Sophomore year. Better known as the awkward abyss between being a freshman and an upperclassman. After high school, you thought those days were behind you. But second semester has crept up on you and you find yourself in a weird funk. Nothing is new and exciting as it once was as a freshman. Allston and a late night stop at Extreme Pita or T. Anthony’s feel boring and routine. You have been to the North End and Faneuil Hall countless times, and know every single store in the Pru. And while nothing really changes between your second and third year, you are still not a junior or senior. As a sophomore you can’t go to Tavern in the Square or Tequila Rain on the weekends, and most don’t have their own off-campus apartment yet. So while sophomore year may seem like a downer, especially in combination with this bitter cold winter, there are things you can do to make the rest of this year the best yet.
Top Five Things to Do to Get Out of Your Sophomore Slump:
1. Now that you’ve made a solid group of friends and have the whole college thing down, join a new club or activity that interests you. Whether you rush a sorority, join an intramural sports team, or write for a school publication (like HerCampus!) donating your time to something you love will make the semester fly by and make you happier in the process.
2. Start planning your summer internship. Come summer you will be in junior standing, so thousands of new internship opportunities will open up for you. Whether you’re staying in Boston for the summer or going back to your hometown, now is the time to start sending out those resumes!
3. It’s tempting to stick with the amazing group of friends you’ve already established at BU, but that limits you to making new friends. Either find some new people to talk to around campus or even better; branch out to other colleges in our area to meet your new BFF.
4. Make your weekends better by planning friend dates. Stop by the Regal in Fenway or trying a new restaurant every week gives you a break from the dining hall and something to look forward to. Going to Sunset or Scoozi works well too!
5. Take a weekend trip to Providence, New York City, or Montreal. The best part of living in a city is how easy it is to get to so many other places. Book in advance and grab a train/bus/plane to have a fun weekend away. Most importantly, stop worrying so much and enjoy the rest of your time in college, because it will be gone before you know it.