When you hear the word “summer,” you probably think of relaxing by the pool or spending time with friends. But if you’re heading to college soon, you may be wondering what you can (and should!) do with your free time to be better prepared for the journey that lies ahead of you. As a student heading to college myself, I’ve come up with three great ideas on how you can be productive this summer and have fun as well!
Plan ahead
In order to be ready for college classes in the fall, make sure you’re consistently checking your college email, assigned to you upon acceptance, and the school’s website for important updates. These may include information on registering for classes early, exploring student organizations, and participating in any upcoming first-year student events. If you haven’t gone on a campus tour yet, now would be a good time to schedule one and take a look at the environment you’ll be in soon. After you register for classes, make sure you’re familiar with your schedule and plan out a routine that’ll work for your class times for a head start to the year. Also plan to meet with your academic advisor and contact campus staff if you have questions before your first day on campus.
Related: How to Know If You're Ready for College
Get involved
Think of ways you can gain experience over the summer for your future endeavors. Research and take notes on what your future career path may look like and center some of your activities around them. It’s okay if you’re undecided on a major and career field though—you could also use this time to explore your options. For example, look into volunteer opportunities, job shadowing, and internships that could help you get a better grasp of the field you’re going into or may want to go into. In addition, you could take a few online summer courses, read up on books and other material, and even learn new languages or skills. These activities may prove to be beneficial in the long run while also giving you things to do that’ll boost your productivity.
Enjoy your time
And now we get to our final point, which is: enjoy your summer break! It’s important to spend time with your friends and family before you head off to a new environment. What may seem far off now will soon be here, so use the time you have now to see important people and do what interests you. You could help with activities at your church, explore different places you’ve never been, learn how to cook dorm-friendly recipes, and more! Your summer break can be a time to make meaningful memories and learn valuable lessons before you approach your next educational journey.
Related: How to Spend Your Last Summer Before College
Overall, summer is a great time for students to brush up on skills, learn new ones, and have fun. Try out some of these ideas over the rest of your break and see which ones you enjoy. And lastly, some words of advice for when you get to college: don’t forget the good times you’ve had and the things you’ve learned, and walk in prepared!
Take a break from reading articles but continue prepping for college with advice on the CollegeXpress YouTube channel.
