Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Lifestyle

13 Things To Do The Summer Before College

Sunshine, beaches, and road trips! The ultimate guide to having a fun-packed and exciting few weeks before college starts.

ariannachen

Aug 21, 2018

Fordham University

13 Things To Do The Summer Before College

c1.staticflickr.com

As the days pass and September eerily approaches, I'm afraid that I have some bad news: school is almost here. Dun, dun, dun! But no fear, you still have a few weeks left to complete a few things before school starts.

1. Go on a road trip with your best friends

After senior year, you are fully aware of who your ride-or-die's of high school are. What better way to celebrate the end of an era than to take them all on an epic road trip to Hershey, Disney, or anywhere of your choosing?

2. Spend time with your family

Whether you made the choice to stay in-state or out-of-state for college, you will be leaving your family for a long period of time in order to pursue your education. While this is part of life, make sure that you enjoy some quality time with your family! No matter who you are or what you do, these are the people that will love you unconditionally.

3. Make amends with an old foe

We've all had fights and arguments in high schools, or friendships that shattered and ended dismally. You're going to college soon and starting a new chapter in your life; don't let any negativity of your past haunt your future! Make amends and forgive that person who hurt you so that you can move forwards.

4. Learn something new

With so much time on your hands, you may as well put it to good use and learn something new! Hobbies are time-filling and require lots of practice, especially for learning instruments like piano or guitar, but are extremely rewarding.

5. Learn to cook

I'm not just saying that you should learn to cook to sound like your mom or because I'm going to Fordham University, which was rated by Princeton Review as "worst campus food." You will be living in a dorm and it would be nice to have something other than ramen every once and awhile!

6. Reach out to some new people at your college

College can be very intimidating since you're completely surrounded by new people, surroundings, and experiences. So make it a little easier on yourself by meeting some people who will be experiencing college with you! Even a small bout of effort like joining a Facebook group can make you a little more comfortable.

7. Make sure you have all of your college materials, work, etc. done

Well, now I'm really going to sound like your mom. They don't call me the mom-friend for nothing! I'm sure that everyone (and their wallets) are aware of this, but college is expensive. Very, very expensive. Therefore, it is imperative that you get the most out of it for the main reason that you are (or should be) there: your education. Please, just check your college email.

8. Go hiking

Just to clarify, I live in New Jersey about twenty minutes away (without traffic and if you don't take the GW bridge) from New York. Translation: I am not a nature person. However, I went to Maine this summer and it really opened my eyes to how serene and beautiful the world that we're living in is. You don't have to trek all the way to Maine, but go hiking at a local area and open your eyes!

9. Get involved in your community

Your home-town is full of so many friends and memories, so why not give back to the community that gave so much happiness to you? If you volunteer with a couple friends, you'll not only get the chance to spend some more time with them, but you get to help other people and their lives in the process!

10. Get a summer job or internship

Refer to point 7: college is expensive. Whether you use the money from your minimum wage job for spending or paying tuition, it's always a good idea to get some experience in the workforce.

11. Take time for yourself

Most of all, make sure that you don't stress yourself out too much this summer. You're about to embark on a fun, fantastic, and life-changing journey in college and you should take some time to mentally reflect and solidify your character before heading off into the world.

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Essex County, NJ

1500

Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less

finals

Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

University of Dayton

2877

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less

library

Student Life

26 Things to Thank Our Roommates For

Who knows where we would be without them.

Michigan State University

1969

StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.