Starting online school in the fall and looking for a list of epic summer before online college bucket list ideas? As a distance learning student myself who’s checked off most of these items, I’ve got you covered!
Whether you’re attending online college as a high school senior, returning to study later in life as a non-traditional student (like me!), have a family or are undergoing a career change, use the ideas in this list to make your last summer before starting online college fun, memorable and full of moments you’ll look back on long after class begins.
Be sure to scroll to the end for a few bonus tips I’ve learned along the way!
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Summer Before Online College Bucket List Ideas
1. Travel
You may not be able to travel for a while, so seize the opportunity to take that bucket list trip, get on a plane and create experiences you’ll remember forever.
2. Take a Road Trip
Road trips are an amazing way to spend time with friends, have an adventure and explore your own or other cities for unforgettable memories.
3. Spend a Day at the Beach
Soak up the summer rays by visiting your favorite beach. Or, get a bit riské and visit a clothing-optional beach!
4. Pick Up a New Offline Hobby
Online college requires A LOT of screen time, and having an offline or “analog” hobby to look forward to really helps me lower my stress levels and maintain a bit of balance while getting my degree. Think something active like taking a dance class, or something creative like crocheting or painting.
Need some new hobby inspiration? Check out my favorites:
- 104 Fun & Creative Hobbies For Women In Their 20s
- 60 Free and Cheap Hobbies for Women to Get Inspired
5. Plan a One-on-One Day With a Best Friend or Family Member
This is a must do summer before online college bucket list item if you’re moving to another state or country to complete your degree. Go to your favorite restaurant together, partake in your favorite traditions or visit a special place or destination that’s meaningful to you both.
6. Create a College Pinterest or Vision Board
Pinterest is an amazing place for study inspiration. Start creating boards for study tips, productivity hacks, healthy student habits and all the college milestones you can get excited about.
Follow me @onlinestudentlife to live your best online student life!
If you’re not into Pinterest, grab some inspirational photos and make a college vision board to help you visualize your dreams during and after your major milestones.
7. Enter a Running or Obstacle Race
With a ton of options ranging from a full marathon to a 5k, Spartan, Tough Mudder or a color run, participating in a race is a true summer bucket list item. Some races even award metals you can hang on your wall!
8. Take a Fun Personal Interest Course
Before buckling down with academic classes, grab an online Coursera subscription and take a personal interest class with options for everything from wine tasting to coding to art.
9. Attend an Event
Buy tickets for something you’ve always wanted to see. Round up some friends or head out solo to a concert, play, comedy club or musical performance and make an evening of it.
10. Check Out an Outdoor Festival
Summer festivals are often an unforgettable way to enjoy the weather and festivities. Try the food, participate in events and make sure to stay after dark for any fireworks or concerts.
11. Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to see an event for free, add experience to your resume or meet new people. Some of my favorite events I’ve volunteered at have been the Vancouver International Wine Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival.
12. Try a New Style
Step into a new semester with a boost of confidence by getting a new haircut or trying a new manicure. I always feel that having my nails done helps me study better!
SEE ALSO: 13 Sophisticated Back-to-College Nail Ideas
13. Visit Family
Many of us have family near and far, so spend some time quality time with those important to you. This can be a perfect travel excuse to visit family members that live far away in a fun place you’ve alway wanted to see!
14. Create Your Dream Study Space
For online students, our home IS our classroom. Having a dedicated study space is really important. Hit up Pinterest for inspiration and get to work designing your dream study space that will help you romanticize your study journey every step of the way.
Also, you need a good spot for all those matchas and iced coffees!
15. Take a Day Trip
Sometimes bucket list items aren’t far out of reach. Take a day to explore cool places around your city to really disconnect before classes begin.
16. Create a New Semester Playlist
Create a playlist to help you breeze through the upcoming semester with ease. Include your favorite songs that will keep you motivated and inspired throughout your day. “Watch me Shine” by Joanna Pacitti (from the Legally Blonde soundtrack) is one of my most motivational study favorites.
17. Scout Out New Cafe Study Spots
One of my favorite advantages of studying online is that you can do it from anywhere. What could be more fun than spending your summer drinking your way through iced coffees and devouring yummy pastries while compiling a list of places to study at when you need a change of scene?
18. Write a Letter to Your Future (Graduated) Self
So much can change in a few years, and you’re embarking on this journey to change the trajectory of your life. Write a letter to your future self to open at graduation. Include things like what your life looks like now, why you decided to go to college, how you’re feeling and what you plan to accomplish by graduation.
19. Attend an Outdoor Sports Game
Take in all the hype and excitement of attending a live sports game. Grab a beer and the iconic hot dog at a baseball, football or tennis match and cheer on your team.
20. Read Some Fiction
Read some fluff fiction at the beach, by the pool, on vacation or at the park. I’m a huge reader myself, and even though I do read year round I love to devour a good book during my downtime. Discover a new genre or continue reading your favorite series. I recently got into fantasy and started with the Rebecca Ross Divine Rivals duology—I highly recommend it if you’re looking for an escape!
21. Watch the Sunrise and Sunset
Staying up to watch both the sunrise and sunset in the same day during the summer solstice is a classic bucket list item.
22. Celebrate Getting into College
Getting accepted into college (even at an open university) is a big deal and something worth celebrating. Get dressed up, make a reservation at a special restaurant or do something meaningful to you and truly celebrate all the hard work you’ve done to get to this milestone!
23. Spend an Entire Day Offline
Because so many aspects of our lives revolve arounds screens big and small, going screen-free is really something special these days. Mute notifications and social media, keep the TV off and spend an entire day offline doing something you love.
24. Find a Signature “This Summer” Drink
The summer before the start of online college is all about making memories, so find a new signature “this summer” drink to enjoy and associate with this season of life.
Think new favorite wine or a fancy cocktail or mocktail.
End of Summer, Start of New Beginnings
The last summer before starting online college is a huge milestone in our lives. The best bucket list ideas are about spending time with people you care about, doing things you may not have time for while going to school and making memories to mark this special time.
My counsellor always reminds me: “If you don’t keep pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, your world will get smaller and smaller—especially as you get older.”
Trying new things or doing things you want shouldn’t just be reserved for a “bucket list.” Work hard in the upcoming semester, but continue to enjoy life alongside your studies.
So take this summer to meet new people and try new things to keep growing and experiencing the big world around you. All this best this year—you got this!
What is one summer before online college bucket list thing you’re doing this year? Let me know in the comments!
