Are you dreaming of college? You aren’t alone. For many teenagers, it’s their first real taste of independence, and it can also be a highly transformative experience where you find yourself, find your calling, and determine your future path in life.
Consider this is your comprehensive guide to choosing a college and having a fantastic time while you’re there!
The Basics of Applying to College
The first step of applying to college is choosing where you want to go. Most admissions counselors will advise you to apply for both your “dream school” and several additional “safety schools.”
The good news is that you don’t have to apply to these colleges individually. The Common App is an official industry tool that’ll let you apply to multiple colleges after filling out just a few forms.
When thinking about the right college for you, you’ll want to consider things like cost, location, admissions criteria, acceptance rates, available majors, dorms or other accommodations, and fun stuff like on-campus clubs.
Another extremely important thing to consider: accreditation. Never apply to an unaccredited college. To make sure that it’s accredited, use the search function of the accreditation database offered by the U.S. Office of Postsecondary Education.
Last but not least, it’s a good idea to start early with your college applications. You might need time to gather your recommendation letters or write those killer essays. Here’s an application timeline to follow.
Understanding Financial Aid for College
The very first thing to do is fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is a free government program that’s designed to help students afford tuition, textbooks, and other college expenses. There are a few different ways that FAFSA can help:
- Grants: Grants are essentially free money for college. You don’t have to pay them back. The most well-known grant is the Pell Grant, but there are others.
- Loans: Student loans come in two forms. Subsidized loans are ones where you don’t have to pay any interest on your debt while you’re still in school. Unsubsidized loans do require you to pay interest.
- Work-study programs: These are programs that allow students to work on-campus jobs to help them cover expenses.
There are other ways to save on college costs, too. These include scholarships, tuition assistance from your employer, and special deals and discounts offered by your college of choice. Don’t be afraid to apply for anything and everything. Every penny counts!
Living on Campus
You did it! You got your acceptance letter! Now it’s time to begin the next chapter of your life.
First, you’ll want to decide where to live. Many colleges offer dorm rooms, and some will even require first-year students to live on campus. Others, however, are fine with students living at home or renting their own apartments.
If you decide to go the dorm route, keep in mind that you’ll probably have a roommate. Here are some quick tips for getting along with a college roommate. You might also be interested in dorm room essentials ranging from cookware to bedding.
Other practicalities include signing up for a meal plan and figuring out where to park and where essential campus buildings can be found. These might include everything from libraries to student health centers.
Choosing Your Major
Once you’ve settled into college, it’s time to start thinking about the future. What do you want to do for the rest of your life? What major can get you there?
Don’t worry if you haven’t figured it out yet. Most colleges will let you stay “undeclared” for years before they require you to commit to a major. That said, it’s a good idea to figure out your academic aspirations as soon as possible: This will let you plan out your graduation schedule and fit in any mandatory courses or internships of your major.
As for actually choosing your major, here are a few questions that you can ask yourself during some soul-searching:
– What are my passions? How can I make money off these passions?
– What are at least five jobs that I can get with my chosen degree?
– What degrees, certifications, or licenses will I need on my chosen career path?
– What are my employment prospects after graduation?
For the last question, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics can help. You can search for specific careers and get salary information, projected growth rates, educational and professional requirements, and more.
Having a Social Life in College
Your freshman year of college can be overwhelming, especially if you’re taking lots of classes. However, academics are only part of the “college experience,” so it’s important not to get lost in your textbooks. Having friends can be just as important for your mental life as getting good grades.
Here are just a few tips for meeting people in college:
- Go to freshmen mixers and meet-ups
- Join clubs, societies, sororities, or fraternities
- Start study groups with your classmates
- Hang out in common areas of your dorms or around campus
- Find a part-time job
If you have any hobbies or special interests, make sure to use those to your advantage, too. For example, if you’re into fitness, you can spend time at the campus gym.
Don’t be discouraged if it takes awhile to make new friends. Stay positive, keep putting yourself out there, and be open to new possibilities for friends from all walks of life!
Living Your Best Life at College
Your college days are something that you’ll look back on for the rest of your life. You’ll have ups, downs, and everything in between. Not every experience will be good, but that’s part of adulthood, too.
If you’re thinking about college, you should be proud of yourself. You’ve already taken the first step to a brighter future. Now, you just need to put pencil to paper and start getting things done. Good luck!
