Prepare For The Adjustment Before You Leave
Even the most prepared college freshmen go through periods of adjustment when they arrive on campus, but there are some things you can do for yourself to make the transition easier. Spend some time during the summer reading about your new school and the city or town it's located in. Surely, the admissions materials you received give you some indication about how students spend their time and live their lives at school, so that's a good place to start. You can also go online and do some research into your new "hometown" for the next four years. Even if you're a little scared, be positive. Picture yourself doing some of the cool things you read about in the school's materials and online.
If you know people from your high school who will be attending the same college in the fall, you might think about getting together with them before you arrive on campus. Also, some schools send out your roommate information during the summer. If your school does this for you, drop your roommate a line via email or even pick up the phone and start planning what you think your room should be like, who will bring what, etc.
Visit During The Spring, The Summer, or Arrive Early If You Can
A great way to begin adjusting to college life is to take advantage of programs colleges offer during the spring semester for newly admitted students. You might be able to have an overnight visit with a current student who can show you the ropes before you enter as a student, which will go a long way toward making you comfortable when you officially move in the fall.
If your school doesn't offer such a program, consider making a trip to your college over the summer with your family or some friends. The school will be quiet at this time of year, but you can familiarize yourself with the location of the math building, for example, if you know for sure that's where you'll be taking some classes. You can also scout the location of your dorm, the gym, the student union -- anything you've read about that might be of interest to you.
Barring a summer excursion or a spring overnight stay, perhaps you and your family can arrive a day or two ahead of the official move-in day. This will help you adjust to your new surroundings, because you'll have family members around you to help you do it. Arranging to spend some time in your new school's town with your family prior to the move-in day will also make saying goodbye that much easier.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing grad school for MBA
By: Jason | 09-07-2008
Does it matter which grad school you go to for an MBA or how many credits the MBA program is? Currently I am looking at the accelerated program at Monmouth University which is 30 credits and the Rutgers Unvitersity program which is 60 credits.
Time frames
By: aimcomm | 06-07-2008
what is the shortest time frame that one can earn an online degree?
Looking for distance learning providers in the UK
By: supaswag | 03-07-2008
I am looking for a provider to gain a [online] distance learning Foundation Degree in Internet Marketing. I found Kaplan Open Learning and would like to find out if anyone has any experience with them. Their offers look very good.
How important are work based achievements on my CV?
By: imconfused.com | 23-06-2008
I am currently writing my cv and wondered how important it was to include work based achievements? Do employers really care? Don?t they just care about my qualifications?
Safe Haven Babies and Mothers
By: judymamab | 20-06-2008
I am writing a paper for school and need information on what a mother who has dropped her infant at a safe haven must do, if she changes her mind and wants the child back. I know that there are alot of questions to be answered and certain things she has to go through, but need either a url or someone who can go into depth on the situation.
Qualification statement
By: Adriana | 19-06-2008
I have to write 5 qualification statements for a leadership program offered at my job (government), and I am completely blocked, I don't even know how to start. I know once I get started I'll be fine. Help?!
Q&A Powered by:
More from Elizabeth Saas
How to Conquer the Lsat - Tips on How to Succeed
By: Elizabeth Saas | 02/01/2007 | College and University
The LSATs are required before applying to law school and it’s important that you know what will be on the exam. This article includes tips on how to succeed and conquer the LSAT exam.
Gaining Work Experience - Make yourself Marketable
By: Elizabeth Saas | 02/01/2007 | College and University
Are you about to finish school with your amazing degrees but lack any work experience? This article tells you how to gain work experience and make yourself more marketable to potential employers.
Why you Should Get Involved in College Activities
By: Elizabeth Saas | 02/01/2007 | College and University
The primary reason people go to college is to continue their educations, right? But what some students don’t realize is that opportunities to learn don’t shut off after the class day is through. There are many reasons listed in this article about why you should get involved in college activities.
When you Need to Get a Tutor
By: Elizabeth Saas | 02/01/2007 | College and University
When do you need to get a tutor? The short answer is that getting a tutor is never the wrong thing to do, unless you're so strong in a given subject that you're a tutor yourself. This article helps you decide when you really need a tutor's help.
What to Look for in a Roommate
By: Elizabeth Saas | 02/01/2007 | College and University
Your college roommate -- what will he or she be like? Some roommates will be randomly assigned and you will choose others. Before you decide that rooming with your best friend is the perfect solution, for the sake of the friendship, you should read the following tips.
What to Consider Before Deciding to Go to Law School
By: Elizabeth Saas | 02/01/2007 | College and University
There are many things to consider before deciding to go to law school. But what are the most important ones? This article cuts through the confusion and lists four of the most important things to consider before deciding to go to law school.
Ways to Improve your Book Report
By: Elizabeth Saas | 02/01/2007 | College and University
Here's how not to do a book report: write down everything that happens in the book. If you’re struggling with ways to improve your book report, this article is just what you need.
Utilize your Guidance Counselor
By: Elizabeth Saas | 02/01/2007 | College and University
Whether you are on the college track or if you are going to join the workforce after high school, drop by your guidance counselor's office early and often so that you don't get to the end of high school and wonder: what's next?
Education 
