Let me start off by telling you that I have no idea what to do when it comes to preparing for college. After graduation, I knew I was done with high school but it never really set in that I was actually going to college until I started trying to buy stuff for my dorm and figure out what I was supposed to pack and how I was supposed to do it. I’m a week away from moving in and still have no idea what it about to happen, and still have yet to pack any of my clothing because I suck.

Anyways, here are a few things that may or may not be useful to you:

1. If you were so lucky as to be able to choose your roommate, as I was, you should coordinate with your roomie on all things dorm: color themes, decorations, who is bringing what and more.

It makes it a lot easier to get dorm shopping done when you know what you and your roomie each need to contribute.

2. Save your graduation party and open house money that all your relatives and family friends so kindly give you.

You can use it to buy dorm stuff or you can put it away in your savings to pay for all of those fun books you are going to need!

3. Work the summer before you go.

I know that you are going to want to spend time with friends because you may not see many of them much after you leave, but I promise it is not hard to balance 40-hour work weeks with a social life during the summer because you pretty much have all of the time in the world. Your wallet will thank you!

4. Do your back to school clothing shopping on a budget.

You are going to want to have a decent amount of spending money when you are actually at college so do not spend all of it before you ever even move-in! Shop somewhere like TJ-Maxx because they have cute clothes for a lot cheaper than anywhere else I know. Target is always a good option as well, but be careful because if you are anything like me, Target is a very dangerous place to shop when you have little self-control.

5. Spend time with your family.

Sure, you will come back on breaks to see them and I am sure that my own mom will be calling me at least every other night to check up on how I am doing, but I know that it is out of love! My parents have been talking about me leaving all summer and they are not so eager to see me leave the nest, but they are also very excited to see how the next chapter in my life goes. I have been trying to spend time with them, as well as my sister, because I know that I won’t have the opportunity to spend as much time with them as I always have been able to my whole life.

6. Get excited!

It’s almost time to start the next chapter in your life.