How To Prepare For Your Last Semester In College: 11 Essential Steps

Congrats, you have almost made it to the end of your college days! It’s so exciting to think about what the future holds after college graduation but don’t forget to prepare for your last semester in college with these essential steps.

As exciting as it is, life after college can also be pretty daunting. However, if you start preparing now, then things will go much smoother. After I graduated college, I was so thankful that I had taken these steps to organize my life and set it up for success!

In fact, that’s what this blog is all about – setting up your life for success, especially after college!

Your last semester of college is your chance to define your future. You may have no idea what the future may hold at this point, or you may have hopes and dreams that seem to be aligning into place. Either way, don’t let your last semester slip away.

Your last semester should be all about enjoying the balance. Soak in memories and friendships now, because life will never quite be the same again. But, also prepare for your last semester in college by focusing on important details about your future.

Enjoy life now but don’t party too hard!

Here are the 11 essential steps you need to take to prepare for your last semester in college…

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1. Double Check Your College Credits Are All Complete

To graduate college, you need to complete all your required credits. And, if this is your last semester you want to double and triple-check that you signed up for all the right classes!

I’ve heard a few horror stories from college students that signed up for the wrong class or their credits were counted incorrectly, and they couldn’t graduate in time.

Don’t let that be you! Meet with your advisor, ask for a copy of your transcripts, and review the credits you have taken one last time. Then add them up and be sure they meet the minimum requirements.

I know this sounds like a tedious step, but I can speak from experience. I reviewed my credits right before my last semester of college and found out I almost enrolled in the wrong class. Thankfully I caught it in time!

So, as annoying as it sounds, set a few hours aside one day to prepare for your last semester in college by examining your college credits.

Related Post: 101 Things You Need To Know Before College Graduation

2. Double Check Your Finances

Your budget is likely going to change after you graduate college, and for some more than others. Either way, it’s time to start figuring out how to manage your money correctly.

Soon you are going to have your first real paycheck after college. You will be in charge of supporting yourself and managing your money. No more government assistance, and, for most of us, no more parental assistance.

So, you need to set up the proper budget! More on exactly how to do that in a little bit.

3. Start Planning Your Open House Party

Ok, now let’s throw in something fun! Every college graduate needs a party!

Don’t forget to start planning your open house graduation party in your last semester! And remember keep it light and fun so that you aren’t stressing over the details.

Start with invitations like these senior announcements to invite all your friends and family to join! Graduating from college is a big deal and one of the few times in life to have everyone special in your life gathered to celebrate you!

Did you know these open house invitations on Basic Invite can be sampled? They are one of the few websites that allow customers to order a printed sample of their actual invitation before they place their final order. You can see the paper quality and how it will print, and make sure the card is perfect!

Next, ask a friend or family member to help with the food, or make it potluck style! I suggest hosting it in a park or rent out a fancy restaurant in town. And then, don’t forget the cake and decorations.

Don’t skip this step, you deserve to be celebrated!

4. Start A Blog

This may sound like a funny step to you and you may not think it is essential, but let me explain.

I started this blog after I graduated college and my only regret is not starting it sooner! I wish I had started it in my last semester of college because it would have helped me during the quarter-life crisis I faced.

You see, college is one world and then post-graduation is another and that transition stage between the two doesn’t seem to be talked about enough. Having a side-hustle like a blog, or any of these in this blog post, gives you something constant in your life when everything else is changing.

Related Post: 10 Reasons To Start A Blog After You Graduate College

Plus, I have to mention the fantastic benefits of blogging. First, it is an amazing creative outlet. You can express yourself and share whatever you desire. You can teach others what you are experts in.

That leads to my second point, which is that blogging gives you the platform to help others. It has been amazing to hear from my community when I have helped them. Only a few other things bring me more joy than having an email from someone thanking me for the advice I shared with them.

And lastly, blogging makes you money! Yes, you can make money blogging and it can be anywhere from a couple of dollars to over six-figures. There is no limit to blogging and possibilities are endless.

Now, I know blogging isn’t for everyone, but if you think you might like it then I suggest starting here!

5. Educate Yourself

Transitioning out of college and into post-graduation life does have a learning curve. In college, you acquired a great deal of knowledge but there is still more to learn that can’t be found in a textbook.

