After weeks of waiting, you’ve received your college acceptance letter, decided where you are going to attend, and finally have a clear picture of where you are going to be studying. Now begins the next phase of preparing for a brand new journey as an independent college student. Summer is a great time to prepare for your upcoming college semester. There are plenty of things to be done and lots of loose ends to be tied up before you leave. Making a summer-before-college checklist will ensure that you do not forget something important.
Here are a few things you should put into your college preparation checklist:
Start Packing Your College Bags
When it comes to packing for college, it can be difficult to know where to start. How many outfits should you pack? What about shoes, sheets, and towels? Without a checklist, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Even worse if you get to college and realize that you have forgotten something.
To prevent a packing disaster, start early. Make a packing list of everything you need, from your toothbrush to notebooks and pencils. This will ensure that you do not have to run around the first day itself looking for these essentials.
Discuss Finances With Your Parents
Discussing finances with your parents will help you have a better understanding of your responsibility to prioritize your financial aid opportunities, get a job or work-study, and create a spending budget.
Start Exploring On-Campus Job Opportunities Now
Are you planning on working while studying? If you can manage to work without compromising on your studies, taking up a job in college is a good idea. It will help you earn some money that you can put towards early loan payments.
You don’t have to wait until the semester starts to look for opportunities. Call up the college office and ask right away. Knowing what opportunities are available in advance will give you some time to think about what may be the best fit for you.
Follow Your College On Their Social Networking Sites
If you haven’t done this already, now would be a good time to engage with your college online. This will allow you to e-meet the faculty and older students as well as the students who will be joining the college at the same time as you. It’s a great way to participate in ongoing discussions and also familiarize yourself with the culture and lingo of the college. This way, when the semester finally gets started, you will feel a part of the college on the first day itself.
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