Recently, I’ve gotten into the habit of asking people what their favorite year of college was. Not surprisingly, many answer, “Senior year, it was the best.” In giving these responses a deeper level of consideration, I began to think about all the things I was thankful I did/will have done before entering into my senior year of college.
As such, it seemed proper to pass-along these things to other students who are either in the same boat as I am or will be in the next few years.
For everyone out there who is mentally preparing to start senior year, and all of those who are already looking forward to graduation, here are the 5 things you have to do before you start senior year.
1. Get to know at least one professor on a personal level
This might automatically make me seem like a huge nerd, but it’s also a valuable piece of advice. I’m not saying you should get to know your professor because you want a better grade in the class, but rather, because it can be helpful before senior year given the likelihood that you will need a recommendation letter. In the first two years of college, we don’t usually think about obtaining these letters or getting acquainted with our professors, but once you start filling out internship applications, you realize how essential they are to the job process.
Don’t be the panicking student who starts filling out job applications winter of senior year and realizes you haven’t made an effort to get to know any of your professors. Reach out, go to office hours, and find at least one professor who you genuinely enjoying talking to. Who knows, you might learn that professors are real people too!
2. Be the ultimate college fan for a day
Whatever this may mean to you- dressing up in your school’s colors, hosting a tailgate, going nuts at a bar when your school plays in the final four (Go Blue)- do it before your senior year. Enjoy the fact that you are a member of a school that you chose to be a part of and show everyone how much you love and care about it.
There is no better feeling than wearing your school’s colors and feeling overcome with immense pride and gratitude that you belong to the community you love, and although you can absolutely do this senior year, you don’t want to feel like you waited too long.
3. Find a favorite restaurant
Similar to the above, it’s not like you can’t find a favorite restaurant when you’re a senior in college, but it takes away from the primary purpose: having that go-to place. There’s nothing better than sitting around with your friends on a Friday night and knowing the best place to have an incredible meal that kick-starts your weekend.
Plus, you have the added bonus of not having to worry about where you’re going to tell your parents you want your graduation dinner to be, and years later if you ever return to visit campus, this place will still be your favorite spot.
4. Go to class
It genuinely astounds me how many people skip class. Seriously. I really don’t want to lecture right now, but your parents are paying for you to go to school and receive an education, so go to class! Once senior year hits and you start applying for jobs and taking long trips home on the weekends, classes won’t seem as important, but upon graduating, you’re really going to regret not attending those discussion sections when you had the chance. Do yourself a favor, and find the motivation to stay productive before your last case of senioritis kicks in.
5. Work a customer service job
I’m not going to lie to you, working a customer service job is not a cake-walk. There are days when you are out-of-your-mind irritated by how rude customers are, and moments when you think to yourself, “why am I doing this?” but trust me when I say it is absolutely worth it. Before your senior year, and more importantly, before you start working in the “real world,” work in customer service. Not only will it teach you fundamental communication skills, but it will give you the chance to value every moment you sit in a lecture or a meeting at work, so be sure you do it before you start adulting full-time.
Well, there you have it, the 5 things I believe every college student should do before their senior year. If you don’t get around to it beforehand, the good news is you still have two semesters to make it happen!
Just remember to use this time to embrace every moment, because for those of you who are like me and can’t wait to graduate, there’s no doubt that we will also miss being a student.
