You committed to the college of your choice, now what?

by Hannah Phanitchob, a 2023-2024 Ready WA Storyteller

INTRODUCTION

In my previous Ready WA work, I talked a lot about applying for college and all that fun stuff, but this time I’ll be answering the question, “Now What?”

First off, CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve committed to the college of your choice and are just waiting for the next steps. Of course, spend some time celebrating this great achievement, and enjoy your break!

Eventually, you will need to lock back in and do some more work before you actually attend college. Those steps can seem a bit murky, and you might be unsure what you need to consider before stepping onto campus. That’s what this blog post is here for! I’ll share my own experiences, like what I did before attending college. I’ll also recommend some considerations such as housing, roommates, and on-campus opportunities to look out for.

FINANCIAL AID

First things first, do you understand your financial aid package? You should have received a financial aid summary from your college detailing any grants, scholarships, and loans that you are given. Make sure to go over them, understand them, and if you have any questions contact your college’s financial aid office. I’d definitely recommend contacting your college’s financial aid office in general though, just to identify any grants or scholarships that you can apply for. It’s never too late to start applying! Your college might even have an office dedicated to scholarships and grants that can help you identify and apply for additional funding. And don’t forget that you need to apply for FAFSA/WAFSA every year!

ROOMMATES

This next topic might not be as important as financial aid, but it really can make or break your first year at college, and that’s your roommate(s). Of course, you might be lucky enough to get a single your first year, but if you don’t you shouldn’t need to be stressed. I recommend trying to find a roommate pretty early. Obviously, a random roommate won’t be the end of the world, as I know plenty of people who love their random roommate. Yet, I can’t deny that others can have some unpleasant random roommate stories. I was lucky to actually find a roommate so I did not need to go through the randomization process. There are many ways to do this. Your college might have a social media page for incoming students. This can be a great way to get to know your class and reach out to potential roommates. There are also whole sites dedicated to finding roommates! This is the route I used to find my first-year roommate. The app I used was Zeemee and this is totally not a plug, I just loved this site. The last time I checked it was free! Overall, I thought it was so fun to use. You can take a quiz to identify other people who have the same roommate needs as you, such as how clean you want the room to be, volume levels, etc. You can also just learn a lot about people. Even if I didn’t end up rooming with some people, I still gained a lot of friends through it.

RESEARCH

This topic might seem tedious, but it gave me peace of mind knowing what I was getting myself into, and that’s simply researching! Really understanding what your college has to offer not only prepares you but can excite you!

But what exactly do you research? One thing you can research is simply the campus. Familiarize yourself with all the stops on campus that are important, such as study spots, offices, your student union building, etc. I remember watching so many tours and YouTube videos.

This can help you find organizations on campus that pique your interest. This can include Greek life, but also clubs, and community-based programs. You can also get a grasp of the many events your campus hosts. I know one that was really exciting for me was learning about all the concerts that happen on campus!

You can also sign up for in-person tours as well! And you might have already done this during Admitted Students Day or another campus event. I know I went on a tour that explored all the different neighborhoods around campus, which helped me find things to do outside of schoolwork.

Speaking of which, try exploring your college’s off-campus community like museums, landmarks, and other interesting spots that are a walk or bus ride away. There might be fun events and traditions that you can explore as well! Some examples could be festivals, local markets, and other celebrations. There might even be deals for student tickets if needed. I know I get a student discount to see local theater shows, which is awesome.

That does not mean slack off though! Stay locked in, seriously. While researching, you might come across tutoring or writing centers that can be useful once you’re in college. You might find other interesting events as well. For instance, my college has an abundance of undergraduate research opportunities, so they host an undergraduate research symposium for students to present their work to other students! I recommend events like this as they can be very fulfilling and eye-opening.

CONCLUSION

When you finally step foot on campus, truly explore! That is probably the best advice I can give you. Do not limit yourself to just exploring campus; explore what you like, and who you are, and find ways to make your life in college worthwhile.