The inevitable wait for acceptance letters can be extremely stressful. Most of us end up resorting to retail therapy or chocolate indulgences to take our minds off of the suspense! But there’s actually a productive list of things to do instead. The last months of your senior year needn’t be spent aimlessly waiting by the mailbox. Here’s your plan to get back in the game and make those last few weeks count!
1. Apply For A Summer Job or Internship
Since you finally have some downtime, consider filling out a few applications. It’s your last summer before college and you want to enjoy it, but some of those hours should be productive. A job or internship will still allow enough time for you to hang with friends and hit the beach! But the benefits are twofold: Getting some work experience before your freshman year will look great on your resume and earn you some extra cash to spend. You’ll be so much happier when you can splurge on that hot new dress for all the parties you’re getting invited to! To keep up-to-date on internship opportunities, check our listings page.
2. Write Thank You Notes
Chances are, a teacher or college advisor wrote you letters of rec at some point. Now’s the time to thank them if you haven’t already. Sending a formal card or handwritten note is a great gesture that’ll go a long way. It’ll show your appreciation for their hard work—most teachers end up writing tons of letters for all of their students! Besides, you never know when those sources might come in handy again.
3. Learn To Budget
While the past few years of using Mom and Dad’s banking system have been great, things won’t stay that way forever. Take the initiative to brush up on your financial skills. The best place to start is with simple budgeting. Take a week to record your expenses – noting when and what you spend your money on. At the end of the week, add ‘em up to calculate a total. You might find that you made some unnecessary impulse purchases. No big, just be more conscious next time. Ask a parent to help you break down your costs and make a monthly plan. It might be a little intimidating at first, but don’t lose hope. It’s exciting to learn to handle your own expenses. You’ll be responsible for yourself in college, and learning to money managing is an essential part of the transition. These skills will come in handy when you’re living away from home and make you more independent down the road! Another great site to check out to start learning the ropes of budgeting and your finance is LearnVest.
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4. Check Your Credits
Even though you haven’t received your acceptance letters, you probably have it narrowed down to a few schools. So take the time to see which of your colleges will accept AP or IB credits. Some schools are more willing than others, and you might have to fill out a form or petition for credit. Depending on your program and major, your AP or IB scores might count for core or elective slots. It’s worth it, because transfer credits will save you time and money! Once you find out your schools’ policies, you can order copies of your AP scores from The College Board.
5. Apply For Scholarships
This is one of the most productive things you can do during the waiting game. Whether you’re paying for college on your own, your parents are financing your studies, or a combination, saving money through scholarships is a no-brainer. Check out sites like Zinch, ScholarshipPoints.com and Scholarships.com, which lets you apply for a handful of scholarships based on major, career interest, and more. Check out our Her Campus article with additional websites to help you find scholarships!
6. Learn College Terminology
Once you’ve taken care of the important stuff, here’s something fun to do. Read up on college guides and freshman handbooks that people have been passing your way. A lot of them actually have useful ideas of what to expect. But don’t let them get you stressed – find humor in some of the weird advice that they dole out. Your and your friends probably had your own lingo in high school, but college is a whole different ball game! See this article for a list of common words and phrases that you’ll hear around campus. Consider it your summer reading list priority. Don’t get locked out of your room without knowing what sexiled means!
7. Organize Your Room
As the summer gets closer, so does your impending move-out date. While this moment is definitely bittersweet, you should focus on the exciting opportunities that await you. Think about moving into your dorm for the first time and meeting your roomie! That being said, it’s not a bad idea to start getting your current room in order. That junk shoved in the back of your closet? It can’t stay there forever. Sure, it’s a drag to go through years of accumulated possessions, but it must be done! If you get it done now, you’ll be all smiles come summer’s end. So crank up your tunes and blast some music while you organize. Only keep what you truly need. When you’re done, donate your unwanted stuff to charity—we’re all for a good cause.