How Returning Students Can Enhance Their College Experience
Once students move past their first year of college, it may be difficult to know what to do next. Their first year is full of transitions, excitement, highs and lows. It consisted of figuring out how to live independently, how to take on more challenging academia and how to balance their social, physical, mental and academic wellbeing. As your student enters their sophomore, junior or senior years, you may be wondering, what happens now? Read on for some ways your student can gain a new focus and enrich their college experience during the upcoming school year.
Try a new activity or organization. Your student may have been reluctant to participate in campus activities and organizations during their first year of college. Now that they have figured out how to manage their responsibilities, encourage them to try something new! Attending campus events and joining campus organizations often increases a student鈥檚 satisfaction with their college experience. Trying something new on campus will give your student the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people, develop new interests and grow upon existing interests. 麻豆果冻传媒 boasts 200+ registered student organizations, so there is more than likely a club that will spark your student鈥檚 interest. Encourage your student to check Eagle Engage to view a list of all student organizations on campus, and suggest they attend the Student Organization Mix & Mingle during Week of Welcome (www.tntech.edu/weekofwelcome) for an opportunity to meet many of these clubs in person, all in one place.
Pursue a leadership role. College offers a variety of opportunities to grow as a leader. Taking on a leadership role in a club, running for a position in Student Government Association, becoming a student worker, or pursuing other leadership opportunities such as becoming a Student Orientation Assistant, Trailblazer, or Resident Assistant will help your student develop their leadership skills. As your student gets closer to entering the workforce, their leadership experiences will stand out on a resume and in an interview.
Visit the Center for Career Development on campus. Recommend that your student explore the services offered by the Center for Career Development. The Center for Career Development offers services such as resume assistance, interview practice and informational workshops. They also help students search for internships and jobs. For more information about 麻豆果冻传媒鈥檚 Center for Career Development, visit /career/.
Consider a new approach to academics. Was your student academically successful last year? Regardless of their past academic performance, there is usually room for improvement. Now that your student grasps the complexity of college-level work, encourage them to think about what changes they can make when approaching their studies. Do they need to spend more time studying? Do they need to find a new place to study on campus? Do they need to take notes in a different way? Considering a new approach to their academics will help your student have a fresh and successful start to the school year.
Connect with professors. Your student will be taught by many different professors throughout their college career. Remind your student that it is important to connect with their professors, especially professors that teach courses within their major. Professors may be able to offer your student opportunities such as research projects or seminars, and they may be a helpful source of guidance as your student navigates their future academic and career plans. Professors could also be a beneficial source for recommendation letters or professional references.
Communicate with an academic advisor. Many students spend their first year of college taking general education courses and discovering potential majors. By their second year, it is important to begin focusing on the path to graduation. Encourage your student to talk with their academic advisor about what courses they can expect to take throughout their college career. If your student is unsure about their major, their academic advisor can help them figure out what options exist and how a major change would affect their course of study. Also, recommend that your student discusses any external elements that may disrupt their course of study with their advisor, such as study abroad or co-op opportunities. Through actively communicating their concerns and goals with their advisor, your student will gain support and advice that will help them excel throughout the rest of their college career.
Search for off-campus experiences. Professional growth is an important component of a student鈥檚 college career. In addition to their academic requirements, it may be important for your student to explore off-campus professional opportunities. Some of these opportunities may be for academic credit, or they may just be an experience that will better prepare your student for the workforce. They may want to consider studying abroad, community service, job shadowing or an internship as avenues for growing professionally and building their resume. Off-campus experiences will help your student connect what they have learned in their classes to the 鈥渞eal world.鈥�
As your student returns for their second, third, and fourth years of college, encourage them to make the most of their college experience. Taking advantage of the opportunities mentioned in this article will create a well-rounded and exciting college experience for your student.
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