10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Time in College

By Marina Krivonossova on March 15, 2021

“What should I prioritize as a college student?” That was the question that kept me up at night throughout my entire college career.

“Do I focus on my grades? Do I focus on networking? Do I take advantage of all the internship opportunities?” The answer to my questions, as it sometimes happens, only came about after I graduated from my master’s program.

Suddenly, it became clear what I should have been focusing on during the entirety of my college career, and what I should have done to make the most of my time in college. And now, even though it’s a little late for me, I want to tell you — a college student or college student to-be — ten ways to make the most of your time in college.

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1. Join clubs. Do you love painting? Are you a fan of archery? Is astronomy your thing? College is great because there’s a club for almost every interest. And if there’s not, you usually have the opportunity to start your own. Joining clubs is a great way to meet new people, engage in your favorite activities, and pick up new hobbies. Classes are important, but what you do outside of them doesn’t matter any less.

2. Play team sports. Along with being another great way to meet new people, team sports give you the opportunity to stay fit, social, and involved in your college community. Even if you don’t have the time to commit to practice every day of the week, most colleges offer the opportunity to take part in intramural sports that don’t require the same intense commitment and skill as typical college sports.

3. Get an internship. Because you do go to college with your future in mind, you shouldn’t miss out on an opportunity to do an internship. Internships give you the chance to dip your toes into the professional work environment, generally without requiring much experience or educational training. They’re a great way to learn more about specific fields of work, connect with the right people who can help you in the future, and get some hands-on work experience prior to graduation. However, it’s important to remember that not all internships are created equal, and you should do your research before selecting one.

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4. Network on LinkedIn. I know that LinkedIn probably doesn’t fall into the category of your favorite social media networks when you’re a carefree college student. You’re probably more a fan of Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and all the other fun social sites out there. Nonetheless, I highly recommend adding LinkedIn to that list as soon as possible. LinkedIn is a great place to connect with professionals, fellow students, recruiters, and so many other relevant people who could bring value to your social and professional networks. It’s free, it’s easy to use, and there’s really no reason not to sign up today!

5. Meet professionals at networking events. Both my undergraduate and graduate universities offered regular networking events where students had the opportunity to connect with workplace professionals, professors, and fellow students. I made the mistake of missing out on these events, as I thought they wouldn’t benefit me in the long run. But boy, was I wrong. I had friends who found jobs, internships, and so much more by going to these networking events. It’s only a commitment of a few hours at a time, so if you don’t like it, you won’t feel like you wasted a huge portion of your life. If your college offers them, there’s really no excuse to forego networking events.

6. Get a part-time job. Fortunately, this was actually something I did during my college career, and it happened to be one of the best choices I ever made. I had the chance to work in so many different environments different from what I was experiencing at college, and that really benefited me. I became more social and more outspoken, I grew a thicker skin, and I met some wonderful people. Plus, I made money along the way! Doing the same thing at college day in and day out can get tedious, so taking part in work completely outside of school will certainly do you good.

(Image via pexels.com)

7. Make friends. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I didn’t have a lot of friends in college (at least not ones I met through college itself). I spent a lot of time away from campus, meeting people through part-time jobs, parties, friends of friends, etc. But what I do regret is not stepping out of my comfort zone and socializing more with the people from my dorm, my apartment complex, my classes, and other places at college. There were so many chances to meet great people, but I valued my academic and professional success more than I valued novel college friendships. If I could go back and redo it, I would. And the best advice I can give future and current college students is to not underestimate the value of the friendships you make in college.

8. Talk to your professors. I know it might surprise you, but a lot of your professors are actually really cool people. They have stories to tell, experiences to share, and you never know if they’ll be able to help you with securing opportunities in the future when you need a letter of reference. A lot of people don’t see the value in interacting with professors, but there are lots of short- and long-term benefits of doing so.

9. Make time for your parents. Even if you live at home while in college, or even if you’re psyched to finally leave your parents’ house behind when you start your college experience, please don’t forget to make time for your parents. Don’t reject their phone calls and texts, and don’t forget to tell them how college is treating you. They love you, they care, and they want to stay involved in your life. And just because they care, it doesn’t mean they don’t trust you or find you responsible. That’s just something to remember both in college and afterward. They say you never know what you have until it’s gone, and you learn that to be the truth in a lot of situations, particularly when it comes to your parents.

10. Take classes outside your major. Yes, you’re in college to get that degree in your major. But it’s so important to take advantage of the opportunity you have to learn about fields outside of your field of study because you never know what you’ll discover about your true passions. I started my undergraduate career as an economics major, but the one international relations class I took for fun put me on a completely different career path. A friend I had met through an art history club started college as an engineering major, but he promptly discovered his love for art history after just one class in it, switching his major within months. You never know what classes outside of your major will teach you about your skills, your passions, and your future ambitions.

Don’t get me wrong — good grades are important. But as someone who focused almost exclusively on excelling academically, I missed out on some extremely valuable opportunities during my college career. I made the mistake of thinking that my grades would be the primary focus of recruiters and hiring managers later down the line, which most certainly wasn’t the case. Work hard, get good grades, but also understand that there are more ways to make the most of your time in college besides earning an A+ in every single class. With that, I wish you the best of luck in your college journey! Stay safe, stay focused, and take advantage of every opportunity you encounter.

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