What to Do With Your Last Summer Before College
Workin’ Hard For Your Money
Taking up a summer job is a pretty standard path for anyone about to go to college. It’s an unfortunate fact that you need money for college. Lots of money. They say money can’t buy happiness, but “they” lived in a society that didn’t know the rapture that comes with a fresh pizza at two in the morning. In college, money is happiness, and you can’t forget that. So, a summer job may be the way to go. Of course, if you’ve held a job through high school, chances are you’re already planning on working through the summer, and you’re a huge step ahead of everyone else.
But, let’s say that’s not you, and you’re looking for employment. First, what type of job is right for you? Forget about trying to find anything that will look good on your resume; you’re already in college, those jobs often don’t pay well, and you’ll only be working a few months. You’re looking for something that pays relatively well, has flexible hours, and that you don’t care too much about, (this way you can do a half-assed job most of the time). If this means washing dishes, do it. If it means sweeping floors, do it. If it means putting up posters all over town and babysitting for every single whiny kid in your neighborhood, do it. The job doesn’t matter: just remember to keep your eyes on the money, and you’ll do fine.
That being said, if you do choose to work, remember to make time for fun. The hands-down best way to do this is to perfect the scratchy-voiced “I can’t come in today, I’m sick, I have the flu, I threw up last night, the doctors only gave me a week to live, and I’ll see you tomorrow” phone call. This call is crucial to your current and future happiness. While it won’t help you much in college (the professors who actually take attendance often don’t allow sick-calls as an excuse; more on getting out of classes later), it certainly will help you later in real life, so, practice, practice, practice.
Let’s say working just isn’t for you. Maybe you’re allergic to labor; maybe your parents are filthy stinking rich and let you use their MasterCard and Visa whenever you please; maybe you’re just plain lazy and don’t believe that you’ll need extra cash for school, (even though you really, really do). Whatever the reason, you’ve chosen to skip the summer job; what can you do instead, you ask? Here you go:
Travel. Yes, it’s horribly cliche; yes, it can be expensive, (although, since you’re choosing not to work, we can assume money isn’t an issue); and yes, it’s probably some of the most fun you’ll have in your whole life. If you’re going to travel, make sure you do it right. Don’t do a tour of the tri-state area; backpack across Europe. Don’t get in a car with your friends and drive to Canada for the day; fly to Australia for the month and boom-a-rang yourself some baby-eating dingos. Wherever you go, you’ll probably have fun (unless you lose your money… is a theme developing here?).
Now, if you don’t want/need to work, and you don’t want to leave your cozy little town, there are still things you can do with your summer. You could learn to water-ski; you could take up a hobby like knitting (take note, boys: knitting is big with college girls… there’s nothing quite as impressive as when you pull out your needles on a Friday night and knit up a scarf); you could even devote your summer to learning how to pluck out Free Bird, (college girls and boys alike love musicians – it’s an odd but true fact). Hanging out with high school friends is another excellent way to pass the time. Sadly, this will probably be the last summer you see many of them, and even for those you stay in touch with, things will never be the same as they are now – take advantage of it.
Over the summer, your college will probably contact you with information about when you’re supposed to move in, where you’ll be living, and, most importantly, who your roommate will be. A roommate can make or break the freshman year experience, and it’s important to get off on the right foot. Call your future roomie as soon as possible; get to know them, find things you have in common, and figure out just who’s going to bring what to your dorm room. This is important – don’t wait until the last minute!
Work, travel, lay on the couch watching The Nanny reruns; whatever you choose to do with your time, summer will eventually come to a close. As your friends head off to school, as you leave your summer job, as you sorrowfully put down your size 13 knitting needles, you’ll be faced with a vital task: packing. What should you bring with you? What should you leave at home? Sure, your parents can send you stuff, and there’s always weekend trips home, (not so feasible if you’re going to school cross-country), but it’s better to be prepared. So, let’s go through a quick checklist of the essentials.
Your College Packing List
First, the big things. Hopefully, by the time you begin packing, you’ve been in touch with your roommate and have decided who, if anyone, is going to bring a television, mini-fridge, and microwave. These things may not seem too important from the safety and comfort of your own home, but once at school, they can be vital. Televisions are a great way to procrastinate when you’re supposed to be writing a paper, and are also a good way of meeting other people on your floor; getting everyone into the room to watch The OC, while pathetic, is a good ice-breaker. Likewise, the mini-fridge and microwave can save your life late at night or early in the morning; you’d be amazed at the foods which can be made in a simple forty-dollar microwave, (oatmeal, Ramen noodles, nachos, mac and cheese… if you can imagine it, you can make it).
