4 Things I Wish I’d Done Earlier In College

College goes by surprisingly fast. Everyone says that, and everyone is always surprised when it turns out to be true. Though I’ve made a lot of memories, I can’t help but feel like I didn’t take advantage of the opportunities that were available to me as much as I could’ve. As graduation approaches I’m weighing career paths and life choices ahead of me, but I’m also reflecting on what I might’ve done differently. Here’s four things I wish I’d considered earlier in college!

Ad Club, obviously.

I didn’t get involved with Ad Club until the second semester of my sophomore year, which in hindsight was a mistake. I missed the opportunity to go on some incredible agency tours in big cities, which would’ve been an incredible networking opportunity. I’ve also been able to add to my portfolio and talk to leadership at some sweet agencies, which has been priceless for my professional development. Plus, some of the most creative and driven people I’ve met are/were in Ad Club!

Explored multiple minors.

For the majority of my scholastic career, I was simply an English minor. While I love the subject, there are also many more that I wish I would’ve looked into. This past summer I added a Political Science minor, and I couldn’t be happier with the decision. Broadening your on-paper qualifications and interests can open a surprising amount of doors, particularly as a j-school student, since our degrees can be applied in nearly every industry. I also considered adding a Psychology minor, but since as a senior I have a pretty restrictive schedule, it couldn’t be done. :(

Made time for hobbies and experiences outside of school.

Dude, I know that it’s easy to get sucked into the grind of college, trust me. Last year, as a junior, I basically didn’t do anything fun...ever. I used the excuse that I was just too busy with extracurricular organizations, internships, homework, etc. Since March, I’ve made a point of developing some new pastimes, like photography and cycling, and I’ve found that it makes grinding through assignments much easier when there’s a fun activity waiting at the end. I feel the need to stress that you have to MAKE time...your schedule may not passively open up, but work ahead in that one class or wake up a little earlier in the day and you may find a window.

Searched for internships and experiential learning opportunities.

It’s not like I waited forever since I got my first internship the summer before my junior year, but  I think even one year earlier can make a huge difference. Early on, those are invaluable learning opportunities and it’s easier to do something like an unpaid internship early on, when you might not be as concerned about paying bills like rent.