The summer before freshman year of college was a blur. After the initial excitement of my graduation party ended, the rest of the summer flew by. Before I knew it, I was in Boston unpacking too many things into my new dorm. These are some things I wish I knew before I went off to college.
This time of your life is probably one of the most important. That being said, it’s a lot of pressure! How you handle your first time being independent is different for everyone, but the most important thing is to remember that everything will be okay. You may feel the stress already with the expectations your family and friends have for you, but it is important to reflect on yourself and what makes you feel comfortable during this time. The summer before freshman year of college is a very important time to set out your goals.
This is a tip that I ignored when I was researching before going to college. I was so ready to decorate my room that I completely filled my dad’s car with all of my stuff. When it was time to unload everything, the moving process became an incredibly stressful situation that could have been prevented if I had packed more responsibly.
The summer before I went to college, my mom scheduled a trip to Boston to check out the surrounding area. Since I was moving to a big city, it was important that I was aware of where I was going once I arrived. During this trip, I traveled around the city to places I hadn’t seen before and became aware of the things I ended up using while at college. Things like public transportation, restaurants and even health centers are important things to look out for! The summer before freshman year of college is a very important time to do some research or visiting of your campus to get comfortable.
Being a journalism major, I made sure that I practiced writing in the summer before I went to college. It is easy to lose some of your skills over the long break, so make sure you are brushing up on your skills before that first day of class. If you are undeclared, it may be difficult to follow this tip, but if this is the case, make sure you stimulate your brain through reading or another educational activity. The summer before freshman year of college is a very important time to get more familiar with the expectations of your college major.
Depending on where you are going to college, you may need to plan how you will move more than others. If you are moving to California from the east coast (or another long distance move), it may be wise to schedule the trip well before you have to go. Moving is one of the most stressful times in a person’s life, so make sure you plan ahead so the trip goes smoothly.
This is the time to buy that new laptop you have been wanting! Technology is the key to success in college nowadays in my opinion. My laptop has been my best friend through all of my classes, and I recommend getting an upgrade before the semester starts. I also recommend a hard drive, because the amount of notes you will be taking will take up a good amount of space!
Research your future campus to see which places you want to avoid. Depending on where you go to college, this may be more important for you (city campuses). It is also important to research the party scene at your future school because it is such a big part of college life. Drinking and drug use is a good thing to be educated about, along with safe sex and other taboo subjects that you may have not been exposed to before. Enjoy your summer, future freshmen!
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