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 youâre 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, youâve 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 Careersâ Services
If your university has a Careersâ Services office, make an appointment with them. Chances are, they will have tonnes of professional advice on how to improve your CV/resumĂ©, interview training, and connections to companies that want to hire graduates!! Often, these services are free!! Use them!!Â
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 (resumĂ© for you Americans). If youâre not sure about how to make it sounds âprofessionalâ, donât 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 youâre out shopping for clothes and you see a cute blazer or comfortable shirts/blouses on sale, give them a try. Itâs so much better to show up for a interview in clothes that youâve gotten used to and are comfortable in, than a brand new suit thatâs awkward and feels like youâre playing dress-up in. Try incorporating some âprofessionalâ clothing pieces into your everyday wear every now and then so you can figure out what you like wearing and whatâs your style. Itâs 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 youâre thinking of taking a post-graduate gap year (which is what Iâm considering at the moment), look for short courses, internships, part-time work or how youâre 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 youâre a pretty decent kid! Rather than trying to go to everyoneâs 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. Theyâre really great people and excellent mentors.
6) Keep contact with friends and family
I know itâs 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.Â
7) Itâs okay to not have anything figured out yet
Science majors and Humanities majors often have the same problem - the incessant âso what are you going to do with that physics/english/history/biology/philosophy degree? Become a teacher?â questions. If you want to be a teacher - thatâs awesome - but if you donât, this question can be the most frustrating. Yes, you know that you wonât 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! Itâs okay to not have an immediate plan of action for what youâre going to do after graduating, but youâll figure it out eventually! There really is no rush.
I hope this post is helpful! If you have any questions, donât hesitate to message me or send an ask! Donât forget to take the coolest graduation pictures ever! Happy studying!
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