By: Isabella Szklany
Finally, it’s summer at last! Your vacation is booked, you're either working or hanging out with friends, and you can finally do all the things you wanted to do that you couldn’t during school. But among all of this excitement, there is a pit of nerves in your stomach.
In only a couple of weeks, you will be at college, surrounded by thousands of new faces, a completely different environment, and facing new expectations. As someone who has gone through this process twice, both for college and graduate school, it is a bit scary.
But instead of thinking about all of the what-ifs and planting negative scenarios in your head, focus on how you can set yourself up for success.
As a former honors student, Wonder Girls mentor, and the author of The Wonder Girls Guidebook to College, here are the top three things I did going into university for an A+ college experience:
In life, whenever you embark on a new adventure, take some time before it begins to clarify what you want to accomplish. Having a clear vision of what you plan to achieve will remind you what you are working towards when you eventually hit a rough patch.
What I found helpful before entering college was taking a life audit. I took some time to reflect on areas where I wanted to develop personally, what I wanted to achieve in the classroom, and who I wanted to become.
For me, this meant learning to become more outgoing, excelling in my classes to maintain my scholarship, and discovering what I was passionate about.
Once I determined what I wanted to accomplish, I made my goals visible. This looked like:
Other things you should try are creating a vision board, writing a letter to yourself, or decorating your room with positive reminders.
Once you get into college, it can be a lot harder to keep in contact with all the friends you made in high school. While it's entirely normal for friendships to change as we grow older, you should never give up or lose contact with those who were there for it all. Especially, if they accept you as you are.
Now, seven years out of school, I still talk and meet with two of my best friends from high school regularly. While one has moved away, and we all have busy lives, we have been there for each other throughout any major life change. Remember that some of your early friendships can be the most precious.
Before heading off to college, talk with your friends about what is the best method to stay in touch with them. For each person, it might be different. You might find that one friend you text frequently, while the other you keep in touch with on social media, or you talk to one another over the phone or via video call. Choose whatever works best for you two.
Also, don’t forget that there are breaks throughout the year, over Thanksgiving, winter, spring, and summer, that you can plan to get together in advance.
One of the most important things I did before going to college was creating a financial plan. This plan was separate from the one I had for covering tuition, room, and board.
Instead, it focused on how I would afford all the additional costs that come along with college. This ranged from buying books to going out to dinner with friends, to purchasing essentials for the room, and having emergency funds.
If you don’t have one already, I suggest starting by getting a summer job and setting aside at least 50% of every paycheck into a savings account. Your savings will be the money you have during your semester to cover some necessities, as well as basics. While your parents might be able to help you out, college is the time to gain independence, and there is no better way than starting out financially.
Secondly, track your current spending habits and estimate roughly how much you will need to cover your expenses for one year. Once you determine the estimated amount, add an extra $1,000 to that number. This $1,000 will serve as your emergency fund. When I was in graduate school, my phone got stolen, and I wouldn’t have been able to afford a new one without my emergency fund.
Lastly, create a budget; this can be for a week, a month, or a semester. In the Wonder Girls Guidebook to College, you can find more information on how to build a budget, but start by determining how much you plan to spend, reflective of what is in your bank account. There is nothing worse than going to make a purchase and realizing you don’t have the money to buy it.
Financial intelligence is your first step to adult independence.
Being able to support myself financially, setting goals, and ensuring I had a strong support system readily available were all crucial steps that prepared me to make new friends, try new experiences, and excel in my classes.
However, as you go about these preparations, DON’T FORGET TO HAVE FUN! This may be one of the last summers of freedom that you might have for a long time. So enjoy the sun, have some ice cream, take a deep breath, and relax. With hard work, faith, and confidence, you are on your way to an A+ college experience.