Confession time: The first time I did my laundry at college…it didn’t exactly go to plan. Everything started normally—laundry detergent? Check. Softener? I’d bought the limited-edition tropical lily scent for the occasion. What I hadn’t predicted was my fave high-rise denim jeans getting stuck in the machine and emerging covered in tissue fluff because I’d forgotten to check the drum beforehand. Major oops.
College comes with a surprising number of life skills that never showed up on a syllabus. The good news? Most of them are pretty easy to learn before move-in day. Here’s our roundup of all the tasks you’ll need to know before you head off in the fall.
There’s No Magic Laundry Fairy (Unfortunately)
Trust me, you def don’t want to be staring at the washing machine like it’s the NASA control panel after running out of clothes in your first week. Our golden rule: Keep your light and dark clothes separate so you don’t accidentally dye all your crisp new white shirts pink (as stylish and Barbie-coded as that would be).
If you’re unsure of what temperature to wash your clothes at, the label will point you in the right direction—but in general, whites take hot water, while colors take warm or cold to prevent bleeding.
(Psst: Remember to wash your bedding frequently. It keeps things hygienic, and there’s literally no better feeling than sinking into freshly washed sheets after a long day of lectures.)
Instant Ramen Is Not A Lifestyle
While a ramen packet is a nice treat, taking care of your body by eating whole foods is a great way to stay healthy. Plus, a colorful plate packed with different foods is wayyy more satisfying than surviving on beige instant noodles seven nights in a row.
Think fruit and veggies for snacks throughout the day, hearty soups, bean casserole or a quick stir-fry for some protein (many dorms have a community kitchen you can use foe mreal prep). During the winter szn when fresh produce is harder to come by, frozen works just as well. Bonus points if you scope out the discounted sections at the grocery store for store-brand staples like canned beans and pasta.
Just pls remember to throw out any moly food! (Our kitchen in freshman year had a mysterious pack of bell peppers stored for weeks, and by the end of the semester, it was practically radioactive.) Save yourself (and your floormates) the horror and toss out expired food regularly.
Conquer Your Inbox
Have you ever spent an hour carefully crafting an email to An Important Person, triple-checking your spelling and wondering whether “I hope this email finds you well” is too generic (IYKYK)? Your inbox is likely to explode when you’re at college, and suddenly need to respond to a million different messages from your landlord and professors.
Knowing how to write a clear, polite email will make your life so much easier. Pro tip: “Heyyyy” is probably not the opening you want.
Your Wallet Will Thank You (And Us)
Running out of cash halfway through the semester and surviving off of pesto pasta for a month is a total nightmare. We highly recommend keeping track of your spending. And no, you don’t need a complicated spreadsheet or an economics degree. Just start paying attention to your spending habits and create a rough budget for things like food, transportation and fun girly things—like checking out that new boba shop downtown.
Back To Basics: Emergency Med Kit Edition
If you’ve been on any college board, you’ll have heard of the infamous freshman plague. As a rising sophomore, I can confirm that it is very much real (and a complete pain). There is nothing worse than waking up in your dorm room with a scratchy throat, a pounding headache and a 9 a.m. lecture, only to realize you don’t even own a thermometer.
Take some time this summer to assemble a mini wellness kit. Stock up on basics like Band-Aids, pain relievers, cough drops, a digital thermometer and some vitamin C packets. Bonus points if you throw in a cute ice pack and some soothing herbal tea bags for the ultimate cozy recovery vibes.
MCE: Booking Your Own Appointments
Doctor’s appointments. Haircuts. Driving lessons. Dentist checkups. Welcome to adulthood, which is basically just appointments with a bit of finals stress thrown in the mix. Getting comfortable making appointments and handling small administrative tasks yourself is one of those tiny skills that makes a huge difference.
Adulting may sound a little intimidating, but no one expects you to have the whole “grown-up” thing figured out on day one (hence my laundry tissue-fluff disaster). But checking these basics off your summer to-do list means less stress and more time to focus on making amaze college memories. Happy prepping!
For more college survival tips, head this way:
🎓 Your College Decision Season Survival Guide
🎓 Organization Tips To Have A Rory Gilmore Semester
🎓 Steal These Graduation Goals From Your Fave Movies And TV Shows
Images: @adysonkayy, @blythemos, @thearchtroy, @nishatcooks, @mariadjonsson, @simply.budgeted, @voicebehindthelens, @lifewith.mey
