The first year of college should be a very exciting and memorable one for most individuals. However, it can also be a very stressful time because most students will be living on their own for the first time and will need to adjust to new surroundings, different classmates and more challenging school work and assignments. However, it doesn’t have to be super stressful; planning ahead will make transitioning to student life a lot easier.

One of the most crucial aspects to decide is where you will be living. Possible options include living in a dorm or sharing an apartment with peers or other individuals. Living at a dorm will give students a more in-depth collegiate experience whereas living in an apartment will provide for more independence. Housing can be found by reading the local newspaper or surfing local online directories. Often there will be a bulletin board on campus where students can post ads looking for someone to live with.

Make a list of the items that you will need for your new apartment or dorm room. You will generally need a refrigerator and freezer, microwave, cookware and a bed or mattress to sleep on. The rest depends on what you need and your available funds. If your finances allow for it, you might consider purchasing a couch, dining table, silverware and dishes.

It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with your future roommates.

Perhaps talk back and forth a bit on Facebook or have a phone conversation to get a solid understanding of the other person. It might be a good idea to also discuss some house rules, for example how the chores will be divided up and if each person will buy his and her own food or if the cost will be shared. Who will be in charge of paying the utilities? Having these guidelines set in place beforehand will help everyone to get along.

Buying text books doesn’t necessarily have to be super costly. You can save a great deal of money by purchasing books online; this makes it a lot easier to comparison shop and see which stores offer the best deals. It’s a smart idea to buy used books from other students as well. Both of these methods are generally more cost effective versus buying a brand new book at the college store.

Walk around the campus a few days before class starts and walk to all of your classes so you know what building they are located in before the first day of school. This will let you get used to the campus and have a general idea of where everything is located at. Also make sure to familiarize yourself with the nearest grocery store, bank and gas station. It will be easier to adjust and less stressful if you know where everything is at ahead of time.

Will you be using an auto, bike or taking public transportation? If you are staying in a dorm this won’t be as much of an issue, but if you are living off-campus you might want to keep a car. If having your own car isn’t an option, you may opt to bike and use public transportation as needed. In this case, make sure you have a storage area for your bicycle. It’s also a good idea to get familiar with the local bus routes.

You will most likely look back on your college years with fond memories. Planning in advance will make everything just a bit easier and less stressful.

Author Bio: Written by Jacqueline Star: Online Degree, Online Marketing,

Category: Education
Keywords: degrees, university, college, education