Four Ways to Elevate your College Experience

Four Ways to Elevate your College Experience

   It does not matter how you cut it, but college can be daunting to think about. It marks a big change in to adulthood. For many, it is a journey into independence. 

   With that being said, there is no need to worry about it. College is a wonderful experience, and with these tips, you will create something to remember for the rest of your life. Take note, these four tips are in place to show you how to squeeze the best out of your college experience, but does not dive into study techniques. For additional guidance, please see the following articles:

Well, let us get to it readers!

FIRST: JOIN SCHOOL CLUBS
   I can honestly say, that joining clubs is one of the best ways to improve every part of your college experience. Think about it, a school club is a gathering of peers that have your same interests in mind. This can range from automotive clubs, to anime clubs, and it is a great place to make new friends and become active within your surroundings.

   We can use an engineering club as an example (because I am pulling from my personal experience, haha). I was part of a general engineering club, known as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). No, you do not have to be Hispanic, nor an engineer to join, but that is beside the point. This club is where I met 95% of my friends, that to this day, are still by my side. It was a zone where you can interact with peers that think like you do, it was a place where you can do professional networking, it was a place where you can meet peers to study through your classes together. In essence, this club sculpted me to be a well-rounded individual. Not only did I make friends here, but I found my first engineering internship opportunity here. I also found that I did not have to suffer through my engineering courses alone. I can say with extreme confidence, I would not be as successful as I am now, without this club. So put yourself out there, and explore what school clubs can do for you.

SECOND: GO TO SCHOOL EVENTS
   Listen, College is not limited to studying and test taking. College is a breathing ground for fun. Countless events happen every single week, right on campus! Taking this even further, a large majority of the events are free! What… are… you… waiting… for? You know? Take this time to gather your friends, and hit these things up! It will allow you to meet more people, and grow a bond with your college environment which is not strictly educational based.

   It is a great outlet for the stresses of homework, studying and test taking. Every couple of months, my school would hold live concerts through the night. Almost every month, they would bring puppies to open areas on campus for students to cuddle with. At least twice a month, the arts department would put on a show for the students, or hold a showing of student artwork for everyone to see. This is a small sample, and does not include the abundance of events held by the hundreds of clubs on campus. There is no reason to be bored in college. I am sorry to say this, but this kind of stuff doesn’t happen in the corporate world, so take advantage!

THIRD: BECOME A FRIEND TO YOUR PROFESSORS
   Professors have a life outside of teaching a class, who knew? The reason this is on the list, goes behind the idea that you are not alone in college. When things get tough, whether with your studies, or with something in your personal life, it is always beneficial to have the professors on your side. I have not ran into a professor that is not willing to help a student out during a crisis.

   Being in good standings with your professor, allows you to freely ask for help with a topic outside of class. Additionally, you would be their go-to when they hear about internship/work opportunities in your field of interest. Going a step further, a professor you are close to, would be able to write you a letter of recommendation, that will help a substantial amount in industry. Besides, it is always nice to make new friends.

FOURTH: SET PERSONAL GOALS
   We are young, we are active. Believe it not, we can accomplish a lot with little time. If you have not done this already, now would be a good time to start setting some goals. Long term and short term. Any student hopes to have the experience to get a job post-graduation, and there are plenty of steps you can take to get you there. The best way to stay organized, and in control of your future, is to set timelines for certain activities. See below for examples:

- 5 job applications submitted within this month
- Mock interview conducted within this month
- Internship for summer vacation

   You can span this past work goals, such as creating your first eBook, or starting a YouTube channel. The basic premise behind setting a goal, is that you are able to hone in on anything you want to accomplish. It allows you to stay focused and productive!

   The advice provided through this article is proven, by me, to make your college encounter unforgettable! (: I loved college, and hope you will go through the same positive experiences I had. Now go out there and make a name for yourself!

~The Unseasoned Brain

Photo Credits by Order:

- Photo by Ben Duchac on Unsplash