This is my last semester of college, and boy does it feel strange. I’m about to enter the “real world,” and start an actual job. By now, there’s a few things that you should know how to do so that your transition to adulting is as smooth as possible. Here are some of my recommendations of what you should learn how to do before you graduate college:
Make a couple of meals.
You’re about to part ways with your school cafeteria and declining balance, so start to think about a few items that you can cook on your own. A couple of my favorites that are easy to make are pasta, fried rice, and scrambled eggs. If you’re 21, the same goes for alcohol. Learning how to make a few mixed drinks will impress your friends and save you from not knowing what to buy for your new apartment.
Form a good relationship with your advisor and professors.
You never know if you’ll need them to write you a reference letter, so it’s good to ask for one sooner rather than later. If you’re struggling with finding a career, talk to them about it. They really want to see you succeed, and I know that I’ll really miss talking to my adviser after I graduate.
Network!
Prepare yourself for the real world by starting to build your networking skills early. Networking is basically just forming relationships with other people, so you could start by joining more orgs on campus, getting coffee with people from your classes, or reaching out to professionals in your target field and asking to chat with them sometime. These connections will really come in handy later on.
Dress professionally.
Don’t save your professional clothing shopping until after you graduate. Invest in a few staples, such as a blazer and dress pants; you can test them out by wearing them to events on campus, classes where you have to give a presentation, or even out to dinner.
Plan financially.
I’m not saying that you should know how to make a perfect budget, because I still spend more than I need to at Target sometimes. But you should start to form an understanding of your spending habits. Try keeping a record of everything that you buy (groceries, toiletries, concert tickets, clothes, etc.) so that you can see what parts of your paycheck are going where.
Organize a party or event.
Whether you plan a friends birthday party, or organize an event on campus, knowing how to put on an event is a useful skill. It’s something that every adult should feel comfortable with doing, so that if someone asks you to plan an event in the future, you can feel confident about it.
Call your doctor.
Please, please learn how to take care of yourself. If you don’t know how already, please learn how to schedule appointments at your doctors office and refill prescriptions when needed. It’s also helpful to keep track of what things your insurance will cover, and how often you will need to see your doctor.
College is full of networks and offices that are there to help you grow and develop your skills. Utilize these resources while you still can so that you can feel confident and ready to graduate.