College seems scary to most, but it has to be one of the most thrilling things to look forward to. Seniors are now being accepted into the colleges they have applied to and are beginning to choose their dream schools! In just a few months, our senior classmates will be starting a new, exciting journey in their lives. However, preparing for college isn’t easy; how do you prepare yourself for the next four years of your life? Although it is complicated, there are many ways to prepare to make this transition less stressful.

First, decide on the right school for you! Picking a school is a very difficult decision, especially if someone likes more than one. It’s important to pick the best possible school because college costs a lot of money and can have a great effect on students’ lives. The first step in choosing the right school is to visit every campus! Doing this allows one to get the gist of what they could be exposed to in the fall semester. While visiting schools, see if they have what you want in a university. Some like the city feel while others enjoy more of a small-town or rural experience.  Visiting also helps you get ideas about where you could hang out on campus, such as a big quad in front of the university or a favorite local coffee shop. Another great part about visiting is being able to see what living there is like. You’ll get an idea of how big the dorm rooms actually are. Visiting colleges helps one get an overall experience of what it would be like to attend a particular university.

Secondly, find a roommate! Most commonly called “roomies”, finding one might be one of the most exciting things for a freshman going into college. A great way to find a roommate is joining your college Facebook group. Most universities have group pages on Facebook where everyone posts a little something about themselves. Also another great resource to find your roommate is through the roommate search/match that the school provides. Another helpful way to find a roommate is to attend the student acceptance days that are held at the campus.

Lastly, help prepare for the financial burden! We all know that college is a hefty expense. Students who do not receive money from the university still have many ways of getting financial support. One of the most important ways to receive money is to fill out the FAFSA form. It is a free form that allows the government to provide financial help based on your parents’ income. Another helpful financial recourse is to apply for scholarships. With the help of a guidance counselor, you can learn about various awards and proper application procedures.. Another way to help with money is to apply for loans. Although taking out loans may sound like a daunting task, they will pay off in the long run.