Your Senior Year Timeline

September-November
Keep taking those challenging classes and do well. Beware of that "senior slump".

Have a list of the schools you want to apply to and gather all the applications. Weed through and get a final list.

Have a list of the college's deadlines!

Register and apply for scholarships now!

Ask your teachers for their recommendation letters. They'll be swamped come December but if you get in early you'll get a more thoughtful fresh one.

Brainstorm your essay topics.

Submit Early Action applications, they're usually due Nov. 1

Dec.-Feb.

Send out your applications! Don't forget to include everything they ask.

Keep applying for scholarships.

Don't let your grades drop. School may rescind their acceptance if they see significant grade slippage.

March-May

You're almost done~ Just wait it out until you get your acceptance letters.

If you are waitlisted, write the school a letter to show you're still interested.

Make a decision. Make sure it's your decision. You'll have to attend the school so make sure you like it.

Go to all freshman orientation activities. They'll make you feel more welcome and excited for the fall.

5 Steps to Picking Your Major

1. Ignore everyone's advice. YOU are going to have to take 6-10 classes on this subject and YOU are going to have to write a 30-50 page paper on the topic. Make sure its something you're interested in.
   
2. Don't think about grad school. You can go to law school with a degree in biology or med school with a degree in sociology. Have fun in college, do well in your classes and that grad school will be clammering for that kid with the interesting major.
3. Take Your Time. Don't commit on Day 1. Test the waters. Maybe you thought you'd love Psychology but after taking a class you realize its not your cup of tea. Snoop around and see what really gets your blood pumping.
4. Go broad. Some majors are more inclusive such as American Studies or Liberal Arts. You take a class in multiple disciplines so you don't have to choose.
5. Your major doesn't dictate your future job. You can do just about any job with just about any major.
   

7 Tips for Picking Your Classes

1. Keep track of when your classes are. Try to give yourself a logical schedule. Make sure you schedule in lunch!
2. Don't wait too long in between classes that require you to remember things from class to class, like Spanish or French. If you wait a year in between you'll be liable to forget quite a bit.
3. Go for a variety. If you have 4 reading-intensive or lecture-intensive classes you'll get burnt out.
4. Expand your horizons. If you're a bio major try that psychology class or that journalism class. Keep an open mind.
5. Vet the professors. Ask around. Make sure they'll suit your personality.
6. Get the prerequisites and general education classes out of the way. Keep track of basic requirements and stay on top of them.
7. If a class is full, email the professor and see if they can put you on a waiting list.

5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Freshman Orientation

1. Show up. Go to orientation. Even if everyone in your family has gone to this school, go. You're not going for the rich history lesson.
2. Go alone. Don't go with the parents or friends. It'll be scary but you will be more willing to branch out.
   
3. Talk and smile to everyone. Be friendly.
4. Study the map of the campus and get a good sense of where you are. It'll save you time when you start class and have to be somewhere in a hurry.
5. Ask your orientation leaders and other students about classes you are considering taking before you sign up. You'll save yourself a lot of headaches later on.
   

6 Reasons to Study Abroad

1. You want to broaden your horizons and life experiences.
2. Your career goals would be enhanced by experiencing other cultures, such as international politics or economics.
3. You'll get academic credit.
4. You're a language major and want to be immersed in the culture.
   
5. You want the opportunity to go somewhere nontraditional and study culture and political change in places like South Africa or Madagascar.
   

4 Good Reasons To Transfer

1. Your school doesn't offer the major you want.
   
2. You've improved your GPA and you would like to go to a more challenging school.
3. Personal problems that require you to move closer to home.
4. Another school has offered you a good scholarship and you need that extra financial aid.
   

3 Reasons Not to Transfer

1. You're not having a good time. What have you tried to do to fit in? What about the school isn't a good fit for you. Just remember going to a new schools means you're going to have to start all over again.
2. You are homesick for friends, boy/girlfriends or family. Making the move will only compromise your education.
   
3. The work is too hard. You probably aren't taking the right classes. Re-evaluate your course load and major. Research professors ahead of time, make sure you're not getting a dud.
   

7 Ways to Avoid the Freshman 15

The freshman 15 or that little weight you gain once you're on your own is a time honored tradition. There's a million excuses...but we had a whole pizza, I couldn't help myself. There are some ways to avoid it.

