6 Things Your Grad Should do Before Leaving for College
Now that the graduation ceremonies and parties are done (hooraaaay), and your young adult is biding time before heading off to college in the fall, review this list of 6 tasks that will help them close this chapter in their lives and be prepared to start their next one.
One: Clean Your Room!
Okay, this is a great way to get them to get rid of all of their “junk” that they’ve hung on to for years. Set up 2 large bins: one for trash and the other for Salvation Army or Goodwill. Then, give them a designated area where they can keep their belongings that they’ll need when they come home for holidays and breaks. Any remaining items can be stored if they’re family heirlooms or mementos, or sold on Craigslist or at a yard sale for cash.
Two: Write Your Autobiography
Before heading off to college, have your teen write an autobiography to give them closure on the first 18 years of their lives. If writing or organizing something like this is not your kids’ cup of tea, they can always create a scrap book or photo album and fill it with their favorite memories. Giving them a sense of who they are will instill a strong sense of self-esteem, which will in turn give them a solid foundation on which to build their future.
Three: Create Your 4-Year College Plan
Have them organize their entire 4-year plan for college. By doing the research and thinking about what they hope to learn before the graduate, they’ll understand what courses they need to take for their majors (and minors) and general education requirements. They can even add in internships, jobs, and research so they don’t have regrets later. Not only will they take advantage of the many programs available to them on campus, they’ll graduate in 4 years, which will save you between $12,000-$60,000 (depending on their tuition). I probably don’t have to tell you that anything you can do to save yourself tens of thousands of dollars is time well-spent.
Four: Purchase College Items Early
Every college gives students a list of things they should bring with them during orientation and before classes begin. If your kid is like most college-bound students, they’ll probably wait until the last minute to buy these things, which means you’ll be paying top dollar at the nearest stores when you arrive with their stuff piled high in your minivan. Instead, ask them to make a list of items they want and ask them to find sales. They can even go on Craiglist, Amazon, flea markets, garage sales, and local bargain stores to get great deals. Most colleges provide a twin bed (extra long), desk, chair and closet. PRO TIP: Buy the extra-long sheets online to get lower prices. They might want a mini-fridge or microwave for their dorm, and you can get those used. My daughter got one for free when students were vacating their dorms and didn’t have a place to store them. Score!
Five: Indulge in Reading
This will be the first time in over a decade that your kid won’t have a list of “summer reading” and stress to study for SATs or ACTs. They actually have no responsibilities and no stress. So, give them a list of classics to read for the summer (reading isn’t really a responsibility).
Six: Get a Job
With no homework, stress, or lists of things to do — well, except these (awesome) lists — they can go out and earn a buck! With no degrees or seniority, taking that low-paying summer job will be just what they need to realize how important it is to get their college degree! So let them slave away at an ice cream counter or bus tables at a restaurant. Earning those extra nickels will also give them spending money once they get to college because you’ll be tapped out just paying their tuition, room and board and MONEY DOESN’T GROW ON TREES, KID!