Are you counting down the days until Thanksgiving break, and after that, Christmas break? Holiday breaks can be one of the highlights of the college student’s year. Not only do you get to go home, you probably also get several weeks off with no exams, papers, or homework to do.

Here are five things to make sure you think about before your college breaks begin.

Save money by carpooling. If you plan on driving home for breaks, try to find other students who can carpool with you. It will save you some money and help you make some new friends! Websites like College Wagon Train (www.collegewagontrain.com) help students coordinate rides to and from college campuses. Students can also use a website like this to coordinate ride sharing to athletic events, church services, concerts, or other local events. If you do choose to use a site like this, be aware of the risks involved with any type of site where you share personal information.

Rest. If you have a job waiting for you while you’re home, take advantage of it and make some extra money. But don’t overbook yourself. One of the benefits of having a break is taking time to get some extra sleep and rest. If you’re a hard worker during the school year, it’s imperative that you use the time off to take a break. You’ll be refreshed for the beginning of the next semester and ready to take on the challenges that the next several months will bring.

Talk with your parents about their expectations. Coming home for an extended period of time can be hard on college students, now that you are used to doing whatever you want, whenever you want to do it.  You’ve become accustomed to having only yourself to answer to. Try to remember that your parents are probably expecting things to be the same as they were before you left. During the first few days that you are home, sit down together and discuss everyone’s expectations of your time off. Talk about curfews, sleeping in, working, chores, mealtimes, transportation, and whatever else might come up. If you communicate well and get everyone on the same page, you and your parents will have a much more enjoyable break.

Shop for the holidays wisely. Because the next few months include the holiday season, you will probably be buying gifts for friends and family while you are home. Make yourself a budget before you go home so you know how much you can spend. If you need help, ask your parents to go over your budget with you. Don’t slap all your gifts onto a credit card and assume you’ll pay for them later. Only shop with money you have, or you’ll end up paying a lot more than the items are worth in interest.

Network for jobs. While you are home, you’ll probably see some old friends and family that you haven’t connected with recently. Take the opportunity to talk about your college experience and what career you’re interested in. If you or your parents know people in the field that you’re pursuing, set up some time to talk to them about their experiences and what they recommend you do. Find out if they know of any internships or work opportunities for the summer. Don’t be pushy, but make sure you put yourself out there. Networking is the best way to find jobs!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 and is filed under Surviving at college.