Preparation Checklist - Final Semester of College

It’s almost over. After four years of complete university immersion, the journey is near completion. You are one semester away from earning your degree. A sense of achievement may be slowly setting in, but before you celebrate, make sure that you have a viable exit strategy.

Here’s a brief checklist of issues you need to address in your final college semester.

1. Fulfill all your necessary major requirements
In order to get your degree, you will have to make sure that all your major requirements have been met. You need to have enough upper division classes in your major. You need to have enough course work completed in you specific area of concentration. Even if you’re confident that you’ve done all you need to as far as credits are concerned, it still wouldn’t hurt to meet up with an academic advisor to make sure. Address any transcript concerns before its too late.

2. Go to your loan exit review
If you have received loans during your time on campus, you need to figure out how you’re going to pay them back. Attended the mandatory loan exit review so you know what’s expected of you. Craft a repayment plan that’s convenient for you, and stick to it. You may be eligible for loan consolidation plans with reduced monthly rates. Make sure you’re well-informed about your financial obligations, so that you know how to fulfill them once you graduate.

3. Apply for jobs
Don’t wait until after you graduate to look for a job. Start now. Find an interesting entry-level career opportunity. Secure part-time work. Find an internship. Just have something lined up after you graduate. The immediate after college experience will take some getting used to. If you’ve secured work of some kind, the adjustment will be much easier to make.

4. Secure future housing arrangements
Are you moving away after you graduate, or sticking around? Are you going to move back home? Do you want to live alone, with friends or back with the family? Do you have relationship issues to ponder? Don’t leave your living situation in limbo. Figure out what your going to do ahead of time.

5. Celebrate
You’ve busted your chops for years now. You deserve a little time for self-congratulation. Reward your accomplishments. Enjoy the final stage of your journey. Celebrate, have fun, handle your business and make arrangements to keep in touch with people.

Your final semester of college will be hectic, hopeful and melancholy. Remember to complete all your credits. Learn about your loans, find a job and figure out your housing arrangements. This chapter in your life is about to close so savor the moment. Be confident in your exit strategy and if you plan to relax for a bit, remember that you still have a lot to learn and plenty of things left to accomplish.