Asking people for advice can be a great way to get career ideas, but don’t let anyone else make the decision for you—it’s your life, and it’s important you choose a path that you’ll be happy with. If you know that you want to go to college but you’re not sure what you want to study, it’s okay to enroll without declaring a major. In that case, you may want to start out at a local community or junior college to get some of your core classes out of the way while you narrow down what degree you want to pursue.
Weigh all of these factors as you’re making your decision—only you’ll know what’s right for you.
Other helpful skills might include cooking, checking the oil in your car, changing a flat tire, and managing your own budget. Take charge of your own schedule, too—in college, you’ll be responsible for getting to class on time, and there won’t be anyone there to make sure you get enough sleep at night. [4] X Trustworthy Source Child Mind Institute Nonprofit organization providing evidence-based care for children with mental health and learning disorders and their families Go to source
Your school will also give you a list of things that are prohibited on campus—be sure you don’t bring anything that isn’t allowed!
Remember to include things like tuition, room and board, books, and living expenses when you’re planning your budget. If you’re planning to be a full-time student, you may also be able to help pay for college by working part-time. If you’re only taking a few classes at a time, you might still be able to work full-time. As a last resort, consider taking out student loans to help you pay for any remaining balance—but keep in mind that you’ll have to pay these back after you finish school, and student loan debt can be a heavy burden to carry with you through your adult life.
For example, you might take US History, English Lit, Algebra, Art History, and Spanish your first semester. Keep in mind that college classes usually take place either Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or Tuesday and Thursday. Night classes typically only meet once a week. Try to balance your schedule so you have a few classes each day. Generally, you’ll take 4-6 classes each semester if you’re a full-time student. If you’re a part-time student, you might take 1-3 classes, instead.
Get to the bookstore as early as possible so you’ll have the best chance of scoring used books for a big discount. To help save money, you may be able to purchase or rent used books online. If you buy online, though, make sure you get the exact edition of the textbook that your professor requires for the class. Also, order them as early as possible to ensure they’ll come in before your class starts.
Also, remember that you’ll probably have different classes on different days, so you’ll probably need to have one map for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and another for Tuesday and Thursday. Some schools are so big that they even have on-campus bus systems to help you get around!
You can also find helpful information in the syllabus, like your professor’s office location and hours, supplemental study materials, and grading policies. Also, use your syllabus to keep track of things like project due dates and exams.
Pay close attention in class, take careful notes, and study hard so you’ll get good grades. Get involved in extracurricular activities like academic clubs, sports teams, and volunteer groups—in addition to being a lot of fun, these activities will make your college application look more impressive. To make your application really stand out, look for opportunities to earn college credit while you’re still in high school. For instance, you might take Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams, participate in an internship, or enroll in a program that allows you to take college courses part-time. [12] X Research source
It’s usually a good idea to take both the ACT and the SAT in the Spring semester of your junior year. Then, if you want to improve your score, you’ll have time to retake them in the Fall semester of your senior year. [14] X Research source These exams usually test you on information you’re already learning in school, but taking a test prep class or hiring a tutor may help you improve your score. [15] X Research source If you didn’t graduate from high school, you’ll need to take and pass the GED (General Educational Development) test in order to be considered for college. [16] X Research source
Use a spreadsheet to keep all of your college info organized, like their acceptance rates, GPA requirements, and application deadlines. Plan visits to a few different schools to really get a feel for them! Try doing this the summer between your junior and senior year of high school so you’ll know where you want to apply by the time senior year starts.
College applications take a lot of time to fill out, and you have to submit an application fee with each one, so think carefully as you’re choosing how many schools you want to apply to. [19] X Research source Some people recommend applying to a minimum of 5 schools—3 target schools, or the schools you most want to attend, and 2 safety schools, or schools you’re relatively sure you can get into. [20] X Research source Your college essay allows you to give the admissions panel a deeper glimpse into your life. Talk about struggles you’ve overcome or accomplishments you’re especially proud of—anything that makes you stand out from the crowd. [21] X Research source
