College Students Dish on 3 Actions to Take the Summer Before School
Summer is well underway, and the class of 2019 is preparing for the transition to university life. So what should these college-bound students focus on most to best prepare?
There are plenty of productive ways to spend the final summer before college: You can organize your class materials, purchase dorm supplies and study the campus map, for example. But what concrete actions can students take now that just might put them a step ahead later? Three current students share their suggestions below.
1. Reach out to faculty members: It may seem intimidating at first, but contacting experts who work in your intended major -- and even better, at your university -- can open many doors. As long as you are not being invasive and are reaching out with a polite, respectful approach, these individuals will likely be happy to speak with or advise an incoming student.
Matt Hoyer, a rising senior at University of Wisconsin--Madison, recommends reaching out to professors in your field of interest to inquire about getting involved in research opportunities.
"Even if you're just washing dishes, you'll find that professors will be very impressed with your initiative. This will give you a great resource for potential research projects further down the road," he says.
Hoyer says that he ended up taking this action the summer before his sophomore year of college, but he said reaching out earlier is important.
"I still found a position in a lab that I've loved, but I lost an entire year of experience. If I had to do it again, I'd reach out earlier in order to gain that experience and get the ball rolling on later research."
Tal August, a rising junior at Tufts University, also noted the benefits of establishing relationships with faculty early on. "I did reach out to my faculty adviser, and he turned out to be an extremely helpful resource throughout my freshman year, even writing me a recommendation for my current job on campus," he says.
2. Connect with other incoming freshmen and potential roommates: Arriving on campus and realizing you barely know anyone can be a frightening feeling for a freshman. Reflecting on his freshman orientation, August feels it could have been a better experience had he known some people beforehand.
"I did very little connecting with incoming freshmen during the summer, and it came as a shock when on the first day, some people had already established friendships. Everything worked out fine, but orientation could have been much easier if I had done a little outreach over the summer," he says
August specifically suggests connecting with incoming students from your high school, or perhaps a student who might be a family friend. "If possible, even try and grab a meal or sit down in person to talk, especially if you don't have any close friends attending the same college as you," says August.
While you are getting in touch with future classmates, it doesn't to keep an eye out for potential roommates as well. Vanderbilt University rising junior Ariana Yeatts-Lonske said she found her eventual roommate through a Facebook page that was created for her university's incoming class.
"[My roommate] seemed nice based on her profile, and we ended up filling out roommate surveys we found online to make sure we had compatible lifestyles and interests. I think our living situation worked out a lot better than some of my friends who went random," she said.
3. Research extracurricular activities: While academics are certainly top priority, extracurricular activities are another key element of the college experience. Whether you are interested in going Greek, playing a sport or joining a club, college typically offers something for everyone. Rather than waiting until you step foot on campus to find out what's available, try identifying opportunities now.
"The beginning of freshman year can be overwhelming, so it's helpful to have a mental or physical list of some of the clubs and teams you are interested in joining," says Yeatts-Lonske. "Also, that way, if your school doesn't have the specific extracurricular you want, you can start thinking about how to create a club for it yourself!"
The above ideas are just three of many ways you can prepare for the start of college this summer. Nevertheless, it is just as important to spend some time at ease, appreciating the company of loved ones whom you will soon be leaving.
"Enjoy your home, your family, and your friends. You want to arrive at college feeling relaxed and confident," August says. "One of the best ways to make that happen is to revel in that little summer window between academic careers."
Cathryn Sloane is a marketing coordinator for Varsity Tutors. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Iowa.
