In the summer of 2018, I attended a pre college at Georgetown University for journalism. While attending this pre college, I learned several useful things that I wish I would have known prior to the program.

1. Decide if you want a credit or non-credit course: Courses which offer college credits are much more rigorous than non-credit courses. Non credit courses are extremely socially oriented through several group projects, social activities, and field trips. If you are seeking a labor intensive course, look into credit courses. If you are seeking a relaxed program, with field trips, social activities, and a lot of free-time to explore, then look into non-credit courses.

•  Unfortunately, I attended a non-credit program even though I was seeking an intensive course. Although it was a great program overall, I recommend looking for a program that suits your work ethic.

2. Choose a university/college that you are interested in attending in the future: The main purpose of attending a pre-college is to get a taste of the life you could be living in that university. Pre-colleges are a great way of viewing the dorms, facilities, cafeterias, and classrooms. Attending a pre-college also allows you to realize what kind of setting that institution is in by exploring nearby cities and meeting people in the area.

• Georgetown is in Washington D.C., a city that revolves around politics. By staying there, I realized that Washington D.C. was not the kind of city I could see myself living in for four years. Of course, I would not have known this until I visited.

The dorm life was good exposure to what college would be truly like.

3. Sell yourself on your application: When writing application essays, it is important to be extremely confident in all your accomplishments. The essays usually ask for a few hundred words on why you should attend the program and although it may seem strange, you need to brag about yourself. In the overall application, make sure to mention any community service, leadership positions, and academic excellence. Non-credit programs are much more lenient on academics compared to credit courses, but that does not mean you should slack on non-credit courses.

• When I was applying, I found it hard to find anything that could distinguish me from other applicants. A good way to start writing your essay is by asking other people what they think of you in order to write about yourself in a way you did not think of before.

When they ask you to describe yourself in 250 words or less.

4. Pack enough but not too much: The university will email you several documents which also include instructions on what to do if you have any transportation issues. They will also provide a time constraint on when you can arrive to campus such as 10am-3pm. Try to arrive within the first hour to avoid waiting in long lines to receive your dorm keys. The university will usually only provide a mattress, a pillow, and two thin sheets. Make sure to bring essential hygiene items and anything else you use in your daily life. Courses can last up to six weeks so bring enough items to avoid buying during your stay. Try to bring some sort of basket to put all your bathroom items in. (Do not overpack! It will only complicate your life during your arrival and departure.

After multiple failed attempts of trying to close your suitcase by sitting on it.

5. Try to be early: Make sure to get a good night’s rest in order to wake up early on your first day. Most dorms have shared bathrooms ( mine had two showers, three toilets, and four sinks for around ten girls since dorms will always be separated by gender). Afterwards, arrive early to the cafeteria so that you’re not stressed about getting a plate and choosing where to sit. If you arrive to class early, you can talk to your professor, ask any questions you may have, and also choose where to sit.

• Since I am a very shy person, I preferred sitting first so that I don’t have to go through the stress of choosing who to sit next to in class or in the cafeteria. Personally, I found it uncomfortable to go through my daily routine with other people around, so I used the bathrooms before others had woken up. I also found it more efficient to do everything early to avoid long lines and crowds of people.

Early Birds get the worms!

6. Enjoy your time: If you are taking a non-credit course, you will most likely not have any work after class. This gives you time to explore the college town, meet new people from a variety of places, and learn from your experiences. Credit courses will probably not give you a lot of free time, but you will be able to improve your craft in a work setting. To be honest, you will probably never see any of these people again, so try to leave without any regrets.

Overall, the thing I regretted the most was how shy I was. I did not talk to anyone first and I did not ask anything during class out of fear of being judged. When I look back at my week at Georgetown, I feel like I did not enjoy it to the fullest due to how scared I was of being judged. Learn from my mistake. Enjoy yourself and have fun! 

Hopefully, these small pieces of advice allow you to destress about the concept of pre colleges in order to apply and have a great learning experience.