As we near the end of the semester, take some time after finals to reflect on the past year. What were your highlights? What classes did you enjoy? Are you happy with your grades? Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
If things did not go how you hoped or you feel like you have some areas for improvement, think about how you can use the summer months to get ready for next year. Below are some common end-of-the-year considerations to help you get started.
Academics
If your GPA is not quite where you want it to be …
- Consider enrolling in summer session courses—there are exclusive course offerings and opportunities to get into popular courses with smaller class sizes. Taking a summer course also can allow you to focus on one class at a time.
- Plan to take advantage of the free workshops from Counseling and Psychiatric Services in the fall to help develop academic and time-management skills, including the Bounce Back Program or the Getting It Done workshop. The fall workshop schedule will be available in August.
- Explore other on-campus academic support resources available for students.
If your classes didn’t feel like the right fit for you …
- Schedule an appointment with your advisor. Your advisor can help you identify your educational, career and life goals, and help explore all options in your academic experience.
- If you are still deciding on a major or considering switching, take career assessments and explore your interests over the summer. Career Services offers various assessments for students and alumni to discover their strengths and potential career paths.
If you are looking for a unique academic experience …
- Consider Education Abroad. The application deadline for many Education Abroad programs is Oct. 1; use the summer months to explore program options and apply for a unique experience in a different place.
- Apply to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). In a UROP project, you can explore academic interest beyond the classroom, get hands-on experience with research or creative production, develop student-faculty relationships for professional references and more.
Involvement
If you are looking to get more involved …
- Look through the student organization directory on BuffConnect. You can browse through student groups based on your hobbies, passions or major, and connect with groups you are interested in joining.
- Consider student employment on campus. Campus jobs are a great way to meet other students, gain job experience for your résumé and earn money during the year.
- Look into joining an intramural or sport clubs team in the fall.
Career development
If you are looking for a job or internship …
- Use the summer to prepare for your job search. Career Services has tips and resources to help you write résumés and cover letters, practice your interview skills and opportunities for networking.
- Develop additional skills and knowledge to include on your résumé with Lynda.com. Lynda.com is an online library of high-quality video tutorials that teach a wide variety of software tools and skills. The full range of these tutorials are available for free to current students.
Health and wellness
If you feel like your stress levels were high this year …
- Take time over the summer to develop habits in managing stress and anxiety. Finding techniques that work for you and practicing them now can make them easier to do during the school year.
- Establish other wellness habits and routines to manage stress, such as sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, finding and trying new healthy recipes and getting regular exercise. Learn more about living well.
- Practice self-care. Whether you only have a few minutes or plenty of time, here are some ideas to feel better during stressful times.
