Sophomore Year Goals
You've had a year to settle into your new home at USF. We hope you're finding your footing in terms of accessing university resources, developing good study habits and skills, expanding your social circle and finding some time for self-care. Sophomore year is a great time to start expanding your horizons and setting yourself up for a successful second half of your college career. We recommend you consider exploring the following goals and opportunities this year:
Whether you're still exploring or already committed to a major that aligns with your passions, sophomore year is a great time to discover new areas of interest—or find something that complements your current path.
Each Fall semester, the Major / Minor Fair provides an opportunity for all undergraduates to explore majors, minors, and other programs at USF and to talk directly to faculty experts within each field of study. We hope to see you there!
Studying abroad is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in new cultures, learn about global perspectives, and enrich your academic experience with a diverse group of peers from around the world. With very few exceptions, students study abroad during their junior year, and there's a pre-application deadline of early December of sophomore year. To get started, please visit the Center for Global Education website for more information.
Most summer internship/research deadlines are during the fall semester. To be prepared, we encourage you to make an appointment with Career Services to review your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. You can search for internships via Handshake and/or an on-campus job via Student Employment.
For summer research opportunities, either connect with your major adviser/department or visit the Pre-Health Professions Advising website for an updated list of summer research opportunities in the health field. For students planning to pursue careers in law or mental-health fields, there is also Pre-Law Advising and and Pre-Mental Health Career Advising.
Did you know USF has 16 dual-degree programs? Earn a bachelor's and master's degree from USF in five years! No lengthy grad school applications, no waiting. Just a clear, direct path to starting your career a step higher on the ladder. Additionally, the Double Dons Scholarship covers 20 percent of tuition for your graduate program at USF.
Sophomore year is a great time to start gaining more leadership experience. The Change the World From Here Institute develops critically aware and goal-oriented system thinkers who are motivated to improve their communities through a variety of programs, like the Community Leadership Program and the Self-Transformation & Excellence Program (STEP). You can also develop your skills and talents with introductory workshops on Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Gallup’s CliftonStrengths.
These are just some of the things to consider in your sophomore year. As always, please don't hesitate to request an appointment with your academic success coach to discuss these topics and more at any time!