As long as you have the grades and an excellent track record of participating in your school’s events and community, the sky’s the limit on where you can apply to in college. That being said, many may choose to go somewhere completely different to complete their academic journey. For example, if you currently live in a small town, you may decide to travel to the big city for college. The problem? Not everyone is prepared for the transition from a smaller town to a bustling city. If this is the type of move you anticipate making, here are some helpful tips that will guide you along the way.

Learn how to achieve the perfect school-life balance.

There’s a unique tapestry of cultures in every city, and there’s far more to do in the city than in most small towns. However, this also means that there’s a lot more to get distracted by. If you find yourself getting sucked into the nightlife or other aspects of your city that you adore, it can make it difficult to maintain the school-life balance that you need to successfully complete your degree. The last thing that you want to do is invest heavily in your education, only to not receive the grades that you need to get through university. Even worse, your low academic achievements could get you kicked out.

You can prevent this and stay on track by getting the support of an organization like the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). Far from an NSHSS scam, this legitimate organization was created with the purpose of creating a community of high school scholars and helping them with lifetime member benefits that would support them in their university endeavors and beyond. Whether you’re in need of internships and volunteer opportunities to help you build your resume, mental health resources to cope with the transition to the big city, or even help with financial aid, they’re with you every step of the way to make sure you thrive.

Create a financial plan of action ahead of time.

If you’re a freshman student moving to the city, chances are that you’re starting out your college experience in the dorms on campus. Once you become a sophomore, however, you will likely need to transition to apartments or housing off-campus. What you will discover when you start looking into properties is that rent prices in the city are high, and they will likely continue increasing over the next few years. All students in their freshman year need to create a plan of action.

But what exactly does this look like? Now is the time to work on finding employment in your area, making friends with people who would like to share local rentals with you, or even finding a cheap studio apartment on your own outside the city that you can travel back and forth to as you attend classes. You should also create a plan of action for moving. You and your roommates can all pitch in to rent a truck to get your belongings to your new place. Whether you need a cargo van, a pickup truck, or a commercial truck, you’re sure to find the right size for your moving needs. The more you plan out items like this, the better prepared you will be for the future.

Learn more about your city before you move in.

Cities have a lot to offer, which means that you may be able to pursue a lot of your interests and dreams once you make the move. Take some time to dive deeper into your city’s history, see what opportunities they offer in terms of jobs and side hustles, and figure out where your place in the city lies. Who knows? You may even find an entirely new passion while you’re there that may cause you to switch majors.

Are you moving from a small town to a city for college? If so, the tips above will give you a better idea of what to expect and how you can best navigate your future.