Transitioning from high school to college or from one college to another is tough for students, even if they think they have figured everything out. If you’re a new Baruch student, here’s some advice on how to survive these four years, or however many years you have left until you graduate.
Regardless of the year you’re in, you should visit the Star Center for Career Development as many times as you can, located in room 2-150 at the Newman Vertical Campus.
They offer career counseling, resume reviews, cover letter reviews, mock interviews and other career services by making an appointment via your Simplicity account or walk-in hours. Students can also rent professional clothing for a limited number of days.
The sooner you declare your major, the better. You’ll have more opportunities to pursue internships while you’re a student or take elective classes in subjects for fun.
If you’re stuck or undecided about your major, you can log onto AdvisorTrac and book an appointment with a general academic advisor, or email the advisors of the department you are interested in and set up and appointment with them instead.
They will give you an overview of the major, potential career opportunities, testimonials about students who’ve graduated in that major and inform you about internship opportunities.
The workload doesn’t get easier as the semester progresses, so finish your work as soon as it’s assigned to you. There are too many unexpected situations you might find yourself in like oversleeping, missing a pop quiz or medical issues that may require you to take days off. Perhaps unexpected financial issues might force you to take extra shifts at your part-time job.
I know you’re probably thinking, “I’m just going to go school, go home and ace my courses” and this is me letting you know that that’s a formula for failure. You’ll find yourself bored, and even if you’re lucky enough to have exciting classes, they won’t seem like fun during finals week.
Join a club or at least attend some activities which are usually offered during Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., otherwise known as Baruch’s club hours.
Another reason to join clubs is to fill up that “nothingness” section on your resume. Most clubs offer board positions and committees in areas or roles you might consider pursuing.
These roles can provide opportunities for growth in professional occupations such as accounting, event-planning, finance marketing. They can also enhance soft skills with regard to communication, time management and conflict mediation
If you’re worried or anxious beyond your classes, consider reaching out to Baruch’s Health and Wellness Center, located on the third floor of NVC and on the 26th street building where you can speak with a counselor.
At the end of the day, these four years are only four years out of the rest of your lives — make the most of them.
