What defines a college experience? The people? The campus? The opportunities? The clubs? The classes? What defined YOUR college experience?
Those of us who are lucky to obtain a college education also have the opportunity to cultivate a college experience. We may think that the college experience is simply the academic and social scenes. But it is much more than that. The college lifestyle encompasses so many different aspects that it can become overwhelming to even fathom what a college student may go through. From classes to jobs to clubs to social circles to recruiting events to… (You get the idea). Yet, it becomes one of the most memorable times of your life. So what exactly is a “college experience?”
Defining “College Experience”
There isn’t a right way to go through college. There is only YOUR way. Each of the almost 20 million students who attend college has a unique experience. That’s why the so-called “college experience” is focused more on the individual‘s journey rather than their experience. There are two things, in my opinion, that make up a college experience.
The first is making timeless memories. College is about making memories that you could not have made before the age of 18, yet you won’t be able to make once you start working. As you go through college, having both, the level of freedom and responsibility, increasing is fearful yet exciting. This balancing act creates some of the most unique experiences ever. The beauty of is having the opportunity to make good and bad memories and the aspects of your life which you value most. Do you value friendships? You will definitely have some crazy stories to tell your grandchildren. Do you value fitness? You will remember waking up in the middle of the night to go work out.
The second part is working towards specific goals that craft your identity. College isn’t a place to conform to societal norms and standards. Rather, college is the time to explore various lifestyles, beliefs, and opinions and choose the aspects that most resonate with you. An athlete won’t look up to Newton or Einstein for motivation, they would look towards Serena Williams, Tom Brady, or Lebron James. Similarly, college is the time to find your inspiration and cultivate your personal identity. It is based on what you want to ultimately achieve in life. Whether it be money, fame success, happiness, stability, or peace, college is the time to create tangible, yet passionate goals and have the ability to work towards them.
Hence, the college experience (IMHO) is about making timeless memories and working towards specific goals in the most significant aspects of your life to ultimately, craft YOUR identity.
Surviving College
I still remember my first night in college: Trying to fall asleep to the A/C in our tiny ISR dorm room. Thinking "How will college be like?" "Was going to UIUC the right choice?" "Will I make friends here?"
Now that I finished half of my time in college (ie 2 years), I realized that there are some key areas of my college lifestyle that you have to succeed in to have the best college experience. Specifically, there are five areas of the college experience that a majority of college students work on and cultivate.
Note: By no means are these the only five areas, but they certainly affect a majority of college students. Based on your priorities, find which aspects of your life you want to focus on the most.
Academics
By far, this is the most obvious one. The reason that people go to college is to advance their academic careers, which will greatly increase their chances of having a better standard of living. But in college, you have to be good at studying on your own. It definitely is different than high school where you go to school 8 hours a day and can do the bare minimum to get an A. In college, you will only be in class for 15-18 hours a week, but most of your time will go towards studying at the library, doing group projects and late-night cramming sessions. But as you go through college, you get used to the lifestyle and learn to balance your course schedule.
Tips
Stay on top of your work! If anything, plan out your week and get ahead to rest on the weekend.
Use organization apps to keep track of homework, exams, review sessions, etc.- I use Google Calendar, Todoist
Create an organization system in Google Drive to organize all your files (It gets messy pretty fast)
Find your optimal study time for YOU! Stick to that time every day to have optimal productivity.
Change up your study location based on what you're doing. (Study at the Illini Union if you have a group project or light work, but definitely go to Grainger Library for that last-minute study session)
Open your registration time ticket on time!
Have a 4-year plan and schedule out your classes for each semester to ensure you meet all your degree requirements.
Professionalism
It's common knowledge that college gives a ton of networking opportunities. You learn to develop a professional brand, meet different companies, and of course, have a bunch of friends on LinkedIn! But it's really important to develop soft skills early on to give you the upper hand during networking events and interviews. It's a common myth that you have to have the most lavishing resume to get a top-tier internship. Instead, it's more about the quality and passion behind the activities you put on your resume and whether you have the skills needed. By going to enough events and interviews, you improve your professional skills and ultimately kill that dream interview.
Tips
Get ahead! Go to career fairs early on for the exposure to different companies and networking tactics
Develop soft skills as a freshman (holding a conversation, interviewing skills, body language, etc.)
