For incoming college freshmen, the countdown is on. In just a few short weeks, ready or not, new freshmen will be on campus.

For these students, it’s likely that the next few weeks will be a blur of shopping, packing and goodbyes. But there’s a lot more to being ready for the first year of college than just being sure you have the right clothes, dorm gear and electronics. Here’s my advice to help students prepare for a smooth beginning to life on campus in the remaining weeks.

 Take more responsibility. In college, Mom and Dad won’t be there to make your doctor appointments or schedule your haircuts — or to set up a meeting with your advisor or that hard-to-approach professor. So you need to practice taking care of the hidden details of your life that your parents may have seamlessly managed. Schedule any last-minute appointments at the dentist or eye doctor; offer to make the family grocery run; keep track of anything you need at the drug store and purchase it yourself. This is good practice to be ready for the independence that you will enjoy in college.

 Complete any remaining paperwork. If you attended a summer orien-tation, you may have already filled out some of the required forms, such as any facilities-use agreements or computer ethics agreements. You also may have had your student ID processed, activated your student email, provided your immunization records and followed up with admissions to make sure your AP credits were applied and your final transcripts received. If not, make a checklist of what is still required and finish it up before you leave.

 Make sure bills are up to date. In the excitement of graduation and summer vacation, you may have put aside any forgotten-about tuition or residential life bills. Make sure you’re on track with your payments and set up a reminder system so you (or your parents) stay current.

 Be prepared for emergencies. If you will still be covered by your parents’ health insurance, make sure you have a copy of your insurance card and understand how to use it. (If you go to a doctor who doesn’t participate in your plan, for instance, it can end up costing you hundreds of extra dollars.) If you won’t still be on your parents’ plan, investigate what kind of health insurance your college offers. Talk with your parents about what you would do if your wallet, ID or credit cards were stolen; if your car got a flat tire; or if you have an accident or sudden illness.

 Connect with your roommate. When you get that assignment, reach out, either via phone, text or social media. Breaking the ice virtually can help prepare you for that first meeting; communicating early is also a good way to avoid having duplicate mini-fridges or futons in your tiny dorm room.

 Research extracurricular activities. If you already know you’d like to swim recreationally, take yoga or learn to play rugby, look online to see if you can find out how to get involved. Sure, you can wait till you get on campus, but in the blur of those first few weeks, it can be easy to miss the introductory meetings for clubs and sports teams. And if you know where to meet some like-minded people, it can help stave off any early feelings of homesickness or loneliness and help your new school begin to feel like home.

 

Donna Spann is CEO of Capstone College and Career Advising in Tyler. A college advisor for 12 years, Donna leads a team of professionals who take a personal approach to advising that helps students navigate career exploration and the college application process.