What is one thing that a recent high school graduate should do before starting college in the fall to set them up for a successful first year?

It can be difficult to establish a comfortable living space when you’re not likely to have many household items that can come with you from home. Rather than panicking about the big expense of towels, a laundry basket, furniture, storage, and more in August, start building a stockpile of items 12 months before you go. Ask your family if they have any items to spare, then head to second-hand and discount stores to find everything you need. Since stock in these stores isn’t reliable, giving yourself a bigger time window can help ensure you’re not stuck on moving day paying higher prices to fill the gaps. Look at your school's allowances before you buy anything as many dorms prohibit certain items like candles or electric blankets.

I'm American, but have been living in Germany for 7 years. I studied solely in America and unfortunately still have quite a load of student debt from - something typical for Americans. Until I moved to Germany, I didn't realize how many options there were for studying at a much cheaper price with a high-quality education. In Germany studying is basically entirely free and in many EU countries, it still costs very little in comparison with the US. Had I known this existed, I could've saved SOOO much money and even had a unique cultural experience to study in another country. Don't limit your options to one country and one university. Seriously consider and do research on how the costs of studying will impact your long-term finances. Because when the time comes later that you want to do things like buy a house, create a family, or invest in pension, the financial decisions you made when you studied will heavily impact that.

This approach will allow you to have a goal in sight and will provide motivation. Research the job outlook for potential majors, and make sure that you are following a career path which has good prospects for growth. Additionally, you can reach out to those who have gone through similar majors and ask for advice. This will help ensure that you are making the right decision.

Your high school diploma is the hard work of 12+ years. You should be ready to start your new journey in the new place. Well, college is a different place than school. You need more guidance because you get more freedom in college. For a successful first year, find a mentor. Find someone that you can admire and look up to as an example. In college, life is not as you see in movies, you need guidance or a coach to help you find the right path. Whether you are participating in cocurricular or extracurricular activities, or trying to learn something new, a mentor has the experience to tell you the best path. Find someone who is ahead of you in the journey. He/she can be your senior or teacher. So, you can look up to him in pursuit of a good career. You can take advice from him for anything whether partnering, participating, making decisions, looking forward to a career, and others. This way, you can make your journey to the first year easy and effortless.

An uncommon thing a recent high school graduate should do before starting college in the fall to set them up for success is to attend a summer program. This could be a university-led program or an independent one, but either will be beneficial for allowing incoming freshmen to get used to college level work and living independently. Summer programs also offer chances for students to make connections with upperclassmen who may be able to help them navigate college life and their first year. Attending a summer program can give students the competitive edge they need to start their collegiate career on the right foot.

Heading to college without a community is a lonely experience. To prepare, start building your community in the summer. Connect with other students and teachers in your major and begin establishing relationships with them. You should also attend your orientation program to check for potential social opportunities. Additionally, if you plan on living in the campus dorms, reach out to your roommate and start building your relationship. Establishing relationships before your first year of college makes the transition to college life smoother. These connections are crucial to your educational success as they help you get into a routine, form study groups, and fulfill your need for socialization.

Everyone asks: so what will you do after high school? Its such a loaded question. How can you make a decision on what you will pursue when you have no life experience to inform your decision? Good news- you do not have to wait years! We all have some kind of interest- why not engage that interest now? If you think you want to pursue law, there are many law firms who would love to have a motivated student volunteer to file paperwork, etc. While you are volunteering, you are seeing what lawyers really do- its not all courtroom. Think of how you can get real world exposure to your interest right now. If you think you want to teach, you can help in summer school, if you think you want to be a chef, see if you can obtain a position in a kitchen- even if its a dishwasher to see what the chefs are doing. Take advantage of the summer to explore your interests now. Make the dream come alive, its best that you do not wait until college!

The first year of college is typically one of the first times students will have more control and independence over their finances. A recent high school graduate should get their finances in order, have a financial plan or budget set for the school year, and at least understand the basics of money and credit before entering college. Some students may even consider applying for a credit card to start building their credit, and some should start looking into work-study or part-time jobs that allow them to earn a bit of money on the side while studying.

