Almost every senior in high school is planning to go to college next year. I guarantee you that every senior is tired of hearing the same array of questions over and over: “do you know where you’re going yet?” “Do you have an idea? Are you committed?”
Where we are going to college is a widely discussed topic, but what people are forgetting to discuss is what we actually need to know before we go to college. The transition from high school to college is exciting, but in turn can be slightly terrifying considering the life skills we must master before embarking on our next journey.
Things You Probably Haven’t Heard Before
Besides the basic things that most people say you have to know before going to college, here are some things that are important coming from a person who has a brother who is a junior in college and one who graduated from college. According to them, it is important to know which professors are best and which classes tend to have the best class grade average. For UW-Madison in particular, there is a website called “Madgrades” that shows all classes they have to offer along with their professors and what grade students tend to get in those classes. This is something that most seniors don’t know that might be helpful to note.
If you would like to study abroad at some point in college, make sure the major you want to study allows it and go abroad if you can. For my brother, he is studying Chemical Engineering, so his major does not allow him to study abroad. His friends are all abroad this semester and he has been lonely not having his close friends there. So if you can go abroad, it is a good experience to learn new things and explore different cultures.
Let’s be honest—high school can be challenging when it comes to schoolwork, but when it comes to responsibilities like managing money, doing laundry, and being independent, many seniors haven’t had to worry much. For a lot of us, our parents still take care of those things. It is time this summer for us to step out of our comfort zone and start to be more independent.
Get A Job
Most seniors, including myself, don’t have to worry too much about managing their money for instance. When we get to college, our parents are no longer going to hand out their money to us anymore. For this reason, seniors must learn how to make and save their money before leaving for college.
This upcoming summer, get a job. Any job at all. The more money you can make this summer the better. For me personally, I plan to babysit nine-five every Wednesday for three kids, and work other days of the week. I know this sounds like a lot, but the reward of saving up money is worth it to me. The amount of money you will spend might be unbelievable to you now, but trust me, you will spend money. A lot of it.
College comes with a lot of expenses, including dorm decorations and supplies, new clothes, books and school supplies, food, etc. When you get to college with little money saved in your bank account, you are going to regret not working as much as you could over the summer.
Laundry
This is something you are probably sick of hearing by now… the infamous “you have to learn how to do your laundry” comment. I know I know, but seriously, you have to learn how to do it. You are not going to magically know how to work a washing machine when you get to college. It can be confusing at first, but coming from someone who does their laundry most of the time, it’s not that bad at all.
After often wondering where my clothes disappeared to and then finding them in my moms closet weeks later, I decided to do my own laundry, and I am happy that it paid off. I now no longer have to worry about not knowing how to do it when I arrive at college. Learn how to do it now so you don’t have a panic attack staring at the washing machine when you get to college.
Time Management
Many people say “learn how to manage your time and balance your school work,” but seriously that is easier said than done. Time management is a skill that takes time and practice, so start practicing it now before it is too late. Between classes, social events, and learning your new way of life, managing your time is very important, but may be incredibly overwhelming at first.
You’re going to have more free time than you ever did in high school—but that doesn’t mean you’ll have less to do. No one is going to remind you to do your homework or school work, no one is going to be there to tell you when to go to class or wake you up for your 8 a.m. class lecture. Those are the things you need to master on your own. That freedom can be exciting, but it can also lead to procrastination if you’re not careful.
Enjoy it!
Besides learning how to manage your time, remember to find time to do things you love and get to know the campus. College isn’t all about school work, it’s about finding what you love and finding people around you who share the same interests as you. It is easy to burn out if you’re constantly bouncing between studying and socializing, so it is important to find things only you like to do. Finding this balance is key, and it is important to do this early on as it will help the transition go smoother.
The change from college can be scary, but then again, so was the transition from middle school to high school. Every change can be scary at first, but the newness of it eventually becomes your reality. Eventually you will find the places you like to hangout, study, great food and coffee places, and find friends that make it fun to be there.
There are going to be moments when you feel homesick and overwhelmed, but there will also be moments where everything clicks and you feel like you are in the exact place you are meant to be.
College isn’t just about getting your degree; it’s about enjoying the journey and starting a new chapter of your life.
