The summer before you start college will be memorable and busy! Relax and spend time with loved ones. But be sure to take time to plan the next four years of your life. How you spend your first week and even the first few hours on campus can set you up for college success. Be ready, be prepared and make this summer count! Here are some things to consider:
- Take a short break. Your senior year was likely busy and hectic, so if you’re feeling overloaded, take some time to rest and re-energize so you’re ready to tackle that to-do list.
- Check on financial aid. Contact the college or CareerTech financial aid office to make sure they’ve received your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) results, and any additional paperwork required to finalize your aid offer. Remember, financial aid is to be used to cover education expenses such as tuition and fees, food and housing, books, supplies, and transportation.
- Learn more about your school. Now that you know where you will be this fall, start researching! Look at the degree plan for your major and/or courses you’ll need to take and the faculty who teach them. Familiarize yourself with programs, clubs and activities in your interest areas. You can find information about courses, organizations, and faculty on the institution’s website and sometimes on social media.
- Visit the campus. Look at a campus map or visit the campus before school begins so you’ll know your way around before the first day of class. It will lower your stress level if you know where things are located.
- Explore the surrounding environment. If the school’s location is new to you, get acquainted with the area. Research or tour the town and find places of interest such as restaurants, parks, shopping malls and other recreational activities. For extra preparation, locate important services, like hospitals and grocery stores. If you can’t do it in person, search the internet to find answers.
- Enroll in classes! If you have not yet met with an academic advisor, contact your school to find out more about that process for incoming freshmen. In most cases you will enroll before you arrive on campus in August.
- Gather supplies. Get the basic supplies – notebooks, pens, laptop – during the summer. You may want to wait to buy or rent textbooks until the first week of classes. Changing classes or instructors could change what books you need.
- Save, save, save. Living the college life is almost always more expensive than students plan on. Take a summer job and save as much as you can so that when you walk on campus you have some money in your pocket and can pay for unexpected expenses.
It’s the summer before college begins – have fun and make it count. You’ll thank yourself later!
Consider using our College Freshman Checklist as a way to make sure you’re staying on track! Good luck!