Four Things to Do Before College

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Before you pack your bags, kiss your childhood bedroom goodbye, and become a full-time ramen connoisseur, there are a few things that you should check off your list to become a functional adult. 

Yes, college is exciting. But it’s also a whirlwind of new responsibilities. And while setting up a college student checking account may not sound thrilling, it’s one of those moves that your future self will thank you for!

Let’s take a look at 4 things that you need to tackle before you set foot on campus, each designed to make your transition smoother, saner, and maybe a little fun.

1. Learn how money works. Look, no one expects you to become a financial wizard capable of turning loose change into generational wealth overnight, but you should know how to budget. Ideally, your parents would have walked you through the basics, but the delicate art of not blowing all your money in the first week on iced lattes and school merchandise is a good lesson to learn. Having a simple budget will work wonders. You need to track what’s coming in, such as your allowances, part-time job, the random money your relatives will always send you, and what’s going out. Textbooks, snacks, more snacks. And yes, go ahead and open that bank account designed for students. It will make managing money easier, even if you still occasionally ask yourself where all your money went.
2. Learn basic chores without parental intervention. If your current laundry strategy involves stuffing everything into the washer, pouring in an optimistic amount of detergent, and hoping for the best, now’s the time to improve. College washing machines have seen things. They’ve suffered. They deserve respect. Learn what a cold cycle means, separate the lights and darks, and practice folding something, anything. Nothing says that you’re new there like showing up to class in a shirt that looks like it fought a lawnmower and lost.
3. Master how to cook. We did talk about heading into becoming a ramen connoisseur, but it really doesn’t count. Learn three meals that you can confidently cook without Googling every 5 minutes. Simple pastas, stir fries or an actual breakfast that’s not cereal will be easy to cook without setting off the dorm fire alarm. Meals that keep you energized and full will also help you with studying, socializing, and pretending that you have your life together.
4. Get yourself organized before chaos finds you. College is a vortex of deadlines, events, club meetings, and people asking you to join things just for fun. Spoiler: it’s never just for fun. Before you go, find an organizational system that works for you. Planners, calendars, and a color-coded notebook situation that screams that you have life in order—because once the syllabus starts rolling in, you’ll need all the help that you can get.

College is a wild and wonderful adventure, but a little preparation will go a long way to making you feel more functional as an adult. Handling these four things now will help you to cruise into campus life with confidence.

*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.