Your last year has arrived or almost arrived which means just a few more firsts and a ton of lasts happening these next few months. Below is a list of experiences I think you should have before you walk across the stage. Comment below some things you would add to your bucket list!
Attend as many sporting events/games as possible
Try to go to as many games as possible. Nothing is better than showing your school spirit, creating memories, and teaching the new undergraduates your university’s sport traditions.
Participate in all the strange campus traditions
Some of them are very weird and strange but they make for great stories to tell your kids one day!
Hang out with your friends…always
It doesn’t matter if you all are at the library, in an apartment, or at a restaurant, spend as much time together as possible. There’s a chance you’ll never live this close to each other again. If I could go back in time I would have so many more sleepovers with my friends, and we practically lived with each other.
Go to your favorite restaurants
That really yummy (at least you think so), cheap food, that you can only get at that restaurant in your college town will taste it’s best when you’re still in school surrounded by your favorite people. Special shout out to Cholula (RIP), Chavas, and Ninja, in Muncie, IN for carrying me through the long days and nights of college.
And bars if you’re 21 and over
Let me be the first to tell you that the bar that you’ve been spending time at for years and feels like so much fun will feel totally different after you graduate. Enjoy it while it is still fun!
Take lots of videos and pictures
There is nothing better than being able to look back and see just how much fun you are having. Capture the moment but make sure you aren’t so caught up in the perfect picture that you miss the enjoyment of the moment.
Try new things
There are *probably* many unexplored parts of your college town. Restaurants, parks, bookstores, etc. are all around you. Create new experiences as well as enjoying your old reliable.
Do more celebrating and less complaining
It’s so easy to get caught up in the stress of senior year as you navigate classes and adulting, but it is a year filled with so much fun. Celebrate everything! Birthdays, interviews, passed exams, everything you can think of.
If you are going to graduate school, plan early
It’s a busy year so start planning early. Applications open early and sometimes close early, some may require additional entry tests; Recommendation letters and personal statements take effort so start early. Being organized will help, I had Microsoft excel sheets full of all my prospective school’s information. In future posts I’ll share my tips and tricks that helped me ensure success in my applications.
If you are taking a gap year, plan early
A gap year can be extremely useful in resetting your passion and feeling refreshed. Having an idea of a plan can be beneficial, think about securing housing, finances, and any other plans you may have. Time moves fast and you’ll find that even when you plan some things will happen but having peace of mind that you have an idea of what’s going on can help. It also helps with the dreaded “what will you do after you graduate” question. Side note: Saying IDK is okay too 🙂
Live off campus, if affordable and accessible
Living off campus my last 2 years allowed me to learn a lot about myself and how to take care of myself. I was fortunate enough to live in a small college town that had cheaper housing expenses. It’s a great experience to prepare you for life after graduation.
Leave a comment with your favorite experiences from senior year you would add to this list!
