How to Prepare for College – 10 Tips & Tricks

1. Don’t wait until senior year. Don’t put off preparing for college. Researching schools and filling out applications takes time, and you don’t want to rush through any of it. It’s best to get started during your junior year in high school, so you can relax and give yourself plenty of time to find the right fit—minus the looming deadlines.
2. Get a mentor. A mentor can be a teacher, coach, or someone you know from the field you want to study. Ask for advice about schools with the best programs, things that’ll help you get accepted into a program, and other tips for studying your chosen subject.
3. Participate in extracurricular activities. It’s not all about grades. Colleges love to see extracurricular activities on applications because they help paint a more complete picture of you. If you participate in the arts, clubs, sports, or even a less-than-glamorous side hustle like dog poop scooper, colleges want to know about it . They’re looking for skills and personal qualities that you can apply to real-life situations.
4. Meet with your high school guidance counselor. It’s never a bad idea to gather as much information as you can about going to college. Your high school guidance counselor is there to teach you what you can do to improve your chances of getting into one of your preferred schools.

5. Be prepared to learn new skills. Adjusting to college isn’t easy for everyone. It can sometimes take a semester to get a feel for the pace and flow of college compared to what you were used to in high school. Try to improve these skills in high school while preparing for college to make your transition much smoother:
   • Time management. If you go away to college, you’re not going to have a parent standing over your shoulder reminding you to do your homework. Know how to manage your time so that you can get through your homework and have time for other activities. Once you’re in college, be sure to take advantage of exclusive student deals on productivity software, which includes all the popular apps you need to stay organized and make the grade.
   • Critical thinking. Much of what your college professors will want you to do is think critically about the material. College exams are often the practical application of the course material to see how well you understand it, so it’s essential to learn how to analyze the material and make your own educated opinions.
   • Perseverance. College isn’t easy. It’s normal for even the best students to get a C or D on an exam at least once. Learn how to push through the struggles to come out on top in the end.
   • Motivation. There’s a lot going on at a college campus, so you need to be able to motivate yourself to study without being told to. Start taking those steps now, either by scheduling time on your calendar, setting up reminders on your smart device, mastering the art of the to-do list, and beyond. There are plenty of downloadable spreadsheets and planning templates that can help you whip up a list in no time.

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6. Read more. Much of your learning in college comes while reading your course material. Read as much as you can before starting college, whether it’s magazines, manga, short stories or novels. Any of these will help you become a faster reader, improve your reading comprehension, and, in some cases, learn how to find joy in reading.
7. Research various majors. Not every school will have the major you want. Research the schools that have your major and the majors available at the schools you want to attend. Of course, you can usually transfer after a year or two, but it’s usually easier to stay in one place for the duration of your degree. If you know someone who works in an industry of interest to you, ask to shadow them one day.

8. Visit campuses. A great way to build excitement and learn about a school you might attend is to pay a visit. Most colleges offer free tours, so you can get a good look at how the campus is set up, find out where you might spend most of your time, and learn about services available to students on campus. They can also give you college tips and tricks to help you succeed on that specific campus. Don’t want to wait for a tour? Public colleges and universities are open to the public. So spend a Saturday strolling around your campus of choice.
9. Start thinking about where you’ll live. Most of the big colleges and universities across the country offer some level of on-campus housing. But if you don’t want to stay in a dorm, you’ll need to think about renting an apartment or a house near campus. If you have friends planning to go to the same school, start coming up with a plan now.
10. Apply for financial aid. Unless you’ve been saving your pennies for a long time, you’ll likely need financial aid for school. Don’t hesitate to apply for scholarships and grants to help foot the bill for tuition, books, and other attendance costs. If you can’t get scholarships and grants, start looking into student loans early because the process for approval can sometimes be lengthy. Be sure to be realistic when it comes to college budgeting.

Everyone’s journey to college is going to be different. Follow our guide and you’ll find the best path in no time.