College is a time of great change and growth. You will be introduced to new people, places, and classes. Whether you're going to college for the first time or it's been years since college - there are steps that you can take before college begins that will help prepare you for this big transition. In this article, we'll talk about some of these steps and how they can help prepare your mind and body for college life!

Talk with your parents

Tuition is one of the most important aspects when it comes to college. While there are many other costs that you will end up paying for, tuition is a big one and can be a deciding factor in which college or university an individual ultimately attends. The first step you need to take before going to college is talking with your parents about how much money they are willing to spend on tuition (if any) as well as what their expectations for you after college might be. You don't want to enroll in school without knowing where the money's coming from!

You need to make your decision: either take all four years off, find a job and make some cash while waiting out my degree plan, or get rolling immediately by attending college this fall semester?

Research scholarships and grants

Scholarships and grants are a great way to cover the cost of tuition without having to take on any debt. Visit your college scholarship provider's page and research what they offer scholarships and grants for you could be eligible even if it isn't directly related to your field of study or major! 

Some scholarship providers offer incentives for scholarship recipients to enroll in their college or university. For instance, some scholarship providers may provide a scholarship of $1000 and will waive the first year's tuition. Be sure to look at all options when researching scholarships! 

College costs are on the rise with tuition prices climbing by more than two percent every year so getting an idea of what your school offers is becoming even more important. In fact, those who graduate with debt end up paying about eight percent less per month than graduates without any loans because it takes them longer to pay back their student loan payments. 

If you're wondering how much money you'll need after graduation? The average cost of attending four years of public college is now just shy of $100,000.

If you have a scholarship or grant and receive any federal funding for your education, then the FAFSA form is required to be filled out annually if you're in need of financial aid. 

Create a list of what you need to bring

Make sure you bring all the essentials when moving into college. This includes your bedding, towels, and toiletries. You will also need a clothes hanger for wet or dirty items along with an iron to keep the wrinkles out of freshly washed clothing. 

You might want to bring some basic cooking equipment like pots and pans if you don't plan on living in residence. Kettles are great for boiling water while electric coffee makers make waking up early all that much better! If you're planning on studying abroad, be sure to pack some international adapters so that you can charge electronics from any power outlet worldwide without having to worry about voltage differences. Bringing headphones is always a good idea as well since college life often involves hours of study by oneself- music helps pass time more quickly when you're on your own.

Find out about the school's dorm policies and where you will be living

Accommodation for dorm living is determined by dorm policies. Some dorms are co-ed dorms, and some dorms limit the number of people who can live in a dorm room. Know the dorm policy before you apply to college so that you will be prepared for your student life with furniture, bedding, or other necessities. 

There are often added fees if you sign a lease longer than one year or a dormitory contract that is shorter than nine months. You may need to provide your own bedding and furniture as well as towels and linens. So pack some sheets in addition to any other necessities you will need during college.

If you have allergies, it would also be wise to bring an air purifier because dust mites can live anywhere from dorms and apartments all the way up to office buildings. Bring clothes hangers with clips too so that those items stay wrinkle-free when they arrive on campus.

Learn how to manage your time wisely

Managing time is one of the most important skills you can learn for college and beyond. One way to manage your time is by creating a schedule that includes taking care of yourself, school work, social activities, extracurriculars, and hobbies.

Make sure you take time out for self-care like eating healthy food or getting enough sleep. It's just as important as any other activity on your calendar! When it comes down to it, if you don't have anything left in the tank then all those other things won't get done either.

If there are certain times during the day that always seem too busy with classes or meetings but not so busy at night when homework needs to be completed make an effort to plan ahead and manage your time better.

If you want to take up a new hobby, activity, or extracurricular but don't have the time for it in your schedule, try thinking of ways you could make more time during the week. For example: set aside an hour each day after class to do things like going on hikes with friends or practicing guitar before bed. You can also talk to your professor about taking notes instead of typing them out if there is room in their syllabus for that option which will free up some time every week!

Now that you have all the information, it's time to take action! You can use this guide as a checklist of everything you need to do before leaving for college. To make things easier on yourself and your family, be sure to talk with them about how much money they are willing to spend on tuition. Most people don't want their children going into too much debt just because they go away for school. When researching scholarships and grants offered by colleges in your area, keep in mind what is important for you academically. Are there certain majors or areas of study which interest you more than others? If so, research those schools further.