Junior Year Goals
Welcome to the second half of your academic journey! By junior year, you should be settling into a major and possibly making some progress toward a minor or two. The following are some additional goals and opportunities you may wish to explore this year:
Now is the perfect time to review your graduation plan with your major adviser to ensure you are on track to graduate. Be sure that you also familiarize yourself with your Degree Evaluation and review any questions or concerns you have with your faculty adviser(s).
Aside from teaching your classes, professors are also potential mentors who can assist you with industry connections, career planning, and advice about next steps after graduation. Utilize office hours not just for help with assignments, but to learn about your instructor's respective journey to academia and the industry as a whole. Your major / minor adviser is a great place to start, but don't be afraid to make meaningful connections with any of your professors!
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.
Have you considered gaining more leadership experience? The Change the World From Here Institute develops critically aware and goal-oriented system thinkers who are motivated to change their communities for the common good through a variety of programs, like the McGrath Scholars Program. You can also develop your skills and talents with introductory workshops on Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Gallup’s CliftonStrengths.
Living in the city of San Francisco or the surrounding areas can be a great experience, but comes with its own set of challenges. If you're transitioning off-campus this year, the Office of Off-Campus Living can provide support, including 1-1 coaching, housing search assistance, and tips around roommate conflict resolution. Schedule an appointment today to learn more!
If you missed the pre-application deadline to study abroad or didn't have room in your academic program for a fall or spring abroad, it's not too late to find other opportunities to get out in the world and explore. Consider other options such as an immersion trip or summer study abroad as an alternative.
These are just some of the things to consider in your junior 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!