6 answers
James
Student
Burbank, California
1
Question
Asked
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As an incoming college freshman, what's the best way to prepare for your first year during the summer?
Especially for students moving away from home! :D
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6 answers
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Consultant and Freelance Writer
751
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Campus Navigation
Get a map, or download photographs and orient yourself as to where everything is on campus, and the hours they are open.
This includes the buildings, where your classes are located, financial aid offices, campus housing, parking and security, library resources and academic assistance, locations that are the best to study.
Study the region and find out as much as you can about the academic resources you will need, so you can navigate around campus efficiently and effectively, and achieve your academic goals.
Get a map, or download photographs and orient yourself as to where everything is on campus, and the hours they are open.
This includes the buildings, where your classes are located, financial aid offices, campus housing, parking and security, library resources and academic assistance, locations that are the best to study.
Study the region and find out as much as you can about the academic resources you will need, so you can navigate around campus efficiently and effectively, and achieve your academic goals.
Karissa Helton
Teacher
205
Answers
Miami, Florida
Updated
Karissa’s Answer
Read through the entire website of the college you are going to. Skip the sections on degrees that you know for sure you are not interested. You are an adult now and need to know what is expected of you as a student at their college.
Talk with your parents about how school is being paid for.
Karissa recommends the following next steps:
Emily Kobelski
Contracted Writer
1
Answer
Andover, Massachusetts
Updated
Emily’s Answer
Definitely make a plan for move in way ahead of time! Also getting the new student modules out of the way I spent my last few days of summer doing them and regretted it. But most importantly remembering it’s okay to be nervous and to not find your people right away. Don’t have the expectation of meeting your best friend on day 1, it takes time to find them and you will! Just don’t stress too much over it
Timothy Louzon
Communication Specialist
2
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Timothy’s Answer
Hey James,
Congrats on attending your first year of college! It's an exciting time, no need for any nervousness. But a few things to prepare yourself for your first year. I'm sure you may have done this, but doing a college visit is a great start. Even visiting more than once doesn't hurt. Also, getting to know your professors ahead of time once you've registered for classes is also a great move. Building a bond and networking yourself with your professors can be very beneficial for you in the long run. Also, visiting with a counselor is a very smart thing as well (if they don't make you do this already) but sitting down with a counselor to discuss your goals, interests, and opportunities will help you greatly.
These three tips are probably the most important in my opinion. I know they certainly helped me a lot and I didn't regret it. Of course, don't forget about the essentials, something to write with and write on, maybe even your laptop as well.
I wish you the best my friend! I don't regret college one bit. It was a great experience and it'll benefit you more than you think in your career path. Stay strong, work hard, and don't forget to have fun with it!
Congrats on attending your first year of college! It's an exciting time, no need for any nervousness. But a few things to prepare yourself for your first year. I'm sure you may have done this, but doing a college visit is a great start. Even visiting more than once doesn't hurt. Also, getting to know your professors ahead of time once you've registered for classes is also a great move. Building a bond and networking yourself with your professors can be very beneficial for you in the long run. Also, visiting with a counselor is a very smart thing as well (if they don't make you do this already) but sitting down with a counselor to discuss your goals, interests, and opportunities will help you greatly.
These three tips are probably the most important in my opinion. I know they certainly helped me a lot and I didn't regret it. Of course, don't forget about the essentials, something to write with and write on, maybe even your laptop as well.
I wish you the best my friend! I don't regret college one bit. It was a great experience and it'll benefit you more than you think in your career path. Stay strong, work hard, and don't forget to have fun with it!
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1914
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, James !
This is a great question and since I did make a major move for college after I graduated high school, I would like to give you some advice.
It is great if you already have been accepted at a particular college and attending there is part of the plan. You have a large part of the plan situated if that is the case. The biggest part is where you will be living, on campus, an apartment on your own, an apartment with roommates, etc. Sometimes you can make a plan for this in that town and it may not be the best situation and once you get there, you change the plan a little. That is perfectly okay. So your first important thing would be to know where you are going to live while you are in college.
