Ways to Prepare for Your Freshman Year of College

Your freshman year of college is one that ushers in major change. While your academics will still be a major focus, you’re going to have to learn how to navigate life on your own moving forward. As with any new chapter in adulthood, planning ahead is crucial to getting the most out of your freshman year of college and beyond. Here are a few ways to prepare for your first year of college that will support you in your educational career.

Look for all the necessary tools for organization and your education.

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Organization is one of the most important aspects of your education. After all, you will have to balance your college classes on top of any extracurriculars, social events, and work (if applicable). You can start by purchasing essential items like custom folders for important documents like syllabi from your classes, forms you need to fill out for classes or events, and even study guides for upcoming tests.

Of course, folders can be customized to include your school logo, designs that indicate what your pocket folder is designed to hold, or even be made from more durable materials so that you can carry it around with you on your way to class. Some other organizational tools you will likely need include planners, calendars, and notebooks for class notes and beyond.

Speaking to educational tools, one of the staples to have in your career is a great laptop. The best laptops for college will provide you with ample storage for your assignments and any necessary programs, plenty of speed so that you can easily open and run multiple programs at a time, and stay charged for hours at a time so you can rely on it to take notes when you’re sitting in a lecture hall. Whether you want a tablet/laptop combination or a plain laptop, getting all of your tech together is another major way to prepare for the path ahead.

Make your path to college easier with the right support.

Figuring out how to receive financial aid and scholarships, support your mental health as you navigate your packed schedule, and finding internships and jobs so you can get through college successfully is a lot to deal with. As such, you should look for an organization that can help you through the process of transferring from high school to college like the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). This organization is a legitimate community (no NSHSS scam here) comprised of bright young scholars fully invested in their futures. Packed with resources to help you excel, joining the NSHSS is one way to make your transition to freshman year of college easier.

Master all of the adult skills you will rely on in college.

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A lot of parents only think of college in terms of academics, but this isn’t the only focus you should have. Once you reach college, your life becomes your own. Taking the time now to learn the adult skills that you will rely on in college and beyond is critical to your success as an undergraduate. One such area that you should focus on now is your financial skills. Creating a budget based on how much student aid you have, what expenses you have, and how long you need to make this money stress will ensure you don’t run out of money too quickly.

If you don’t have much external support, you will also need to consider how you’re going to generate income for your college career. All of these adult tasks may be overwhelming, so it’s important to ask for help when you need it.

There’s a lot more to your first year of college than meets the eye. To stay on track and get the most of the college experience, use some of the tips above to prepare yourself in advance.