| Prepare For The Adjustment Before You Leave | | | | |
| | | | A great way to begin adjusting to college |
| Even the most prepared college freshmen go | | | | life is to take advantage of programs |
| through periods of adjustment when they | | | | colleges offer during the spring semester for |
| arrive on campus, but there are some things | | | | newly admitted students. You might be able to |
| you can do for yourself to make the | | | | have an overnight visit with a current |
| transition easier. Spend some time during the | | | | student who can show you the ropes before you |
| summer reading about your new school and the | | | | enter as a student, which will go a long way |
| city or town it's located in. Surely, the | | | | toward making you comfortable when you |
| admissions materials you received give you | | | | officially move in the fall. |
| some indication about how students spend | | | | |
| their time and live their lives at school, so | | | | If your school doesn't offer such a program, |
| that's a good place to start. You can also go | | | | consider making a trip to your college over |
| online and do some research into your new | | | | the summer with your family or some friends. |
| "hometown" for the next four years. Even if | | | | The school will be quiet at this time of |
| you're a little scared, be positive. Picture | | | | year, but you can familiarize yourself with |
| yourself doing some of the cool things you | | | | the location of the math building, for |
| read about in the school's materials and | | | | example, if you know for sure that's where |
| online. | | | | you'll be taking some classes. You can also |
| | | | scout the location of your dorm, the gym, the |
| If you know people from your high school who | | | | student union -- anything you've read about |
| will be attending the same college in the | | | | that might be of interest to you. |
| fall, you might think about getting together | | | | |
| with them before you arrive on campus. Also, | | | | Barring a summer excursion or a spring |
| some schools send out your roommate | | | | overnight stay, perhaps you and your family |
| information during the summer. If your school | | | | can arrive a day or two ahead of the official |
| does this for you, drop your roommate a line | | | | move-in day. This will help you adjust to |
| via email or even pick up the phone and start | | | | your new surroundings, because you'll have |
| planning what you think your room should be | | | | family members around you to help you do it. |
| like, who will bring what, etc. | | | | Arranging to spend some time in your new |
| | | | school's town with your family prior to the |
| Visit During The Spring, The Summer, or | | | | move-in day will also make saying goodbye |
| Arrive Early If You Can | | | | that much easier. |