If you are going to just move and haven't applied to a college yet but will when you get there, that's okay too. It also depends on how far you are moving. Plans to move 100 miles away are completely different for moving thousands of miles away. Remember that if you move out of state you will have to pay out of state tuition price. It's perfectly okay to wait the 12 months residency period so you can pay the low in-state tuition.
I spent the year before I moved away working and saving every paycheck to use for this move. It is beneficial to work for a good year and save for college expenses. A year before I graduated I was doing everything to prepare because it was a huge move. There's really not much time for now before most Fall semesters begin, so if you just know where you're going to live, that will take care of the biggest aspect of it.
So what do you think that you still need to do before you relocate and enter college ? Make a list of things that have not been done yet and do them this summer. Once you get to wherever you are going, it will be intuitive and you'll know what you need to do once you get there. Since I do not know how far of a move it will be for you, I really can't address too much.
As for academics, there's nothing that you need to do except on your first day of classes - attend class. Just know when registration is and register on the day it begins (if that's how they still do it these days). You are going to meet a lot of people that will become your friends and you will see how great it is, so there's really nothing to prepare except the things that the college requires. There is also great support on campus that will be available to you . Try to learn your campus before you attend classes.
Without knowing the specifics of your journey, what you have or have not completed yet, how far you will be moving, I hope that this is somewhat helpful. My particular move was super awesome and opened up a whole new world to me. I can end by saying enjoy it all because you will be creating fabulous memories for your future as well as getting an education and experiencing personal growth ! Have fun and I wish you all the best !
This is a great question and since I did make a major move for college after I graduated high school, I would like to give you some advice.
It is great if you already have been accepted at a particular college and attending there is part of the plan. You have a large part of the plan situated if that is the case. The biggest part is where you will be living, on campus, an apartment on your own, an apartment with roommates, etc. Sometimes you can make a plan for this in that town and it may not be the best situation and once you get there, you change the plan a little. That is perfectly okay. So your first important thing would be to know where you are going to live while you are in college.
If you are going to just move and haven't applied to a college yet but will when you get there, that's okay too. It also depends on how far you are moving. Plans to move 100 miles away are completely different for moving thousands of miles away. Remember that if you move out of state you will have to pay out of state tuition price. It's perfectly okay to wait the 12 months residency period so you can pay the low in-state tuition.
I spent the year before I moved away working and saving every paycheck to use for this move. It is beneficial to work for a good year and save for college expenses. A year before I graduated I was doing everything to prepare because it was a huge move. There's really not much time for now before most Fall semesters begin, so if you just know where you're going to live, that will take care of the biggest aspect of it.
So what do you think that you still need to do before you relocate and enter college ? Make a list of things that have not been done yet and do them this summer. Once you get to wherever you are going, it will be intuitive and you'll know what you need to do once you get there. Since I do not know how far of a move it will be for you, I really can't address too much.
As for academics, there's nothing that you need to do except on your first day of classes - attend class. Just know when registration is and register on the day it begins (if that's how they still do it these days). You are going to meet a lot of people that will become your friends and you will see how great it is, so there's really nothing to prepare except the things that the college requires. There is also great support on campus that will be available to you . Try to learn your campus before you attend classes.
Without knowing the specifics of your journey, what you have or have not completed yet, how far you will be moving, I hope that this is somewhat helpful. My particular move was super awesome and opened up a whole new world to me. I can end by saying enjoy it all because you will be creating fabulous memories for your future as well as getting an education and experiencing personal growth ! Have fun and I wish you all the best !
Thomas O'Shea
Music Producer, Composer, Live Sound Engineer, Musician
119
Answers
Madison, Wisconsin
Updated
Thomas’s Answer
I'm assuming that you will live in the dorms your first year, so here's what I did (and it worked pretty well so that's why I'm telling you). First- make a checklist. Organize everything you want to take into these columns: Need, Want, Don't Need, Might Need.
