Black woman in blue shirt lying in green grass with yellow notebook on chest

3 Things to Do This Summer to Prepare for College

College will be here before you know it, and it's a life-changing experience! Get ready for your future with these three major reminders from a student.

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 will 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: Our Best Advice for Having an Awesome Summer Break

Overall, summer is a great time for students to brush up their 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.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:

About Lianna Jacob

Lianna Jacob is an undergraduate student who has gone through the college admission process and wants to share her experience with others! She enjoys learning more about her Christian faith and spending time with family and friends.

 

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

Christian Brothers University

Memphis, TN


Joseph Johnsly

Joseph Johnsly

High School Class of 2021

It's an honor for me to be writing to share a little about my experience with CollegeXpress. I've been using CollegeXpress for about a year now, and the reason why I chose it is because it provides astonishing scholarships for every student around the globe. Besides that, this organization dispenses all the information necessary to help students get to college. CollegeXpress has helped me have an easier experience with applying to colleges and choosing the best fit for myself.

Asia Stockdale

Asia Stockdale

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress helped me overcome a huge hurdle. Because of the small town I live in, I felt like I would never achieve more. I felt like I could never go beyond because of costs. I feared I wouldn’t be able to find scholarships. I had no idea of where to start. With CollegeXpress, I easily found scholarships—they came to me. It was a helper, and I was instantly matched with opportunities to go above and beyond educationally.

Christina

Christina

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress helped me find Allegheny College with the super-user-friendly search tool for both schools and scholarships. Using CollegeXpress, I was able to search for programs I was interested in studying and find colleges that offered those programs. Also, once you search for the college, CollegeXpress can get you connected!

Rayan Hamdan

Rayan Hamdan

High School Student

I joined CollegeXpress just a few months ago. I had been struggling with severe anxiety, causing me to not be able to tour schools and make sure a college would be perfect for me. I came across CollegeXpress one day when I was searching for colleges online, and it completely changed the game. I was easily able to choose colleges that would suit me, and I also entered a few giveaways! Thank you so much!

Wendy Thompson

Wendy Thompson

Owner, Westport Educational Consulting

I just discovered your site and LOVE it—fun, interesting, full of incredible information you can’t find anywhere else, and a godsend for those of us in the college counseling business. I am a fan!