Top 5 Tips for Preparing for College

I have to admit that I can't believe this semester is almost over!  While I've definitely had a lot of fun times this semester, I am honestly ready for summer!  However, I do remember when I was a senior in high school this time last year.  I couldn't wait for graduation, and I was excited and nervous about moving to Mobile for college.  That being said, I do want to give y'all some tips that can help you prepare for your first semester here at South.

1) If you plan to live on campus, review the list of "Banned Items."
-I do honestly feel as if this one is looked over a little bit because it does seem pretty easy to assume that if you have something at home, then you can bring it with you to a college dorm room.  However, that is not necessarily the case.  A couple of examples of items that students are not allowed to have in South's residence halls are candles and extension cords.

2) If you plan to live on campus, check the dimensions of items in your room.
-Depending on which residence hall you live in, you may have either a Twin XL bed or a Full XL bed.  Window and shower dimensions can also vary depending on which room you have, so checking what is included in your room can help you avoid buying, say, Twin XL bedding only to realize that your room has a Full XL-sized bed!

3) At Orientation, do not be afraid to ask questions about anything.
-I know it sounds a little silly, but I'm sure we all know that asking questions when you are in an Orientation group (especially ones that may seem ridiculous) can be a little awkward.  However, someone may have the same question you do, so it never hurts to ask!

4) Before Orientation, make sure you have submitted your immunization forms.
-The Student Health Center here at South takes those immunization forms very seriously, and if you don't submit them through the Student Health Portal, you may be blocked from registering for your classes.  You do not want that!

5) When registering for classes, be mindful of how many credit hours you are taking.
-Again, I know this may seem a little ridiculous, but it can actually be very easy to lose track of how many credit hours each class is worth (at least, I lose track fairly easily!).  While about 15 credit hours a semester is fairly normal, adding just one class can potentially put you at 18 or even 19 credit hours, so you do want to watch out for that.