College Life

10 Things I Wish I Knew The Summer Before Freshman Year Of College

The summer before freshman year of college was a blur. After the initial excitement of my graduation party ended, the rest of the summer flew by. Before I knew it, I was in Boston unpacking too many things into my new dorm. These are some things I wish I knew before I went off to college.

It’ll be okay

This time of your life is probably one of the most important. That being said, it’s a lot of pressure! How you handle your first time being independent is different for everyone, but the most important thing is to remember that everything will be okay. You may feel the stress already with the expectations your family and friends have for you, but it is important to reflect on yourself and what makes you feel comfortable during this time. The summer before freshman year of college is a very important time to set out your goals.

Don’t overdo the packing

This is a tip that I ignored when I was researching before going to college. I was so ready to decorate my room that I completely filled my dad’s car with all of my stuff. When it was time to unload everything, the moving process became an incredibly stressful situation that could have been prevented if I had packed more responsibly.

Get to know your (future) campus

The summer before I went to college, my mom scheduled a trip to Boston to check out the surrounding area. Since I was moving to a big city, it was important that I was aware of where I was going once I arrived. During this trip, I traveled around the city to places I hadn’t seen before and became aware of the things I ended up using while at college. Things like public transportation, restaurants and even health centers are important things to look out for! The summer before freshman year of college is a very important time to do some research or visiting of your campus to get comfortable.

Work on your major

Being a journalism major, I made sure that I practiced writing in the summer before I went to college. It is easy to lose some of your skills over the long break, so make sure you are brushing up on your skills before that first day of class. If you are undeclared, it may be difficult to follow this tip, but if this is the case, make sure you stimulate your brain through reading or another educational activity. The summer before freshman year of college is a very important time to get more familiar with the expectations of your college major.

Schedule your move

Depending on where you are going to college, you may need to plan how you will move more than others. If you are moving to California from the east coast (or another long distance move), it may be wise to schedule the trip well before you have to go. Moving is one of the most stressful times in a person’s life, so make sure you plan ahead so the trip goes smoothly.

See Also

Buy some new technology

This is the time to buy that new laptop you have been wanting! Technology is the key to success in college nowadays in my opinion. My laptop has been my best friend through all of my classes, and I recommend getting an upgrade before the semester starts. I also recommend a hard drive, because the amount of notes you will be taking will take up a good amount of space!

Know how to stay safe

Research your future campus to see which places you want to avoid. Depending on where you go to college, this may be more important for you (city campuses). It is also important to research the party scene at your future school because it is such a big part of college life. Drinking and drug use is a good thing to be educated about, along with safe sex and other taboo subjects that you may have not been exposed to before. Enjoy your summer, future freshmen!

What do you wish you knew your summer before freshman year of college? Let us know in the comments!

Featured Image Source: weheartit
Caroline Kinsley

Recent Posts

20 Mistakes Every Kent State University Freshman Makes

So, welcome back to the bottom of the food chain. Fear not though, you most likely won't have to deal…

2 hours ago

10 Easy Courses At The University Of Oregon

It’s almost time to start thinking about classes for next term. Whether you’re looking for a GPA booster or to…

7 hours ago

The 10 Top Makeup Trends For 2017

Another year in the books and yet another year of new makeup trends to try that are quickly taking over…

12 hours ago

The 10 Top Hairstyle Trends For 2017

Your hair is a style statement. That’s the reason you need to be very careful when you are deciding how…

15 hours ago

10 Easy Courses At The University Of Iowa

There are a ton of easy courses at the University of Iowa. Whether you're looking for a GPA boost, or…

23 hours ago

20 Mistakes Every University Of Louisville Freshman Makes

Are you an incoming freshman at the University of Louisville?  Everyone has been there and done that! Let me tell…

1 day ago