University can be a daunting experience. It’s like a new world opening in front of you with hundreds of opportunities and activities to indulge in. It can be quite overwhelming. Read on if you want to know exactly how to make the most out of your college experience in 9 simple ways.
There are so many things happening all at once, that it’s easy to panic or lose track of it all. You might even end up missing out on great opportunities that you can benefit from.
As a university student, just focusing on your studies might not be the best decision. However, not focusing on your studies at all and giving all your time to extracurriculars might not be ideal either.
The key to having a successful Uni life is to achieve the correct balance between work and play. And the best way to achieve this balance is to have a plan. So, in this post, I will lay out a roadmap in front of you that will help you make the most out of your experience at college and actually ace university through the following 9 ways:
1. PLAN YOUR WEEK
Planning your week ahead is always a great way to stay on top of your game and ace university or literally anything in life. Here’s how you can do it:
- Skim through the University website whenever possible and follow all their social media handles to stay updated about the latest events and news.
- Sign up for the events you want to attend in advance and note them down in your planner along with other deadlines you might have in the following week.
- Put your term’s timetable above your desk or sync your timetable to your phone’s calendar. This way, whatever activities you plan to get involved in, you can work them around your class schedule.
- Note down all the events of your week in your planner with Time, Date, And Venue. Also, plan out the time you decide to dedicate each day to work on your upcoming assignments and essays (and stick to that plan).
- Set reminders and actually show up for every event you decide to go to.
2. KEEP A JOURNAL
Most of us have the habit of writing things down on paper while we are in school in some way or another. Writing down things is an essential part of keeping the creativity flowing and remembering things better.
However, when you move to University, this habit can easily die out with time. The availability of all study material online, making notes on your computer, and typing out assignments, leaves little space for a journal.
But keeping a journal is extremely important. The sooner you realize this in life, the better. Maintaining it as a habit throughout your University life is the best thing you can do to get organized and stay ahead of everything and make the most out of your experience at college.
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Here are a few ideas for your journal that will get you organized in no time:
- Make a weekly and a monthly planner. Use it to plan out and manage your activities, classes, and deadlines as we talked about in the first point.
- Create a diet chart or meal planner.
- Make everyday to-do lists.
- Come up with a workout/fitness tracker and write down every week’s goal at the beginning and the results at the end to keep a track of how well you are following your fitness regime.
- Designate a section in the journal for monthly goals and intentions.
How to develop the habit of journaling?
- Try to make journaling a routine activity.
- For example- start your day by journaling while you have your morning coffee and then end your day by going through your journal or adding things to it right before bedtime.
- Try to buy a pocket-sized journal so that you can take it everywhere.
- Use it to check on your schedule before making a sudden plan, quickly writing an idea that pops up in your head, etc.
- Think of your journal as your manager.
- If you are creatively inclined, spruce up your journal with colors and art so that it feels good to come back to it every time.
3. SIGN-UP FOR SOCIETIES
If you have multiple hobbies, ideas that you support, communities you want to be a part of, or are looking for people who enjoy doing the same things as you, it is a great idea to join societies.
Societies give you a platform to try out all the things you are interested in. It also is a great way to build a network. If you have great leadership skills, you might even consider starting a society of your own or volunteering to become the president of an existing one.
Being an active member of societies and clubs and having made contributions to them looks great on your CV. It not only proves that you are an all-rounder but is also an amazing way to showcase your skills to a potential employer.
Usually, the University’s website or the student union page has a list of all the societies from which you can easily choose the ones that appeal to you the most. Other than that, almost all societies set up stalls and kiosks at the freshers fair every year where you can talk to them, know about the events and activities they organize, and become a part of it on the spot.
4. ATTEND WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS
Universities hold several events throughout the year. There are numerous workshops and extra-curricular lectures/seminars you can attend.
Make sure you don’t miss out on any of the ones that interest you or are related to your choice of course/career as they can provide some great knowledge about topics that might not be covered in your course.
