10 #ThingsToDoTheSummerBeforeCollege

Summer’s just getting started, but you’ll be entering your first year of college before you know it. Check out the College of Charleston’s list of 10 things to do this summer to help you prepare.

1. Go to your favorite hometown places.

You’ll have plenty of breaks over the next few years, but between study abroad and internship opportunities it could be a while before you live at home again. Eat at your favorite restaurants, walk through your favorite parks – make the most of your time there.

2. Set up a budget.

You can use a website like Mint to create a budget that connects to your debit or credit cards. It’ll alert you when you’re over budget on, say, coffee or energy drinks and get you in the habit of saving before your first year.

3. Check out the First Year Experience (FYE) course options.

FYE courses are required for all first year students in either fall or spring semester, which is good news because they’re awesome. Sort through courses with titles like “Bob Dylan and the American Dream,” “Sociology of Food,” and “Gaming 101: An Introduction to Videogames and the Study of Play.”

4. Connect with your new roommate.

Reach out to him or her (and your suitemates) on the phone or through Facebook to decide who’s bringing what to the room – you don’t want to end up with four TVs in the common area.

Make sure to leave the personal stuff until you actually meet, as it’s easy to lose details or tone over texts and social media. Check out this list for more roommate tips.

5. Take a road trip with your high school friends.

Whether your destination is two or 12 hours away, you’ll have a great time enjoying the summer and the sights with old friends.

6. Buy rain gear.

If you don’t have a trusty rain jacket, umbrella and rain boots, get them. Hurricane season lasts from June to November – i.e. your orientation and almost your entire first semester of classes. Just check out Kevin Spacey (aka House of Cards‘ Francis Underwood) getting a little swamped near campus…

7. Speaking of orientation.

Have you registered for your session? If not, register now because sessions are closing fast!

8. Scout out some new favorite locations in Charleston.

Do you love live music? Then look at the calendars for some of Charleston’s many venues so you can buy tickets in advance. The College’s new George Street Fitness Center offers classes and state-of-the-art equipment, but if hot yoga or Crossfit is your thing, check out the locations near campus. You’ll feel better coming to a new city when you know the lay of the land.

9. Learn how to write a proper email.

Between professors, classmates and internship supervisors, you’ll write a lot of emails in college. Make it a habit to include an informative subject line and to sign your full name at the end of the message. Oh, and don’t start with “hey.”

10. Sharpen your mac & cheese skills.

Chances are Easy Mac and ramen noodles will be some of your closest friends on those late nights leading up to midterms, so you should know they require water. It might seem obvious, but dry-microwaved ramen has set off many-a fire alarm in first-year residence halls.