What to do before starting college

Starting college is one of the most exciting transitions you can make. You’re stepping into a new world with more freedom, more opportunities and the chance to build the life you want. The weeks before move-in day are the perfect time to get prepared for this change, and a good checklist can make it easy to know exactly where to start.

Think of this guide as your personal countdown to orientation day. We’ve organized everything into 5 key areas, so you’ll know what to do before starting college: 

1. Academic and school setup
2. Financial checklist items
3. Health, insurance and personal records
4. Housing and living arrangements
5. Important life skills

Work through each section at your own pace over the summer, and it will help you arrive on campus confident, prepared and ready to make the most of everything college has to offer.

1. Academic and school setup

Getting your academic life in order before you arrive can help set you up for a strong first semester. There’s more to it than just knowing where your classes are. From confirming your enrollment to studying your way around your school’s technology, tackling these tasks early means you can focus on the more fun parts of college life once you get there.

Confirm enrollment and important deadlines

Your school has key dates that affect everything from your class schedule to your housing assignment. Here’s what you need to do as you navigate enrollment and deadlines.

• Accept your offer of admission and pay any required enrollment deposits.
• Review your school’s academic calendar so you know when classes start.
• Look up any orientation or extracurricular activities you might want to attend.
• Check to see when tuition is due and set up reminders or automatic payments. 
• If you’re staying on campus, check to see when housing assignments are released.
• Set up your student email and check it regularly for updates ahead of orientation.

Register and get your class schedule

Meeting with your academic advisor before registration opens is one of the best things you can do as an incoming freshman. They can help you build a schedule that hits your academic goals and keeps you on track toward your major.

• Meet with your academic advisor, either virtually or in person, before registration opens.
• Sign up for your first-semester courses as early as you can. Popular classes fill up fast!
• Look into any placement tests required for math, writing or foreign languages.

Access school technology portals

Most colleges use a handful of key platforms for everything from viewing your syllabus to submitting assignments and checking your grades. Getting logged in to them before classes start gives you one less thing to figure out.

• Access the student portal and get familiar with the learning management system (LMS).
• Download any apps necessary for class schedules, campus maps or student services.
• Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all student accounts to protect your access.

Review academic policies

Every school has its own handbook of policies, standards and expectations. Taking time to read through them now can help you understand what’s expected of you from the start.

• Read through your school’s attendance, grading and academic integrity policies.
• Find out how to request accommodations if you have a learning disability or other need.
• Locate your academic advisor’s contact information and save it somewhere easy to find.

2. Financial checklist items

Getting your finances in order before college starts is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Money questions have a way of becoming stressful when you’re already busy with classes, new friends and a new environment. Handle the details now, and you’ll have one less thing on your mind when the semester kicks off.

Complete financial aid tasks

If you’re receiving financial aid, there are a few steps you’ll need to take before the money can be applied to your account. Staying on top of these early can help keep things moving smoothly.

• Accept your financial aid package through your school’s student portal.
• Complete any required entrance counseling or master promissory notes for student loans.
• Look into and apply for scholarships specifically for incoming freshmen.

Plan how you’ll pay for college

Beyond financial aid, it’s worth having a clear picture of how you and your family will cover tuition, housing and other expenses. This is an important step in creating your budget as well.

• Identify any costs financial aid won’t cover—and how you’ll handle the difference.
• Calculate the cost of things like textbooks, parking passes and meal plans.
• Ask the school’s financial aid office about tuition payment plans and apply if needed.
• Learn the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans, so you know what you’ll owe after graduation.

Create a basic college budget

A simple college budget can go a long way toward helping you feel in control of your money. You don’t need anything complicated—just a clear sense of what’s coming in and what’s going out each month.

• List your monthly income, including any part-time work, an internship or financial aid payouts.
• Estimate your monthly expenses: food, transportation, personal care, school supplies, subscriptions, etc.
• Use a budgeting app or a simple spreadsheet to track your spending each semester.

Set up banking basics

Having the right accounts in place before leaving for college can help make money management easier. It also means you’ll have access to your funds where and when you need them throughout the term.

• Open a checking account with branches near campus or with strong mobile banking options.
• Set up direct deposit if you’ll be working a part-time job or an internship during the semester.
• Turn on account alerts so you always know what’s happening with your money.
• Look into a secured credit card to start building credit responsibly while you’re in school.

