Transition to College
As a college student, you will be expected to take 
charge of your own education, health, and emotional 
and social well-being. This will require you to be 
organized and disciplined, and to become your 
own advocate.
Summer Bridge Programs 
You may be invited to a Summer Bridge or Leadership 
Program at your college. Keep an eye out for important 
communication about these opportunities, which can 
help ease your transition to college. These programs 
take place in the summer “bridge” period between 
high school and college, and provide guidance on 
important academic and social skills needed to be 
successful in college.
Attend Freshman Orientation 
Orientation immerses you in college life. You will  
begin to make new friends, become familiar with the 
campus and services, and perhaps even meet your  
academic advisor and register for your classes. You 
also will get your student ID, purchase your textbooks, 
and finalize any unresolved issues. Some schools 
schedule orientation over the summer, others just  
prior to the start of the semester. Be sure to participate  
in all orientation activities.
Set Up Your Dorm Room
Shop carefully. Your college should provide you with 
a list of items needed for your dorm and detailed rules 
about what you may and may not bring into the dorm. 
If you will have a roommate, talk about sharing some 
items, such as a printer, mini-fridge, or rug. One thing 
is for sure: space is limited, so do not bring more 
than you need.
Purchase Your Textbooks
Each course syllabus will tell you the textbooks the 
professor expects you to have and whether you need 
to bring them to class. The average college student 
pays between $500 and $1,000 for books per year. 
Many students save money by renting their books  
or buying them used. Follow these tips to shop wisely:
•Rent books. You can rent books from your school 
bookstore, or rent books online, such as from  
valore.com, textbookrentals.com, and ecampus.
com.
•Pay attention to delivery dates. You need your 
books by the first day of classes.
•Check the shipping costs.
•Get the right edition of your book. Books are  
identified by an ISBN number, and each edition  
has a different ISBN.
•Know the return policy. If you change your  
schedule during the drop/add period, the campus 
bookstore will likely return all of your money.  
Online stores may not.
•Be aware of textbook programs on campus. Some 
colleges bill students for an electronic textbook rental 
service that may or may not be a good financial  
decision. Waive or decline this program if you do  
not want it.
Buy Used Books
Your campus bookstore may have a limited supply 
of used books for sale. You can also buy used books 
online, often at a lower cost. If you purchase online, 
watch delivery dates and shipping costs, and be sure 
to get the right edition.
Be Responsible
Learn to Juggle
Your college schedule will be very different from your 
high school schedule. In college, you will attend only 
a few hours of class each day, but you will be expected 
to work and study many hours outside of class.  
On campus, distractions will be plentiful, from parties 
to sporting events to every club imaginable. Follow 
these tips to balance work and fun:
•Use a planner to manage your classes, assignments,  
and activities. Plan ahead for upcoming assignments, 
tests, and long-term projects.
•Use your syllabus — the class guide each professor 
hands out or posts online — to navigate each class. 
Look at it every day. Note: syllabi can change over 
the course of a semester. Look for changes in  
assignments and due dates.
•Finish reading assignments prior to class so  
you can participate. Many professors grade on  
participation, and research shows that students  
who participate learn more in class.
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Becoming a College Student

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