms, a house off-campus, or with your parents, make sure you have everything set up and ready to go. This needs to be arranged in advance so that you aren’t stressed, and you end up with a great roomie if that is the path you choose.
Having done both, there are definitely pros and cons to each option. It definitely helps you feel more independent and integrated into college life if you are making new friends, living on your own away from family, and making your personal schedule work for you. Alternatively, you may save money by living at home with parents or relatives.
Since this isn’t an option for everyone (especially those of you who will be attending an out-of-state university), planning ahead for your living space will ensure you have plenty of time to move in and get settled prior to starting your new adventure and classes.
6. Shop for college dorm supplies
Check out my ultimate college shopping guide HERE. If you have decided to venture out to a dorm room or apartment space, make sure you have everything you need! This will ensure the transition is more smooth sailing and pain-free.
7. Clean up social media
This might not be the first thing you think of when starting college, but it can be a great way to make sure you are presenting yourself in the best light.
I am not recommending that you pretend to be someone else, or change yourself to make friends. But with the start of a new adventure, now is the perfect time to make sure you are letting some things stay in the past where they belong.
Ready to get rid of an awful old nickname? Don’t want to share your junior high braces phase that is lingering on your Facebook feed? Clean it up! This is also a good time to evaluate some of the people you follow or are “friends” with on social media.
I believe that one of the BEST things you can do is to go through monthly, quarterly, or as often as you’d like, and clear out any relationships that are no longer good for you. This can mean unfollowing an ex that you are hanging onto even though you know he/she is bad for you, or even simply un-friending the people who you compare your own life to.
There is absolutely no benefit to getting on social media if it is only going to make you miserable. If you find that following someone’s perceived “perfect life” makes you sad about your own amazing adventure, UNFOLLOW THEM!!!
You don’t have time for that kind of negativity. You should be focusing on creating your own beautiful journey and not worrying about Karen and her gorgeous summer trip to the Hamptons. Who cares?!
8. Free shipping and student discounts
As we have discussed, school is expensive. You are now buying textbooks, paying for tuition, dorm fees, and so much more. As a student, you can get exclusive pricing with Amazon Prime, and save ALL THE MONEY. You will have to get your supplies either way, so you might as well get it for a discounted price and shipped right to your door or mailbox.
9. Enjoy your hobbies & find new ones
You will find that as school starts, you will probably be super busy. It will be calming to you to have hobbies and be able to enjoy yourself doing things that help you feel happy or relaxed. Spend some time developing your interests and find things you like to do during the summer before college.
Some of these things could be perfect to trigger some interest that could connect you with clubs and campus groups you will find around your university! And you won’t totally lose your mind studying 24/7. Because college is meant to be fun too 🙂
10. Study Abroad
The summer before college is a magical time when it feels as if anything is possible. If you have the means and savings, this can be a great time to go take a short trip or even begin looking into a study abroad program for your future semesters!
Have you always dreamed of studying architecture in France? Or history in Greece? Maybe a cultural language exchange in Spain or Brazil? Start making plans! These programs through your university tend to need some planning in advance. They also seem to fill up more quickly than regular courses (because, hello! Who doesn’t want to travel for school?!) so it will take some additional study time to figure out what you will need.
So whether you use summer to dig into available programs or decide to have a summer fling in Singapore over your short trip with friends, follow your heart!
University is a time to try anything and everything that seems impossible or too large of a dream. Go see the world and learn through the cultures and lives of others!
11. Pack
Whether you start making piles somewhere in the house or actually pack things away into bins and boxes as you go, packing a bit at a time will help relieve the stress of moving away and make sure you feel calm and don’t need to panic when the big day comes.
Stay organized, use a checklist, and do this over time. Trust me, you (and your parents) will thank me for this one later on.
12. RELAX
This is a big summer for you! You just successfully made it through high school without failing, and got accepted into college! Take time to relax, enjoy time with your friends, and suck in every bit of sunshine.
XO -Heather