12 ways to prepare for the next chapter
Many high school graduates wonder how to prepare for freshman year of college, especially since it’s coming up so soon. But the summer before starting college is full of exciting opportunities to enjoy the present and look to the future.
Read on to discover 12 ways you can make the most of your last summer before going to college.
1. Spend time with friends and family
Be sure to make the most of your time by enjoying the last moments you’ll have for a while when you and your friends all live in the same town. Savor the moment! Explore local sights with your friends, or set up weekly coffee shop hangs so you make sure you get to visit with them.
Enjoy the time you have left with your family, even if it’s just in small doses. Life will be very different after you start college, especially if you’re living away from home, so be with them while you can.
2. Find a summer job
There are plenty of summer jobs for high school seniors, and working through the summer can be a great way to start paying for tuition or getting some pocket money to have fun freshman year. It’s also great to try and work with friends so you can hang out while working!
3. Visit your new home
Take a trip to the town your school is in so you can explore without the pressure of school and life. At Belmont, you can experience Nashville by checking out our shopping and dining on 12th Ave S, visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum downtown or going to a concert at any one of our dozens of venues.
4. Register for fall classes
Summer is when you’ll be getting lots of emails about your school’s summer orientation schedule, which is when you’ll register for your first semester of classes. Explore the different class options within your major and connect with your advisor early to build a strong schedule.
5. Double-check for summer homework
Once you have your classes set, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your email to make sure you aren’t missing anything on your first day. Once you’re sure you’ve got everything covered, you can look at some study tips for college so you can set yourself up for success once you make it to school.
6. Keep up with your school email
It is so important to stay aware of what’s happening on-campus through your student email. You don’t want to miss anything, so make sure to check it every so often!
Also, there are lots of discounts for student emails you can find online, so explore those options and see where you can save.
7. Chat about finances
It’s always good to keep in mind what your finances will look like when you get to school. Take a look at jobs for college freshmen that are available in your city if you want to work while in school and know what any scholarships you have require for you to keep them. Belmont also has a handy guide for navigating college finances.
8. Find future classmates
Lots of schools have official or unofficial Instagram accounts where incoming freshmen introduce themselves and connect with others. Reach out there if you’re comfortable and see if anyone lives near you or has similar interests!
9. Connect with your professors
Learning who your professors are and what they teach is a great way to prepare for your first semester. Becoming friends with your professors earns you a mentor for life, so it’s important to start early.
10. Learn some domestic skills
In college, you’ll have to do a lot on your own that you may never have had to before. Learning how to do laundry, finding some easy meal ideas for college students and investing in a thermometer are some great ways to prepare for your freshman year of college.
11. Shop for dorm room essentials
Speaking of living away from home, make sure you know those essential dorm room items so you don’t wind up without a toothbrush or socks or a microwave if you need all those things (but mainly the first two).
12. Find out how to get involved on campus
Colleges offer so many opportunities for student engagement on their campuses. From student organizations to sororities and fraternities, there’s a place for everyone. Look at what clubs are associated with your majors and interests to see if anything stands out!
Don’t let summer pass you by!
Summer is a great time to have fun and relax, but it also gives you lots of free time to prepare for the next stage of life. Everyone has questions about what to do the summer before college, but as long as you take a breath and enjoy everything the summer has to offer, you’ll be just fine.