Learning that you’ve been accepted to your preferred college is an exciting time in anyone’s life. Whether you are looking forward to obtaining a degree in history or studying advanced microbiology, using a college survival guide can help you to adjust to the new chapter in your life. As you transition from high school and living at home, using a college survival guide can provide you with the tools, tips, and resources necessary to thrive.
Have a Vehicle to Get Around
A key component of any college survival guide is having a vehicle to get around in. This is especially important for students who do not intend to live directly on campus as well as those who work off-campus and require daily transportation. Having a vehicle to get around in can help to expedite moving from one place to another, preventing you from being late to class, work, or other important appointments.
If you do not have a vehicle at the time of applying for college, you can begin searching for automotive insurance ratings and providers near you. Comparing automotive insurance providers and ratings can help you to determine how much you will need to pay in order to insure your vehicle based on where you are planning to attend college or university. You should also take the time to compare insurance providers to find one that is willing to work with you in terms of policy offerings and cost.
Buy an Affordable Car
If possible, invest in buying an affordable car before heading off to college or university. Even if you originally intended to carpool with others that you know or you were going to utilize public transportation, your own car will provide much more in the way of freedom and flexibility. Finding an affordable car is possible by first setting a budget and determining the type of vehicle you will require based on the driving you do each day. Consider how frequently you will be driving as well as the distance you will need to drive in order to get to class, home, work, and to complete other errands around town.
You can begin searching for an affordable car that is ideal for your needs by asking family and friends if they are currently selling any vehicle of their own. You can also opt to search for new and used cars for sale online from home with the use of popular search engines and social media platforms. Additionally, if you are able to check into a local shop, you can also speak directly with used car salesmen to discover which cars or trucks are available and which are also affordable to you at the time. Whenever you choose to visit a used car salesman, be sure to conduct research to learn more about the location’s reputation and legitimacy. This will help you to prevent being sold a vehicle that is not in good condition or one that is also overpriced.
Before settling on a vehicle that is right for your driving needs and habits as a college student, be sure to check the current blue book value of the car or truck you are interested in. The blue book value of a vehicle will help you to determine if the current cost of the car or truck is worth the estimated value. It’s also important to keep in mind that anytime you purchase a car it will immediately lose some of its value once it is driven off of the car lot.
Get Help With Your Move
No college survival guide is complete without advice regarding planning the actual move into your new college dorm or off-site residence. When it comes to preparing for an upcoming move, it’s highly advisable to get as much help as possible for the big moving day itself. This may include enlisting family members and friends who are willing to assist you with the actual transportation of your furniture and belongings. However, if you’re unable to find anyone to help you move or if you are moving to a college that is not nearby, consider hiring professional moving companies.
Finding the Right Professional Moving Companies
Hiring a professional moving company is a way to alleviate the burden and stress involved with physically transporting furnishings and belongings to a new location. Reputable moving companies will be licensed and insured, protecting you from potential theft, loss, or any damage that may incur during the move itself. Finding reputable moving companies is possible by asking family and friends for referrals. In addition to asking for local references, take time to research moving companies that are currently available near you and in the area in which you are relocating. Use popular search engines such as Google and Bing to find local companies that offer assistance to students who are moving into a college or local dorm. You can also use social media to seek out reviews and testimonials from previous clients to determine which moving company is most reliable, reputable, and trustworthy near you.
Know the Services to Call
A complete college survival guide should also include knowing what services to call if you are ever in need of emergency assistance. For instance, if you have a major plumbing leak or flood in your home, knowing what emergency plumbing line to call near your college or your new residence is essential. When you are unfamiliar with local services to call, you may experience unnecessary delays that can quickly add up in repair costs. Before settling into your new apartment, dorm, or home away at college, take time to get to know the surrounding areas and available local services. The more familiar you become with local services, the less likely you are to feel overwhelmed and confused when confronted with an issue anywhere you are living.
Clean Your New Place
Maintaining a clean living space is imperative once you begin to live on your own. While the new sense of independence can be thrilling, it also requires self-accountability and being much more responsible when you are no longer relying on others to clean up after you. Cleaning your place daily can help prevent major backups of clothing, dust, and food throughout the house. Allowing your place of living to get dirty may also demotivate you from cleaning it, ultimately resulting in an even dirtier place of living.
