6 Things to Do Before You Go Off to College

So now that you've decided on which college to go to and what you want to major in, you're probably wondering, what are the main things that I need to do BEFORE I go off to college? Get a pencil and paper and remember to take care of these things before you go.

Find a Roommate

If you are going to a college where you don't really know much of anyone and you haven't met any new friends, then you're probably going to be paired up with a random roommate. And unless you want that person to be someone which could potentially be a bad roommate, you need to get online and go find one that you think will be a good roommate. With so many social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook, there are plenty of ways to get in touch with entering freshmen just like you. Facebook has social groups in which students will network and talk to each other to find a new roommate for their first years in college. You should do the same. Get to know the people in the group, post your habits and your interests, and pretty soon you'll find someone who can agree with you on most things to a certain extent. You don't need to be a perfect match, just two kids who can get along well co-exist peacefully. If you don't do this, you might find yourself with someone who loves to party 24/7, a constant distraction from your studies.

Pack Early

Who knows what's going to come up within the next few weeks or over the summer? Getting everything together can require a lot of work, and it's probably not a one day thing. The more time you give yourself to simmer over what you will be needing in your dorm room, the higher chance that you will realize the things that you are missing during the summer rather than after you actually get to school.

Know what you are paying for

Yes, you will be spending lots of money your first year in college. Tuition, housing, food, books, etc. First of all, make sure you know how much financial aid you are getting (if any at all) and determine how much you will be paying for tuition. It rises every year, so don't be surprised if next year's bill looks a bit more expensive. If you are rooming with another person in the same room, your cost of room and board will most likely be lower than if you were to live in an apartment like dorm or an apartment itself. Colleges will also have dining halls in which you purchase meal plans depending on how many times you will go (i.e. 20 times a week, unlimited, etc.). Get all of your facts straight before you run off to college and find out that you want more meals than you paid for. There is usually a fee associated with changing meal plans or housing assignments. If you have all of this knowledge already in mind, then you are less likely to make a choice you will regret. Buy your books online. If the school's catalog is already out and you have registered for classes, you can obtain the ISBN numbers of each textbook you will be needing and purchase it online. Trust me, it costs a lot cheaper to buy a book off of eBay than from the bookstore.

Keep in Touch

You grew up with certain people, and make an effort to make sure they stay in your lives. Many of your friends and people you know will be going off to different corners of the nation (and maybe world), so make sure you get a contact list of everyone you want to keep in touch with. You're probably saying, "We won't forget that easily, we've had so many good times together, and we can always see each other when we get back home." Wrong. Once you are thrown into the mix of college life, old memories will fade quickly. Make sure to keep them somewhere so you can go back to them before that 10 year reunion hits.

Treat Your Parents Well

You won't be seeing them for a long time, and when you do see them again your time is limited. You probably take them for granted, so make a little time in your (now empty) schedule to go out to eat, spend time together, and cherish your family. Once you go off to college, you will be taking the next step into adulthood, thereby confirming the fact that your younger years are over. If you don't slow down and take a look at what matters most to you in life, you will regret it later on.

Memorize your SSN, Phone Number, Emergency Number, New mailbox.....

You will be filling out a ton of forms. In order to prevent the hassle of always have to look things up, make a note to remember the items that these forms and applications will ask you most. The institution will use various bits or all of your personal information to verify who you are, so you will need to spit out bits and pieces of your government identifications from time to time. It will become really annoying to have to look up your SSN the 15th time you are asked for it. Even so, remember to not give your private information to someone or organization that doesn't seem to be legitimate. Use your brain. If you can't figure this out, you will have a hard time. In life.

These are just some things to keep in mind before you are on your own. Unless you've lived on your own before, college will be a new experience, and you're bound to run into trouble or problems somewhere down the line. The key is being prepared to the point to minimize those issues, so that you can concentrate on your studies and social life. The more prepared you are before you leave, the smoother your first year will be.