Summer break is a great time to recharge and take some downtime. Whether you have just finished school and are heading to university in September or if you are currently in the middle of your studies, summer is a great chance for you to relax. However, there are some important jobs that can be done in the summer to make sure you are ready for the next year of your studies.
Organise where you live
Once you have confirmed where you are studying in the next academic year, the next thing you need to do is look for accommodation. Accommodation near the university campus can and will go quick, if you want to stay on campus or close to the campus you need to be quick.
When you are a student at university there are two main options for accommodation, you either stay in halls or you rent a house or a flat. There are pros and cons to both options and usually, only first-year students are allowed to stay in halls. When you stay in halls of residency it can take the way of bill stress as everything is included in your rent. However, when staying in halls of residency you often can’t choose who you live with, it is, therefore, a bit of a gamble and you might end up living with people you don’t particularly get on with. Consequently, when you live in a rented house or flat you can choose who you live with but bills won’t always be included, this can cause awkwardness if one of your housemates takes long showers and always puts the heating on.
Sort your finances
Once you have made the decision of where you are going to live, you can start to sort your finances. It helps to have a clear budget about what your living expenses are and don’t forget about public transport costs, membership costs if you play a sport, instrument or go to the gym and of course, food. Once you have worked out all your outgoings you can then figure out how much money you will need each week/month. You might need to get a part-time job or a summer job to help you fund the next academic year.
Consider doing some courses/work experience
Of course, rest is a big part of summer but it is also a great time to consider doing some work or learning, especially with university summers being around 3 months long! Voluntary work will look amazing on your CV when you start applying for jobs after your studies, you can learn valuable life skills and meet a variety of different people through your volunteering. Volunteering is also extremely rewarding and you will feel like you are doing something worthwhile.
Getting a paid job is also beneficial, not only will you earn some extra money which will help towards funding your studies and giving you slightly more disposable income but you will also learn some valuable skills like teamwork, public speaking skills, organisation and time management, these are all skills that employers will look for once you start applying for jobs after university.
Conclusion
Summer is a great time of the year, the weather is usually slightly better and you have the chance to take a well-needed break. However, it is also important to get ahead to prevent stress when it comes to September.