As a college graduate in journalism, one piece of advice that I would give to a recent high school graduate heading off to college in the fall is to seek out opportunities to become comfortable with technology, even if it’s not within the field they intend to major in. In today’s digital world, having basic knowledge about computer programs, coding and design are invaluable skills for any college student. College will provide plenty of unique technical opportunities, but arriving on campus prepared can set you up for success from the get-go. No matter your degree program or career path, having a strong foundation in tech basics can give young adults an edge when it comes to finding internships and jobs post-graduation.

One thing that a recent high school graduate should do before starting college in the fall is to take the time to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses. This can help them to determine what areas they should focus on while in college, such as improving their writing skills, or taking a course in a subject that they are interested in but have not had the opportunity to explore yet.

Practice public speaking to prepare yourself for college. Effective communication skills allow you to participate actively in class discussions, give presentations, and communicate with your professors. This also makes you a more confident and articulate speaker, which improves your performance in class and enhances your ability to share ideas and opinions. Before classes start, you can attend public speaking workshops to learn how to structure and deliver effective speeches. Through this, you can showcase your potential and overcome anxiety when speaking to others. Not only will this make you a confident speaker, but it will also build your leadership skills and enable you to get your colleagues' trust, especially in group settings.

One uncommon example for a recent high school graduate to do before starting college in the fall is to explore their academic interests and develop an academic plan. This involves researching different educational programs and majors, talking with professors about research opportunities, and even taking online classes or workshops dedicated to developing their skillsets. Doing so creates structure in the student's college journey which allows them to plot out a successful route from day one of class—allowing them be more focused, organized, and efficient with their time on campus.

One of the best things that a recent high school graduate can do before starting college in the fall is to create an Amazon Prime Student account. Amazon Prime Student offers a variety of benefits that are especially helpful to college students, such as free two-day shipping on textbooks and other school supplies, access to exclusive student deals and discounts, and a streaming video service with thousands of movies and shows. Having an Amazon Prime Student account can help students save time and money while they navigate their way through college. Plus, it's free for the first six months, so there's no risk in trying it out!

You’ll be facing an inordinate amount of school work compared to your high school courses, which quickly becomes stressful without the right preparation. If you get your textbooks early, start reading through the chapters and familiarizing yourself with the material or read other relevant resources like industry newsletters and supplemental book lists. Building up your knowledge will help you understand concepts more quickly and give you a bit of a study cushion as you adjust to the much faster pace in your first semester.

Before you start, make an appointment with your doctor to get a health checkup to make sure you are as healthy as possible for university. In the years following COVID, this is particularly crucial. If you take care of any illnesses before you relocate, you'll be less likely to have viruses, restlessness or fatigue, which most first-year students get as a result of inadequate sleep and exercise, a radical change in nutrition, and rapid socialization with a large number of new people.

I believe that campus resources are an important aspect of college life, and that a recent high school graduate should learn about them before beginning college. Career centers, libraries, tutoring centers, and counseling services are examples of such resources. Knowing about campus services, in my opinion, can assist a student seek guidance and support when needed, leading to college success.

If you’ve already envisioned your career path, start networking with people in those positions. If you want to be a lawyer, make friends with people in the law industry and get the experience of what they do. If you want to be a doctor, start contacting doctors in your local community. You can offer to take up an unpaid internship to gain valuable experience and learn more about the field. Networking is also great for getting advice from people who have been in your shoes before and can give you a fresh perspective on success.

Before they start college in the fall, it is essential that recent high school graduates take the time to get involved with extracurricular activities. Doing so gives them an opportunity to meet people, explore their passions and interests, and build a strong foundation for success. Participating in clubs or student organizations not only looks good on resumes, but also helps students develop leadership skills and can give them a place to express themselves. College life can be overwhelming - signing up for extracurricular activities before starting college is one easy step recent grads can take to set themselves up for success for their first year in college.

One critical thing a recent high school graduate should do before starting college is to hone their time management skills. High school provides a more structured environment, but college comes with increased autonomy and demands on a student's time. It's essential to create a personalized system for organizing tasks and balancing assignments, extracurricular activities, and social life. Graduates can start by mapping out a daily routine, setting realistic goals, and learning to prioritize their tasks using techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix, the Pomodoro Technique, or other productivity methods. Developing effective time management skills will help them adapt quickly and maintain success in their first year and beyond.

College can be expensive, so it's important to explore all options for financial aid. Fill out the FAFSA as early as possible to see if you're eligible for federal grants, loans, or work-study programs. You may also want to research scholarships and grants offered by your college or other organizations.