The moment you’ve been waiting for is finally here. After years of studying, planning, writing letters and applications, taking exams, interviewing and stressing, you are finally ready to head to college. You are starting one of the most important chapters of your life and this is an opportunity for you to grow and experience new things like you’ve never imagined. It’s also a time that requires a lot of adjusting. Everything will be different now. Getting your laundry done, finding time to study, planning what you are going to eat, making sure errands are taken care of, having some fun, watching finances and so many more things that are usually handled by your parents are now going to be on you to take care of.

This isn’t meant to scare you; it’s meant to make you realize that college isn’t just about showing up to study. You are going to have to take care of yourself and the first and most important piece of advice is to have a schedule. Grocery shopping, cooking, laundry and other responsibilities will now come down to a schedule. If Tuesday morning is the best time for you to go get laundry done, then that’s what you

have to get used to doing. If you do not have access to a big refrigerator or kitchen and you are on a budget, you will learn the value of sandwiches, canned soup and healthy meals that can be microwaved or prepared with minimal effort.

You also will want to learn where you can go to study. Libraries are a good start but depending on how far it is from your dorm or apartment, you may want to try and find another place as well. Campus resources are also important. Where can you go to access an area with Wi-Fi or a computer? Do they have a gym you can us so that you can get some exercise in?

The better you can mentally prepare yourself for this experience, and the more you commit to a schedule and routine, the easier this transition will be. It’s impossible to know exactly what to expect or game plan for it because every campus is different, and your class schedules will influence things as well. Within the first two weeks you should be able to put together a routine that will help you thrive throughout the semester.