Blog

Around this time a year ago, I had finally decided to attend the University of Michigan. Looking back, from the time I enrolled to the first day of classes, there were several ways I prepared (and several ways I did not prepare) for college.

As high school seniors approach the end of their final semester, I thought it would be helpful to compile a list of tasks every prospective U-M student should complete before the Fall.

1. Make a campus visit - Still not sure where you’re headed? That’s okay! Even if you’re from Michigan and have visited Ann Arbor before, a tour can provide insight about parts of campus you would not otherwise experience, like where you might take classes or eat lunch.

I also recommend taking notes about your experience after the visit because there are chances are you will forget, especially if you visit multiple universities.

2. Schedule your orientation - If you’ve already decided to Go Blue (and paid your enrollment deposit or requested a waiver), you can start registering for orientation as early as mid-April through your Wolverine Access account. One of the important things you do at orientation is register for your fall classes. Generally, most people aim for an earlier registration date, but a later date will likely not affect the availability of classes. I attended orientation in mid-July and was able to get into all the classes I wanted, but make sure to have some back-up courses in mind.

3. Browse the LSA Course Guide - Even though you will have time to backpack classes at orientation, I recommend taking some time before you arrive to casually peruse courses via the LSA Course Guide to get a general idea of what you want to take (a complete list of courses by term for all schools and colleges can be found here). Plus, it will speed up the registration process over the summer.

Also, keep in mind some prefer to take a lighter load during football season, but it all depends on your personal preference. Personally, I have more energy during the first semester and find myself more burnt-out in the second, but you’ll probably have a good idea of what will work best for you. See fellow blogger Lisa Kim’s tips on scheduling.

4. Introduce yourself on Facebook - Join the University of Michigan Official Student Facebook group and introduce yourself to your classmates. An invitation to join will also be in your U-M newsletter sent from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. It’s not only a great way to meet people before you arrive on campus, but to find a roommate!

5. Browse Maize Pages - If I could go back in time, I would browse through the 1,600+ clubs and organizations U-M offers before I got to campus. I left Festifall with a dozen club leaflets, two free t-shirts, and a reusable coffee sleeve, but because I wasn’t sure what I wanted, I didn’t end up joining any clubs until second semester.

Moral of the story: do your research (are you looking to join Greek life or a service organization?), learn what to expect (does the organization require an application?), and get involved earlier on in the semester.

6. Apply for a job on campus - Student Employment is one of the best resources if you want to find work on campus. In some cases, you can apply for a position directly through the website. I found my current positions as a Student Admissions Blogger and Student Facilitator for CommonGround by scrolling through job postings in August. Even if you are not looking for a job, summer is also a great time to vamp up your resume and make a LinkedIn account—you will likely apply for some sort of position eventually.

7. Get your football tickets - If you are an incoming student, you can buy your season tickets starting May 31, but current students can purchase their tickets now. Tickets can be expensive, but if you meet the eligibility requirements, you can receive discounted tickets through the U-M Athletic Department by making a request when you log into MGoBlue. You can also purchase tickets throughout the season from other students if you only want to go to a specific game. But if it’s not your scene, you don’t have to go to games to have a good time!

Also, there are many athletic events that students can attend for free! Here is a great resource for finding these events.

8. Organize and declutter your high school belongings - I truly dreaded packing for college because I realized it meant I would have to go through the stuff I accumulated over the years—old textbooks, assignments, and other random knick-knacks. But it can also be extremely therapeutic to sort through your things and determine what you will actually need in the fall. Thanks to this process, I also realized I already owned most of the things I needed to bring.

If you asked me during my senior year of high school if I was ready for college, I would have probably given you a definite “yes.” But if I could go back and give one piece of advice to myself, it would be to appreciate my high school experience and the time I had with my friends and family!