I can’t believe it’s already time to begin preparing for the next semester, which is crazy to say because time is flying by! So, I’m going to give a brief overview of how I prepared for my first semester at Iowa!

• Scholarships

Definitely something you don’t want to miss, when you hear people saying scholarships are important, listen to them! Iowa has a pretty good scholarship pool for first-time students that is based on your major, interest, or personal background. You can never have enough scholarships so it’s also really good to apply for outside scholarships which can be a little harder to qualify and receive because there are more applicants than just those who attend your school!

• Finding a Roommate

If you are living on campus and aren’t single it’s important to find a good roommate that suits your living style. I currently live with a friend from my high school and I found it made my college adjustment so much easier because I already knew who I was living with. But, honestly, if you don’t know your roommate beforehand I definitely recommend reaching out to them and being honest about how you live to avoid uncomfortable conversations down the line!

• Planning Out Your Room

I know it seems a little odd, but your is going to mean a lot to you because you won’t really have any other place to hole up some days. I started by planning on Pinterest by looking at how other people used similar-sized spaces for some cute decor and ideas. From there I tried to find places where I could just make a huge order so I would have a ton of little packages, I used Bed Bath and Beyond and Amazon! From there I would open and test everything I brought because when you buy dorm things early there is no time to try it actually in the dorm so, the house ends up looking a little messy but in the grand scheme of things it is definitely worth it. I plan on making a more detailed dorm guide in the next month so definitely be on the lookout for where I will go through some of my best and worst purchases to my dorm!

college is stressful, exciting, and everything in between but if you aren’t prepared for even the basic overlooked part of it you will definitely find yourself more stressed out. Without these three tips, I don’t think I would have adjusted to college life as easily as I did, which I am incredibly thankful for. Anyway, definitely be on the lookout for my in-depth dorm guide, and I will see you soon<3