101 Things Every College Student Should Do Before Graduation

by brianne on December 3, 2009

    The obvious necessities:iStock_000003614069XSmall

  1. Study abroad. The possibilities of programs and locations are endless. When you’re a college student, this opportunity is right at your fingertips. Take advantage!
  2. Network. Think about it– when else in your life are you going to be living with this many people? Get to know students interested in the same career path as you and start developing your contact list.
  3. Be an intern. Your university has bigger connections than you on your own, so make use of this while you can and get some valuable real-world career experience.
  4. Swap colleges for a semester. Most colleges have a program where you can attend college for a semester at one of their “sister” or “brother” colleges while still earning credit/being enrolled at the same university. Check it out and broaden your experience.
  5. Join a club… or two. Or five. This is a great way to meet people and to get involved with something you enjoy, without the stress of grades or homework. Clubs can also be great resume-builders, so explore what’s out there.
  6. Go on an epic spring break adventure. Come on, it’s just a given that in college you have at least one amazing spring break trip with your friends. So do it, even just for the sake of indulging yourself in this cultural phenomenon.
  7. Have roommates. This one might seem overly obvious since I hope everybody has had at least one roommate experience in college. Learning how to live and cooperate cohesively with someone is a life skill– especially if you view it as preparation for marriage.

    8. Campus adventures:iStock_000005595495XSmall

  8. Explore every building on campus. Typically, campus buildings are rich in history and are quite entertaining to get lost in. Get to know your campus before you leave.
  9. Play a full-campus game of fugitive or capture the flag. Take advantage of how big your campus is and how many people you can get involved in one game. You’ll probably never play a game quite that huge again.
  10. Gather your floor mates and raid another dorm floor. Get some energy out while getting to know the people below you.
  11. Attend a play put on by your university. Support your school and support the arts. Make a memory out of it by dressing up and having a “classy evening” at the theatre with your friends.
  12. Try every eating location on your campus. Just to say you did? And because you might discover a new favorite food location by breaking out from the old routine.
  13. Wear sweats to class. Or even pajamas. Most every college student does it once; it’s so tempting when you live and sleep at school.
  14. Find your personal “spot” or “niche” on campus. Whether it’s under that big tree, the bench in the garden,  or that comfy chair in the lounge… Claim a spot as yours for studying, talking on the phone, reflecting, etc.

    15. Money, money, money:iStock_000005583959XSmall

  15. Hunt for laundry change in vending machines. Really, you’re not the cliche “poor starving college student” until you’ve done this.
  16. Make and stick to a budget. If you don’t figure this out now, you’re going to be in trouble later. Utilize your parents’ advice and start learning how to manage your money.
  17. Start a saving account for paying off your student loans. Ugh, student loans… I honestly don’t even want to talk about it– they stress me out! But I will say that the earlier you start saving, the less stress they’ll cause you in the future.
  18. Learn to decorate with limited funds. Your dorm room is your little pad, so make it home. It’s a skill to be able to decorate on a budget. My advice? IKEA is your friend.
  19. Search for and keep track of all the things you can get for free. My favorite in Seattle is “Free Jones Friday” where the Jones Soda headquarters gives out free soda in the afternoon. Everything tastes better when it’s free. :)
  20. Explore and become familiar with local thrift stores. If you shop smart, you can find some really cool and unique clothing items at thrift stores. It pays (literally) to learn the art of frugality.
  21. Get a credit card in your name. Having your own credit card is a big responsibility, and once again, now’s the time to learn money management.

    22. To sleep, or not to sleep:College girl sleeping on a stack of books

  22. Stay up all night studying. Oh, college cramming! Trust me, even if you don’t choose to do this, it’s one of those things that will end up choosing you. And when it does, good luck. We’ve all been there.
  23. Stay up all night hanging out with friends. Celebrate the passing of your parents’ curfew, and celebrate big. Welcome to college.
  24. Sleep somewhere other than a dorm room. The balcony? The lounge? The cafeteria? I don’t know, it’s just kind a kind of funny and memorable thing to do.
  25. Eat at all the “24 hr” locations in your area at absurd hours of the night. There are always really interesting people at diners at 2 a.m. Don’t take my word for it, check it out yourself.
  26. Sleep in until at least 3 p.m. Unfortunately after college you start to run out of opportunities to do this. So enjoy this small pleasure before you hit the “real world”.

