tips to get ready for college

Whether you are going to the hometown college or heading across the country, college is a time of change. If you are leaving home for the first time, it is especially different, with your parents not around to take care of things for you and give you advice, and no set of house rules to follow. But no matter who you are, college is a major life transition. You are leaving the familiar and broaching the unfamiliar. You are being exposed to many different types of people and ways of thinking, which changes how you view the world and yourself. Know that things may feel uncomfortable for awhile

Who are you closest to? Maintain those ties and do not be afraid to lean on your support system when you need to. The first semester or year of college can be overwhelming in good and bad ways, and you may sometimes need people outside of your college friends and classmates to talk to. Even if you are eager to be on your own, stay in touch with the people in your life who have your best interests at heart and are there for you when you need support

Poor time management will be your worst enemy in college. Start off on the right foot by getting a handle on your schedule, buying a planner, and USING that planner. Don

The transition to college may be more difficult than you expect. Before the first day even begins, scope out the services that can help you through

On your own for the first time? If you have never been a morning person, now is the time to practice getting up early. If you are bad at budgeting, laundry, or cooking, do not wait until adulthood to learn. Do not let lifes to-dos sneak up on you and cause you stress. And remember that its important to take care of yourself at college. Strive for balance in all that you do

College is a place where you will meet and interact with many new people from all walks of life and form lifelong friendships. It might surprise you who you develop strong connections with. Be willing to get to know all types of people

Mom is not coming to collect your dirty clothes, so unless you want to smell like a skunk in a trunk, you will have to learn how to operate a washer and dryer. Follow the directions on the laundry soap containers and never overload the machines. In addition, be sure to wait out your laundry cycles keeping an eye on your clothes or your wardrobe may disappear from the dryer and end up on eBay. Pros: You will have fresh socks each week that match Cons: You will need to schedule a laundry day

By the end of week one in your new dorm room, you will have figured out that the maid is not coming. You and your roommate will be responsible to keep the bedroom and bathroom floors clean with a small canister vacuum or carpet sweeper. Remember to vacuum the entire floor and not stop on the imaginary line between the two beds. You might have to bunk in with a Peter Pan, so be sure to take the initiative with responsibility and be the first one to grow up. Pros: Your feet wont stick on a filthy carpet Cons: You may be nicknamed The Maid

College living can be a nightmare if you run out of money before the end of each month. Stay prepared by rounding up all of your financial resources, such as student aid for living expenses, parental money gifts, and paychecks from a part-time job. The next step is to tally up your monthly expenses, from car payments to eating three meals per day. Spend less and get more when you make your main meal ticket the grocery store, stocking up on staples to cut down on the high cost of cafeteria meals. Set forth clear rules and guidelines about sharing food in your dorm refrigerator with your roommate, and remember to slip your M&Ms under the bed. Staying on a strict budget may seem like hard work; however, it beats having to sell one of your kidneys to buy your next meal. Pros: Your money will stretch to cover the essentials Cons: Your budget may be cut on recreation and entertainment

Theres more to college life than just cracking the books. Living away from home for the first time is like a social experiment on how to get along with others. Starting with your roommate, you will have to learn the fine art of give and take that will produce life-long skills in the social arena. Remember to treat your roommate with the utmost respect, and never let a petty squabble get out of hand. Once you have been assigned a roommate, it is extremely difficult to change your cohabitation partner until the end of the academic year. The two of you will be stuck with each other for at least nine months, so keep a lid on your temper at any cost. If you start a feud, your once congenial and compatible roommate may turn into a hostile and snarky cellmate that can make your life a nightmare with no window of escape. Pros: You maintain control to diffuse a situation Cons: Sometimes its hard to suck up the anger