Congratulations seniors, you’ve completed high school! You’ve crossed that finish line! But you’re not finished yet. What’s next? You’re about to start a whole new chapter. For many of you, that means starting over as a freshman but in college this time. You have to figure out dorms, orientation, what classes to take, and much more! We have a few tips to keep you on track and make these next steps a little easier.
Prepare for Adjusting to Your New Home
In just a few months you’ll be in a completely new place with new people. Take time this summer to prepare and you will make your fall much easier.
Sign up for orientation now.
Orientation is an important time for any incoming freshmen. It offers you a chance to learn more about campus and start becoming familiar with the layout and the different buildings. It’s also a valuable time for making friends!
Make sure you’re keeping an eye on your emails, or school portal to see how you need to register and pick the perfect date for you.
If you haven’t seen anything yet, check your school’s website or give your school a call!
Attend summer programs offered by your college.
Orientation is a great way to learn and make friends but so is attending summer programs. Many schools offer summer programs in a variety of interest areas. Take advantage of these opportunities to strengthen your learning, your experience, and to expose yourself to new things.
Trying new things helps you broaden your network and push yourself; it also will help you make your new campus feel more like home so your transition in the fall will be much more comfortable.
Bonus Tip:
Make sure you’ve finished any paperwork needed such as:
- loan paperwork
- financial aid applications or documentation (including your FAFSA!)
- any pre-surveys that the college or university requires
Most of this information can be found in your school’s portal or email. You may need additional information from your high school. Keep in mind that the school guidance counselors do not work all summer so don’t put this paperwork off until fall!
Research your Campus
After you’ve prepared for orientation or any other paperwork necessary for a strong start in the fall, research your school.
Get familiar with the campus and nearby off-campus areas.
Where can you find some basic groceries or snacks?
Where can you get prescriptions filled?
Where is a great place for your parents to take you to eat when they visit?
Where can you purchase an extra phone charger if yours goes missing or dies?
Are you looking for a job while you’re at school? Students that are interested in obtaining a job during the school year should start checking available openings now. Your campus should offer a variety of on-campus positions but they may go quickly!
Check out clubs and life on campus.
Look into different groups the school may offer from clubs related to your major, to clubs that focus on one of your interest areas. Learn more about Greek Life opportunities or how to join an intramural sports team!
Joining a group once you get to campus is a perfect way to make your new “world” feel less overwhelming and more like home. Groups also give you perfect opportunities to network and meet new people along with providing excellent experiences you can add to your resume!
Prepare to Move
Not only will you be attending a new school you’ll be living in a completely new environment. Dorms can be intimidating and a change to what you are used to but being prepared helps you tackle this challenge!
Use a dorm checklist.
Many colleges offer a dorm checklist which includes some suggestions for what to bring along with the important things to know like bed size and space measurements.
If you know anyone who went to college recently, see what suggestions they have on what to get – keeping in mind that many college campuses have different specifics for what is and what is not available in their dorm rooms and common spaces.
Living in a place without your parents or your friends can be intimidating. So make sure you’re prepared to create your own space that will feel like home. Some LaunchPad suggestions for what to prepare include:
- Water filter
- Laundry basket or bag
- Towels (2)
- Mattress pad (make sure you check what size of bed you’ll have)
- Comforter, blanket, pillow
- Shower caddy/shower shoes
- Microwave and/or mini-fridge (if allowed in your dorms)
- A bowl, set of silverware and a plate
- Extension cord(s)
- Hangers
- Couches or seating for living room or extra space
- Desk supplies
- Decorations
- Fans
- 3-M/Command Hooks for hanging things on the walls
If you have a roommate, or multiple roommates, make sure you coordinate who’s bringing what. Items such as microwaves, mini-fridges, living room seating, or TVs are items you won’t have a lot of space for so make sure you’re in contact with one another to coordinate.
Prepare for Academic Success
You’re not only moving into a dorm room, you’re moving into a whole new school. You will not have the same classes every day so it can be easy to feel like you have tons of free time but college classes come with a lot of work, readings, and other assignments that you need to plan out for yourself.
Depending on the state of your school supplies, now might be a good time to upgrade. Perhaps a new backpack, laptop, notebook, or other key tools that will keep you on track like a planner! Planners are excellent organizational tools.
An average college class load is about 5 classes so you will need a good system and resources to help you keep up. Five classes can mean at least 8-10 hours outside of class will be needed to complete the work. A planner is a great tool to keep yourself on track!
Bonus tip:
Check out Launchpad on Facebook or Instagram for our Tech Tuesday posts with suggestions for organizational apps and other tools for setting yourself up for success!
Spend Time with Friends and Family
As busy as your summer may be, don’t forget to have fun and spend time with your loved ones!
In just a few months you’ll be somewhere completely new. For some students, this somewhere new could be hours away but even if your new home is only an hour away, it’s still going to be different than being with your family every day. Use these last few months to cherish the time you have with them as you start to get excited about all the new things you will experience in just a couple of months!
For more tips, check out our blog post, 10 Things You Need to do to be Ready for Success in College.