    27. Sports and fitness:iStock_000002261465XSmall

  27. Establish a steady work out routine. If you haven’t already, now’s definitely the time. Staying fit will have health benefits that you’ll reap way into your future… Plus, nobody wants to experience the “freshman fifteen” phenomenon first hand.
  28. Play on an intramural team. Because it’s a no-pressure environment of just playing for fun.
  29. Attend a game in full body paint. Having school spirit is just a whole lot cooler in college. And who knows, maybe you’ll get on T.V. for it.
  30. Learn how to do yoga. It’s a workout that is not only good for exercise but also for stress relief. Plus, it’s something you can do without equipment– like in your dorm room.
  31. Go to at least one tailgate party. It’s part of the college experience. Get excited for the big game with your fellow students!
  32. Sit in the rival school’s section of a big game. There’s something satisfying about standing up and cheering when everyone else around you is angry. Warning: On the flip side, it is terribly unsatisfying to be surrounded by cheering people when your team’s losing. It’s a risk you’ll have to take.

    33. “Local color” experience:iStock_000002263184XSmall

  33. Go dancing. Whether it’s a night at the club or a classy evening of swing dancing, it’s something fun and fairly cheap to do with friends.
  34. Visit all the museums in the nearest city. A lot of museums have student discounts, so go enjoy some culture.
  35. Attend a church with a different background than yourself. It’ll help you understand a perspective different from your own.
  36. Visit all the tourist sites in your city/town. If you’re living there for four years, try and get to know the area so when you go back to visit you can feel knowledgeable like it’s your city.
  37. See a local band perform. It’s cool to see musicians that are from the area, because you feel like you share a small part in their claim to fame.
  38. Discover the best coffee shop in town. It seems like coffee is just a way of life in college. It’s always a good idea to have a favorite coffee shop to escape to when the campus starts to feel too confining.
  39. Participate in karaoke night. Well, even if you’re not going to participate, just go to laugh at the people who do.
  40. Familiarize yourself with the public transit system. It’s satisfying to feel “street smart” and know your way around your city without being dependent on someone for a ride.
  41. Attend a local arts show or fair. Most of the time, these type of venues are free for browsers. Go to admire and enjoy local talent. You might even find cheap pieces to spice up your dorm room!
  42. Go to a cross-cultural event. Whether it’s a Greek festival or African dancing, find events in your area and broaden your experience by attending and getting a look into a different way of life.

    43. Round-out your education:iStock_000002737111XSmall

  43. Volunteer at a homeless shelter or hospital. We love things for free, and so do they. Share the love and give your time to helping someone in need.
  44. Audition for a small role in a play. The opportunities to be able to participate in a “school play” are coming to an end, so get involved while you can.
  45. Read the book “Franny and Zooey” by J.D. Salinger. Why? Because I love this book, that’s why. And because you can learn a thing or two about life in general if you read it.
  46. Start recycling. Time to go green! Recycling is just a smart thing to do; start incorporating it into your personal lifestyle now.
  47. Give a speech/learn the skill of public speaking. It’s a life skill, so no matter how much you hate it, it’s time to face your fears and attempt to improve your ability to give speeches.
  48. Learn to cook. You won’t be eating in the school cafeteria for the rest of your life. Cooking can be fun as well as a necessity, and it’s just something you’ll need to know how to do eventually.
  49. Take a Personality Test. Get to know yourself a little better. These tests are also great for understanding things you’ll be good at as well as how you deal with conflict.
  50. Organize a charity event. Like I’ve said before, college is the time when you’re surrounded by people and therefore have the opportunity to have a great influence. Use this to do something good for others.
  51. Become an expert on something other than your major. Hold on to that one thing you do for fun that you’re good at, whether it’s knitting or playing an instrument or speaking.
  52. Take an art class. Mix up the monotony of using only one side of your brain and enjoy the relief of using the other.
  53. Tutor someone in a subject you’re gifted in. You’ll find that you strengthen your knowledge in something as soon as you try to teach it, so tutor someone and you’ll both reap benefits.

    54. Wait, you actually have to go to school in college? Academics:iStock_000005972800XSmall

  54. Get at least one A+ in a course. Maybe more than one?
  55. Take your favorite professor to lunch. You can learn a lot from your professors, even outside of the classroom.
  56. Visit your counselor. This will help your college experience go more smoothly. They’ll help you find courses you might’ve not known about and keep you on track towards the ultimate goal: getting your college degree.
  57. Get on the dean’s list. Because it’s impressive.
  58. Turn in a paper before it’s due. To be honest, I still haven’t done this one. But I’ve heard it’s quite the satisfying feeling, so I intend on getting to this one eventually. Why’s it so difficult??
  59. Meet the president of your school. While you’re attending his school, might as well meet him, you know?
  60. Learn a different language. No matter what profession you choose, knowing another language is always an excellent backbone.
  61. Write a review on “ratemyprofessor.com”. Help future students by giving tips on who to take and who to avoid.
  62. Take a class that you normally wouldn’t think of taking. It’s a liberal arts education, so take a breadth of subjects. Remove the stress of trying something new by taking it pass/fail.
  63. Skip a class. Then calculate just how much money you’re paying per class, and never skip a class again.

