The summer before college can be both exciting and terrifying; there’s a lot to get done and a deceivingly short amount of time to do it in. You’re getting ready to start an amazing journey full of challenge and discovery, and adventures like that always generate a mixture of uncertainty and eagerness. You may feel like you’ve got all the time in the world to prepare or that move-in day couldn’t be here soon enough. Just know that this summer is going to fly by and you’ll be starting classes soon, whether you’re ready or not. That’s why it’s so important to take advantage of these next few months. But where do you start? Here are seven things you should definitely do the summer before college.

Spend Time with Friends and Family

It can be easy to get caught up in the whirlwind that is college preparation, but don’t forget about the people who have helped you get here. While setting out on your own can be exhilarating, you may not realize yet what you’ll be missing. Many first-year college students can’t wait to get back home during Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks to be with friends and family again. It’s important to treasure the time you have with them now, so make sure you plan some fun outings between the packing and prepping.

Attend Freshman Orientation

Most colleges and universities offer end of summer pre college programs to orient you to your new life on campus, better known to the masses as Freshmen Orientation. These summer precollege programs are perfect opportunities for you and your family to learn even more about your school of choice. It’s also a great time to meet others in your class, see residence halls, and meet your academic advisor. You should have already received information about your orientation, but you can also look it up on your university’s website.

Buy Your Books Ahead of Time

College textbooks can be expensive. Like crazy expensive. Unfortunately, you absolutely have to have them. The good news is that you can save a lot of money by ordering them online instead of buying them in the university bookstore. You can find out which books you need by checking your student portal, contacting your professors, or asking the university bookstore for a booklist. Most professors will give you a pass your first day of class if you don’t have your books yet, but it’s best if you order them early so you’re guaranteed to have them on time.

Read Any Required Reading

Most Freshmen Orientation programs now require all incoming students to read a particular book over the summer. The book then becomes a focal point in Freshmen Seminar classes and is often used by other university officials. It’s also possible that some of your professors will expect you to have reading assignments completed prior to your arrival. If either or both of these are the case for you, make sure you actually complete the required reading. You absolutely don’t want to make a poor impression by skipping your very first assignment.

Communicate with Your Roommate

It’s likely that your university will send contact information for your roommate during the summer or you can probably locate it on your student portal. While you may be nervous to reach out to someone you’ve never met, doing so will help you both transition a lot easier. You can get to know one another ahead of time, share course schedules, and coordinate dorm room furniture. It’s a total bummer when both roommates bring refrigerators but neither one has a television!

Strategically Plan for Your Dorm Room

TV shows and movies have a bad habit of portraying dorm rooms as enormous living spaces. Sadly, reality is not so grand. In all likelihood, you’ll have very limited space for your belongings, so it’s important to plan accordingly. After receiving your housing assignment, find a room layout on your university’s Housing and Residence Life webpage. It should include standard room dimensions, as well as information about desk and mattress sizes. Knowing this information early ensures you don’t over pack, bring items that are too large, or buy the wrong sheets for your bed.

Take Advantage of the Tax-Free Weekend

Books aren’t the only thing that can be expensive about starting college. There are lots of items that you’ll likely want to bring with you, from school supplies to dorm room accessories. One way to cut down on expenses is to shop during the tax-free weekend. Not only can you shop tax-free, but many stores run excellent deals and promotions over the weekend as well. If your state doesn’t participate in the tax-free weekend, consider taking a shopping trip to a neighboring state that does. You can also hit some great deals on holiday weekends like Memorial Day and 4^th of July.

Contributed by Amanda Vosloh Bowyer

Do you have a soft spot for animals and want to take action right now?

Welcome fellow animal enthusiast! In this post, we’ll explore animal internships for high school students just like you.

First off, what are internships and why are they useful? They’re not exactly about volunteering, but they’re not quite jobs either. Unlike volunteering, which is focused on serving communities, internships are work experiences focused on training you. Internships can also be unpaid, and they are often a stepping stone towards getting a job.

If you love working with animals, then it’s a great idea to first volunteer locally or participate in service learning trips. Finding an animal care internship is easier once you pin down your passion and have a better sense of what you want to do. One example is Global Leadership Adventures’ (GLA’s) conservation programs where you care for native animals and the habitats sustaining them. As one parent explains, her daughter’s experience made a lasting impact:

“Her experience in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands has helped Megan look into her career path, and further solidify her passion to help in environmental needs throughout the world. It has given her the passion to bring her newfound discoveries and knowledge to college with her, where hopefully she can influence others to make a conscious change in their lifestyles, for the betterment of different environments around the globe.” (source)

And there are many other worthwhile avenues to get a first look at different types of animal care:

• Local animal shelters and rescues

• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

• National or town government conservation

That’s all well and good, but how can you actually find internships? Here are some activities to get you started:

1. Dream

2. Locate

3. Explore

Dreaming involves thinking, writing, or drawing about whatever interests you. Topics can include what animals you care most about, where you would like to work, and what kinds of skills you want to develop at your internship.

Locating casts a wide net that covers all the possibilities available to you. You can also limit what internships you consider; for example, you might only look at intern programs that are close to home. Create a list or table if that helps you organize your thoughts better.

Exploring takes a closer look at your options and can even uncover new ones. Even if you find that there are no posted internships at your favorite animal care center, that doesn’t stop you from proposing an internship deal with the manager. You can take advantage of the possibilities available to you while also creating new ones.

By taking a proactive stance, you can negotiate your own internships that provide relevant, meaningful experience.

Which animals and animal care programs are you most passionate about ? We’d enjoy hearing your interests!

Contributed by Nick Fochtman