Benefits of a Clean Place
Whether you’re living in a dorm or residing in your own apartment that you rent, keeping your place of living clean at all times is extremely beneficial. A clean living space will help you to maintain mental clarity, which can also assist you when it comes to focusing on schoolwork and studying for tests. Additionally, a clean living space can help prevent you from becoming depressed and overwhelmed, especially if you take the time to declutter your rooms each day.
How to Clean Regularly
One of the best ways to prevent your apartment or dorm from getting out of control when it comes to dust and garbage is to clean a little bit each day. Cleaning just one room each day can prevent the spaces from collecting too much dust, dirt, grime, or trash. You can also work with a local carpet service that provides cleaning to clean all of the carpets in your home or apartment at least twice a year. Determining the number of times you require a carpet cleaning service will depend on how frequently the carpet is trafficked in your home or apartment.
Take Only What You Need
If you do not have any experience of living on your own and you are heading off to college for the first time, it’s recommended to take only what you need. Going through your furniture, wardrobe, and personal items can help you to determine what is most important to you and what can be left behind at home or placed in storage. Once you have a clear understanding of the number of belongings you intend to take with you when moving, you can then seek out a local moving service that is right for you. Taking only what you need when moving to your dorm, apartment, or new home is advisable to save on costs and to help streamline the actual move as much as possible.
Make Sure Your New Place is Comfortable
Whenever you’re moving into a new location, ensuring the space is comfortable is key. If your new residence is too hot, cold, or has other issues that need to be addressed, it’s essential to contact your landlord or property manager immediately. Depending on who is in charge of handling the HVAC system in your place of residence, you may also want to connect with a local heating and air company for any inspections, updates, or repair work that you need completed.
Find Where the Fun Is
Moving to a new location can be daunting and scary, especially if you have little to no experience living on your own independently. One of the best ways to become more comfortable with a new location is to find out where the fun is located. From searching for popular pubs and restaurants to seeking a local hot tub that is known for casual hangouts, there are many ways to have fun once you are ready to move to college or university. Depending on what college or university you are attending, you can also discover local hotspots by following the institution you attend online with the use of social media. University social media pages are typically packed with local hotspot information along with details regarding upcoming events and celebrations.
Seek Help When You Need It
The right college survival guide should also include information regarding mental health. With mental health crises on the rise, paying attention to your feelings and your own mental health is vital when you are first transitioning or moving into a college or university. Even if you are living off-site and on your own, it’s important to familiarize yourself with various counseling and support resources that are available to all students in your area as well as residents in your city or state.
Build a Support Group
Before heading off to college to live on your own for the first time, build a support group. This group may include family members and friends that you can trust as well as other mental health support friends you have made in the past. A support group can help you to feel less isolated and alone when you are adjusting to your new way of living on your own.
Join Social Groups
Another way to transition with ease when moving to a college or university is to join social groups that are offered by your school. Social groups can put you in contact with like-minded individuals while helping you feel more connected to those around you. You can also use social groups to make friends and to build onto your existing social group as you make your way through any college or university program you are enrolled in.
Plan Your Move Ahead of Time
Finally, when it comes to the perfect college survival guide, it’s important to plan your move ahead of time. Even if you are relocating to a college or university that is only 20 minutes away from your home, planning ahead of time can prevent potential unexpected issues from arising during the transition period. When planning your move ahead of time, consider what furnishings and belongings you will be taking with you. This can help you to determine if you can move all of your items on your own or if you will need the help of a professional residential moving company. Working with a residential moving company will allow you to focus on settling into your new dorm, apartment, or home while your furnishings and belongings are handled with care. A professional moving company will also hold proper licensing and insurance to protect your belongings during the move itself.
Transitioning to college life does not have to feel overwhelming and stressful with enough preparation and the right college survival guide. Using a college survival guide, you can learn to live independently. You’ll maintaining the confidence and self-esteem necessary to set and achieve goals throughout the entirety of your college career.