Design Your College Experience

It’s up to you. What experience do you want? How much do you want to do? What will keep you motivated and engaged? What milestones do you want in your life? And what will your resume look like when you finish?

Coursework

Your coursework will take the most of your attention. This will be the foundation of your college experience.

First-Year Experience and Career Exploration

Spend time during your first semester getting the skills you need and becoming familiar with college life. Explore the degrees and careers offered and find your passion

Community and Global Engagement

Engage with an organization within the community or across the world that interests you. Raise money, volunteer, and promote their cause. Link it to your career choice. Make a difference.

Volunteer Experience

Volunteer—a day per week, on a few weekends, for one week….whatever works. Find an organization you are passionate about. Connect it to your career choice.

Internships

Internships give you practical, hands-on experience your field. They help build professional networks, enhance resumes, and often lead to job opportunities after graduation.

Peer Mentorship and Leadership

An excellent way to give back to other students. Build leadership skills and confidence as you move into your final semesters.

Adventure Travel

And if you have time…see the world with other college students. Discover culture, history, and friendship.

What pieces fit you?

Coursework

Adventure Travel

Community and Global Engagement

Volunteering and Internships

First-Year Experience and Career Exploration

Plan the possibilities…

  • Semester 1

    Your life is about to change. Spend your time getting acclimated to college life. This semester is about you and your success.

    Attend your classes. Go to seminars. Learn about the resources available to you. Meet faculty. Research the programs available. Participate in study groups. Take career and personality surveys. Find out what you like. See what’s out there.

  • Semester 2

    Find a cause. Find something that matters to you. How can you make a difference? Is there something you can do that is related to your career? A club? A weekend conference? A professional organization? A humanitarian organization? Can you help raise money for a cause? Is there an idea you have that you could put into action?

    Use your second semester to connect your education to your careers or hobbies.

  • Semester 3

    Look into a short travel experience. This can be a volunteer experience through an organization or a travel tour with other college students. Both of these can be done on almost any budget. They can happen for a week or two and can be done in the summer or over a break such as Thanksgiving, winter break, or before the summer session. Get your feet wet. Get to know yourself. Build confidence. Match it to your career choice if you can.

  • Semester 4

    You’re almost done! Find an internship for the summer. It doesn’t have to be ‘long.’ It could be as few as 3-4 weeks. Try something more in-depth than the short volunteer experience. Explore your career area or another area of interest. Go somewhere new. Travel to a new culture. Make a difference.

What will your resume look like at the end of your journey?

Think about your college experience. The first two years of your college journey can far exceed what you may think, and it can be done safely and inexpensively. Not everyone may be able to do all of the possibilities. Adding just some of them can bring you experiences that can benefit your career and help make you a citizen of the world.