You went to your classes, passed the tests, and received your diploma. But did you really get all you could from your major? Unfortunately, not every student does. But you can make the most of your education by taking advantage of these opportunities.
As impressive as “Physical Studies of Biomacromolecules” may look on your resume, it probably won’t do much for your career if you never set foot in the classroom. So make the most of the money you spend on your education—go to class every day, take notes, and review class material on your own or with a group on a regular basis.
Check out cool classes at K-State
Check out campus resources and study tips from the Academic Assistance Center
Many departments at K-State keep students informed about relevant internships in the state and across the country. So talk to your advisor or look online for internships or volunteer opportunities. You can work locally during the school year or take a semester or summer off to intern in another city, state, or country. Even if the job isn’t paid, there’s no better way to gain experience.
Get more information about internships
Almost every academic department at K-State hires students. So apply what you learn in class on a daily basis. For journalism students, there’s the K-State Collegian newspaper. Ag students can work for K-State’s horse or cow/calf units. And labs in several science departments are researching topics from cloning to Alzheimer’s.
Find out more about jobs at K-State
The best way to retain the material from your intro classes is to teach it. Professors of large intro classes in every major often employ experienced students as teaching assistants. Some professors will send out e-mails or approach students, but you don’t have to sit around and wait. If you really liked a certain intro class or want to reinforce what you learned, talk to your professor about becoming an assistant the next semester.
To find out about area events, state and national conferences, job opportunities, and more, it pays to be a member of your department club. Meet with other students in your major to learn about important dates and events, find people who share your interests, and form study groups.
View all student organizations
True, being the official pooper-scooper at the local vet’s office isn’t your exact career aspiration, but you’ve got to start somewhere. If you can’t get a job or internship doing exactly what you want, try to get hired to do office work or entry-level tasks at an office in your field. Just getting the feel for how the place functions will help you decide if it’s what you really want, and it will help you get hired later on.
Practice may not make perfect, but it will keep you on your toes. Apply your knowledge whenever you can—join discussion groups online, subscribe to newsletters or magazines, and stay up to date on what’s happening in your field.
