What should I do to be ready to move out for college? What are the essentials?

Answer 1

Take a foreign language, all the advanced courses you can get, and get an allowance from your parent that doesn’t just include books and food. You will need to blow off some steam now and then (don’t use that dreaded word “party”). Allow some budget room to hire tutors, and don’t be afraid to admit that you may need help. For me a Physics Tutor meant the difference between an A and a D.

Check out the introduction courses offered by your college, and take them first. Some colleges offer an introductory seminar and that would be most helpful. Try to at least visit the campus before school starts. Learn your way around campus. Check out the bookstore and price the books that you will need for your classes, try and get them before class starts and at least read the introduction to them.

A car, moped or even a bicycle can be helpful. It will get you around faster and easier.

Look at the extracurricular activates available. They can help you blow off steam, and learn more about your favorite hobbies. An honor society can give you an edge in school and when you are looking for your first job. But, don’t let all that is available over whelm you, especially booze. Find your limit and don’t go past it. Falling down stinking drunk may seem like fun, but it isn’t. The physical after effects aren’t worth it—isn’t cool to wake up with a hangover. Doing stupid things while drunk may seem fun at the time, but the people who are laughing, are laughing AT you not WITH you.

Get a book on speed-reading and read ALL of it. It will help you a LOT.

A computer with Internet access will be essential. You should also have antiviral software and a program like Microsoft Office. To do your papers (ah, spell check is sooo useful), a Power Point Presentation will make your project come alive, and Excel can make an accounting class a breeze. Learning to touch type and it will make things a lot easier. If you have a notebook you better have a good lock (to secure it when you are out), and require a password to gain access. There is a good secure system that sounds an alarm when the computer goes more than 20’ away from you. You will have to keep your notebook with you (on your body) at all times that you are out with it. That computer could mean beer money for a month to a thief.

You must realize that you have left high school and childhood behind. You have now entered the professional world. For each hour of college credits you take you will need to spend AT LEAST two hours studying. Things will be easier in a Junior College, but in a real top of the line college you will need to study even for a P.E. class, and expect written tests! College is now your JOB, and it’s a professional job. Look at the hours young lawyers have to put in, or architects and engineers. You must approach college as if it is that kind of a job. You can play some games and goof off now and then, but put the X Box, Game Boy and Nintendo away. Bring only a couple of computer games with you and resolve to not spend more than an hour playing them each day. Don’t bring a TV for at least for the first year. You will need the time to study.

Finally enjoy yourself. Have fun, make new friends, do some things that you couldn’t do at home. Take your fun to your classes, ATTACK your courses. Be aggressive; ask the teacher when you don’t understand. Sit near the front of the class so you don’t miss things. Read your assignments BEFORE the class covers it. Take good notes and form (or join) a study group. For the next four years (or more) this will be your LIFE. Go at it with gusto and win! With this attitude you will be a success and have more fun doing it. All the hard work may not seem to be worth it, but every good job requires a LOT of study. Even plumbers have to go through an apprenticeship period, before they earn those top salaries. A college degree is the MINIMUM you will need to enter the professional world.

Answer 2

Learn to cook and do your own laundry. Half the people don't know, and you can make some major scrilla off of good food. Also hang out with some people you don't like, especially if you're going to have to live with room mates.

Bring along a computer, a printer, all the money you can steal, some pillows, things like that. Lots of places don't have cooking utensils, so bring a frying pan, some kitchen knives and like maybe one of those little george foreman grills if you can use it. The cafeterias get boring, and restaurants suck up your money pretty quick. Plates are good too, but you can usually make do with cheap plastic silverware, readily available from many cafeterias and take-out places.

Also, try getting a map, and a phone book for the area. Some companies, like Verizon can get you phone books for specific areas. Then you can find out where all the supermarkets, and book stores, and libraries and bars, and the SALVATION ARMY, where you can get a lot of the stuff I mentioned, plus most anything else a college student would need.

Answer 3

You need to make sure you have all the essential life skills, such as knowing how to balance a check book, understanding how credit works, knowing how to cook at least basic items, knowing how to shop wisely, etc. You should know as much as possible about the area you are moving to (i.e. weather, demographics, terrain, altitude, etc.) so that you are not surprised by, say, the cold in winter or the heat in summer, or the fact that everything is uphill or downhill, etc. Bring some items to help you over the homesickness times as they WILL happen. Have a good, SHORT list of emergency-type numbers and keep them handy. A journal is actually a good idea, as it will help you track your progress in adapting to your new life.

Answer 4

I'm going through the same thing myself...there is a lot of helpful stuff on my college's website as far as what to bring to the dorm. It would probably help to talk to a parent or other relative who went to college.

Answer 5

depending on where you are going to college make sure you have appropriate clothes for the weather there.. for instance i wasn't prepared for all of the snow and cold weather when i went to college, get a bike or get used to walking to classes, have alot of pictures of old friends and family, and i would visit the city you're going to college in.. as often as you can to get a feel for it before you go. it always helps to know youre way around