What You Need to Know Before You Go
Preparing for college before the first day sets up new students for success. Beginning college can be overwhelming, even for learners who have taken college-level classes in the past. Knowing how to navigate the campus can build confidence and help students successfully transition to college life.
Our college preparation checklist walks through every step needed to arrive on campus ready to learn. We cover tips for moving into the dorms, succeeding in online classes, and returning to school as an adult learner.
Preparing for College
Whether you are a first-time freshman, a transfer student, an online student, or a returning learner, it's important to prepare for college. Undergrads moving away from home for the first time face different challenges than adults returning to school after a break, so our college preparation checklist covers every type of student.
If you have spent several years at a community college before transferring to a large university, then you may feel prepared for college. But college is about more than showing up for class — it's also about connecting with the campus community and making the most of your college experience.
What Should Freshmen Do to Prepare for College?
What should freshmen do to prepare for college? Before classes start, college freshmen should create a college preparation checklist that covers classes, their living situation, and their new campus.
Even before moving into the dorms or an off-campus apartment, you can practice your independence skills by going to the grocery store and doing your own laundry. Connecting with new roommates before move-in day can also cut down on anxiety, since you will already know someone at school. You should also pack pictures of your friends and family to decorate your new room.
The following sections break down how to prepare for college to help you create a college preparation timeline and start college strong.
Before College Classes Starts
Freshmen should spend several weeks preparing for college before the first day of class. The following tips can help students prepare for college even before arriving on campus.
Dorm Room Living
Moving into the dorms is often a fun and exciting experience for students. For many, the dorms are the first time living away from home. Before packing your bags, check out the following tips to stay organized and mentally prepare for college living.
College Campus Basics
Incoming students may feel overwhelmed with the size of their school's campus and the many services offered by the school. Some students don't even realize their campus has a student center, a swimming pool, or campus gym until their second or third year. The following tips can help new and returning students get acquainted with campus.
Prepping for Online Classes
In 2018, nearly 7 million students took online classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Our college preparation checklist for online students offers tips to start strong in a distance learning environment.
Prepping as a Transfer Student or Adult Learner
Transfer students and adult learners face unique challenges when starting at a new college. Adult learners coming back to school after a break often wonder how do you mentally prepare for college? Transfer students may wonder how to smoothly transition to a new college. While many of the tips above apply to transfer students and adult learners, this section adds specific advice for their college preparation checklist.
