Well, now you have bills to pay. Are you going to get a job? Get a student loan? You can ask you parents too, but we’d like to prove we can do everything on our own (at least for a while until the taste of Ramen noodles and water get tiring). That’s why I’m here to tell you about what you can do to better prepare for college while you’re still a senior in high school, before the big, scary world of “growing up” comes next fall:
Get a job now and save up your earnings for a rainy-day fund in college.
You never know when your car might die and your cell phone bill can’t be paid (1,000 texts a month just isn’t enough!) The sooner you save up, the more money you’ll have for later when you absolutely need it. Not to say that you can’t have a job in college. It’s simply a lot easier to start now and get some experience and begin your fund. Also, having a job in college can be stressful due to the lack of time you would have to study for your classes. Wade into the year a little to see the difficulty of the classes and if the workload isn’t absolutely break-neck, go ahead and apply for a job.
Find a room/dorm-mate before hand.
If you have a good idea on who you want to room with you in college ask if you and this person can share a dorm. You both have to apply to room with each other for the request to go through, so make sure that you both make it clear whom you would like to bunk with. It shouldn’t be an issue otherwise, but make sure your college takes requests into consideration. Finding someone to be your dorm-mate when you are accepted to your college is great, it’s not as stressful and you’ll have a sense of security in your new dorm having someone you know with you every step of the way. If you both plan to rent an apartment outside of campus, there shouldn’t be a problem with who stays with you (unless it’s a pet, clarify with your landlord on these rules.)
Turn in all your forms ahead of the deadlines.
No one likes panicking because they forgot about their scholarship deadline and no longer have the money needed to go to the college of their dreams. Make a list of all of your deadlines and keep track of your progress on fulfilling them. Some common things high school seniors need to remember to fill out are the FAFSA, your college applications, dorm paperwork, scholarship information, and scheduling your classes. Make a checklist of everything you still need and work until it is completed. That way, you stay on track and can easily complete your entrance into college.
Attend preview days and meet new people.
Colleges tend to have preview days in fall and spring before the next semester starts. These are great times to get a leg up on college and to make new friends with people who are also interested in attending the same school. This also paves the way for a possible dorm-mate, so make sure you meet people who are a good, compatible match to you. (You’ll be spending almost all of your off hours with them, make a good choice!) You should also check out an clubs, sororities, fraternities, and organizations present at the school that you might be interested in and get to know some of the people there too. Joining a group at your college will help you make new friends and ensure an easier transition into college.
Start thinking about your future career.
Everyone had an idea of what they wanted to be when they grew up. Some wanted to be doctors, policemen, or firefighters, but realistically, has anyone ever stuck with their childhood idea of a career? When we get older we have different ideals and learn more about the world and our thoughts and goals change. Now is a good time to decide what it is you love to do and get a job you love to go to. Write down a few things you really like. Think about these. Are they realistic? You don’t have to decide your major until your third year of college, but it’s not a bad idea to start thinking about it before you get there. Make sure it’s something you’ll love to do, if you’re going to work it might as well be enjoyable, right?
As you can see, preparing for college really isn’t that hard. All you have to do is sit down and fill out a bunch of paperwork, find a good buddy (or two) and save up some cash. College isn’t there to make you scared or to discourage you in any way. College is there to help you grow to become a better person and have fun and earn a degree along the way. If you already have these goals completed, congratulations! If not, take the time to look them over and make sure you have everything you need. Your future is just a few years away, so have fun, and let college be one of the best times of your life.
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