Tips for Heading off to College...Organized

If you are going or sending someone off to college, it's time to buckle down and get ready. Here are some tips for making the transition to college an organized one.

• Take the time to sort it all out. Go through everything you have and decide if it stays home, goes with or goes out. Remember, you can't fit 10lbs. of potatoes in a 5 lb. bag!
• Create a list of what you'll need. Many stores have good checklists of all the things you might need, but remember they want you to buy as much as possible.
• Coordinate with your roommate. Avoid duplicates by making decisions about ALL the items you could possibly share, and where to draw the line.
• Information share. Realize that college information goes directly to the student, so make sure the lines of communication are open as to how bills will be paid and deadlines will be met.
• Plan your time wisely. Your time is pulled in many directions at college, so make a weekly plan of how you will best manage your time and schedule accordingly.
• The countdown has begun. Planning, sorting, purging and packing can't start soon enough. Carve out time daily to check things off your list.

In order to be successful in college, organization is imperative. Starting college can be a fresh start to a better organized life.