I’m halfway through the summer and there are only a few short months left until my junior year begins. Over the last two years, I’ve gone from being a clueless freshman to a young adult living in her own apartment...well, with three other roommates, of course. It’s at this halfway mark that many college students find themselves in a state of distress. We’re no longer in the beginning portion of our college experience and allowed to use, “well, I have four years to figure everything out,” as a valid excuse for our lack of plans and certainty about our future. We’re entering the second half of college and now things are beginning to feel like our last few years in high school. For those pursuing graduate school, we now must think about which schools and programs would best fit our ambitions. For those who are jumping right into a career, we need to hope that we picked the right major to study for four years. Either way you look at it, there’s a lot coming ahead in our last years of undergrad. But, not to worry! Even if you’re still feeling a bit lost, here’s a few things you learned during your first few years and have securely fastened under your belt.
1. Whether or not you like your major
Choosing a major is a student’s biggest hurdle, and a choice that directs the entirety of the course load. Many students pick a major they find somewhat interesting but then end up hating the classes. That’s okay. Luckily, students can change their major (maybe more than once) until they find something that really clicks. Within these two years, you’ll find out if the major you originally decided on works for you, and if it doesn’t, there’s still a bit of wiggle room to find your way.
2. How college classes work
On the first day of classes, way back when we were freshman, we bought notebooks for each class, colored pens, highlighters, and sticky notes, and organized folders, labeled to the tee. Fast forward to today, and all we need for a class is one notebook, a pen, and a laptop. Long gone are the days of lengthy supplies lists. After a couple of semesters, we’re all now seasoned pros at taking notes in lectures, and coming up with a bang-out study guide to ace the final.
3. How to balance school and your social life
At first, the appeal of doing whatever the hell we wanted dominated our social life. We lived by our carnal desires and swept class and studying under the rug. Now that two years have gone by, we’ve gained a little wisdom (and even a couple of pounds) and have found out that 99 percent social life and 1 percent school is not a ratio deemed for success. My second year of college, I found myself going out a lot less, and studying way more. I also took the time I spent partying and used it to spend quality time with my friends. It was way more fun, and definitely a healthier way to spend my time.
4. Realities of personal finance
Going to college made a lot of us see that we’re BROKE. We literally don’t have any money. Most of us are up to our eyeballs in loans, and the few dollars we seem to gather go straight to food. Two years taught us to frequently look at our checking accounts and to save money. Although it’s hard for us to be responsible and to save money, we have learned the realities of managing our own finances. While it’s hard right now, hopefully one day we’ll all be rich and swimming in the number of figures in our bank account. That’s why we go to college anyways, right?
5. How your friends are your best bet in surviving college
The friends I met my freshman year have proven to be friends I’ll have for a lifetime. Out of all the people you know, no one else is going through the same experience as you, well, except your college friends. Keep them close, and use each other for support. We’re all going through this experience blind, but if you have a few good friends, chances are, you’ll survive through these years together.
