By Lauren Joffe for The Real College Guide, in partnership with StudentOnCampus.com

Hasta la vista, Mom and Dad. Hello, independence … but wait!  Not so fast. Before you hit the road and leave your parentals  behind, make sure you’re fully prepared for your new life of  unwavering autonomy by spending your summer days wisely.  Here, 10 things to do before you bolt. Ready, set …

1. Check up on your computer

New computers rarely come with programs like Microsoft Office,  which you’ll definitely need, so be sure to purchase before you’re stuck handwriting your first assignment. And if you’re using an older comp, make sure it’s ready to take the heat: Since you will be on it all the time, install any updates or think about an upgrade. Also, find out if your school offers wireless Internet access (and if your computer is compatible) or whether you’ll need an Ethernet cable. Note: Some schools prohibit users without spyware or virus protection from connecting to the network. So, seriously, get the deets!

2. Make nice with your new dorm mate

As if you need us to tell you, check out her Facebook or MySpace page so you can get a feel for what you’re in for. Then buckle down and dial her digits for a quick chat to break the ice. Ask if there’s anything you should be aware of (like her fatal allergy to dusk or fear of the dark) and let her know of any immediate concerns you might have (like the fact that you can’t live without cable, and you’re relying on her to bring the big screen).

3. Do it up at a discount department store

Knock out the staples on your to-buy list before the selection is sold out: sheets, towels, toiletries and storage containers. But also pick up the following often-forgotten items you do not want to leave home without:

One-cup coffeemaker - Brew your own instead of wasting a whole meal swipe for a cup o’ joe from the dining hall or blowing wads of money at Starbucks.
Mattress pad – Make your dorm cot as comfy as the cushy oasis you’re used to at home while protecting yourself from whatever lived on your bed before you.
Rubber flip-flops – Save yourself from the foot infections, clumps of hair and other mysterious masses that live in your communal shower.
Power strip – Surge-protect your PC while hooking up your iPod station and hair dryer all at once.

4. Secure your class schedule

Enrollment deadlines are not meant to be ignored. In fact, the earlier you sit down to set your schedule, the better your course selection will be — so definitely don’t wait until the last minute. Also, pay attention to class restrictions, since some courses may require department approval ahead of time.

5. Plan your budget

Living costs at college range from campus to campus — the amount of money you’ll need largely depends on the location of your campus (cities can be more expensive) and the choices you make (like ordering in instead of suffering one more dining hall meal). Extra expenses will include social costs (movies, concerts, game tickets, cover for some parties), toiletries, food and drink beyond your meal plan, and transportation. Ask an upperclassman or student advisor how much cash she spends on average each week. Then pool your summer savings to determine whether you can cover your own expenses. If you need help, ask your parents or start looking for a part-time job on campus — before you get there.

6. Visit your school’s Web site

Your university may offer registration guides, campus news and summertime get-to-know-each-other sessions that you definitely do not want to miss out on — especially if you’re in the habit of throwing college junk mail in the trash (which is where important info may very well be). Plus, seeing your campus colors on the screen will psych you up — or at the very least, calm your nerves and get you into the spirit.

7. Get packing

Whether you’re shipping all your stuff UPS or loading up the car and driving cross-country, don’t leave packing to the last minute, when you’ll want to laze around and hang out with friends you won’t be seeing for a while. Designate an area of your house or bedroom to stow things you buy especially for college or things you don’t use daily but know you’ll need to take. Do not overpack! The amount of space you will have in your new room is likely much smaller than your current living quarters. Only bring what’s necessary, as your parents can always mail any left-behind belongings.

8. Put together a tool kit

Once you’re at school on your own, you’ll be shocked how often you’ll need a pair of scissors or a screwdriver — even if you’ve never used one. If you need to hang a poster or fix a loose screw, a simple, handy kit will be of great use when you least expect it. Bring a little box with a screwdriver (both Phillips and flathead), hammer, pliers, nails and screws. An inexpensive small cordless drill/screw gun is a good investment too. Pack scissors as well as adhesives, like sticky tack and tape, with your desk stuff.

9. Get protection

There’s no harm in being prepared for safe sex even if you have no particular plan or person in mind with whom to have it.

