Many have described college as the best years of their life. They’re usually referring to the freedom they experienced, learning about exciting new areas, making friends, and discovering more of their interests.
But the most impactful part of college is that it sets you up for your career, the work you’ll do to make the world a better place. And depending on the school you attend, you can have a strong support system in your corner for years to come. Take advantage of the following tips and opportunities during your freshman year to ensure a solid foundation of success—one you can continue building off of and always fall back on.
Find a Mentor
One of the best ways to set yourself up for success is to find a mentor: someone to help navigate your career path, provide wisdom on important decisions, and give you a real glimpse into future success. Ideally, a mentor will have already been through the experiences you’re about to go through: picking your first major, navigating the college social scene, picking a different major, landing your first job out of college, etc. Because they’ve gone through it all, made mistakes, and learned from their experiences, they’re the perfect person to guide you in what to do, and what not to do, over the next four years of your life.
Entrepreneur magazine recommends finding a mentor with the same worldview as yourself to help you grow in a way that’s true to you. Also, choose someone in the field you see yourself pursuing. You’ll get clear insight into that path and how to move in that direction—or it might reveal career paths you don’t want to pursue, which can be equally as valuable. If you need help finding a mentor, reach out to your school’s career services center or ask your professors for recommendations. If you’re especially driven, make a list of companies you would want to work for and contact their senior-level employees on LinkedIn with a great pitch for why they should mentor you.
Start an Internship
In your first semester of college, you’re balancing classes with midterms, new friends, and remembering to shower. The last thing you want to hear is, “Hey, you should get a part-time job!” Or even worse: “Hey, get a part-time job that doesn’t pay!” But actually, starting an internship during your freshman year is not as crazy as it sounds (and you might even be lucky enough to land a paid internship!).
__________
Who are you called to be?
Pursue your purpose at PLNU.
____
The National Association of Colleges and Employers found college graduates who completed an internship during their undergrad years were nearly twice as likely to receive a job offer after graduation as those who didn’t. Most internships are also designed to provide you with college credits that will apply toward graduation, helping you get across the finish line quicker. In addition, internships provide you with real-world experience in a professional setting. You’ll work alongside and learn from experts in the field, elevate your skills, and contribute to high-priority projects to add to your portfolio. You may even secure a full-time position with the company you intern for. You’ll also expand your network, which can boost your credibility and opportunities immediately after graduation and 20 years down the line. Most importantly, internships will give you marketable experience and help you determine what career paths you like and don’t like.
Plan an Honors Thesis
This may also feel like taking on more work than necessary, but an honors thesis is valuable for both your academic and professional careers. So, why should you be thinking about your thesis during your freshman year? If you were an honors student in high school, a college honors project is probably already on your radar. But if that wasn’t you, you may have tuned out during that portion of orientation. Reach out to your advisor to find out all the specifics about honors projects at your college.
Many colleges and universities offer academic and social benefits to students enrolled in the honors program, such as alternative residence halls grouped with other honors students and smaller class sizes. But getting into the honors program usually has strict GPA and academic requirements, so the grades you earn your freshman year really matter. Whether you choose to go to graduate school or jump straight into the workforce, having completed an honors thesis shows admissions counselors and recruiters that you are capable of accomplishing difficult projects under pressure. It makes you stand out among other college graduates and prepares you for challenging, fulfilling work.
Start a Side Business
College is a unique time to explore your entrepreneurial ideas with little risk. Your freshman year will expose you to many new things the world has to offer, evoking passions you previously didn’t know you had. If you have an idea for a product, service, or website, or if you have a hobby or talent you want to take to the next level, there is no better time to test it out than when you have a whole campus of friends and potential customers. In fact, developing a side hustle during college could help you launch your business right after graduation.
This is the time to pursue your passions and test your ideas, if for no other reason than to get the bad ones out of the way quicker. Failing is an inevitable part of entrepreneurship, but failing is a lot easier when you’re still in college than when you’re out. Whether you experience immediate success or not, pursuing your passion also looks great to potential employers. Starting a side business shows ambition, confidence, and dedication and gives you first-hand business experience that can be applied to any company or career.
Make Genuine Connections
Taking the time to form genuine friendships and connections is crucial to every student’s success, both in college and after. Studies routinely show that students who have an active social life and invest their time in relationships are far more likely to succeed academically. The camaraderie you find with other students in college will be the support you need to weather failures and celebrate victories, and you will support them as well.
Many students experience loneliness during their freshman year of college because of culture shock or feeling overwhelmed. This can have a strong effect on their focus and drive to pursue opportunities for the future. Sometimes it takes a little effort, like joining a club or study group, but it’s worth it. Making genuine connections in college not only helps your overall well-being, it often leads to career opportunities as well. Oftentimes, a personal connection is the tipping point for employers that will help you seal the deal and land a job. And if you attend a good school with a good reputation, full of good people, you’ll have a strong and wide support network that will always be there to help you succeed.
Point Loma Nazarene University is known for developing students in mind, heart, and character. With rigorous academics and a faith-based understanding of the world, we help you pursue and become who you are fully called to be. From professors to staff to alumni, we provide students with a vast network of people committed to your success, ready and willing to support you in your career and life, always.
Take the next step by connecting with one of our counselors, visiting campus, or applying to PLNU today.