10 Things Every High School Senior Should Know BEFORE College

As an only child and a bit of an introvert, I’ll admit, I didn’t know exactly what to expect in college. Of course I had seen all the movies depicting college as one big party, and I had my own fantasy of a life in which I would have to take full responsibility for myself…but none of these really helped me to know what to expect.

As my first semester in college comes to an end, I’ve created a list of the top 10 things every high school senior needs to realize, BEFORE arriving at college:

1. You don’t need to buy everything in the dorm aisle.
Chances are, you will have at least one roommate, which means only one thing: you don’t have to spend that much money. Let’s face it, going to the college alone is expensive, so why pay more than you have to? Split up the cost of your room design by designating one person to bring the microwave and another to bring the refrigerator. Don’t spend your money on items such as lamps and rugs. Wait until you are already living in your dorm room for a bit. You never know if you and your roommate(s) may want to change the setup of the room–and nothing is more annoying than having an extra table sitting in the middle of the room. (Just ask my roommate, she knows.)

2. Bring cleaning supplies.
Be sure to bring paper towels, Lysol wipes, and a decent vacuum. I can guarantee that there will be that one person who spills a drink or food in your room. It will happen. Just accept it. Not to mention, if you are a girl with thick hair like me, your roommate will think there’s a cat living in the room.

3. Bring a variety of food.
I don’t care if you have a meal plan, bring food. Ramen, small cups of soup, gummies, cereal bars, goldfish…these are all essentials. There will be days where going to the dining hall–even if it is just a trip downstairs and a few yards away from your dorm building–will seem like too much work. This will also save you time and chances to be distracted, especially during finals week.

4. Invest in a billion notebooks, over the newest Mac.
When it comes to taking notes, especially in blue ink, you have a much higher chance of recalling and physically learning information in the moment, if you write it out. So, unless you have ungodly handwriting or truly do learn better using a computer, just use notebooks. *Also, do not bring binders–unless you are going to use them for organizing your rewritten notes (no one uses them and they are extremely bulky; however, do bring a lot of binder paper–professors do still give oral quizzes.

5. Use your Freshman year to establish yourself, as a student.
As a new student, professors will be looking for prospective interns and individuals to eventually the place of their beloved juniors and seniors. How can you do this? Do two things: Participate in class: question theories proposed by the professor (respectfully of course) and Don’t be afraid to email your professors and or visit them during their office hours. Professors are looking for dependable students, which can help TREMENDOUSLY, later on, when you re looking for work study and or internship opportunities.

6. Bring extra medication.
I’m serious. Even if your college has a wellness center, bring some.You are literally living in an inclosed space and sharing a bathroom with forty other people. You will need extra vitamin C supplements and ibuprofen, Tylenol etc. staying healthy is key to doing well.

7. Keep track of how many classes you are allowed to miss per class.
Do not constantly skip a class, assuming the professor never takes attendance, because that one day you are not there, that attendance sheet will be passed over your empty seat. However, skipping a few is not a total taboo–sometimes you just need more time for another project or to make you feel your best. If you aren’t going to class to actively participate, the amount that you gain from the class will be the same, as if you didn’t go.

8. Be smart about which classes you take.
Depending on your major and the college you attend, there are core requirements for both of these respected areas. Meet with your advisor or the head of the department to make sure, especially around registration time, that your classes are going to give you the credit you will need to graduate. *Also, note that if double majoring or in a special program, some classes intersect and will count for other requirements. Ex. Spanish 104 takes the Language credit for Communications and Political Science, therefore eliminating another language class you would have to take.

9. Take advantage of opportunities to tutor other students.
By teaching a topic you are truly passionate about (and excel in) you will not only become even better in hat area, you will also have the rewarding experience of helping another student. *This also looks good on a resume for internships.

10. Join a lot of clubs.
Even if you seem to be only somewhat interested in a club, sign up for it anyways. Asking them to take your name off of the list is much easier than trying to join, a few weeks after the club fair. Plus, by joining a lot of clubs you will meet a variety of people, which is helpful as you will be taking a variety of classes and most likely, eventually need a partner for a group project.

So there you have it. Good luck Class of 2015!

By Veronica U-K.