Once the graduation gown is safely stored in the back of your closet, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the pre-college to-do list. What is there to do? Where should you start?
Funding — Perhaps the first thing to figure out is how you are going to fund college. Hopefully you have been keeping an eye out for scholarships throughout your high school career. If you have grandparents that come from four different racial backgrounds (preferably Native American, Japanese American, African American, and Hispanic American), you’re in luck! Otherwise, you may have to investigate other options. Federal grants provide thousands of students money for college. Finding a job is another excellent way of earning money. If all else fails, you may investigate student loans. This is definitely not preferred (some students spend years paying off student loans), it is available. You should also determine how you are going to be insured. Some colleges offer health insurance, others don’t. Your parents may wish to keep you on their plan for the time being. Find out your options and plan accordingly.
Residence — With a budget in hand, it will be much easier to know what you can afford with other critical decisions. Where you live is another important decision. Many colleges offer on-campus housing. For first-year, recently-graduated freshmen, this is an excellent option. This helps place you among other students your age, enrolled in similar classes, and in similar situations. The friends you make during your freshman year will often stay acquainted with you throughout your college career. The on-campus environment permits you to participate in different activities and social events that let you experience new things and meet new people. Off-campus residence can also be a good experience. Be sure to take into account the location and the availability of things like laundry facilities.
Schedule — Many high school students are tempted to lean towards one of two extremes: one, take 21 credits, (advanced biology, advanced calculus, honors English, Japanese, chemistry, accounting, and economics) to get your generals out of the way as fast as possible; two, take 12 credits, (a pottery class, a calligraphy class, a science-fiction class, and a chorale class) and ease through college at speeds a tortoise would be ashamed of. Instead of leaning towards either extreme, be sure to balance your schedule with a few easy classes and a few difficult classes. Make sure you budget into your schedule enough time to study for each class. You may wish to contact the counseling center at your school to figure out what classes best suit your needs.
Food — Once you get to college, chances are Mom and Dad will no longer be nearby to pack your lunch. Guess who gets to do it? If you guessed Dobby and a team of house elves, you are wrong (if you are still waiting for your letter to arrive, you might want to start considering other options!). Although many students take advantage of cafeterias and meal plans, these are usually much more pricey than simply learning to cook. Try to learn a few recipes that you can prepare quickly when crunched for time. Cheese quesadillas may be tasty, but after two months of eating them for lunch and dinner, you may find yourself wishing you knew how to prepare something else.
Transportation — Figure out ahead of time how you plan to get around. Is your apartment within walking distance of campus or will you have to drive? Many colleges offer passes to use public transportation. This can be much cheaper than driving and requires fewer maintenance costs. On the other hand, public transportation is often slower and requires you to plan ahead a bit more. Roommates can sometimes be counted on for a lift to the grocery store but I wouldn’t bank on their availability.
Equipment — Get a computer. Although you can sometimes use campus computer labs, there are times when these are crowded and time is limited. A laptop is a huge asset to your learning. Colleges often have printing facilities on-campus available at a price. You may wish to simply take a printer with you for emergency situations when you don’t have the time to hunt down a printer.
The more prepared you are for college, the more enjoyable your experience will be. Taking care of many of the logistical things will also help you perform better in class. Good luck!
About the Author
Derek Gurr is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them understand which online courses and online schools they can choose from to reach their goals.