Target recruiters of companies you're interested in early on and attend their networking events
Be open to all companies - you never know where you'll get an opportunity
Create a LinkedIn account and be active on it
Get your resume reviewed by multiple eyes
Learn to build a professional brand early on
Try joining a professional fraternity. They open a lot of opportunities for networking and look good on a resume too.
Try finding a mentor (ie an upperclassman/recent graduate) in the same career you want to pursue to help guide you
Personal Development
This is one of the more vague aspects of a college experience. Personal development refers to growing yourself as an overall person. Many students think that college is just about school and professional opportunities. But one of the biggest advantages is that you get to discover your passions and skillsets. You also have the opportunity to explore new talents and knowledge areas. Personal development is.... well... personal. For some, it might mean learning new coding languages while others might want to develop a talent. But spend some time cultivating what excites you and what you might need in the future.
Tips
Try adulting - doing laundry, cooking a meal, cleaning the apartment every week, keep track of expenses, etc.
Find things that you are 1) good at or 2) want to get good at and work towards those skills
Look at professionals in your area of interest and try to find things that you might have to learn to become successful in that career. It could be doing research, learning new apps/languages, having a side business, etc.
Try to expand on your current talents and skills. Do you like to dance or sing? Join a campus team to help develop that skill.
If you don't know where to start, pick up a good book. Books in your area of interest are a great way to develop your skills.
Social
By far the best part of the college experience! Especially if you live in a campus town (UIUC!), you meet so many different people and make so many new friends. You won't make friends in one day, but over time you will find people with the same interests as you. The common misconception of college is that you have to drink and party to be sociable. That is not true at all! Although that is how some people make friends, most likely you will find your closest friends in your common classes or in clubs you are highly involved with. So relax! Enjoy the college experience and put yourself out there.
Tips
Join multiple clubs early on to find activities and people you like
Commit to 1-2 activities and get heavily involved in them
Find people who have similar classes as you to break the ice
Hangout with people during evenings/weekends
Go to different events on campus! Colleges will always have random cool events to visit. Take advantage of it.
Go to sporting events! Best way to spend time with friends and show off that school spirit. #Illini
Don't forget to hit up your hometown friends who might go to the same school.
Well-Being
This is the one that many college students overlook. Physical and mental well-being is one of the most important parts of a successful college experience. When your brain and body are healthy, you will be able to focus, have a positive attitude, and overall, have a better quality of life. When looking at physical health, it's all about having a balanced diet and lifestyle. Avoid eating too much junk food and get enough exercise and you'll be good. If you got to a campus where you have to walk a lot, you got it easy. Mental well-being includes having a positive, yet realistic attitude and being able to cope well with various stressors. College is bound to have many stressors - academic goals, professional goals, not understanding the material, feeling down, feeling lonely, etc. But the difference in different college students isn't the stress itself, but how they handle the stress. This is by-far overlooked and not seen as a priority by many students - don't be one of them!
Tips
Have a routine for each day of the week based around your class and study schedule.
Have a positive attitude and try to surround yourself with positive triggers.
Don't stay up all night every...single...weekend #GreenStreet
Go to the gym at least once a week. Not only is it a great way to release stress, but it also will help your body stay in a "good enough" condition. #Freshman15
Walk as much as possible! (The easiest form of exercise is jogging to catch the bus/train.)
Don't eat junk food every day. Try to eat a balanced meal and try cooking at home too.
Find positive coping mechanisms when you start getting overwhelmed or stressed out - meditation, deep breathing, music, writing, drawing, etc.
If you start feeling overly stressed or anxious, talk to a good friend or your parents. Know the symptoms of the various mental illnesses and talk to a professional early-on.
The 5 aspects of a college lifestyle - academics, professionalism, personal development, social and well-being - are some of the most important to focus on. However, these are not the only 5 to focus on and are by no means a success formula. Each person will have a unique college experience and it's important to customize your lifestyle to fit your priorities. It's not easy, but it does help to think about these things from time to time to guide your college experience. So whether you are going to enter college or are in your final year, remember to work hard, or make timeless memories and work towards your priorities because that's what college is all about. It's ultimately about crafting your identity to become the person you always wanted to become.
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