When it comes to looking at your college experience as a whole, usually you think of your freshman and senior years as most fun. As a freshman, you’re entering the adult world for the whole time with an unprecedented sense of freedom. As a senior, you’re preparing for the real adult world with more freedom and a real license that says you actually are 21. Your fondest memories are going to be your first and last times at your favorite restaurants, football games, house parties and all-nighters in the library. What you don't think about, though, is that the middle two years of college are best. Your sophomore and junior years will foster the most growth, the best times, the best opportunities and help you become the best version of yourself. Here's what makes your second and third years the better of your four years:
1. Academics. Now that you've got most of your prerequisites done, you get to take classes you actually want to take. You get better grades when you're genuinely interested in what you're learning. This is when you have the most flexibility for your classes, too, because you're done with the basic courses of freshman year but not concerned about what you have left to do during your senior year.
2. Social life. This will be the time your social circle grows and becomes more comfortable. You find a nice balance between hanging out with your friends and getting your work done. Your freshman year is a confusing time for friendships, and your senior year is a confusing time for your work. During your sophomore and junior years, you know when you can cut loose and when you need to hit the books.
3. Going out. You know where to go on what nights, how much money you're going to need and how to get home. We don't need to get into detail about what your freshman year is typically like, but rest assured that your sophomore and junior years are better all around.
4. Opportunities. As an academic, you've had a chance to build up your resume by this point and internships will find you the most desirable. You're not inexperienced and you're not planning to leave in the upcoming months. Your time management skills will be at their peak.
5. Self development. This is the time when you get a chance to think about where you're going to head in life without the pressure of needing to make a decision right away. You've made new friends, you've experienced a new lifestyle, you've been on your own. and you still have time to explore. You may not have an epiphany about your future, but you will get a better idea of the direction in which you want to head for the next stage of your life.
As you get ready to take on your sophomore and junior years, have fun! Don't forget to enjoy yourself.
