SchoolisHard

Did you get your letter? That’s awesome! Don’t start relaxing just yet, though. You have a lot to take care of in the next few months.

If you are still in high school you need to make sure that you keep your grades up. Many students think that just because they have been accepted they can slack off the rest of the year. I can tell you right now, this simply is not the case. Take a look at your letter of acceptance one more time. See if you can find the word “tentative” anywhere in it. This word may seem gentle enough, but you need to take it seriously. If you let senioritis get the best of you then you may be flipping burgers next fall. Any decent college evaluates final transcripts. If they notice that you failed 6 classes your senior year you may be receiving a slightly different letter in the mail.

Your college will keep in close contact with you. (If you change your mind some other college gets your money, right?) You should receive a calendar of events such as registration, orientation, etc. If you don’t receive anything, track somebody down from your college’s website or look for the section specifically for new students. Freshmen already get the worst registration as it is, so you do not want to register even later!

If you are going to be living in a dorm, a deposit may be required. Most universities require all freshmen to live on campus unless they live at home, are married, or are of a certain age. It is important that you take care of it promptly. There are good, bad, and VERY bad dorms at most colleges. Ask anybody who may know which dorms are preferable. (If possible, go on a campus visit if you haven’t already. Try to get a first-hand look at the living conditions of each “cell”, as I like to call them.

Once you have these little administrative things taken care of, enjoy your summer. Many of your friends will be going to college far away from you and this is a good chance to make the most of your time together.