Your sophomore year of college is very different from your freshman year. You learn so much more along the way as you complete your first half of college. Here are eleven things you learn as a college sophomore:
1. School is no joke.
You are starting to take some higher-level courses now. You may start getting more into your major as well or start taking some prerequisites to classes for your major/program. No matter what, your classes are definitely getting harder and you will need to devote more time to them.
2. You're officially getting old.
You are probably starting to outgrow the house party scene. Going out becomes a less frequent occurrence in general. Staying in becomes more and more appealing because you are just so tired all the time. Also, turning 20 is a weird thing.
3. Internships, clinicals, practicums, etc. are the name of the game.
Only going to class probably is not going to cut it anymore. Now, your higher level classes may start requiring you to take on an internship, spend some time in hospitals for clinicals, or complete a required number of hours in classrooms in local schools. Depending on your major, you could be leaving campus several times a week to get some hands-on experience related to your major in addition to your regular classes.
4. Your friendships will probably change.
Odds are, some of those friends you made during freshman year will no longer be your friends. You will quickly learn that you do not have time for people you do not really like all that much. It is difficult to make time for your best friends, never mind those people you had a class with last semester and barely spoke to again afterwards.
5. If you are involved on campus, it is time to start taking on leadership positions.
You are no longer a wide-eyed, naive freshman who just joined a student organization. You have probably learned a lot and held a position or two already. Now, it is time to step up as a leader and help newer members fall in love with your organization/club as much as you do.
6. Yeah, the countdown to 21 is officially on.
As a sophomore, you are now in that weird in-between stage of mostly being over house parties but are not yet old enough to legally get a drink at the bar with your older friends (this is especially true during second semester of sophomore year). You are probably looking forward to the big 2-1 just so you can finally go to bars with friends. It is more about the social aspects of turning 21 rather than actually getting to drink whenever you want.
7. Your living situation has definitely improved, but that does not mean it is perfect.
Your dorm is less crappy, you get to choose at least some of the people you get to live with, and you may even get a single room. However, it is still a dorm and you still have to deal with people above you being loud at 3 AM and crappy food. Also, just because you live with friends does not mean you guys will not come across some issues.
8. Getting into the classes you want and doing well in all of your classes is critical if you want to graduate on time.
Graduation is only two years away once you reach your second semester of sophomore year. This means that you really have to have a plan and stick to it in order to graduate on time. You may even need to invest in a Summer course or two if you are a little bit behind schedule.
9. Your motivation may hit an all-time low.
This is a daunting year full of challenges. Spring semester of sophomore year is especially tough. However, you have to power through and you cannot let your grades take a dive because you will regret it later on. Remember, GPA is forever.
10. Self-care is important. Really important.
You may find yourself grinding it out big time each and every day (probably more than you ever have). However, you have to make time for you and take care of yourself. Do things you enjoy and make time for those closest to you. Your best friends can really make the difficult times better but you have to know how to take care of yourself as well.
11. Your wardrobe has improved and you are beginning to slay the business-casual game.
Buying professional clothes is weird at first but necessary. Those internships, practicums, and etc. require you to look nice so you have to bulk up your wardrobe. You become pretty good at it though and develop your own business-casual style. Eventually, you may even look forward to and get excited about buying cute business-casual pieces.