Apart from academic events, there are various other events and opportunities that let you enjoy university life, diverse cultures, and showcase your talents.
Remember that these events that you are getting a chance to attend for free might give you the knowledge that you would otherwise have to pay for when you enter the real world.
5. PART-TIME JOBS AND VOLUNTEERING
No matter what your monthly allowance is, everyone can use some extra cash. But a part-time job when you are in Uni might be more than just earning your pocket money.
It gives you a chance to meet people and build connections. Even if your part-time job isn’t in the field you want to build your career in, there’s always a lot you can gain from it.
However, if you do want to gain experience in a specific field, the best way is to volunteer. It is a great way of gathering experience and exploring options for your career. Volunteer work is given much importance by recruiters and looks great on your CV. It is comparatively easier to get and gives you a way to try out different niches.
Find part-time jobs now:
6. INTERNSHIPS
Getting an internship is probably the biggest favour you can do to yourself in college. Many Universities offer ‘A Year in Industry’ programme in the penultimate year of your course.
Students often don’t choose to opt for that considering the lengthy job applications or the fear of being rejected. What you do have to know is that it is easier to get an internship while you’re still enrolled at a university compared to when you have graduated.
Not choosing to go for it might be the biggest mistake you make at Uni. Interning in your penultimate year not only prepares you for the real job that you’re going to have once you graduate, but it also gives you first-hand experience of the industry that you are choosing to work in.
It gives you a competitive advantage when you graduate, as most graduates are going into the job market without prior experience. Companies are keen on hiring people who have a good internship history. But most importantly, in 60-70% of cases, these internships turn into full-time job offers which you would otherwise have to struggle a lot harder for.
If a whole year of interning does not sound doable to you, then you should consider going for summer internships. In fact, you should intern every summer throughout your college years. Interning adds valuable experience to your CV and is the key to landing your first job after graduation.
Here are a few great websites where you can find internships/placements:
7. MAKE USE OF THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES
Students often fail to optimally utilize the resources that Universities provide.
The library: There’s so much material available at the university library that you have access to. It would be a waste to not make use of that while you can.
Careers Service: Every University has a Careers and Employability Service. It’s where you can get guidance for your CVs or cover letters, seek help with job applications and get amazing insight on how to ace your interviews. Apart from that, the University website itself has so much to offer that can be extremely useful.
Study spaces: Another thing on the list of resources would be the great study spaces that are available on campus. Studying in your room can get boring and demotivating. Doing your work in social study spaces can be way more cheerful and keeps you up through those boring assignments.
Peer mentoring: A lot of universities offer this arrangement where students offer to become mentors to their peers. This can be so helpful to those who are struggling with assignments or projects or just need guidance to get through the term.
In fact, not just having a mentor, but also offering to be a mentor can be very useful. Helping people out with their problems will increase and broaden your own knowledge.
There are many more resources that you can use. The above was to list a few of them.
8. HEALTHY LIVING
Uni life can be extremely busy if you are involved in a lot of things. It might leave little time for you to focus on your health.
You can start by planning out your meals in advance and maintain a healthy diet by sticking to a custom diet chart. Also, add gyming or a sport to your daily routine in order to stay fit.
Decluttering your room occasionally plays an extremely important role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If your room is clean and organized, you’ll feel more motivated to get things done.
9. DISCOVER YOURSELF
Your experience at university depends on how well you utilize your time there. You need to manage your time well and make use of every opportunity.
Remember that to ace college, you need to make the most out of it. It’s not only about working hard to get that degree. It’s more about discovering yourself and experimenting with your personality.
Go out, meet people, and party hard. Explore everything that you think you can be. You might not get a chance to do so, once it’s all over.
Hope you liked this post. If you are having issues in your University life or need advice in this area, feel free to drop a message us a message at hello@themoodpalette.com
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