There’s probably no more exciting, yet scary a time, in a young adult’s life then the day they leave home to venture off to university.

On the one hand there’s the fear of the unknown as they find themselves having to start over in a new country, at a new school and with new friends.

While on the flip side there’s a certain thrill that comes along with getting your first real taste of adult life and independence.

Just before the final wave of Bermudian students jump on their respective flights out of here, The Royal Gazette spoke to some first-timers about how they were navigating through this new chapter in their lives.

Maxii Caines, 17, said one of the best things to help ease the transition to university has been talking to current students and asking them questions.

“Sometimes when you ask the school directly they might not be as forthcoming about things because they want to keep their reputation,” she explained. “I had tons of cousins who went to Oakwood [University] and a few who are still here so I asked them what to do, where to go, what’s the best meal plan to get, etc?”

Miss Caines, who is starting a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and History at the Alabama based school, said doing her own research online was also a helpful tool. “If you type in a hashtag, like #Oakwood on Instagram and Twitter lots of things show up that people have written about the school,” she added.

The teenager admitted that spending the last year at boarding school did a world of good in helping to prepare her for university.

Nonetheless, there were still some nerves involved in packing up to move away.

“I was nervous just because it’s a new environment and I would have to start all over again,” she explained. “It was excited nerves though, in that I was looking forward to seeing what this school year would bring.”

Miss Caines comes from a long line of Oakwood graduates, including her father, Digicel CEO Wayne Caines.

In some ways the school felt like “a home away from home”.

Still she had to make preparations, with the help of her mom, to get a student visa, find a dorm on campus and arrange insurance and a meal plan.

For Damani Edwards, 17, it will be his first time out in “the real world” when he heads off to New England Institute of Technology in Rhode Island in the Spring.

“I’m a little nervous because after this it’s paying bills and working to further my career and stuff like that,” he said. Preparing for college has been a little hectic so far, Mr Edwards added.

After getting a scholarship for $5,000, his school agreed to match that number — so he spent some time getting his finances in order.

Other preparations were a little easier — especially considering one of his close friends will also be attending the school.

They have agreed to share an apartment together and split the costs.

Mr Edwards said this was particularly helpful seeing he has never been to Rhode Island before and doesn’t know exactly what to expect.

Something he knows for sure is that in university he will have to take responsibility for his own success.

“Now it’s hitting me that I will be on my own and will have to do what I have to do,” he said. “When I was in high school, for instance, I didn’t study so much, but now I have to be on the top of my game in my courses so I can succeed.”

Waverley Moran, 18, admitted there were some mixed emotions about going off to study Psychology and Theatre at the University of King’s College. She said part of her doesn’t want to grow up and take on adult responsibilities.

The other is really excited about going off to university and having the chance to learn from and interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds.

Miss Moran said she has been preparing to go off to college for months now, by organising her things and deciding what to take and what to leave.

She even made a packing list of what to take with her; and another checklist for the things she’ll have to buy once she arrives for school in Halifax. Since she has been to that part of Canada before it made it a lot easier to plan, she said.

“Figuring out flights was easy because I have visited there multiple times,” she said. “My grandmother [also] lives in the area so pre-move in day accommodations are taken care of.”

And choosing the courses she will be taking was also simple seeing that three of her four first year credits are mandatory, meaning she only has to decide on one elective.

She said her school had multiple resources available to ease the transition, including a Facebook group so that students could connect.

“There are also many online resources that give advice to students who are starting their first year of university on what to bring and what to expect. Those have been very helpful. A couple that I found particularly helpful were dormshoppinglist.com and the YouTube channel ‘How to Adult’.”

For more articles to help you through the 2014/15 school year, see The Royal Gazette’s Back to School Supplement, out on Friday.