So, get the big things taken care of; the best way is to split them with your roommate, having them bring one or two things and you bringing the leftover. A word of warning: the school will probably have microwaves and mini-fridges for sale once you get there; NEVER buy them. Everything sold by a college is over-priced; wait a week and go to your nearest department store to pick up things you’ve forgotten. While on electrical appliances, now is a good time to talk about power strips and extension cords. You can never have enough of either. It’s a huge disappointment when you arrange your room just the way you want it, but realize there’s no where to plug in the ‘fridge. Buy lots of both, and make sure to get at least one high-quality surge protector for sensitive electronics, such as a computer.
On to clothes. Packing clothes can be hard, particularly if you’re going to a school that’s far away and you’re unsure of the climate. If you’re going to a hot school, pack summer clothes; if you’re going to a cold school, pack summer, fall, and winter clothes. This first year you’re almost bound to over-pack on clothes; it’s something all freshmen do. As the weeks go by, however, you’ll learn what you wear and what you don’t; bring home the stuff you don’t wear, and you should be fine. Also, if you’ve been following along, you’ll have realized the importance of money by now, and hopefully either you have your parents credit card or you’ve worked all summer; you can always buy new clothes once at school. There are a few items of clothing that it’s actually hard to over-pack: socks and underwear. You can wear pants and even shirts for a handful of days; try doing that with your socks and underwear, and see how many friends you make. This is especially important as most schools charge students to do laundry; running out of unmentionables is not a fun way to start your day.
Next, essentials. These include hygienic products such as deodorant, (always buy extra so you don’t run out – no one likes the smelly kid, least of all the professors), soap, shampoo, and on and on. Remember to get something such as a small plastic basket to carry all that stuff with you to the shower; there’s nothing worse than looking like an idiot juggling a bar of soap, a bottle of shampoo, a toothbrush, a washcloth, and who knows what else on your way to the shower. Also, if you’re living in a dorm, don’t forget cheap shower sandals; no one likes the kid with foot fungus, either.
Of course, there are other essentials any incoming freshman requires. A computer is a huge one. With so many different computer choices out there, recommending the right one for each individual student could take up a book of its own; just remember that almost all schools now have high-speed internet in the dorm rooms, and your computer should be prepared to take advantage of that. This bit of advice will probably be taken for granted in just a few short years, but it’s important to know that older computers generally won’t serve a college student’s purpose, and buying new is the best way to go. With prices dropping every day, an entry-level computer can now be bought for just a few hundred dollars. Shop around for the best deals, and make sure you order your computer at least a month before going to school; computers can take a long time to ship.
While ordering your computer, remember that they can also be used as stereos; spend the extra bucks to get a nice set of speakers. Not only will this mean you don’t have to lug an actual stereo to school with you, but it will also let you share your music with the whole floor, whenever you want. Just make sure it’s good music; polka isn’t all that popular with the college crowds.
Essentials for a college freshmen also include many other things. Printer paper. Notebooks. Pens and pencils. A good, sturdy backpack that won’t leave you looking like that bell-ringer in Notre Dame, (perhaps even an extra over-the-shoulder pack for those days you want to look professional). A telephone; despite many students having cell phones these days, land-line phones are useful for ordering pizza or making quick local calls. An alarm clock. Think about it this way: if you needed it at home, you’ll probably need it at school.
And then, there are the hundreds of things that you don’t need, exactly, but manage to make college a whole lot better. Media is number one; specifically, music and movies. Copy your CDs onto your computer before you go; this makes them easier to play, and cuts down on packing space. Go ahead and bring your entire DVD collection; they’re small, and even if you don’t watch them all in your first year, just having them will impress people. VHS movies are a different matter; if you have a VCR and have some movies you just can’t live without, bring them, but remember, VHS is going the way of the dinosaurs, Hanson and the Spice Girls; big while they were around, but no longer of any interest to anyone. Anywhere. In fact, go out and buy your favorite VHS movies on DVD now; it’s just the right thing to do.
Books are another important extra to bring to school. With luck, your school will have told you what books you need for your courses, and you can check out their prices online before you move in, maybe even buying some for cheap. Non-course-related books can be just as important, however; if you’re homesick, there’s nothing like a good reading of Calvin and Hobbes or FoxTrot to bring your spirits right back up.
Other non-essentials include the odds and ends scattered around your room; favorite posters, statuettes, decorations, stuff like that. Desk lamps are often forgotten at home, and are usually helpful at school, as is a nice, comfortable desk chair. Again, remember to pack these things; if you have to buy them at your school store, chances are good you’ll be paying twice or even three times what they’re worth.
Once you’re packed up, you’re pretty much all set. Take your time to say your goodbyes to family and friends, and try to do as much as you possibly can in what remains of your summer. Once school starts, it’s go, go, go. Good luck!
