Preparing For College Over The Summer
Are you a student going into your first year of college or even a returning college student? There are many ways you can help prepare and ease the transition from summer vacation to fall classes. Here are some tips:
Get organized: There’s no reason for students not to relax and enjoy their summer. But some of it should be spent preparing for the upcoming semester. It’s important to spend your time wisely to help decrease anxiety. Students should invest in a planner to stay organized. The planner will be extremely helpful to determine when things should be completed by and be useful for the academic year.
Study and read: Your education should not be neglected over the summer months. It’s important to keep your brain active and continue to read. This also helps with the transition back into your academics.
Register for classes: Get your enrollment process started as soon as possible. Take the time in the summer to meet with your advisor and discuss your courses. Registering early helps you get into the classes you want before they fill up.
Buy textbooks: Right after you register for classes you will have the list of textbooks you will need for your courses. The earlier you buy your books the better chance you have to buy them at a discounted price and make sure they don’t sell out. You can buy textbooks used, rented or at a discount!
Apply for scholarships and financial aid: If you have not already done so, it is time to apply for government financial aid assistance (FASFA). Use this time to check out your university’s financial aid department as well as other websites for additional scholarships.
Reaching out to the office of disabilities: If you had an IEP or 504 plan, you will want to sign up for assistance with the office of disabilities at your school. This is important for you to receive the assistance you need in advance to help you succeed and receive support in your classes.
Buying belongings for college: Bed Bath and Beyond has two great programs for college students to make shopping easy. Students can go to their local Bed Bath and Beyond, and “Pack and Hold” their items by scanning the items they want to buy and picking them up at the Bed Bath and Beyond destination of their choice. You can also “Shop Now and Ship Later” and send items directly to your college dorm. Target also has similar programs as well.
Checking in with your roommate: Reaching out to your college roommate is highly recommended. This is important because it allows you an opportunity to determine who will bring which common item to share in the dorm, this way you won’t both bring the same items. It is also advised to reach out to your roommate to get to know each other before you move in, which will make the transition of living together easier.
Connect with other students: The summer months are a great opportunity to make plans with other students. It’s important to stay in touch with other students during the time off. It’s likely that there will be student meet-ups, so get involved and make sure you go to socialize with the people you will be with in the fall.
Continuing support while at college: It is important to continue receiving support while you are away at college. If you have been seeing a therapist or using a tutor in the past, you should ask if this can be done virtually while you are away at school. If this is not an option, look for those supports with the campus staff or outside in the community of your new college location.
Lexi Schwartz MSW LSW
