Many people describe college as the best time of their lives, but the case still remains that four years is a very short period of time to figure your life out. Although it may be the time that many people explore their passions, there is still a lot that can be done to actualize those passions. That being said, many college students miss out on very easy opportunities to create value and incite meaning in their lives and careers. Below is a list of 10 things recent graduates regret not doing during their time in college.
Taking advantage of office hours. It is common for professors and teaching assistants to receive no visitors during standard office hours. Often times, students fall behind with course materials and find themselves playing catch-up for exams. Attend office hours to stay on top of all of your classes. Furthermore, office hours also give students the chance to develop a rapport with professors.
Participating in extracurricular activities. Joining school clubs or sports teams are an opportunity to meet new people and learn new things. In particular, joining academic clubs will help you develop skills and enhance their resumes, even without having formal work experience.
Visiting the career center. Sure, you may not be searching for a job your freshman year, but visiting your college career office frequently throughout your time in school will help you tailor your course work to the career you want after school. Additionally, staying in close contact with your school’s career counselors will allow you to stay on top of any job opportunities on the horizon.
Utilizing unpaid internship experiences. Although unpaid internships won’t aid you through the monetary struggle many students experience in college, it will provide you with invaluable work experience. Take advantage of these opportunities to learn, engage, and grow.
Taking more classes. Although this may make your workload more cumbersome, many students have expressed that they wish they had taken advantage of the courses and learning opportunities that college provides. Taking challenging courses and grasping skill-based learning experiences for no additional cost is an experience unique to full-time students.
Diversifying their circle of friends. Diversity helps to bring different levels of understanding and exposure. Many students have expressed regret that they did not step outside of their comfort zones and befriend different groups of people. In the long run this will also help you be a better leader.
Attending educational seminars. While it may be attractive to have more leisure time, it is also important to take advantage of the seminars and guest presentations available at school. Recent graduates have realized the significance of attending guest lectures, as these are fruitful learning opportunities that usually cost major bucks outside of college your college campus.
Sitting in the front of the class. Sitting in the front row will give you a bit more of recognition with your professor and will also help you weed out any distractions you may experience sitting elsewhere.
Reading campus emails. Campus emails contain a wealth of information regarding events and campus resources. By simply reading your school’s emails you can stay in tune with all the opportunities your campus has to offer.
Reflecting. At the end of the day, college is stressful. Students often forget to think about what they have done, and how (if at all) that feeds in to what they ultimately want to do in life. By taking a moment to reflect, you can ensure that your actions are aligned with your overall goals.