Back to School - Sophomore Year

I’m doing a series of ‘back to school’ (meaning college).  Today, we are looking at things to do in the Sophomore Year!!

-1 First - keep working with your mentor.  Now, you might need to change your primary mentor.  Most of the Freshman year classes are more general but by your sophomore year, you start to get into your major courses.  If you haven’t found a mentor, or need to change your mentor this is a good time. Get a mentor that will stick with you (if possible) until you graduate.  

Stop by and just chat with your mentor every other week.  (Hint, you might find what the mentor likes to drink - and bring in a cup of coffee or tea or a soft drink).  This doesn’t have to be long, maybe 10 to 15 minutes. But, you are building rapport with somebody that can help you in your career.

-2 Network, network, network.  The campuses I have been on have speaker programs.  So, if you are majoring in (say) chemistry, find out when a chemistry person is speaking on campus.  Sometimes, such a person might speak to the Chemistry Club (if there is such a group on your campus).  If your campus holds a job fair, go to that and meet the various company representatives that are there in your field.  

-3 Academics.  Keep going with your grades.  Some companies only take students with overall grade point averages of 3.5 or higher.  Keeping your grades high is important.

-4 Socialize.  In my view on freshman year, I suggested work, work, work for the fall semester.  But, by sophomore year, you can work on your ‘people skills’. Join campus organizations (not too many) that relate to you - both it the academic and social areas.  I was in academic groups as well as in a social fraternity.  

People-skills (or soft-skills) refer to being able to converse with almost anybody.  Work on smiling, work on your body language, work on your handshake. Is your voice pleasing?  If not, work on that.  

-5 Take some tough classes and tough teachers.  Yes, going to college means going to classes. Too many students look for ‘easy-classes’ - maybe with teachers who give easy grades, or overlook absences.  Take some tough classes (especially in your major). An adage I like is “The turtle only makes progress by sticking his neck out”. If you take tough classes with tough teachers, you may need to work on networking and mentoring with that faculty member.  Go to their office hours, Get to know them!!!

-6 Tests and grades.  By now, you should be able to really anticipate what will be on tests.  What has been important in this class? Read, be able to discuss.  

[Aside, I took three classes from the same professor in history.  In the first class, I worked really hard. I asked for good and pertinent questions.  I got to know the professor well In the second class I took from her, I didn’t have to work as hard and still got my A grade.  And, in the third class, she knew - that I knew the material and I definitely didn’t work as hard and still got an A.]

-7 Summer job/internships

If you can get a summer job or an internship in your major field after your sophomore year, that is fantastic!!!  Get started on that in the fall semester with your advisor/mentor. (And, I shouldn’t have to say this - get paid for that experience!!!)

-8 Are you in the right major?

Are you in the right major?  If you aren’t in the right major for you, it is better to switch now (in your sophomore year than trying to do so in your junior or senior years.  I know students who graduated with their degrees and went out on their first jobs - and hated it!!!

-9 Study Abroad.

Study abroad experiences are great.  You live and attend school in a different culture and maybe in a different language.  Broaden your perspectives with a Study Abroad experience

And a quote from Calvin Coolidge - our 30th President of the United States

Quote:  Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.  Calvin Coolidge