by Haley Shapley, Graducate, University of Pennsylvania

Ensure a great school year by doing a few things this summer that will set you up for success this fall.

Ahh, summer. Who doesn�t look forward to more free time and a break from the same old school routine? With a little advance planning, though, you can do more than just soak up the sun this season. You can   make your transition back to school in the fall easier with a clearer picture of what you want to study, better health, and more money. Here�s how:

Get Your Study On
If you have a major that requires a heavy workload or you just want to stay in the academic frame of mind, consider summer classes. They helped Brittany Collie, a junior at Syracuse University in New York, who now has the option of graduating a semester early. �Given the fact that there are fewer campus activities to be involved in and distracted by, I was able to focus more on my academics,� she says.

�Use it or lose it� has some validity�all the knowledge you�ve built up isn�t going to drop out of your brain in three months, but the more you apply it, the better off you�ll be. �Think about your degree program as you would your physical fitness program,� says Vincent P. Linder, provost and academic vice president at Cleary University in Howell, Michigan. �Best results for both come from a disciplined approach with frequent, perhaps even daily, workouts.�

You may want to take some time during the summer to review what you�ve learned in the last year and look ahead to see what you need to prepare for your fall course load. Check if there is any summer reading that may help you in the year ahead, and begin thinking about what courses you need to take and how you are going to schedule them.

For the Health of it
With more daylight hours and less chaos than during the academic year, summer is the perfect time to get a fitness routine started. �If working out becomes as commonplace as eating, then when the school year comes, you will already have that routine in place,� says Erin Claudio, coordinator of experiential programs at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.

The key is really to build habits as opposed to letting the workouts fall where they may. �Some people talk about developing a healthy behavior, [like] getting into a good routine of
working out every day followed by a healthy meal,� says Dr. Rowan Paul, a sports medicine and family physician in San Francisco who contributes to RightHealth.com. �If you do that every day for 21 days before classes start and develop your own habit, you�re much more likely to maintain that fitness routine.�

Knowing what you need for a good workout�like proper footwear, workout mat, and water bottle�and how much time you should budget can really help when  you�re back on campus. �For some people, the workout itself is not necessarily the hardest part, it�s the preparation beforehand,� says Claudio. Get into that frame of mind this summer that you have to think about the logistics of exercise, and it�ll be that much easier when you�re fitting it in between studying, extracurriculars, and all the other trappings of college life.

Don�t forget that you also need to think about your food�perhaps the biggest component to your wellbeing. If you cook, try out some new recipes this summer. If you don�t, consider learning to make some healthy basics that you can whip up in your dorm or apartment.

If you prefer eating out, take some time to research your favorite foods that you may buy on the go. Check restaurant Web sites for nutrition data on the food they serve and to better understand nutrition facts labels, You might be shocked by how calorie- laden some things are, but you may also be pleasantly surprised by foods that have a good balance of fat, carbs, and protein. While you have the time this summer, make a list of the food items that fit into a healthy lifestyle and those that should be saved for splurges only. Then, when you�re busy researching papers instead of nutrition facts, and you�re tired, hungry, and in need of instant gratification, you�ll know what to pick up.

You might be shocked by how calorie-laden some things are, but you may also be pleasantly surprised by foods that have a good balance of fat, carbs, and protein. While you have the time this summer, make a list of the food items that fit into a healthy lifestyle and those that should be saved for splurges only. Then, when you�re busy researching papers instead of nutrition facts, and you�re tired, hungry, and in need of instant gratification, you�ll know what to pick up.

�For college students, a lot of it comes down to behavioral patterns,� Dr. Paul says. �Number 1 is to resist the temptation of having food around all the time. Have a meal plan. Try to maintain a healthy pattern of behavior going into the school year. Think consciously about what the pressures are going to be and have concrete ways of dealing with those pressures before they come up.�

Workin� Overtime
Lots of students balance jobs and classes, but it can be tricky. If you work over the summer, you might be able to sock away enough money so that you can work reduced hours during the school year or avoid borrowing as much in student loans. Gina Dellino, a sophomore at Western Washington University in Bellingham, works 40 hours a week during the summer at a child-care center.  Last year, she was able to earn enough to cover many of her expenses. �Working during the summer allows me time to focus on my schoolwork [without having to work part-time during the school year], and it allows me to have my weekends free to go home,� she says.

There�s another form of working that can be beneficial far beyond financial gain: internships. They can help you get real-world experience, make contacts in your chosen field, and boost your r�sum�. They can also help you figure out what you don�t want to do�and that�s just as valuable.

Bruce August, Jr. had finished his undergrad degree at The University of Texas at Dallas and was looking to explore different career options before heading to grad school when he secured a plum internship with a financial services company.

�It was a great experience to get a chance to meet people and learn some different things,� says August. �I realized, however, the corporate environment wasn�t necessarily an area I wanted to be in.�

Internships may help you figure out what you want to do in life and that may reshape your approach to college.

The same goes for more out-of-the-box opportunities, like traveling or volunteering. There are tons of programs that allow you to get outside your comfort zone, experience a new culture, and engage in classroom-come-to-life learning. One such program, Montana-based Ecology Project International, sends people to biologically rich but ecologically threatened areas. �The idea is that students are getting on the- ground experience in science and conservation,� says Kelsey Stamm, grants and outreach coordinator. �This can solidify what they want to pursue when they go back to school.�

Enjoy yourself this summer, but think about the upcoming school year, too�it�ll be here before you know it, and a little prep now will yield maximum results later.

About the Author
HALEY SHAPLEY IS A DALLAS-BASED FREELANCE WRITER AND A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA IN PHILADELPHIA