Are you dreaming of college? You aren’t alone. For many teenagers, it’s their first real taste of independence, and it can also be a highly transformative experience where you find yourself, find your calling, and determine your future path in life.
Consider this is your comprehensive guide to choosing a college and having a fantastic time while you’re there!
The Basics of Applying to College
The first step of applying to college is choosing where you want to go. Most admissions counselors will advise you to apply for both your “dream school” and several additional “safety schools.”
The good news is that you don’t have to apply to these colleges individually. The Common App is an official industry tool that’ll let you apply to multiple colleges after filling out just a few forms.
When thinking about the right college for you, you’ll want to consider things like cost, location, admissions criteria, acceptance rates, available majors, dorms or other accommodations, and fun stuff like on-campus clubs.
Another extremely important thing to consider: accreditation. Never apply to an unaccredited college. To make sure that it’s accredited, use the search function of the accreditation database offered by the U.S. Office of Postsecondary Education.
Last but not least, it’s a good idea to start early with your college applications. You might need time to gather your recommendation letters or write those killer essays. Here’s an application timeline to follow.
Understanding Financial Aid for College
The very first thing to do is fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is a free government program that’s designed to help students afford tuition, textbooks, and other college expenses. There are a few different ways that FAFSA can help:
- Grants: Grants are essentially free money for college. You don’t have to pay them back. The most well-known grant is the Pell Grant, but there are others.
- Loans: Student loans come in two forms. Subsidized loans are ones where you don’t have to pay any interest on your debt while you’re still in school. Unsubsidized loans do require you to pay interest.
- Work-study programs: These are programs that allow students to work on-campus jobs to help them cover expenses.
There are other ways to save on college costs, too. These include scholarships, tuition assistance from your employer, and special deals and discounts offered by your college of choice. Don’t be afraid to apply for anything and everything. Every penny counts!
Living on Campus
You did it! You got your acceptance letter! Now it’s time to begin the next chapter of your life.
First, you’ll want to decide where to live. Many colleges offer dorm rooms, and some will even require first-year students to live on campus. Others, however, are fine with students living at home or renting their own apartments.
If you decide to go the dorm route, keep in mind that you’ll probably have a roommate. Here are some quick tips for getting along with a college roommate. You might also be interested in dorm room essentials ranging from cookware to bedding.
Other practicalities include signing up for a meal plan and figuring out where to park and where essential campus buildings can be found. These might include everything from libraries to student health centers.
Choosing Your Major
Once you’ve settled into college, it’s time to start thinking about the future. What do you want to do for the rest of your life? What major can get you there?
Don’t worry if you haven’t figured it out yet. Most colleges will let you stay “undeclared” for years before they require you to commit to a major. That said, it’s a good idea to figure out your academic aspirations as soon as possible: This will let you plan out your graduation schedule and fit in any mandatory courses or internships of your major.
As for actually choosing your major, here are a few questions that you can ask yourself during some soul-searching:
– What are my passions? How can I make money off these passions?
– What are at least five jobs that I can get with my chosen degree?
– What degrees, certifications, or licenses will I need on my chosen career path?
– What are my employment prospects after graduation?
For the last question, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics can help. You can search for specific careers and get salary information, projected growth rates, educational and professional requirements, and more.
Having a Social Life in College
Your freshman year of college can be overwhelming, especially if you’re taking lots of classes. However, academics are only part of the “college experience,” so it’s important not to get lost in your textbooks. Having friends can be just as important for your mental life as getting good grades.
Here are just a few tips for meeting people in college:
- Go to freshmen mixers and meet-ups
- Join clubs, societies, sororities, or fraternities
- Start study groups with your classmates
- Hang out in common areas of your dorms or around campus
- Find a part-time job
If you have any hobbies or special interests, make sure to use those to your advantage, too. For example, if you’re into fitness, you can spend time at the campus gym.
Don’t be discouraged if it takes awhile to make new friends. Stay positive, keep putting yourself out there, and be open to new possibilities for friends from all walks of life!
Living Your Best Life at College
Your college days are something that you’ll look back on for the rest of your life. You’ll have ups, downs, and everything in between. Not every experience will be good, but that’s part of adulthood, too.
If you’re thinking about college, you should be proud of yourself. You’ve already taken the first step to a brighter future. Now, you just need to put pencil to paper and start getting things done. Good luck!
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