Stuff I Wish I Knew
Everyone always says that hindsight is 20/20. We can't tell what you'll think about your transition to college in hindsight, but we can tell you what other seniors had to say. Here is a list of basics that these seniors wish they would have known ahead of time. Most of them had to learn the hard way...maybe you'll be able to avoid doing the same.
Learn how to manage your money. As a college student you probably won’t have much money, so all those late night snacks, movie excursions and restaurant outings will start to make a dent on your wallet if you're not careful.
Practice good habits. Just because you are “on your own” doesn’t mean that you don’t have to do your homework or go to practice. You still need to get things done and what you learn about living and making your own decisions is going to help you after college.
Be ready to adjust. Simply be aware that things WILL be different than they were at home. Don't try to recreate your old group of friends or find a church exactly like the one at home. Be ready to broaden your horizons, grow as a person, and be stretched. Definitely don't expect everything to be like it was at home.
Anticipate changes on the homefront. Your parents might convert your room to an office or they may turn it into a museum about you, keeping all of your soccer trophies and prom pictures on display. Either way, know that they will be transitioning too and they're probably hoping you haven't completely forgotten about them. One student warned, "Moms will call everyday!" Make sure you consider how you disperse your weekends: Check-in at home if you can't, but make sure you don't miss out on the weekend activities that your friends will plan.
Avoid the "Procrastination Club" at all cost. Even though we're sure you'll suffer through a few all-nighters working on something that's due in a few hours, doing your best to work ahead of time will give you more sleep, better grades, and help keep you sane. Be sure to go in with a plan to be disciplined...it is so easy to get caught up hanging out all of the time, skipping class or taking off to see a movie or visit the beach. Plan ahead and stick with it.
Homework is just that: work. Be careful you don't let your friends distract you from getting assignments completed. It can be really hard to study if you are the only one trying to get work done. Remember that you are here to get an education, first and foremost. Seniors know how distracting roommates can be and advise you to consider heading to the library for quality study time.