University or college is a big step; it can feel to many that the education you earn doesn’t get you nearly as many benefits as you were promised. This is because university has become a standard.

Not having a degree can put you at a severe disadvantage, but having that degree alone isn’t going to help you stand out anymore. That’s why you need to do more to get more out of your degree. The good news is that there are many great ways to do that, from internships to competitions.

University is a safe space to explore your interests and try new things. So long as you always understand how the activities you invest your time in can help you with your career, you’re on the right track. If you aren’t sure where to begin, use this guide:

Understand Your Current Standing

A great way to start is to understand where you’re currently at. You can use a GPA calculator (it will need to be college-specific) to help you understand what your current GPA is. If you go to Texas A&M University, for example, then you can use this TAMU GPA calculator at CampusReel.org to help you understand what your current standing is.

If it’s good, then you can focus on the extra value-adding strategies below. If not, work on increasing your GPA by working with your course advisor and restructuring your approach to your education.

Get Internships

If you really want to graduate with great job prospects, you’re going to want to intern. Interning is only acceptable when you’re a student since you’ll have loans or personal funding covering your education and living costs. Take the opportunity now and apply to as many internships as you can.

Ideally, you should aim to have one or two internships per school year, with one internship at a minimum during each summer. Internships are great for networking and for your resume. Just as you’d want to go up in jobs, you’ll want to move up in internships. With a more nuanced resume, you’ll be able to apply for and get internships at top companies or programs that actually aim to teach you something.

Compete

There will be many competitions you can enter, starting with options right at your university. This could be an award for being active on campus, or it could be an actual competition held between students. You’ll also want to look at competitions outside of your campus.

Compete against other schools or against the general populace. This is a great way to practice the skills you’ll need and potentially get great credentials to take with you after you graduate.

Try Everything

University is a great time to learn new things about yourself, so try everything. Join as many societies and clubs as you find interesting and focus on the ones that really click. This can be great for your future career, but more importantly, it will be great for your development. As a bonus, you’ll meet many new people that will take their careers in different directions, which is great for your networking opportunities in the future. 

Jane