While fully entrenched in the “dog days of summer,” it can
be alarming to realize to that the fall semester is rapidly approaching. Temple
University’s first day is Monday, August 26 and that puts us about a month away
from returning to North Philadelphia for another school year. Though it can
seem tempting to put off all back-to-school preparations to the last couple
weeks in August, now is actually the best time to start! The following are tips
on ways to begin doing so.
Class
schedules: As seasoned college students, we all know how crazy the
first few weeks of a new semester can be. Between adjusting to new classes and
professors and getting back in the swing of things, it’s wise to take another
look at your class schedule well before August 26. Questions to ask yourself
may include:
Am I taking classes to fulfill the mandatory gen-ed
requirements?
How am I on taking core classes for my major? Am I taking
the right classes to satisfy a potential minor? Do I need to meet with my
advisor?
Am I okay with the times of my classes? Have I scheduled
breaks in the day?
Am I looking to receive credit for an internship and what
are the deadlines for that?
Fall
Internships/Jobs: While us Strategic Communications
students have been lucky to receive emails throughout the summer from our
Internship Director Amanda Bednar, now
is the time to begin actually solidifying those fall plans. In regards to
internships:
What are you interested in? What sector of public relations
are you looking to gain experience in?
What office environment do I thrive in? Is there somebody I
can ask for a recommendation?
When finding a job, many students main concern is finding
the time to fit work into an already busy schedule. Questions to consider
include:
What range of flexibility does this job offer? Will I be
able to fit this into my schedule?
What is the commute like and what would the typical hours
be?
Resume/LinkedIn:
While updating one’s resume and LinkedIn can seem like a daunting feat, now is
the best time to do so before the hectic school year begins again! Make sure to
include:
What you did over the summer: Did you intern, work,
volunteer, start a blog or learn a new skill? Make sure to update accordingly!
As you grow and learn as a student, your resume should reflect that.
If you don’t already have a LinkedIn, make one! LinkedIn
allows for one to expand upon their resume and provide more information in
regards to interests, career goals, etc.
Set
goals: I’ve always looked at the upcoming school year as a great
time to set goals. The start of a new school year always holds new opportunities
and setting/reaching goals is an incredibly satisfying feeling. Seek to
differentiate between short term and long term ones and set a reasonable
timeline! Some potential goals may include:
Taking on a new internship or two.
Seeking out new volunteer opportunities – both professional
and personal.
Working towards a leadership position in a current
organization or joining a new one.
Working towards a higher GPA.
Do you have any tips for getting prepared for the fall
semester now? Let us know; we could all benefit from them!
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