First, decide how much space you will have to pack. Are you driving on move in day? Flying? Getting dropped off by your parents? This will help you decide exactly how much stuff you can take.
Every "Need" item should be written down as soon as possible so that you don't forget. As the time for move in gets closer, start gathering the Need stuff first. When you get to the wants, ask yourself if it's really necessary. For example- I wanted a TV and deemed it was necessary so that I didn't have to only use my computer to relax at the end of a long day. It's a lot nicer to watch movies with friends or play a video game on your bed or couch rather than as close as possible to your computer.
Any "don't need" item should be disregarded- maybe even put into storage. As you go through everything, that's a good time to decide on the "don't need" items.
Finally, the might need items. For me, this included a tool box with a screwdriver, sticky tack, a swimsuit, a collection of sewing needles and thread, and extra cables for electronics. You might have others, but with that collection, I can say that I did use everything I had put into my "might Need" pile.
Now that packing is out of the way- you need to enjoy your summer. This one is huge. Don't spend the entire summer thinking about college and all the cool things you're going to experience. Focus on the now. Hang out with high school friends so that you can remember the "good old days", and do as much as you can.
I'm also going to include welcome week (or whatever your school calls it) as "summer" because that's really what it is- just a summer camp to get to know your new home and get to know people around you. Go to it. I did not and I missed out. If there's a game day or a dance party or something- go to it. If there's a comedy or magician show- invite people who live on your dorm floor. Do everything you can to be social with people because that's the best way to meet friends not doing your major. I didn't do that and now most of my friends (as I prepare to graduate) are people in my major.
Last thing I'll say is this- unless you have a good excuse not to do something OR if it's something dangerous, always say yes. If someone invites you to hang out as a group at the college union, or get go to a movie or something- say yes. Make room in your schedule if you have to. Part of college is the social part- that's the part that took me a whole year to understand. I don't want anyone to make that mistake- cause that ended with me being pretty lonely my first year. Do things. Make memories. That's the point of life and that's the point of college.
First, decide how much space you will have to pack. Are you driving on move in day? Flying? Getting dropped off by your parents? This will help you decide exactly how much stuff you can take.
Every "Need" item should be written down as soon as possible so that you don't forget. As the time for move in gets closer, start gathering the Need stuff first. When you get to the wants, ask yourself if it's really necessary. For example- I wanted a TV and deemed it was necessary so that I didn't have to only use my computer to relax at the end of a long day. It's a lot nicer to watch movies with friends or play a video game on your bed or couch rather than as close as possible to your computer.
Any "don't need" item should be disregarded- maybe even put into storage. As you go through everything, that's a good time to decide on the "don't need" items.
Finally, the might need items. For me, this included a tool box with a screwdriver, sticky tack, a swimsuit, a collection of sewing needles and thread, and extra cables for electronics. You might have others, but with that collection, I can say that I did use everything I had put into my "might Need" pile.
Now that packing is out of the way- you need to enjoy your summer. This one is huge. Don't spend the entire summer thinking about college and all the cool things you're going to experience. Focus on the now. Hang out with high school friends so that you can remember the "good old days", and do as much as you can.
I'm also going to include welcome week (or whatever your school calls it) as "summer" because that's really what it is- just a summer camp to get to know your new home and get to know people around you. Go to it. I did not and I missed out. If there's a game day or a dance party or something- go to it. If there's a comedy or magician show- invite people who live on your dorm floor. Do everything you can to be social with people because that's the best way to meet friends not doing your major. I didn't do that and now most of my friends (as I prepare to graduate) are people in my major.
Last thing I'll say is this- unless you have a good excuse not to do something OR if it's something dangerous, always say yes. If someone invites you to hang out as a group at the college union, or get go to a movie or something- say yes. Make room in your schedule if you have to. Part of college is the social part- that's the part that took me a whole year to understand. I don't want anyone to make that mistake- cause that ended with me being pretty lonely my first year. Do things. Make memories. That's the point of life and that's the point of college.