1. Eat breakfast. It'll fill you up and you won't splurge on five tacos and chocolate cake.
2. Opt for pretzels and popcorn instead of potato chips.
3. Sign up for the gym classes that your school offers.
4. Don't eat while you study.
5. Splurge for a really snazzy salad every once and a while.
6. Avoid pig-outs if you're really stressed or frazzled.
7. Hang out with people with good study habits. They'll rub off on you.
   

8 Ways to Get More Sleep

1. Avoid exercising close before going to bed. It will increase your heart rate and it'll be hard to fall asleep.
2. Try avoiding eating shortly before going to bed. If your stomach is working overtime it may disrupt you sleeping.
3. Use white noise like a fan or a white noise generator to calm your mind.
4. Avoid taking naps.
5. Avoiding doing your HW in bed. You'll associate your bed with studying and not sleeping. It'll be harder to crash when you want to sleep.
   
6. Avoid alcohol shortly before bed.
7. Keep the room dark and quiet. Get earplugs if necessary.
8. Maintain a steady sleep schedule and train your body.
   

4 Ways to Fight Fair with Your Roommate

1. People aren't psychic, they can't read your mind. Be assertive and discuss problems as they come up.
2. Every problem is not someone else's fault . Own up to your own mistakes.
3. Don't be defensive. Listen to what he has to say and if you're wrong, own up and apologize.
4. If you can't seem to express yourslef verbally, e-mailing may be a good way to go. Just don't dwell and rant just because you're not face to face. Stay restrained.
5. Once you've settled your argument, make peace by renting a good movie or getting her some candy.
   

15 Things to Bring to School

1. Computer/Laptop. This will be helpful not only for writing papers but also to stay in touch with your old and new friends.
2. Planner to keep track of due dates.
3. Lots of underwear and socks. Pushes laundry day up...
4. A digital camera
5. Mini-fridge and a water pitcher so you can stay hydrated
6. Lots of quarter for laundry
7. An alarm clock
8. Febreze...again for lazy laundry days
9. Cell phone
10. Stamps
11. Lots of blankets to stay warm and cozy
12. Fan for those rooms without AC
13. Rubber flipflops for shower shoes
14. Good attitude
15. Yearbook and photos from home
    

5 Cures for Homesicknesses

1. Get involved by joining clubs or other activities. Having something to focus on will get you through the rough patches.
2. E-mail friends and family and keep them updated. This miss you too so give them some juicy stories.
   
3. Most college freshmen are homesick too. Reach out. Maybe you can talk about it with someone else.
4. Resist talking to your parents everyday. Keep some distance and it will become easier.
5. Stay busy. Keep your eye on why you came to college and don't give yourself lots of free time to mope.
   

4 Ways to Make New Friends

1. Be aggressive: Talk in class, join that club, walk up to that kid on your hall. Just like in dating, sometimes people aren't going to just befriend you because you exist. So make the first move.
2. Join a study group with fellow classmates. You already have something in common.
3. Get involved by joining sororities/fraternities, volunteering, joining clubs, getting a part-time on-campus job. There's always something happening on campus, step out of your comfort zone and give it a try.
4. Live on campus. You'll have more opportunities to meet people and be more inclined to join clubs on your off-time.

10 Tips for how to Get Along with Your Roommate

1. Don't do anything drastic decorating-wise before you've had a chance to talk about it with them. If you've blanketed the room in bright pink and you roommate is not a fan, you've created issues before you've even had a chance to become friends.
2. Establish some rules. If you are an early sleeper and your roommate likes to stay up late then work out a way that it works for both of you. Maybe you turn off half the lights or she works in the hallway. It's up to you two but rules are important.
3. Don't gossip. It's a small world. It'll get back and she knows where you live.
4. You don't have to be friends. You just have to respect each other.
5. Get headphones. So important. I suffered through countless repetitions of Maroon 5 and the Rent soundtrack. Don't let that happen to you. Be kind, plug in your headphones. Please.
6. If you get a care package from home, share.
7. Be neat. Especially if you have a neat roommate. And life's easier if you can find everything.
8. Take out the trash, even if it's not your turn.
9. Ask before you borrow anything, fix anything you break, clean anything that you dirty.
10. Ask before you invite lots of other friends over. And always include your roommate so they don't feel uncomfortable.
    

5 Hardest Things About Being a Freshman

1. Being Homesick: For most people this is the first time they've ever been away from home for longer than a few weeks. You don't have mom or dad to give you a hug if you're having a bad day anymore. You don't have your little brother to argue with. You don't have Sarah, that friend you've had since 1st grade, to gossip with. Just admit it. Talk to your new friends. They're homesick too. Call home when you need it and talk it out. It gets better...trust me.
   
