How to Prep for College Over Spring Break

Happy spring break! For you high school seniors, you are nearing the finish line. With a break from the hustle and bustle of your senior year, utilize your spring break to not only relax and enjoy yourself but also to prepare as best you can for your college debut.

At this point, many of you have received or are receiving your admission decisions from the colleges you’ve applied to this past year. Picking a college is a big decision, and with a plethora of factors to consider, it can be a hard one. If you don’t know where to start, here is a guide to preparing for college during spring break.

Step 1: Narrow Down Your Choices

If you haven’t decided where you want to spend your next four years, use your time off to hone in on your college acceptances and award offers. The choice of where you want to go to college might not be easiest and you might encounter decision paralysis. Decision paralysis is the inability to make a decision when faced with more than one option, and it usually stems from the fear of making a bad decision. Here are some ways you can use your spring break to help you make the decision you are confident in.

Plan a Visit

Use your time off and take a trip to experience some prospective colleges in person. Photos often do not do college campuses justice, so visits allow you to get a better feel of the college’s environment. You will be able to see how students engage with the campus and its resources in real time and get answers to any questions you may have. This could be a great opportunity to plan a fun road trip with your family and friends.

It also can be beneficial to visit or revisit a college you’ve already committed to. According to a 2021 study, visiting college campuses and interacting with university faculty, staff, and current students, leads to an increase in “decided behaviors” that better equip students for college.

USF not only offers in-person campus tours year-round but also hosts an Admitted Students Day, where prospective students can socialize with one another and learn more about USF.

Discuss Your Options with Your Family

Going to college is a significant change for both you and your family, so it may be best to factor them into whatever decisions you make regarding college. You can discuss your worries, your goals, needs, and especially finances.

“[Students] really need to be upfront and honest and have that frank conversation with their family, as far as what is the budget for college,” said Christy Penman, regional admissions recruiter advisor at USF.  

Penman, who mostly works with out-of-state students, notes that distance is another large factor that must be considered, not only regarding its expenses but to its emotional impact on students and their families. 

Weigh your options with your family, make note of their concerns as well, and inform them how they can best support you during this transition. 

Make a Pro-Con List

The good old-fashioned pro-con list is a great opportunity to research your prospective colleges and weigh your options. With each college, make a list of pros and cons. Here are some questions you can consider when researching.

• What are the sacrifices you may have to make? Of course, going to college is a big change, and with changes comes sacrifice. Whether it's proximity to home, your major of interest, affordability, or any personal preferences, consider what you are willing to sacrifice and what you are not. 
• What are your priorities? Take a moment and identify what is generally most important to you, then attempt to apply them to each prospective college. For instance, if comfortability is a priority of yours, then you may want to choose a university with greater housing options. Or if you prioritize community, then you might favor a college with a smaller student population. 
• Do you need accommodations? Make sure that the college you are considering has the resources to accommodate your needs. Do you have a medical condition or disability? Do you own a service animal? You want to be sure the college you attend can provide the accommodations you need to make your college experience as enjoyable as possible. 

Step 2: Keep Track of the Important Tasks

When you say yes to your college of choice, there are several important steps you must take to ensure that you have a smooth admissions process. Keep an eye on your email inbox because many of these steps have deadlines and specific instructions. Make note of them and complete them as soon as possible. Spring break is the perfect time to get a head start on important tasks, here are some of your possible next steps.

• Submit your FAFSA: The Federal Application for Student Aid is what ensures that you receive federal aid for your college expenses. So, if you haven’t done so already, submit your FAFSA.
• Confirm your financial aid: Review and accept any grants, scholarships, or any other type of financial aid your college has offered you. 
• Submit housing and meal plan applications: If you plan on living on your college’s campus, secure your housing and choose a meal plan.
• Make a plan for class registration: Make an appointment with your designated advisor and plan your class schedule for your first semester. You can also use your time with your advisor to talk through your academic goals and the steps you can take to accomplish them. It is never too early to plan ahead. 
• Schedule any on-campus events: For example, at USF, Orientation is mandatory for first-year students. Registering for a spot as soon as possible helps ensure you get dates that work with your schedule.

If you need to complete any other steps over spring break, USF provides a comprehensive list of next steps here.

How You Can Keep Track of Deadlines 

From upcoming assignments and senior-year obligations to now important college preparation tasks, you have a lot of deadlines to keep track of. It’ll be easy to get overwhelmed, but with some sort of system in place, you can meet your deadlines with ease. Here are some ways to help you stay on top of your deadlines.

• Create a designated calendar for deadlines: It is up to you whether you want to use a physical or digital calendar, but create a calendar solely for your deadlines. You could also customize your calendar with fun colors, funky fonts, or cute stickers. You can even make it a fun activity to do with your friends over the break.
• Utilize your family: As you continuously discuss your college plans with your family, be sure to also share your calendar of deadlines with them. Your family can help keep you accountable and act as living and breathing reminders of the tasks you need to accomplish. You can also work with your parents or guardians to organize their respective tasks to ensure they fulfill their part of the admissions process.

Step 3: Apply for Scholarships

College is expensive, so apply for scholarships or grants to help with your college expenses. During your break, search for scholarships and grants you are eligible for and compile a list of them to complete. You can use sites such as FastWeb, Unigo, Chegg, and CollegeBoard, or you can look to your local community organizations to find local scholarship opportunities.

You should also begin to gather materials scholarship applications might request. Such as your high school transcript, student aid report, or letters of recommendation. Spring break is the perfect time to begin to ask for letters of recommendation according to Penman.

 “It's really important to start looking for those letters of recommendation now as opposed to waiting when everyone is looking for those letters of recommendation because counselors definitely get bombarded,” Penman said. “They're likely to get their letter of recommendation before somebody else which would put them closer in line for those scholarships.”

Step 4: Plan a Strong Finish

It can be hard to get back into the school rhythm after a relaxing break; this coupled with a case of senioritis is a dangerous duo.

USF Admissions Recruiter Advisor Richie Marini emphasizes the importance of students having a consistent finish. Universities do not want to see large dips in grades. 

“Just because you may have been admitted doesn’t mean it's time to let off the gas,” Marini said. “The biggest mistake [students] could make would be to check out right now.”

Regardless of whether you’ve committed or not, universities can rescind their admissions decision. So, as you look forward to walking the stage in your cap and gown and receiving your high school diploma, use your spring break to make a plan to ensure you won't get a case of senioritis. As you plan, consider these tips:

• Create attainable goals: Make small, short-term goals that help you progress to that graduation stage. For example, maybe you want to increase your English grade by two points by the end of the semester.

• Find an accountability partner: Maybe you know another student going to the same college as you. Partner with them so you can keep each other on the right track.

• Maintain a routine that keeps you productive: You know what you need to do to stay productive, so don’t let that slip over spring break. Keep up the routine that’s led you this far, and build in a reward system for when you complete one of your goals.
  
  

If you have any questions regarding the admissions process or need any specific guidance as you near the end of your senior year, you can contact the USF Office of Admissions at admissions@usf.edu or contact your designated USF recruiter.