The Perfect Checklist for Students Preparing for College

With college practically right around the corner for many high school seniors, it is best to be totally prepared. There is much to prepare for, and if you aren’t careful, you could fall behind even before starting your college courses. 

 

Here is the perfect checklist to ensure you are coming to college well-prepared. 

 

Make Your College Decision

It is time to choose just which college you want to be attending. Some quite several students have a lot of choices for colleges, while others only have two or three possibilities. In either case, if you haven’t decided, you need to soon. Each college will have scholarships and grants available specifically for its students, and the longer you wait, the less chance you will have to get one. It is usually first come, first serve, and if you wait too long, you will be empty-handed and pay entirely for college out of your pocket.

 

Choose Your Major

It is essential to have in mind what your college major will be. If you enter college without a clue about your major, you may be taking courses you don’t need. This will result in wasting time and money. Granted, it is not unusual for a college student to change their major after a while; try to prevent it if you can.

 

Visit the Campus 

You don’t want the first day of classes at your new college to be the first time you are really on campus. Try to visit the campus as much as possible before the first day of school. It will hopefully feel like a second home for you as you become acquainted with the layout of the campus and the places to visit around it. If you can, bring a friend or two and make it a fun experience for all. 

 

Work on Your Social Skills

The high school will soon be a thing of the past. Whatever you were in high school, it will quickly be forgotten as you enter the new world of college. For most, it is a fresh start and a way to create a new life. High school is only sometimes that enjoyable, so take this opportunity to broaden your horizon. Work on your social skills on campus and join a few clubs with like-minded individuals. Before long, you will have made some great friends and people you may stay in touch with for the rest of your life.  

 

Sharpen Time Management Skills

If your time management skills need to improve, now is the time to work on improving them. Your parents and high school teachers will not be around to remind you of what you should be doing and how to keep on schedule when you are off at college. Plenty of time management apps are available to help keep you on task. Find the ones that work the best for you and use them early and often. 

 

Keep an Eye on Your Budget

College is expensive! Even if you are lucky enough to earn a scholarship or grant, there are daily expenses. You will always need money for meals, books, personal items, fuel for your vehicle, and about a million other things. Find a job during your freshman year to help cover expenses. The college is always looking for students that may be good workers, as plenty of jobs need to be completed on campus. If you can’t land one of those, look a bit off-campus. If you must, there is nothing wrong with working fast food, especially with how much some fast food places pay. 

 

Have Academic Help in Place

If you start struggling with your courses, it is best to act on them sooner rather than later. Have a plan in place for academic help if needed. There are often locations on campus that provide educational assistance for free. Plus, here at iAchieve, we have remote professional tutors that could also help you. Working with a tutor remotely is quite handy, so you never have to leave your dorm room!

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