College is a pivotal time in your life, so you want to make sure you get the most out of it. You’re not paying thousands of dollars for nothing! Being successful means more than just studying, so here are some tips to make the most of your experience.
1. Go To Class– Professors often don’t care who goes to class and who doesn’t because they’re making money either way, but if you don’t show up, you could miss out on test answers and other important information. While in college, I had a psychology professor who would give out test questions and answers when enough people didn’t show up. Not only that, she would spend the rest of that class time going in-depth on book detail, which in that class, was really important!
2. Know Your Professors– Having a solid relationship with at least three professors on campus will set you up for long-term success. Why? Recommendation letters! Several job applications will ask you for these letters, so if you have professors who knew your every skill, then the chances of you getting the job are much greater. Not to mention, professors are a great tool when it comes to finding a job in the first place.
3. Keep Your Work- You never know if that writing assignment could come in handy later for your portfolio! My seminar class required us to make portfolios of all our best work throughout college, and then we had to take it to a networking event, so it’s important to have your work organized and readily available.
4. Internship/Job Experience– I cannot stress how important it is to have some type of work-related experience while you are in college. Studying will get you the grades, but working in your degree field will provide you with first-hand experience. Unpaid internships are fairly easy to find, while paid internships are highly competitive. If you need the money, try getting an unpaid internship for just a few hours per week and then a job on the side.
5. Make Friends– Having a support group in college is vital. Not only will these people be able to help you with studying, but they can also provide you with moral support when you are going through a hard time. My friends became my family in college since my family lived so far away. And don’t worry about not fitting in because every campus has a wide-range of individuals, so you’re bound to fit in somewhere!
6. Career Center- The career center is one of the most overlooked offices on college campuses. Here, you can find information on career workshops, employers on campus and inventories that will tell you what your personality type is (The Myers Briggs is one of the most widely used inventories on college campuses I had three classes take it). Also, you can sign up to take mock interviews to help you prepare for the real deal and resume help is provided as well.
7. Time Management– This is my final, and most important point to being successful in college. There will be a lot of changes and events going on in your life that you may feel overwhelmed by it all. Try getting a planner and writing out your plan for the week. This way, you will have your homework assignments written out, any meetings you go to and time for yourself as well.
College is a fun time full of opportunities! Take advantage of these tips and learn how they will work best for you and your degree plan. Remember, colleges offer resources for practically everything, so if you ever feel like you’re getting behind or need an extra boost, go talk to someone about it. Best of luck!
