Summer Checklist for College-Bound Students with Learning Differences
| It’s Summertime and the Livin’ is…Time Sensitive! Summer is here, but if you’re a student with learning differences heading off to college, this isn’t the time to hit pause. The months between high school and college are full of opportunities to build confidence, skills, and a plan. With some structure now, you’ll set yourself up for success—and have time to enjoy the season. Start Now With a Plan Before anything else, build a summer action plan. Use a calendar that works for you—Google Calendar, reminders on your phone, or a paper planner—and schedule deadlines with alerts. Pro tip: Break tasks into small steps and celebrate progress along the way. You’re practicing skills that will help you every day in college. Need more practice? Summer Cohort is for you! Check out our YouTube Channel and sign up now. (Space is limited.) First Things First: Your College Email This is your lifeline to your new school. It’s where you’ll receive information about orientation, class registration, financial aid, and accommodations. – Set up your email ASAP – Choose a secure, memorable password – Check your email daily—set an alarm or make it part of your morning routine – Consider forwarding it to your personal inbox. YOUR THREE-PART SUMMER CHECKLIST: We recommend dividing your to-dos into School, Personal, and Health categories. This structure keeps things clear—and lets you track what’s done. SCHOOL TASKS Stay ahead of deadlines with these essentials: Submit your documentation For academic accommodations, your 504, IEP, or testing results need to go to the accessibility office. Apply for housing accommodations Quiet room? Private bathroom? Request early—housing deadlines are separate from academic support. Register for classes Secure your spot and meet with your advisor if possible. Note: Some colleges have freshmen meet with an advisor and the advisor registers the students for first semester classes and others have the students register independently. Know which way it works for your school. Order textbooks & explore accessibility tools Will you need audio books or PDFs? Plan now. Want more expert tips? Follow Elizabeth Hamblet at LD Advisory, Vicky Nelson at The College Parent Central Podcast, Wendy Taylor at The Special Ed Strategist, or Kelly Challen at NESCA. PERSONAL TASKS Beyond school, college life requires personal responsibility and independence. Clean up your digital presence Remove anything from social media that doesn’t represent you that way you want to be represented.Build your LinkedIn profile Start with volunteer work, summer jobs, and interests. Use the first person, describe your strengths. Check out the LinkedIn profile of someone you admire. Can you emulate that style? Practice independence Start managing your own appointments, communications, and time. Learn the tech Get comfortable with the platforms (Google Meet, Teams, Blackboard, etc.) your school uses. Get set up with noise-cancelling headphones and whatever else you’ll need to support your work. Practice Bone up on your academic skills and your social skills. Our Summer Cohort is not theoretical. It’s real practice! Learn more here. HEALTH & WELL-BEING College readiness starts with self-awareness and self-care. Move your body Exercise reduces anxiety and builds mental resilience. Spend time with friends and family Strong social ties = emotional support. Start journaling Build your self-awareness and learn how to advocate for your needs. Make a vision board Use images, quotes, or goals that reflect who you are and what you want for your future. At Focus Collegiate, Your Vision Drives Everything At Focus Collegiate, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter success. We use your personal vision to guide our work—combining assessment, insight, and strategy to help you build a foundation for growth. We help students identify where they are now, where they want to be, and how to bridge that gap with confidence and clarity. This summer is your opportunity to start strong. Let’s build something great—together. |