Tips on Preparing for College

Embarking on the academic and social journey that is college is an experience unlike any other. A university education is often the first place young adults get a taste of independence and adult responsibilities. While it can be one of the most exciting times in a person's life, college is not without its share of traps. In order to avoid many of these pratfalls, new college students should enter into the university experience equipped with the tips and tools necessary to ensure they receive the maximum benefit out of college and begin their adult lives a step ahead of their fellow graduates.

Getting a Grip on the Cost of College

One area where prospective college students fail to plan is preparing for the financial burden of college. Some important factors to consider:

• Turn in FAFSA paperwork as soon as possible after the January 1st of the year you plan to begin college. This will allow you to get an idea of how much government assistance is available.

• Explore every possible scholarship available. There are many resources available, such as fastweb.com, which offer a comprehensive listing of available scholarships. There are large sums of money available, sometimes all that is required is asking for it. Also, take the time to meet with a high school guidance counselor. Not only can they help you navigate the ocean of scholarships, but they can also help you shape your schedule of academics and extracurricular activities to broaden your scholarship horizons.

•If still in high school, consider concurrently enrolling in as many classes as possible that offer college credit. Most high schools offer these for seniors. Taking as many of these classes as possible gives you head start not only academically, but financially as well.

•Consider your options before settling on a school. Often, state schools and public universities are a much better value than a "prestigious" private school. Another consideration is to explore attending junior college first. Many four-year state universities have concurrent agreements, enabling students to attend a more inexpensive school for two years and then transferring the earned credit hours. Junior college also allows students the benefit of living at home, saving room and board expenses, yet still receiving a four-year degree.

•Work part-time. I know this is not an appealing prospect to most students hoping to enjoy their independence, but can be necessary to mitigate the amount of student loans that could be necessary. Plus, you'll have the benefit of actually being able to afford going out and enjoying college life!

The thought of keeping a part-time job or living at home for two years may be horrifying to some, but the sooner the lesson of "no free rides" is learned, the better. Remember, your "education" doesn't take place only in the classroom. Learning these lessons early on can save a lot of student-loan debt later on. You want to start your life as a college graduate on even footing and prepared to exercise your newly acquired earning power, not mired in debt.

Balancing Academics with a Social Life

Believe it or not, college is a time where people are supposed to socialize. The problem lies in young people making socializing priority one and subsequently flunking out of school a semester and a half later. By the same token, you don't want to become so wrapped up in your studies that you miss out on creating relationships, some of which can last a lifetime.

For social butterflies, the key to striking the balance is limiting social interaction. You don't have to cut out social opportunities, but it's also not necessary to go out every night. Make sure that you make time to devote to your studies. A good way to have the best of both worlds is to consider joining study groups. You get o socialize, but you're also working on academics in the process. While it's often not "required," it's imperative that you attend class as much as possible. Missing classes only robs you of opportunities to master the curriculum.

For the book worm types, it's important to realize that it's okay to make a B or even a (gasp) C once in a while. This was the category I fell into at school. I regret that I didn't take more time to enjoy the social aspects of college. It wasn't until I would visit my alma mater for football and basketball games after graduation that I realized what I missing. In the grand scheme of things, the difference between a 3.4 GPA and a 3.8 GPA is negligible on the job market, so keep that in consideration.

Lastly, for all personality types, I strongly recommend joining a club or organization on campus. Academic, political, religious or otherwise, these organizations are a fantastic way to meet new people with similar interests. It will also broaden your horizons a great deal and provides fantastic networking opportunities.

A Major Decision

One decision with a great deal of impact on your future is the decision of what to study. For a fortunate few, this decision is simple - they've known what the wanted to do with their lives from day one. For the rest of us though, it's a decision akin to sitting in a pressure cooker. Pressure from friends and family can easily sway a person into selecting a course of study that will be ultimately unfulfilling. With such a large decision looming, a new college student should keep the following in mind:

•If you've got a career in mind that you think you'd enjoy - go for it! Potential earnings should be of little consideration. If I've learned one thing from experience, it's that money can't bring fulfillment. You don't want to spend 30 or 40 years in a line of work that only brings misery and dissatisfaction. You'll likely have to fight off external pressure on this point.

•If, like many, you have no idea what career you want, it's okay to be undeclared for a few semesters. Take your basic education courses - these are necessary regardless of major. This is also a good time use you social time to network. Ask questions of your friends already in fields of study. Take some intro level classes. This is especially easy to do if you take the community college route. The courses are relatively inexpensive and won't set you too far back financially if you find some courses you don't like.

•The most important consideration is to know oneself. Consider your strengths and weaknesses and find something that suits you! There is no substitute for finding a rewarding career.

Remember, the decisions you make here impact your life. It's okay to solicit advice from friends, family, professors and others, but make sure the decision is ultimately yours.

Are You Ready?

The most important thing to remember while on the academic rollercoaster that is college is that there's no one path to success. A great deal of the process is going to be trial and error and learning by experience. The main thing is getting the most out of that experience. Beginning college equipped with these tools will make the process much smoother.