The Ultimate College Guide: year-by-year advice from freshman to senior

Graphic by Pamela Blaeser

As the eldest child in my family, something I miss out on is advice from an older sibling that has already experienced everything I am currently going through. I’ve always had to navigate life experiences–like love, friendship, and college–by myself.

While there's no denying that learning from your own mistakes and firsthand experience is invaluable, as someone graduating this year, I can't help but wish I had known certain things earlier to guide me in my college journey.

College is a period of constant change, and with each year, you learn new and valuable lessons. You are not the same person or at the same point in life one year as you are the next. As I look back at myself as a freshman, there are so many life lessons and experiences that I hadn’t yet encountered. 

As you read through this advice, keep in mind that everyone’s college experience is unique. This is simply general advice and insights that I, along with other fourth-year students, believe could benefit someone looking for that older sibling type advice. 

Freshman Year

As a freshman, you come into college as a blank slate and there are so many opportunities to try new things and meet new people. The most important thing you can do as a freshman is say yes, even if it might be a little out of your comfort zone. 

“Sometimes the best things come out of being uncomfortable,” said Tara Lhatsang, a senior who was unsure about joining a sorority as a freshman. She didn’t feel like being in a sorority was her vibe, but decided to give formal recruitment a shot anyways.

“Just from me saying ‘yes’ changed the trajectory of my entire college experience and I wouldn't change it for the world,” she said.  

Explore all of the options you have as a freshman. Talk to as many people as possible and try out different clubs and activities. As someone who is more shy, it was difficult for me to put myself out there, but by doing this I opened up so many doors to friendships, interests, and career opportunities in the future. 

Lastly, remember to give yourself grace and focus on your mental health. You are in a completely new environment and that can be a lot mentally. Don't worry if you haven't found your people right away and don’t focus on what you see on social media, because everyone is struggling in some way even if it doesn’t appear that way. 

Sophomore Year

This year is a lot more comfortable than your first year because you are coming back knowing what to expect. Sophomore year is a great time to start getting to know yourself and your passions. 

If you didn’t join any clubs or organizations freshman year, sophomore year is the time to do it. Joining a club early on not only grants you friends and connections within a field of your interest, but also gives you the ability to hold leadership positions later on, which look great on your resume. The actions you take now will have an impact on you in the next few years. 

“Focus on attaining good grades in your classes to set a solid foundation for the rest of your school career,” said Mary Eichler, a Carlson student. 

Starting good habits early in your life will set you up for immense success later on.

Try to find a way you can move your body whether that be lifting weights, running, hot girl walks with friends or joining a group fitness classes or intramurals at the RecWell. There are so many benefits to your mental and physical health by exercising at least once a week. 

Remember that you are still new to college and you still have so much time. If you want to change your major, that's ok! There are still so many people to meet and things to try. Just because you did not do something last year does not mean you can't do it this year. 

A random piece of advice myself and many of my friends would tell a sophomore is to not overspend on rent. Personally, if I could go back and sign a lease for a normal house in Como or Marcy-Holmes rather than a new and shiny apartment building in Dinkytown, I would.

You can save hundreds of dollars a month on rent while having your own room and more space. It's important to make smart financial decisions this year because you will need to learn to handle money responsibly and budget based on your needs. 

Junior Year

Life starts to mellow out during your Junior year and the excitement of coming to college turns into focusing on what you are going to do after college. You might have all of your pre-requisite classes finished and can focus on your major classes.

Make friends within your major in classes and clubs in order to have connections later on. Most importantly, don’t stress too much because you still have time. 

“​​Try to find an internship but don’t value your worth based on if you get one or not, the right opportunity will come at the right time, work hard and let the rest fall into place,” said Eichler. 

The summer after junior year is when people typically look for internships, research or any relevant experience to their career. Use this year to network with people in your field and gain experiences on campus that you can add to your resume. 

If you don’t find an internship, that's ok! I didn’t have an internship the summer after junior year, but I still found ways to gain experience through a student job and a club.

One of the best experiences college offers is to study abroad. 

“I studied abroad in Madrid and it was my best experience of college. I got to experience so many cultures and met some of my best friends,” said Lindsey Boll, one of my friends I met in my study abroad program. 

There is a program out there for everyone’s interests, and the university focuses on helping anyone with academic and financial needs. There are scholarship opportunities and short-term programs, which make it a great opportunity for anyone.

Overall, that one semester taught me so much about myself and the world, and brought about significant personal growth.

Senior Year

Try to enjoy your last year in undergrad as much as you can. Just like freshman year, try to say yes to everything. This is the last time you can go to football games as a student, the last time you can join clubs, the last time you can make connections with your professors in class and the last time you can go out with your friends in college.

Enjoy everything you can while you’re still in college. 

Remember to stay focused on school and don't let yourself get into a slump. Keep networking and finding experience for life after graduation. Research what you want to do next year and make a plan for yourself. 

Put yourself first. Don’t force yourself to be in uncomfortable situations or friendships if you are not happy. The friendships you will keep after graduation are the ones that are natural and meant to be. 

“I learned to surround myself with people that make me feel my best. It’s not about the number of people you’re with, but the quality of friends,” said Boll. 

Finally, take a deep breath and relax. As graduation approaches, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by uncertainty, but remember that things will fall into place in their own time. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to land the perfect job right away or get everything right on the first try. You will fail and things will not go your way, but that is essential to growth and self discovery. One day, you’ll look back and laugh at how much you stressed about your future—because it all worked out in the end.