Getting Ready for College

Congratulations on getting into RIT! Not sure what your next steps should be? Here is a list of everything you need to know when preparing for college. And don’t forget to check out  What’s Next for Accepted Undergraduate Students. 

Access Your Email 

When we have been accepted and you officially decide on RIT, you will get an email telling you how to access your RIT email. You should do this right away. Everything important you need to know will be emailed to you through your RIT email. 

If you are having trouble, reach out to Information Technology Services (ITS) as soon as possible. I know people who couldn’t access their emails the week of orientation and it was a mess. Save the headache and be on top of this. 

Apply for FAFSA, Scholarships, and Loans 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the best way to bring the overwhelming cost of college down. This should be filled out when you are applying for colleges so that you can receive your financial aid package around the time you get accepted (this isn’t always the case, especially with the changes FAFSA has been making). 

Another great way to lower the cost of college is by applying for scholarships. The easiest ones to get are always local. Try finding scholarships around the area where you live. Additionally, many free websites and apps can help you find scholarships. 

Once you know the cost of tuition after financial aid and scholarships, you can either choose to pay it upfront or take out loans. The summer before you come to college is when you will apply for loans. Do your research before this time and know where you are going to take loans out from. It’s important to consider the interest rates. 

Mark Your Calendar 

You will be emailed so many dates throughout the spring and summer. To make sure you don’t miss anything important, get a calendar. I prefer an online calendar, and I get notifications on my phone. It could also be useful to put the dates on a paper calendar and hang it up somewhere you frequently look. Staying organized will help you prepare for college tremendously. 

Housing 

Every incoming freshman, unless you are a commuter, is required to live in the dorms. You will get emails with all the important dates, times, and deadlines. 

The hardest thing for me was finding a roommate. But new this year is the RIT Accepted Student Group on ZeeMee, a free social media app! It was easy to find people with similar interests who were also searching for roommates. I messaged and talked to many people before finding a roommate. 

Once you find a roommate, you form a roommate group on RIT’s MyLife portal. From there you will get a housing appointment time. This is when you make room selections. It is important to research the dorms before going into this and to know what building and floor you would prefer. Then either you or your roommate will go in at that time and select your dorm. 

Check your email throughout the summer because RIT Housing will send updates frequently. The next big thing will be choosing your move-in time. This is similar to room selection but just indicates when you will be moving into your dorm in August. 

Packing 

The best thing to do when preparing to pack is to make a list of things you need to pack and things to buy. I went through RIT’s packing list, online lists, and even videos online of people talking about the items they found most useful to form an idea of what I needed. 

When you are sticking to a budget, I found it useful making this list months in advance and being able to make small purchases up to move in. Don’t wait until the last minute to buy what you need. People will tell you many times to not overpack, and it's the truth. Only pack what you will need and use. 

Learn about Rochester 

The city of Rochester is filled with so much to do. I encourage you to do some research into what there is to do in the city itself. Maybe make a bucket list of all the museums or restaurants or anything else that piques your interest. The College Activity Board (CAB) and other organizations on campus often take trips into Rochester and other surrounding towns so it is good to know ahead of time what you are interested in. 

The RIT main campus is located by tons of stores and shopping plazas. There are shuttles to many of these locations on the weekdays and weekends. Explore the stores nearby so you are prepared when you need something. 

There are so many people willing to help make this transition as seamless as possible for you. I hope this list helps. Another great resources is our Accepted Undergraduate Students page. Your admissions counselor is always there to help you, and you can even chat with current students on ZeeMee too!