2. Staying in Touch: You made great friends in high school and you want to stay friends once you're apart. Like any long distance relationship, it's hard to stay in touch. Facebook each other occasionally and keep each other in the loop. During breaks plan reunions. It's possible to keep these friendships going, but its on you.
   
3. Making New Friends: Whether you're shy or not, its hard to start fresh and make new friends. However, there are hundreds of kids at your school just like you. Reach out and talk to someone. They are just as desperate to make connections as you are. Start with your roommate, move through your dorm at the beginning. These will probably be some of your closest freshman year friends so open your door and say hello!
   
4. Lack of Privacy: You're used to having your own room, shutting the door and doing your own thing. Suddenly you have a roommate and you're sharing everything. Maybe he's in the room all the time and you have no alone time. If this is the case then find somewhere on campus where you can relax on your own and meditate such as in the library or on the quad.
5. Being Lost: It's going to be overwhelming and lonely at first, no matter what and it'll be hard to make sense of what you're really doing there. Remember why you were excited to go to college. Stay focused on your goals. Focus on your classes or your athletics, whatever it is that gets you grounded again. It'll calm down and make more sense as you get orientated.
   

8 Biggest College Time Wasters

1. Hangovers
   
2. TV
3. Facebook/Myspace
4. IMing
5. Sleeping/Napping
6. Eating out
7. E-mail
8. Frat/Sorority Parties
   

Going to College Rulebook part 1

1. Try new things, pick the wild choice. Do this when it comes to classes especially. What the hell, take Anatomy or Step Aerobics or Art History. Take that random Psychology class that sounds interesting. You never know what may spark your interest.
2. Develop goals, short-term and long-term and stick to them. They give you focus.
3. Proofread proofread proofread. Professors aren't going to let grammar slide anymore.
4. Be organized. Mom's not going to find that report. It's on your back.
5. If you're confused head to the professor's office hours. That's what they're there for.
6. Use the library. There's more books than you'll know what to do with. You'll find your answer there, I promise.
7. GO TO CLASS. no excuses.
8. Learn to speed-read. It'll save you a lot of sleepless nights.
9. Make friends with your teaching assistants. You never know when that will come in handy.
10. Stay close with your RA. They will be there for you as a friend and will help solve any problems you have. They're a great sounding board.
    

5 Reasons NOT to Pick a School

1. It's the cheapest/most expensive: The price of a school doesn't reflect on what kind of place it will be. There are public schools in your state that give reduced instate tuition that provide high quality education. However, don't automatically assume you have to go to the cheapest schools. Even in these hard economic times most schools give out scholarships to help supplement your tuition.
2. I know I'll get in: While the comfort of a safety school, one where you're basically a shoe-in, is a nice feeling, don't cross off your dream schools. Most schools are flexible about their admission criteria and you can often boost an average GPA or test scores with strong extracurriculars and essays.
3. My boyfriend/girlfriend goes there: It's a lovely romantic notion but what happens if you break up? Then you're stuck there. And, even if you're relationship is strong, having your boyfriend or girlfriend around all the time is a hamper on your ability to really branch out and make your own friends.
   
4. They're ranked #1 on US News or Princeton Review: These reviews are all well and good but they probably don't mean much to you . They really take into account things like class size, student-faculty ration, classes taught by TA's. So take a look at them but don't swear by them.
5. But, it's a good party school! Active campus life is important. It's nice to have a variety of options when it comes to socializing. However, if a school is known as a "party school" you may not be ready for what that really means. And, if you're a big partier, it may become more distracting than it's worth.
   

10 Things You Wish You Knew Before You Started College

1. You'll want to sleep through your first class, no matter how late you schedule it. 11:30pm Spanish...but my pillow's so cozy.
2. Having Cheetos and Diet Coke for dinner gets old faster than you may imagine.
3. Not every guy is drop dead gorgeous, spouting Plato and President of his kickass frat and not every girl is in a sorority, with a high ponytail, desperate to tutor you in Anatomy.
4. You can go out on a school night...no one's stopping you.
5. Being homesick is natural. Even the more independent looking kid on your hall is pining home for Mom behind closed doors.
6. You can study really hard and still fail the test.
7. You can get along with any roommate...if you try hard enough.
8. No one really cares if you were editor of the newspaper or vice-president of your senior class.
9. Friendships come from anywhere...don't just rely on your dorm.
10. You can feel lonely even if you're surrounded by people.