What to do...
We understand, the second year is stressful, sometimes more stressful than anyone realizes. We've all heard of the "Sophomore Slump", but does anyone talk about how to combat it? Well we do! Below there will be regular tips and tricks posted to help you continue to survive your second year. Some tips will be academic or career focused, but others will be about getting yourself right personally. Do you think you have a tip or trick that someone can benefit from? Post it in the comments section below!
Personally
-
Give thought to your ideal # of sleep hours for school nights and establish a bedtime and a wake-up time. No more varying your bedtime/wake-up time based on when your classes start. That’s so freshman year.
-
Start thinking about who and where you want to live with next year. Have questions about housing selection? Click here.
-
If you live on campus, reconnect with your RA. They'll serve as a great resource in the upcoming months.
-
Set aside a specific amount of time each week for yourself. Find a new show on Netflix to indluge in, or rewatch an old one (much less likely to become addicted that way).
-
Create a list of goals and objectives for the semester, figure out action plans so you stay on track with getting them accomplished.
Academically
-
Get in touch with your adviser. Schedule a standing meeting for the semester. Discuss plans for your major and course options.
-
Get together your syllabi and put all of your assignments in your planner now. It will help you to plan ahead if you already know which weeks are going to be overloaded.
-
Find a study partner, someone to keep you motivated when procrastination brain takes full effect.
Professionally
-
Start thinking about internships immediately. The end of your semester will be much less stressful if you get an internship locked down sooner rather than later. Need help? Click here.
-
Still trying to figure out what you want out of your internship. Have an informational interview with a faculty member who used to work in a field you are interested in. They are the experts, so get their feedback on what they enjoyed/don't miss about their career.
-
Already have an internship? Make sure to keep in contact with your employer so that you can start making plans for housing, travel, etc.
Civic Engagement & Service
-
Attend one of the many service projects going on around campus. Check the main page for opportunities.
-
Find a local organization that you want to personally volunteer at. Find a group of friends and spend a couple hours there on a Sunday. Give back what you can now before your semester gets hectic.
-
Attend the various MLK events happening around campus. Want to know what's goin on? Click here.
-
Consider joinging a service based organization. Besides the wonderful initiatives that you'll get to be a part of, it looks fantastic on a resume. Want to know what's out there? Click here. Use the categories filter to find organizations that specifically focus on service and philanthropy.
