#co2016

hi everyone! it’s been forever since i last wrote one of these! i just graduated high school a little less than a month ago and having a free summer without internships, summer reading, etc. has really been throwing me off. here are a few tips on how to use this summer to relax and get yourself ready for college! if you have more tips, please add them on!

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IMPROVE YOURSELF. 

appearance -- do whatever you think will give you more confidence. this could mean working out, teaching yourself how to do your makeup, finally trying out a new hair color, whitening your teeth, whatever you want. 

habits -- start building any habits that you want to keep up in college. if you’re a messy person by nature, you won’t become organized in college. if you’re usually shy, you won’t become super social and outgoing as soon as you step foot on campus. start practicing now with baby steps. 

practical knowledge -- learn skills that you’ll need to know in college. for example, learn how to budget your money or take a self defense class.

MAKE FRIENDS. 

join your college’s facebook group and introduce yourself if you haven’t already. message other people who have similar interests!

add people on social media. for example, i’ve been talking to some people through snapchat, instagram, texting, and facetime and we planned meetups that way! everyone is eager to make friends before college so don’t feel intimidated. 

find a roommate, if you need to, and get to know them!

STAY ON TOP OF COLLEGE WORK. unfortunately, this summer isn’t entirely free, you do have to do a tiny amount of work. don’t fall behind on your student checklist -- pick your classes, choose your dorm, find a roommate, get your health records in, etc.

DO THINGS YOU DIDN’T HAVE TIME FOR. i used to read ALL the time but the workload in high school really slowed that down for me. so this summer, i’ve been reading for pleasure a lot and it feels so great. watch movies you’ve always wanted to watch. cook. learn a new language. watch sunrises. bike. 

SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS. my friends and i didn’t hang out often during the school year because we were all so busy. this summer, we’ve hung out all the time, going to concerts, taking an impromptu trip to chicago, exploring cafes in our area, etc. we’re going to colleges that are somewhat far apart so spending time together now is very important to us.

SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY. you’ll miss them later. take advantage of the time you have together. have fun with them. talk often. show your parents a lot of love. 

BUY DORM STUFF. 

try to get a picture of your dorm to see how much space you have before you buy too much/too little. 

start early to get the best deals and the best selection. 

if you have a roommate, coordinate with them so you both don’t bring in two toasters or something. you can also plan out decor with them.

FIGURE OUT WHAT TO BRING TO COLLEGE. 

clean out your closet and pick out clothes to take to college. don’t bring your whole wardrobe.

if you went to a high school with a uniform (like i did) and don’t have many “normal” outfits, buy clothes for college. stores have awesome summer sales right now!

ENJOY YOUR HOMETOWN. if you’re moving far away (like i am), take some time to enjoy your favorite local spots. eat at your favorite restaurants in town, visit the local attractions, go to the cute summer events. you’ll miss it.

LEARN ABOUT YOUR COLLEGE/COLLEGETOWN. learn about the bus routes, find some restaurants to try out, look up clubs and activities to join on campus. this will get you accustomed quicker.