3. Health, insurance and personal records

Taking care of your health and paperwork before you leave home can give you peace of mind long after you’re settled at school. Most colleges have deadlines for submitting health records, so getting a head start can help put you in a great position.

Know your health requirements

Your school will likely have a list of required immunizations and health forms you need to submit before move-in day. Knocking these out early is an important part of keeping the rest of your schedule on track.

• Check for any required immunizations and submit your records before the deadline.
• Schedule any vaccines you still need, including meningitis, which many colleges require.
• Complete any required health forms or waivers your school asks for during enrollment.

Check your insurance coverage

Understanding your health insurance situation before you leave home can prevent a headache later and help you avoid unexpected costs. Take a few minutes to review your options, so you know exactly what you’re covered for.

• Locate the student health center on campus and get familiar with its resources.
• Check to see if your family’s health insurance plan is accepted at campus health facilities.
• If you need insurance, check to see if your school has a student health insurance plan.

Gather important documents

Having the right documents organized and accessible before you leave home can help make everything easier, from filling out financial aid forms to handling unexpected situations on your own for the first time.

• Get original copies of your Social Security card, birth certificate, passport and any IDs.
• Make digital copies of all important documents and store them somewhere secure.
• Share copies with a trusted family member so someone back home has access.

4. Housing and living arrangements

Where you live shapes a big part of your college experience, and getting the details sorted before you arrive can make move-in day a lot smoother. Whether you’re living in a dorm or off-campus, a little planning now can go a long way.

Confirm all housing details

Your housing assignment comes with important information you’ll want to review well before move-in day. Know your moving policies and procedures, so you can pack smart and arrive prepared.

• Confirm your housing assignment and move-in date, and review any move-in instructions.
• Find out what’s provided—bed frame, desk and dresser—so you know what to bring.
• Review your school’s move-in day schedule and sign up for a time slot.

Contact your roommate

Reaching out to your roommate before you arrive is a great way to start your college experience on a positive note. A quick conversation can help you avoid bringing duplicate items and set some basic expectations before you share a space.

• Find your roommate’s contact information through your school’s housing portal.
• Reach out through an appropriate channel (like phone or email) to introduce yourself.
• Coordinate on big items like a microwave, television or fan so you’re not doubling up.
• Talk through basic preferences and lay some ground rules, so cohabitation feels easier.

Plan any transportation

Getting around campus and back home during breaks is worth thinking through before you arrive. Knowing your options ahead of time means you can hit the ground running.

• Find out if your school offers a free or discounted transit pass for students.
• If you’re bringing a car, apply for a campus parking permit early—they tend to go fast.
• Plan how you’ll get home for breaks and holidays—a flight, a bus, a ride with friends, etc.

5. Important life skills

College gives you a lot of freedom, and with that freedom comes the responsibility of managing your own day-to-day life. These are the skills that will make your transition smoother and help you feel at home faster.

Learn basic money skills

Managing your own money is one of the biggest adjustments of college life. Getting comfortable with a few basics before you leave can help you feel confident about handling your finances on your own for the first time.

• Learn how to read a bank statement and understand your available and current balance.
• Set up automatic payments or reminders for any bills you’ll be responsible for.
• Familiarize yourself with common financial scams that target college students.
• Know who to call if your debit or credit card is lost or stolen.

Brush up on everyday skills

The everyday tasks that used to happen in the background at home are now yours to manage. The sooner you feel comfortable with them, the more energy you’ll have for everything else college has to offer.

• Practice doing your own laundry, including labels and separating colors from whites.
• Learn a handful of simple meals you can make for times when the dining hall isn’t open.
• Get comfortable making a grocery list and shopping on a budget.
• Start practicing basic time management; try using a planner or calendar app.

Success for first-year students starts with Navy Federal Credit Union

The students who thrive in their first year of college are the ones who show up prepared. Working through this checklist over the summer can help put you in that position—ready to succeed from the moment you step on campus.

We have resources to help you with the financial side of the journey, from checking and savings accounts to advice on how to build credit as a college student. Check out our full library of college planning resources to help you start your first semester off right.