As a freshman, I remember having no clue what I wanted from my college career. Yes, the four-year degree is a given but I wanted to make sure that I not only had the paper certifying that, “Yes, he knows the field” but that I had the skills and experience necessary to snag a good job once I leave the safety of my four-year institution and tried to make it in the real world. Through the many trials and tribulations, I am happy to say that I have made the most out of my college years, trying new things and never being afraid to say yes to learning opportunities. Here are a few tips I have learned on how to make the most of your college experience!
#1: Colleges are like relationships, choose wisely – Finding the right college is often a scary process. Not only do you have the waiting period to find out whether or not you were accepted but you also have the stress of choosing from a multitude of schools. One thing to remember is to be realistic but never sell yourself short. If you’re truly interested in a school, look into it, go on tours and decide from there. You want to find a school that you can enjoy for the next four (or more) years so make sure you think carefully in order to avoid the hassle of transferring the following semester.
#2: Join clubs and organizations – Being active on campus is a great way to get to know your fellow students and community better. Not only do clubs give you the opportunity to meet new faces around campus but as well the ability to become involved in events at your school, Also, when it comes time for the job search, it never hurts to have leadership experience on your budding resume!
#3: Build Friendships – Okay, so this one is a little harder than it looks but well worth it in the end. You’re going to spend a lot of time (and I do mean a LOT) with your classmates (well, dependent on how big your school is) so you should try and get to know your peers. No, not all friendships will work out but in the end, you may just find the right group of friends to take you through the next four years and beyond!
#4: Study, study, study – This may come as a no-brainer but some students get lost in the excitement of their newfound independence. They forget that between the late night discussions, food runs, and Netflix binges that some actual studying has to take place. Make sure to absorb (and retain) all the knowledge you can in your four or more years of school because they will be invaluable in the workforce. Plus, you’re paying an arm and a leg to go to school anyway, might as well make the most of those student loans, right?
#5: Take time to enjoy it – College is going to fly by and after that, the real decision-making has to start. Where are you going to work? What field will you go into? How will you pay off your student debt? These are all questions you will need to start answering once you leave school so make sure you take the time today to enjoy it because life has no semesters or summer breaks. So work hard but make sure you take it all in.
