The degree and the rest
Your undergraduate degree is more than just a rite of passage or a slip of paper that will prove to potential employers that you’re hirable. Yes, it may be an important pathway to helping you achieve your future career goals, but it is really so much more than that.
Your years as an undergrad will not only expand your knowledge base more than ever before, but the skills and experiences gained throughout can help you build important life skills that can be applied basically anywhere. Most of all, university is a place that will help grow in new and positive ways.
Though we are often told the most important part of university is the name on our degree, what really makes or breaks this experience are the other choices you make during this time. Think about how you can navigate through this time and really make the best of it.
It is important to realize that career paths are not always linear. An English degree may not lead to a job teaching English (for example). In reality, your major doesn’t necessarily have any direct relationship with your ideal career. You will learn a variety of skills whilst obtaining your degree, and it is important to build on skills such as written and verbal communication, teamwork, meeting deadlines – the sort of skills that will set you up to excel in a future job. Yes, academics are important, but everything else you glean will prove to be so much more important in the future.Take courses outside of your comfort zone. Select courses outside of your major and minor. Maybe a course is taught by an interesting professor, or it is a subject you are totally unfamiliar with – don’t just take a course because you heard it was easy. Choosing at least two elective courses in a subject you aren’t familiar with is a great way to expand your knowledge in new directions and help you think in new and interesting ways. You may even discover a new passion.
Network. Meet with instructors or professors one-on-one and build relationships with them – something that will help you immediately with your studies, and could provide to be useful in the future. Also, meet with second year students or alumni, because they will likely be able to offer you some tips they wish they had known in their first year, tips such as the best professors, the toughest exams, or even where to grab the best meal off campus. It is important to network with others who may be able to provide helpful insight – the type of advice that could really help when you’re trying to figure things out.
Learn outside of the classroom. Attend campus lectures, join a club, volunteer at a campus organization, get involved in student government, etc. Taking on projects outside the classroom demonstrates initiative and leads to other tangible experiences that wouldn’t necessarily be gained through your degree alone.
Consider a semester abroad. Universities typically have sister schools in other countries which allow for courses to be transferable. Experience a different place with a different culture for a while. These types of opportunities allow you to build up an international network of contacts, and may give you a competitive edge once you graduate. If you don’t think you want to commit to an entire semester away, look out for department-organized trips that are equally interesting but are less of a time commitment.
Utilize campus resources. There are writing workshops, tutors, program counselors, counseling services, and the list goes on. These resources are here to help you for whatever issues you may need help dealing with.
Socialize and make new friends. You’ll be surrounded by like-minded people, and you will always be in situations where it is easier to meet others (the classroom, a dorm, etc.). At this time, people aren’t confined to their typical social circles, so it makes it easier to meet different types of individuals. Consider befriending an exchange student, someone who can provide a worldview different than your own.
Don’t spread yourself too thin. Figure out the best way to balance school, work, and your social life. Consider the tradeoff between effort and reward, especially when it comes to getting high grades. Your mental health is important, so make sure you are taking care of your body and mind. University can be an incredibly stressful time, and building good time management and organizational skills in order to balance all aspects of your life will assure that it is a more positive experience.
Beyond your degree, university is the ideal place to provide new and unique opportunities that would be difficult to recreate outside of this setting, and the pursuit of these opportunities will matter more than just your academic achievements alone. You will get back what you put into it, so make the effort to get the most out of your degree – and when you graduate you’ll leave with more than you had initially hoped for.