Summer is slowly but surely approaching. Whereas some college students view the summer months as time to catch up on sleep, others view it as time to get ahead, whether that be through summer classes, internships, or even started to read books from a massive reading list. Summer is a time in which we can either get ahead to a point that the first few months of school is a breeze, or slack off to where we find ourselves trying to throw things together at the last moment to ensure that you are at least a fraction ready for classes to begin. If any of this sounds like you, here are ten things that you can do over the summer to get a head start on next year.
1. Order your textbooks.
It's not uncommon to spend upwards of $200 on textbooks in college (and more than that if you're in engineering). By beginning to purchase books in the summer, you save yourself from the major blow to your wallet that is sure to hit once the semester starts.
2. Get a summer job.
I know it's easy to slack off and take it easy during the summer (hey, we have the rest of our lives to work, right?). But having a summer job gives you experience (and cash), and some experience is better than no experience.
3. Start looking at potential internships.
If you are approaching your junior year, the summer is an opportune time to begin to research various internships in your field, looking at companies you would like to work for, and ultimately what you want to do in the future.
4. Get to know your roommate (If you have a new one).
If this is your first year at college, or your first year with a new roommate, you may want to get to know them. Start talking to each other about sleeping habits, study habits, who should bring what (it's not really necessary for both of you to bring a TV or mini fridge, right?
5. Start paying your bill.
If scholarships, grants, and financial aid doesn't cover the cost of attendance, starting to pay your bill over the summer is a great idea. This way, you don't risk running behind on payments and don't have to worry about it during the year.
6. Start eating healthy.
Any time is a good time to start eating healthier. But if you are looking for the easiest time to get into good habits, start in the summer for this one. In the summer you are home with a functioning kitchen, you're not up until late hours, finishing papers and snacking on potato chips you bought from the vending machine, and, best of all, your parents buy the groceries.
7. Work out.
Or rather, start making a habit of working out. Look at your schedule for next semester and look for when you would have free time and start working out during these times. By the time that the school year starts, you will already have a routine down.
8.Keep practicing/start learning a foreign language.
One of the first things that my ASL professor told us was that "If you don't use it, you'll lose it,) and that is 100% true. Make sure that you are keeping up with whatever language it was that you decided to learn. And, if you are just coming to college, start looking at your language textbooks. At my school, most of the ASL professors are also deaf, so you have to be ready to be thrown into the language.
9. Save money.
Saving a little bit out of each paycheck during the summer will ensure that you are covered during rainy days.
10. Hang out with friends
My best friends and I all go to different schools, so during the summer is the best time for all of us to hang out as much as we want. If you and your friends are separated during the school year, make plenty of time for each other in the summer.
