10 Things You Must Do Before Graduating From College

Ronica,

I just started my freshman year in college and want to make sure I don’t miss out on anything important. Do you have any must-do advice for college?

~No Regrets,

No Regrets,

To start, there is no way to ensure that everything will be perfect during your college years. There is never enough time and there are always mistakes made – but that is part of the experience and can help to make it a wonderful time. However, there aredefinitely some things you can do to help ensure a great four years.

Here is my list of the Top 10 Things To Do Before Graduating College:

1. Be Authentic: Finally! You can start over. You no longer have to live with that nickname you were given in 2nd grade that stuck with you until the end of your senior year of high school.

As you go through your first year in college, you have the opportunity to essentially start over and let people see your true self without all of the past following you. But with this, be true to yourself and do not create a “fake” you. Just bask in the fact that those embarrassing moments from elementary school can finally be left behind!

2. Get Involved: In high school most knew that those extracurricular activities would help you get into college. But now that you’re at a university, those activities still matter. Not only will they help you make great friends, but they can also give you experiences that will help you stand out when looking for a job. Becoming an officer in a sorority or getting involved in a pre-professional organization are all great resume builders that will give you fantastic college memories at the same time.

3. Sleep In: Take advantage of the fact that you can start your classes later in the day. Once you are finished with school, you will likely start a 9-5 type job and never have the luxury of late mornings and late nights. Enjoy the flexibility of your schedule.

4. Have School Spirit: Go to school sporting events and fundraisers. By getting involved in school-related functions, you will feel more at home on campus and in the dorms. It will make you feel like part of a special community. So buy a t-shirt, hat, flip-flops…whatever you like. It was an accomplishment to get into your school, so wear your colors often and with pride.

5. Take a Class Outside of Your Major: It is easy to get caught up in all of the required courses for your major, but be sure to take classes that are completely unrelated. As an engineering undergraduate, I decided to take a sociology class one semester to have a mental break from all of my technical courses. I ended up enjoying the class so much that I declared sociology as my minor the next term!

6. Get an Internship: While your summers give you much needed rest and relaxation, it is important you work at an internship as early as possible. You are not too young to get work experience even after your freshman year of college. And even if the internships are unpaid, they can help build your resume and make you stand out when looking for full-time employment upon graduation. You’ll also gain mentors and life experiences.

7. Use Your Student ID: Take advantage of the discounts out there for students. From your local pizza shop to discounted travel, there is money to be saved with that little piece of plastic.

8. Travel: Whether it is for spring break or for an entire summer, take time to travel. This is a rare time in your life when you have the flexibility to travel for long periods of time without the penalty of taking vacation days at work. Create a budget and travel around the world or take a road trip across your home state.

9. Volunteer: As a student, there are wonderful opportunities to volunteer. Take one spring break to work with Habitat for Humanity, or volunteer to help a teacher in a local school during one day each week. The flexibility of your college schedule allows you to serve in ways that are impossible when working a more traditional work schedule.

10: Have a Tradition: One of my favorite traditions in college was “Sunday Nights.” My best friend and I would get together every Sunday night to watch our favorite television shows and catch up on the past week’s events. As simple as this may sound, it was a tradition that stayed with us for a very long time and kept our friendship strong. No matter how big or small, traditions create memories that will stay with you long after college graduation.

I hope this advice helps you to have no regrets! Have some tips I didn’t mention? Feel free to post a comment or email me at AskRonica@Gmail.com.

~Ronica