Tips On How To Mentally Prepare For College

If you’re getting ready to apply to college this year, give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back for fulfilling this incredible academic milestone! Well done, you’re certainly on the right path in life!   

However, while a fantastic adventure awaits you where you’ll find growth both academically and professionally, you should also start to prepare yourself to grow personally and emotionally, for which you must prepare yourself mentally in order to make the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

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College comes with many unique challenges, so you should start preparing yourself beforehand. For example, your first year at college might be your first time away from home. Or, getting used to the social and academic aspects of college without your parents by your side can be a challenging task for you. 

All that is normal, though. Keep in mind that whatever anxiety or fear you might feel is totally normal. Mental preparation before you start your first college year will go a long way to help you make your academic experience what you want it to be. 

Follow the tips on mentally preparing for college we’ll talk about below, and you’ll be good for your freshman year!

Start Thinking More Independently 

First things first, prepare yourself that you’ll find the academic structure at college significantly different from high school. For instance, there’s much less “hand-holding” at college than at your local high school, which essentially means that you’ll need to learn how to hold yourself accountable for your own decisions, productivity, and success.

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Apart from moving to a higher level of study, chances are that your college experience would also be your first time away from home and your parents, which means you’ll have to start relying on yourself more than ever before. 

In that context, among other things, you’ll have to learn how to become more organized and careful with money, for which you’ll have to stick to your budget and be mindful of your expenses throughout the year. If you have the time this next summer, it might be beneficial to take on a basic or advanced Excel training course to learn the basics of making budgeting charts and graphics and staying on top of your semester money. 

Besides becoming independent with your money, you’ll also need to learn how to become and stay organized and practice good time management to become fully independent and adapt to your new way of living.    

Learn How To Take Good Care Of Yourself! 

Regardless of how much hard work awaits you at college, you should never ignore the importance of focusing on your personal life and learning to take good care of yourself while away for college. 

This includes developing good health habits as a student and taking proactive measures to learn how good nutrition and exercise aid mental health. Prepare yourself mentally so you’ll have to make time for self-care and relaxation between exam sessions to avoid burnout and maintain good mental shape. In addition, think about the prospective meaningful activities and hobbies that are non-study-related that will help you keep yourself engaged while on campus. 

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Don’t make the mistake of being afraid to prioritize your mental and emotional health while at college, as it’s equally, if not more important, than the academic aspect of the journey!

Keep An Open Mind To New Things And Opportunities

Attending college will undoubtedly open your eyes and mind in more ways than one. This stadium of life is the perfect time to find yourself, challenge some of your old ways of thinking, discover new passions, and meet new friends from all places and backgrounds! 

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For that reason, you must keep an open mind to new things and opportunities and try some different things than what you’re currently accustomed to. So do some research and find a college club that piques your curiosity that you’ll gladly join in your freshman year. 

The whole idea of college is to mentally stretch your mind and make the most of this experience in your life. Keep an open mind to new things and embrace the idea of exploration!

Accept That You Can’t Really Prepare For Everything That College Has For You!

Last but definitely not least, no matter how well-prepared you are for your future college life, accept the fact that it will occasionally throw some curveballs your way. Not everything will go as you imagined, and that’s perfectly okay. 

As in any other stage in life, some things will be out of your control while in college, so mentally prepare yourself for such situations as well. However, if you can honestly say that there’s nothing you could have done differently for the outcome to have been different or better, the only way you can move is forward.

So, when college life throws a curveball, know that you have the strength, intelligence, and resources to deal with those situations. And you will!

Final Thoughts

In the end, it’s nothing short of normal that many future students fear college because of all the newness associated with it and the mental preparedness it demands. Nevertheless, as long as you take the time and mentally prepare yourself for most of these things, your college experience will be nothing short of fabulous!

Need help navigating the college application process? Sign up to work with a free college counselor today!