Adulting is hard at times and sometimes you just need the resources to help you get through.

I love these adulting books: The Top 10 Most Influential Books on Adulting & 10 More Adulting Books You Can’t Miss Out On

But if you’re not into reading, be sure to read these blog posts that all linked here: 101 Things You Need To Know Before College Graduation

To prepare for life after college, begin by educating yourself. And that begins in your last semester in college!

6. Find A Job

If you don’t have a job or internship of some sort lined up now, then it is time to get started!

It may be most valuable to find an internship now that you can do alongside your classes in hopes that it will mold into a full-time job after you graduate. The internships I held in college not only gave me experience for my resume but also opened up doors to future full-time career options.

Start with the resources you can find right on campus! Colleges and universities want to help their students land full-time jobs because it looks good for their statistics. So, go to job fairs, get help with your resume, ask your professors for recommendations, and do whatever it takes to start working as soon as you graduate!

These are the best way to prepare for your last semester in college in terms of setting yourself up for a successful career!

7. Prepare For Your Last Classes

It can be so hard to stay motivated in your last semester of college. Senioritis is a real thing! Don’t let the basic tasks slip between the cracks.

Start with paying your tuition, reading the syllabi for your classes, purchasing your textbooks, restocking your school supplies, and buying all your needed parking passes and other fees.

Once that is settled, you can keep really enjoy the fun moments of your last semester before it is all behind you!

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8. Create A Budget

Check out this blog post to get started on setting up your first budget. If you don’t know how much money you will be making quite yet, you can start with guessing the amount.

First, research the average income for the profession you are entering. Then, layout your upcoming expenses after graduation. Start telling your money where it will go and assign it to different categories: gas, groceries, rent, utilities, etc.

The reason it is so important to do this in your last semester of college is that it is proactive instead of reactive. Those that are proactive in setting up positive habits are most likely to succeed than those that are reactive.

Set up the budget during your last semester of college and then after college graduation, you can fill in the details.

The last big step to take that can’t be missed is to figure out how much you owe in student loans after you graduate. Find out how much is required to be paid off each month, but then look at your budget.

Can you afford to pay off more than the minimum each month? Do it!

9. Find A Place To Live

Now that we’ve looked at your finances, career path, and the fine details of closing out your time on campus, it’s time to find a place to live.

Yes, you could always move back in with your parents (or stay with them if you are commuting) but I would encourage you to find your own place and begin supporting yourself 100%. Now is the best time to do it.

Once you know where you will be employed it will be easier to find housing. But, if you are set on one area, you could find housing first and then a job, but this may limit your job search.

You have options – renting, buying, roommate or no roommate, size, cost, etc. Do your research! Know your budget! And lastly, I suggest getting something small, safe, and quaint for now. There will always be changes in the future to upscale and find the dream home.

10. Start A New Social Life

This is one of the hardest parts of transitioning out of college into the real world. We were made for community and college set up wonderfully to find community with those that are the same age and similar interests to ours.

But, when we leave college we usually have to separate from some of the best friends we have had. We’re fortunate if we can continue to be roommates with them or stay in the same city.

But when we can’t, we need to be intentional about making new friendships, which is easier said than done.

The best way to start making new friendships is to get plugged in at a local church. They often have young adults’ groups with lots of fun events.

Another option is to use the MeetUp app to join a local pickup game. My husband did this for pickup sand volleyball at a local bar and met lots of new people his age and had fun doing it in a non-awkward setting.

Start thinking about this now as you prepare for your last semester in college.

11. Send Announcement Cards

Remember those announcement cards we talked about in planning your graduation party? Well, here is your last reminder to send those out!

Create your custom graduation announcement here!

Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows you to have almost unlimited color options with instant previews online! There are also over 40 different envelope colors to choose from.

Thank you, Basic Invite, for sponsoring this post! Let me know in the comments below, which of these steps will you be taking to prepare for your last semester in college?

The Ultimate Guide To #Adulting

Because #ADULTING.

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Kelsey at GoodPointGrandma

Hey there, I'm Kelsey! I'm so glad you are here. I'm a 20-something helping you live your most fulfilling life. I hope you'll join me in this old-fashioned & simple lifestyle!

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