The journey towards figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life can be challenging, especially at such a young age. I remember being a senior in high school, as many of my friends had already decided where they wanted to go to school, and an idea of what they wanted to study. I still felt lost, and unsure about everything. Even though my college experience has been great thus far, I know if given the chance to magically go back in time, I would change certain aspects of what I did or didn’t do. Either way, below are some things I wish I would have at least known before starting my college experience.
- Get Involved
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I know this is cliche to say, and you probably hear it all the time, but it’s true! Getting involved is one of the best ways to meet new people, figure out what you like, what you don’t like, and makes for an even better college experience. Regardless of where you end up choosing to go to college, or what your major is, there are a lot of different types of clubs you can join. While most people think getting involved means joining a fraternity or sorority, it’s simply not true. You could join a running club if that’s what you’re interested in, but the point is to get involved in something.
- Procrastination Will Be Your Biggest Enemy
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Student or not, this is one of those life things a lot of people struggle with on a daily basis, but it’s even more important not to do this when you have 20 plus assignments due, and you’re on a time crunch. Usually, time management will help with that, but sometimes, it’s just who we are, and if you’re like me, are in need of a different method to help keep us on track. If I could go back in time, I would study more, pay more attention in class, go to office hours, and keep track of assignments. While these are all changes I have been in the past year, I wish someone had told me earlier, so if you’re guilty of procrastinating, this is your sign to change something!
- Don’t Be Afraid to Change Your Major
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According to the U.S. Department of Education, one-third of students pursuing a bachelor’s degree change their major. In other words, don’t feel discouraged to change your major, regardless of your year in school. If you feel inclined to follow a different career path that is better suited for you, then you might as well change it now, before you obtain a degree in something you don’t like. Most advisors will tell you not to, or to declare a major early on, but the reality of it, is that we are all on different paths. As the indecisive person that I am, I decided to change my major half way through my junior year. I don’t regret it, and I may have to take an extra semester, but I’m way happier knowing I am pursuing a career that I love.
- Consider Community College
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This will vary from person to person. Some people say the first two years of college were the best time of their lives, while others may not care, prefer to save money, time, and opt to attend a community college before transferring, or even staying there. I personally decided to attend a 4-year college, and the first two years of my college experience were indeed amazing, but part of me wishes I would have gone to community college first. I could have saved money, figured out what career best suited me, had a more flexible work schedule, but in the end. I don’t regret my decision, however, if you’re going into college undecided, you might want to consider community college first.
- Professors are Valuable Assets
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Having a professor by your side is crucial as it can open up the door and provide you with countless opportunities. It can be challenging to make connections with professors, but a simple visit to office hours, paying attention, and doing well in the class can make you stand out, especially if the class is small, and there are only a handful of students. Many professors are very friendly, and genuinely want to help, and see you succeed in life. I had a professor whose class wasn’t even related to my field of study, but decided to take it as an elective, and really ended up liking the class and professor, that later on he wrote me a letter of recommendation.
- Don’t Buy Textbooks Unless Absolutely Necessary
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This one may seem counterintuitive, because yes buy the book if you need it, but always try and find a cheaper or free option before actually purchasing the book. There are some professors who will make you purchase it through the fact that you need an access code for the homework, but for the other amazing professors who don’t like to see us suffer, there are websites like Chegg, where you can rent or buy at a much lower price. Or even more amazing websites like Z-library, where the textbooks are completely free to download, and use whenever. Even if the syllabus says you have to buy the book, chances are you might not actually need to, and the amount of money you could be saving is insane! The cost of books really do add up in the end.
- Build a Routine
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You don’t have to be a robot, but having some sort of a routine to follow will help you stay on track, during one of the most stressful times of your life. This can range anywhere from having a morning/night schedule, classes, diet/food plan, exercise, work, chores, etc. This is an aspect I have often struggled with, but my best routine is when I have a consistent schedule with school and work. Even if the routine is as simple as waking up, brushing teeth, washing face, eating breakfast, working out for 30 minutes, and then studying for 2-3 hours. This can benefit us to stay on top of what needs to get done, and in the long run will help us maintain our sanity, because without any sort of schedule, or routine, I feel completely lost.
- Look for Internship/Research Opportunities ASAP
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Depending on your major, you may need more internships than research opportunities, or vice versa, but regardless, it’s important to start looking as early as possible. The more experience you have on your resume, the higher your chances of getting hired right out of college. I didn’t start looking for internships until my senior year, and even though I did end up finding one relatively quick, I could have benefitted from searching my freshman or sophomore year. Many schools will prompt students to internship opportunities, and even asking professors, or friends can be helpful.
If you are fortunate enough to know your passion early on in high school or college, you’re extremely lucky, but for the rest of us, knowing what you want to do in life can prove challenging. We all have a different college experience that forms and shapes us into who we are, and each experience is invaluable to the individual going through it. How we finish college, and achieve our dreams/goals will vary from person to person, but the most important thing is that we are happy, and have no regrets.