Melissa Nunez
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Transitioning to the college lifestyle can be tough. Here are six ways to help ease the pain of leaving home and getting settled in San Luis Obispo.
1. Exchange addresses with friends
Right now, you might not be exchanging letters or packages with your childhood friends. But if you’re parting ways at the end of summer, having their addresses will come in handy and keep your relationship strong. Send birthday gifts or a letter just saying you miss them. Plus, think how exciting it will be to open your mailbox and see that you actually have mail!
2. Get to know fellow students
Going to college means being surrounded by an entirely new group of people.
Join your class Facebook page and start getting to know the people you will be seeing around campus, at Soar and at Week of Welcome. If you are going to be at Soar, start mingling and make new friends. Bond over your excitement and fears of starting this new chapter of your life.
3. Get familiar with campus
At some point before school starts, you’ll have to figure out where your Psych 201 class is. You may still get lost sometimes, but you can prevent most of that with a little preparation. With a little help, you will learn where buildings are once you get your class schedules in August.
Print a map and get to know what number the English building is and where it’s located on campus. Choose a starting point, like the Julian A. McPhee University Union, and create different routes from there. If you are able to actually get on campus during summer, try those routes or find your class’ buildings in person. Until then, check out Cal Poly’s interactive map online and get familiar with your new school.
4. Make goals
College can be a fresh start, and it’s a good idea to set some goals.
Don’t only focus on making academic goals; make personal or social goals, as well. They can be long term ones to accomplish sometime within your time at Cal Poly or short-term goals that can be accomplished within your first year. Focus on what is important and brainstorm serious goals, but don’t forget that college is about having fun, too, so get creative with your plans!
5. Make the most of your time at home
This is a must for any summer, but especially for the one preceding college. Make the most of your time with family, friends and your hometown. If your hometown isn’t near San Luis Obispo County, you might not have too many opportiunities to visit during the school year. Make memories with your friends and family — maybe even snap photos to keep in San Luis Obispo — and laugh about them when you’re dealing with the stress of finals.
6. Brainstorm packing
Unless you are living at home, you’ll have to decide what to take to your new residence hall or apartment. Not knowing what your housing assignment is until late August doesn’t have to stall your packing.
Take a look at your closet and decide what you want to take and leave. School supplies are always going to be useful, so make a list of what you’ll need. Whether you live in an apartment or residence hall, you will need bedding, so begin to browse or even buy. You don’t have to make all your final decisions until the end of summer, but it’s good to start brainstorming.