10. Hang with your high school pals

You know you’re going to miss your hometown friends, especially during the first few weeks you are apart. Yeah, you’ll make a whole slew of new friends. But make some memories first by hanging with the crew this summer.

College is expensive. Paying the tuition fees, housing costs and simple stuff like food and drinks can really burn a hole through your wallet.
Luckily, they’re are ways of reducing these costs – One of these ways is by using GradeFund where you can get rewarded for getting good grades.

Students invite their friends and family to sponsor their drive for good grades. Sponsors choose grade levels and sponsorship amounts for each grade (as low as $5). Each semester students upload their transcript. We verify grades, collect money from sponsors, and send it to schools or students depending on sponsor preferences. For individuals or companies that want to create an educational cause, they select the classes and grade levels at the universities they want to sponsor. We send the money to the eligible students who achieve the target performance levels.

Moving into your college dorm is one of the most exciting times in your college life – I remember when I walked into mine last year….The small room already half filled with my numerous boxes of bulging junk, the sparse walls…you get the picture.

Well, a new startup called Design Your Dorm (also known as College Room Creator) is a web based 3D interior design tool that allows college students to customize their dorm room/residence hall room interiors.

The site has built 3D virtual models of common dorm room layouts, allowing new students to figure out what they’ll have room for long before they ever set foot in their dorms. To help figure out the exact room configuration, DesignYourDorm currently has a few hundred 3D models of various common dorm room items, including electronics like TV sets and Xbox 360s, furniture like beds and desks, and storage containers that you can freely drag and drop into the room.

Along with the 3D designer, Design Your Dorm also has a store which will allows you to purchase some of the goods you have decked your room out with and also a highly useful checklist which you can print out and use to make moving in day a breeze.

Unigo is a new platform for college students to share reviews, photos, videos, documents, and more with students on their campus and across the country. It’s also a good place for high school students to find out what life is really like at America’s colleges, and to make friends to help them find the school that’s right for them.

(via go2web20)

So Summer vacation is in full swing and the new term seems like a light year away. But little by little, we all know that the end of holidays is getting closer, yet our to do list for the new term is still gathering dust.

So, why not get ahead and get ready for the new school year with your iPhone/iPod Touch!

Below, we list some apps ranging from finding student accommodation to finding discounts to becoming the life of the party which we hope will get you ready for, and get the most out of your college life!

Classifieds

Need to find an apartment to rent? These apps may help:

Apartments By UDR (Free) – Search UDR owned apartments by location and by GPS to find apartments near you. (US only)

Apartment Search – NearBuy (Free) – Search apartments by location and by using the iPhones locate me technology. An added feature allows you to tweet an apartment to your followers and ask them what they think. (US only)

CraigsReader (Free) – Search the classifieds of CraigsList on your iPhone! (US and Canada only)

Coupons/Discounts

Save money on your books, food and more!

Shopping Coupons – The Best Deals Online (Free) – Browse and find the best coupons from the Internet. (US only)

Coupon Sherpa Mobile Coupons (Free) – Huge range of online and in store coupons. (US only)

Local Services

Pizza.net (Free) – Find the nearest pizza places to you – College would not be college without pizza! (US only)

WiFi Trak (99c/59p)- Find free WiFi near and around your campus.

FastFood – Top Restaurant Finder app (Free) – Find your favorite eateries in one useful app.

Local Concerts (Free) – Discover concerts playing near you.

Take Me Home, I’m Lost (Free) – Find your way back home after one of those long nights…..

Student-Scope : The Campus Radar (Free) – Find out where your friends are on campus and see the news feed of the activities on campus.

Food and Drink

AllRecipes.com Dinner Spinner – Recipes, Drinks and more (Free) – A really fun and useful app with drinks and food recipes.

Drinks and Recipes Free (Free) – Over 5,000 drinks recipes for free! Be the life of the party!

Organization

iStudent – The best schedule keeper for students

Blackboard Learn – Access your school’s Blackboard system from your iPhone with this app.

Got another app to add to the list?? I’m sure they’re are loads more to add – Leave a comment below and I’ll add it to the list.