Some Tips on Being a Senior Student
There are sooo many posts on how to make the most out of your first year of university/college, but very few on what to do when you’re reaching the end of those years and are about to enter the Real Real World. This post is to help you make that last year count!
This is the time when having good grades is the most important. By now, you’ve gotten into some sort of studying rhythm and know what works for you, so use that to your advantage to put in a little extra effort and push. No-one really cares about your grades from previous years if your grades at the end are awesome. If you have some kind of capstone project, make sure that it is done really well so that you can use it as an example of your work!
2) Get familiar with Careers’ Services
If your university has a Careers’ Services office, make an appointment with them. Chances are, they will have tonnes of professional advice on how to improve your CV/resumé, interview training, and connections to companies that want to hire graduates!! Often, these services are free!! Use them!!
As awesome as your transcript and degree may be, plenty of people will have the same degree as you. Go over your past few years and make a list of all the extracurriculars you did. Did you write for the university newspaper? Treasurer of the MSA? Run a pretty successful instagram and blog? Add it to your CV (resumé for you Americans). If you’re not sure about how to make it sounds “professional”, don’t be afraid to list it in terms of the skills you learn rather than your actual position (if in doubt, refer to point 2).
4) Build a professional wardrobe
When you’re out shopping for clothes and you see a cute blazer or comfortable shirts/blouses on sale, give them a try. It’s so much better to show up for a interview in clothes that you’ve gotten used to and are comfortable in, than a brand new suit that’s awkward and feels like you’re playing dress-up in. Try incorporating some “professional” clothing pieces into your everyday wear every now and then so you can figure out what you like wearing and what’s your style. It’s also a lot cheaper to build up a wardrobe over time rather than buying things all at once for your new job.
5) Organise your opportunities
Get a spreadsheet with job/post-graduate applications going. Sort by application date. If you hear of a cool-sounding graduate programme, make a note of it and research it as soon as possible. Competition can be tough, so be prepared for rejections. If you’re thinking of taking a post-graduate gap year (which is what I’m considering at the moment), look for short courses, internships, part-time work or how you’re going to save money to travel and organise that. There are lots of options!
By now, you probably have a favourite professor or three who thinks you’re a pretty decent kid! Rather than trying to go to everyone’s office hours (probably the most common college advice on studyblr), talk to your favourite profs in passing, ask them for projects or how their day is going. They’re really great people and excellent mentors.
6) Keep contact with friends and family
I know it’s difficult, but it is really important to have that social and emotional support available. It can be tough, but you will really appreciate having people who you can call on or just to spend time with.
7) It’s okay to not have anything figured out yet
Science majors and Humanities majors often have the same problem - the incessant “so what are you going to do with that physics/english/history/biology/philosophy degree? Become a teacher?” questions. If you want to be a teacher - that’s awesome - but if you don’t, this question can be the most frustrating. Yes, you know that you won’t be getting a 5-figure starting salary like your cousin who did an engineering/medical/accounting degree, but at least you spent your time studying something you enjoyed! It’s okay to not have an immediate plan of action for what you’re going to do after graduating, but you’ll figure it out eventually! There really is no rush.
I hope this post is helpful! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to message me or send an ask! Don’t forget to take the coolest graduation pictures ever! Happy studying!
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