Congratulations! You’ve been accepted to college and you choose where you will be attending in the fall. This is a great accomplishment, but don’t forget that it is only just the beginning. There are still plenty of things you need to do before you actually start classes.

Let the Other Colleges Know You Won’t be Coming

As soon as you commit to your school, you also need to let any other schools that accepted you that you won’t be attending there in the fall. Sometimes you can do this online via email. This practice is not only common courtesy but it will get you off their mailing list.

Register for Orientation

Even if your college doesn’t require you to attend freshman orientation, you should do it. At orientation you can get a tour of campus, register for classes, get your student ID, and meet other incoming freshman. Bringing your parents with you is totally okay because it can be an overwhelming experience. Remember, all the other freshman are in the exact same boat as you.

Write Thank You Cards

Make a list of anyone who helped you in the college admission process. This could be family members, teachers, coaches, or your high school counselors. Once you have your list together, write them each a short and sweet thank you card for their help in your journey to college.

Finish Out High School Strong

Don’t slack at school just because you already got accepted into college. Make sure you finish out with good grades and high regards from your teachers and peers.

Reach out to Your Roommate

Once you find out who your roommate is you should friend them on Facebook and also try to set up a phone call or FaceTime with them. You don’t have to be BFF with them, but it’s a good idea to get to know them a little bit before living together.

Shop and Stock up on Dorm Supplies

Quarters for laundry. Bedding. Bathroom supplies and toiletries. Closet storage. Chargers for all of electronics and devices. Mini fridge. Anything you can think of that will make life easier for you while living in the dorms, get it early.

Do Research on your School

Surf the university website and check out all the different clubs they have, events on campus, opportunities for internships, athletic schedules, anything you might be interested in getting involved in.

Talk to Your Parents

Your parents are awesome. It may not seem like it now, but trust me, they are. Before you head off to college make sure to sit down with them and have a mature adult conversation about what your future looks like and what you hope to gain from your experience at college.

Make All Your Appointments

Get a check-up, go to the dentist, get your hair cut, and your oil changed. Also make sure to fill all of your prescriptions. Having to think about this stuff once you start school will be a pain and you might have trouble figuring out where to go if you are away from home.

Open a Savings Account

If you plan to get a part time job or babysit or do anything to earn a little extra cash in college it is smart to open up a savings account before you get there. Your parents can help you do this.

Memorize Your Social Security Number

You will need this for everything. It’s not a great idea to carry your card around with you all the time because it is easy to lose or misplace. So memorize it!

Break Up With Your High School Sweetheart

This may not sound like great advice, and maybe it’s not the right decision for your relationship, but at least have the conversation. Being in a relationship when you start college can hold you back, prevent you from meeting new people and experiencing new things. You change and grow so much in college. You can spend time together over summer and revisit your feelings then.

Learn How to do Laundry

This is a must. Ask your parents to show you the ropes so that when you get to college you don’t have to Google how to separate the whites from the colors.

Learn Basic Cooking Skills

You may not need this so much in the dorms, but do it anyways. Learn how to boil water, make a sandwich, make eggs two different ways, and how to cut food without chopping your fingers off.

Enjoy Your Summer

Spends as much quality time as you can with your family and friends. Explore your hometown. Do all the things you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t have time for. Make it the best summer of your life.

Having these things checked off your list when you arrive on campus will make your transition so much easier. It will allow you to focus on making friends, getting the hang of independence, and starting out your classes strong.

If you enjoyed this post check out Freshman Packing Guide