    64. Concentrate on your career:iStock_000003913755XSmall

  64. Make a resume. A good resume will get you far, so start practicing the skill of resume-making now.
  65. Get a job. Having experience, any experience, in the work field will build your resume and give you references for future more important jobs.
  66. Visit your campus career center. Take advantage of their knowledge and connections, they’ll help you get on your way and be future-focused.
  67. Keep textbooks pertaining to your major. Yes, textbooks are expensive and so it’s tempting to sell all of them at the end of the year. Don’t! Believe it or not, they’ll be a nice reference to have on your shelves.
  68. Get to know the professor who’s the department head of your major. He or she will definitely have good advice for you, and possibly even some handy connections.

    69. Embrace living in a democracy:iStock_000002928145XSmall

  69. Organize/attend a protest. No more bobbing your head in blind agreement with your parents and teachers. Time to take action for issues that you personally care about.
  70. Run for a position in student government or hall council. It’s a resume builder as well as a way to effect change on your college campus.
  71. Work on a political campaign. Get a “behind the scenes” look at politics, and help out a candidate you believe in while you’re at it.
  72. Take a course in politics/American government. Being educated on the history and inner workings of the system is essential to being a good citizen.
  73. Find your favorite source for daily news. It’s easy to get lost in the bubble of your campus, but find a news channel or website that’ll help keep you in touch with the pressing issues of today.
  74. Start voting. And continue voting for the rest of your life. Don’t catch the epidemic of apathy.

    75. I dare you to…:iStock_000010566277XSmall

  75. Ask out a complete stranger. Oh come on, you know that crush you always see around campus but have never talked to? Yes, ask out that one.
  76. Jump off a bridge. …Um, a safe one. Just for the sake of being able to honestly answer “yes” to the question: “If Johnny jumped off a bridge, would you jump off a bridge too?” Ugh, that line is terribly abused.
  77. Body surf at a concert. While you’re still young.
  78. Attend a crazy costume party. Because we miss Halloween. Or just because it’s ridiculously fun to be someone else for a night.
  79. Play a prank on a friend. I’m looking for ideas on this one…. let me know.
  80. Try being vegetarian. This is the time in your life when you no longer have mom making your meals and before you have to worry about making meals for others. So just give it a try and see how you like it.
  81. Attend a rave. It’s all the rage these days. Be a part of it.
  82. Steal the mascot. Leave a ransom note and hold it hostage. Watch it become the talk of the campus, and then please… eventually return it.
  83. Get a tattoo or piercing. It’s the mark of departure from being under your parents’ roof.
  84. Go “mermaiding”. Yes, that’s another word for skinny dipping.

    85. Make and keep memories:iStock_000003342373XSmall

  85. Take a road trip. Doesn’t matter where you go, as long as you spend hours upon hours in a car trying to get there. Advice: go with people you like.
  86. Go on a “roomie date”. This is where you ask out someone for your roomie and vice versa, then you all go on an awkward double date. It’s fun, just don’t take it too seriously.
  87. Do a campus photo shoot with your friends. Gotta document the best years of your life in picture form.
  88. Take a picture with your mascot. Everybody needs one of these!
  89. Start a holiday tradition. You’re out of the house but don’t have quite have your own nest yet, so start thinking about the traditions you’re going to carry on when you do.
  90. Make a college music playlist. There’s something about a song that can really trigger a memory and take you back. Keep track of the music from this time in your life, and someday go back and listen to it and remember the good times. It’s weird to think that this is the music our kids will laugh at us for listening to… Pfft.
  91. Start a college blog. It’s the new way to journal. Welcome to the 21st century.
  92. Go camping. It’s easier to “rough it” when you’re young, or so I’ve heard.
  93. Make a scrapbook. It’s an artistic way to keep track of all these memories, and one you can hold on to as a keepsake for years to come.
  94. Join your college class’ group on facebook. So you can keep in touch with all these people you’re spending four years of your life living with.

    95. …And after you’ve learned a few things:iStock_000006307653XSmall

  95. Adopt a freshman brother/sister to mentor. Pass on your newly found wisdom.
  96. Live independently off campus for a year. Get ready for the real world! Time to slowly transition yourself into independent living.
  97. Make a list of life goals. It’s always important to keep the future in mind, starting now. It’ll help you embrace the opportunities at hand.
  98. Get grounded in your faith. This is probably the most important item on my list. Finding what you believe in shapes your lifestyle and the direction you’re headed in life, so figure it out early on.
  99. Write a thank you to someone influential in your life. If they’ve blessed you, bless them in return by letting them know the impact they’ve had on your life.
  100. Leave your mark on your university. Whether it’s etching your initials in the tree or starting a new club or organization, leave something behind.
  101. Write your own “101 Things Every College Student Should Do Before Graduation”. ….Because believe it or, I don’t know everything. :)

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