The last semester of college has two different feelings: you feel open to your life after university, but you don’t want the freedoms and joy of college to end. There’s a lot of excitement for graduation, but there’s pressure on what’s going to happen post-grad.
For many, this is a defining semester that sets them up for the rest of their lives. Instead of letting myself become overwhelmed, I’ve decided to approach my senior year of university with a clear mind and clear goals.
- Ensuring I’m on the Right Path to Graduation
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Before anything else, I need to make sure I’m where I need to be academically. Have I fulfilled all of my credits? Am I signed up for the right classes? Before the semester started, I applied for graduation and emailed my Academic Success Supervisor. I made sure my KnightAudit was up to date and mapped out everything one last time. Finally, I check my Spring 2026 graduation course to make sure it’s up to date on all the required documents so that nothing can hold me back at the last minute.
- Structuring My Schedule to Protect My Time
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Senior semester comes with a ton of responsibilities, some old, some new. While I have jobs and internships to work on, I’m reassured that post-grad, I can’t ignore my responsibilities. Therefore, I use Google Calendar, a planner, and other time-management resources to ensure I can fit everything into my schedule.
For me, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and part of the weekend tend to be “working” days, where I’m out of the house and on the job. Mondays and Fridays are catch-up days where I grind homework and club responsibilities. Wednesdays tend to be my day off, where I relax in the mornings and have classes in the evenings. Structuring my schedule like this means I’m not doing things last-minute and have more time for myself.
- Updating Myself Professionally
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Senior year is the last bridge between being a student and becoming a professional. I’m using this time to update my LinkedIn, resumé, and keep in touch with professional contacts I’ve made during my time as a student at UCF. No matter how hard the job market hits me after graduation, I want to be prepared.
- Enjoying the Time I Have Left
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While planning and studying are huge aspects of strengthening your senior year, you should also make the most out of it! This semester, I’m letting myself indulge in the college experience because these moments will not happen again. I’m trying to say yes to everything that comes my way, so 10 years from now I can say I had a great senior year. I encourage you to book that concert or trip you’ve been thinking of, so you don’t regret it in the future.
All in all, this last semester brings the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another. It can be bittersweet. While I definitely do try, I know I can’t have the answers to everything. No one can plan for what life might throw at you. However, I want to finish my last semester at UCF strong, reassuring myself that no matter what happens, I did everything to the best of my capabilities.