The beginning of a new decade is a great time to help your loved ones in college set new goals and plan for their future. College is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life. Although the main goal of any college student is to receive a quality education and earn a degree, life on college and university campuses has more to offer. By taking advantage of everything an institution of higher learning has to offer, students can emerge as more well-rounded people and be better prepared to enter the workforce.
Here are five of the best ways for you to get more than a degree from your years in college.
Participate in Extracurricular Activities
Some students become so focused on academics that they entirely miss the many extracurricular clubs and activities that are present on campus. Whatever their interests are, there’s a good chance that a campus organization exists for people who share those interests. By participating in extracurricular activities, they can expand their social circle, develop improved cooperative skills and give themselves a much-needed break when studying begins to seem overwhelming.
Live on Campus
We know it can be hard when your son or daughter moves out of your home to attend school. However, living in a dorm room or campus apartment will give your son or daughter more independence, as well as give them the chance to develop lifelong friendships with roommates. Living on campus takes college from being a place where they go to class and turns it into a fully immersive experience.
Take at Least One Class Every Semester That Has Absolutely Nothing to Do with Your Major
Although getting their degree in a timely manner is important, college also gives them access to a wide range of courses that can broaden their horizons and help them discover and explore new interests. One of the best ways to really get the most out of their time at college is to take one class per semester that is completely unrelated to their major. Try to encourage them to pick out a class purely because it sounds interesting to them. Over the course of your time in school, these courses will help them to develop a well-rounded knowledge base.
Get Involved in a Charitable Organization
Like extracurricular activities and clubs, most colleges are home to a wide variety of charitable organizations run by students. These organizations will provide opportunities to volunteer to help those who are less fortunate. Aside from the obvious benefit of getting to help others, participation in charitable causes can also look good on a resume when starting to look for career opportunities after college.
Look into doing an internship
Another great way to get some real-world experience and have something to put on a resume at graduation is to look into doing a college internship. Many companies have wonderful internship programs that can provide some great training and real-world experience. It is also an opportunity to try a few different professional areas of focus. This will help make sure your son or daughter knows the type of job they would like to get upon graduation.
Try Some Creative Outlets
College presents some great opportunities to get in touch with being creative. Whether your loved one finds writing, music or visual arts to be their preferred method of expressing themselves, harnessing their own creativity will give them a relaxing and enjoyable hobby to pursue for the rest of their life.
College presents students with a unique opportunity to broaden their horizons, make new friends and try out new things before they enter the workforce. If your son or daughter is a college student or will be enrolling soon, consider talking to them about these five steps to get the most out of your time in school.
