To all those who recently got their acceptance letters, congratulations! You might be wondering, “What do I do now that I’ve been accepted to the most awesome university ever?” No worries, my friends, we have all been there. To help you spend your time wisely before college, I have some awesome (and hopefully helpful) suggestions for things to do.
1. Start thinking about your major(s) and classes
College is all about exploring your interests, and one way you can do that is by browsing for classes in a variety of subjects. Even if you have some idea about your future major or majors, it is really helpful to start daydreaming about your schedule and choosing your classes beforehand, so you can be better prepared in the future. One way to do this is to explore the University’s Academics overview, or, if you’re ready to shop for classes, the Course Descriptions catalog. Here, you can find all the major and course listings. Find something you like, and pursue it further. The University of Rochester is all about doing things you love! (Keep in mind that you may not be able to register for classes during Orientation that you drooled over in February. This is just a starting point.)
2. Explore the University
No matter where you live, you have the chance to explore the University, either physically or virtually. The University organizes multiple events aimed at accepted students and also provides a lot of information for the incoming students. There’s even a virtual tour if you can’t make it to campus. I encourage you to take advantage of these resources, and learn more about your future home. The libraries, buildings, events, and most importantly, the people and the groundhogs, all are about to become a huge part of your life.
3. Pursue a hobby
In these couple of months, you have plenty of time to start a new hobby, or pick up an old one. Feeling artistic all of a sudden? Great! Go paint something! Are you really looking forward to watching the latest season of Sherlock? That’s great! Honestly, do whatever you feel like doing, as this is probably the freest time you will have for a couple of years. College is a really happening period of your life, what with academics, extracurricular activities, and social life—who knows when you will have this opportunity again?
4. Get a job
Since you have free time on your hands, why not earn a little extra money for college? You can use it to buy textbooks and other school supplies when you start the semester. If not for the money, do it for the experience. Campus employers always look to hire people with previous work experience, so if you’re planning on getting a job in college, this is the perfect opportunity to add things to your resume.
5. Have fun!
College will bring about a huge change in your life—you will live in a whole new environment, with new people and surroundings. This is the perfect time to appreciate your home. I didn’t realize how much I would miss everything about Delhi, until I came to Rochester. While I love living here, there is a part of me that misses home (especially my family) constantly. So I suggest to enjoy your hometown, spend time with your friends and family, eat as much home-cooked food as you can, and overall, enjoy your time before college.
Now that you have some idea about how to spend your time before college productively, I would say, most importantly, prepare to come to the University of Rochester. It will change your life. I hope to meet you soon, Class of 2021!