Sophomore year is coming up soon! This year can be a weird middle ground as students are finishing up their general education and moving towards taking upper-level courses. This is a year full of Accounting and Economics, but what can you do to make the most out of it?
Peer Advisors Taylor and Amy have come up with some tips and tricks to help students make the most out of their Sophomore year including getting involved, discovering more about campus, and looking forward to declaring your major. Keep reading to find out more!
Trying to decide on a major or future career:
It may feel like you just began your college journey, but it can really fly by. It’s never too early to start thinking about possible majors that interest you and even some different career options. The best place to start is by asking questions. Your professors and Academic and Career Coach can also share various resources for specific majors to help get you started. If you attend a speaker event, you can ask them how they got to where they are today. There are also some great online resources available as well.
If you already know what you want to major in or start your career in:
If you are frustrated because you cannot start your upper-level major classes yet, there are still plenty of other ways to start preparing.
- Do your own research
- Speak with professors or professionals who have experience in the field that you are interested in.
- Get familiar with companies that interest you.
- Start looking into what an internship in your field of study might look like and what the timeline is to apply.
Try different non-business electives:
Instead of thinking of non-business electives as something you have to get done with before you graduate, think of them as an opportunity. It can be an opportunity to discover a new interest, find something you would like to minor in, or even just get a chance to include your other interests.
Meet with your Academic & Career Coach to start planning future classes (and make sure you’re on track)
If you are the type of person who loves planning for the future, you probably already have a four-year plan for the classes you want to take. It’s a good idea to run this by your advisor to make sure you aren’t missing any important requirements or prerequisites. Some classes need to be taken in a specific order, so it’s always best to double check.
If you don’t have a plan, or haven’t really thought much about it, it might be a good idea to start looking at what classes you’ll need to take before you can declare your major and graduate. A Peer Advisor can help out with what classes you should take in order to declare your major and your Academic and Career Coach can guide you when looking at the upper-level business classes. To schedule an appointment, follow these steps.
Discover new study spots on campus:
One thing I love about UNC Charlotte is the beautiful campus. Going into your Sophomore year, I highly recommend taking some time to explore the campus more. There are plenty of amazing spots, both indoors and outdoors, that are great for studying. My favorites include:
- Sitting outside near the Friday building
- Peet’s in the Library
- The upper floor of SoVi
- Outside of Panda Express in the Cone Center
Professional Development and Employment:
As a sophomore, getting an internship or experience may be difficult as you haven’t started your upper-level classes, so what can be done instead? Here are some great ideas to begin doing in your second year to set you up for success in the future!
- Start to Build your Network
Start by creating a LinkedIn profile to begin building your network and get to know individuals in the professional world. Find someone who works in your dream job or dream company and connect with them to learn more about their story and what a day in life is like for them. Don’t know where to start? Check out the Niblock Student Center’s LinkedIn Resources!
- Check out Speaker Events
Go to all the different speaker events on campus including the CEO Speaker Series, Lunch and Learns, and Meet-Ups to help build your network and learn from those who succeed in their careers every day. This offers great insight and could possibly open doors to new opportunities. Each semester, check the calendar of events for a listing of events.
- Begin Looking into Companies
What are some companies and organizations that stand out to you? Look at LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and maybe set up a tour to visit and understand the company culture. From here, you can determine which companies stand out to you. Research online and don’t be afraid to connect with an employee and ask questions.
- Build a Portfolio of Projects
A portfolio can be a strong tool in showing off projects and skills that a candidate has completed before the interview. Start by getting experience through working a job, gaining an internship, leading a group project, studying abroad, or volunteering. If you are unsure where to start, visit the University Career Center’s website for more information.
- Begin Looking into On-Campus Employment
Hire-A-Niner is a great place to start to look for internships over the summer and throughout the school year as well as on-campus job opportunities. This could include working in a number of different offices across campus and working alongside other students who have similar experiences. On-Campus employment is another great way to build your resume and work where classes are a priority to schedule.
- Check out On-Campus Resources
Many resources have been mentioned throughout this post, but some places to highlight are:
- The University Center for Academic Excellence
These resources are here for you and are free for all students to use to aid in their academic and professional growth. If you haven’t had the chance to connect with these resources, we highly recommend doing so!
We hope you find these tips helpful as you are preparing for your sophomore year at UNC Charlotte. Go Niners!
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