10 Things Only College Students Can Enjoy

By Bryce Buchmann on January 21, 2014

During our time in college we get just four years (maybe more, maybe less) to enjoy a time of our lives that will be different from all the rest. We spend all our time alongside other people in the same position as us, often in a town that is centered around what we do. In addition to tuition, most of us pay student fees which go toward maintaining facilities and funding various services. After speaking with some students at Texas A&M, I’ve compiled a list of ten things college students should take advantage of and appreciate during the only time of their lives to have access to.

Photo Courtesy of bushlibrary.tamu.edu

1. Intramural Sports

Most universities have rec leagues in a variety of sports including softball, football, soccer, and volleyball among others. We may have all been able to play sports in leagues like these before college and we’ll probably have the opportunity to take part in them again after college, but there is something important in the college intramural leagues which makes them special.

We get to be on a team with and compete against people who are close to the same age as us and have similar abilities and interests. Intramural sports are an activity that gives you the opportunity to make friends who you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

2. Making Friends in Classes

You can go to all of your classes in college and never talk to anyone, but that would be a mistake you’ll regret someday. Instead, on the first day of any class you should take your seat next to someone and strike up a conversation. Most students are nervous on their first day and in my experience they will usually appreciate having someone talk to them; the hard part is just having someone step outside their comfort zone and start the conversation. You can make friends with someone who sits next to you in class, and as Michael Stirneman, a fourth year biology major at Texas A&M, said, “then you have classes with them for the next four years.”

3. College Sports

Watching your college team play on campus can be one of the most fun and rewarding activities you’ll ever attend at your university. It doesn’t matter what the sport is or even how much you enjoy the sport itself, you can get behind a team of your fellow students and take pride in their accomplishments or wallow in sorrow with them after a tough loss.

College sports build camaraderie among people in the same town going to the same school which can extend outside the stadium and contribute to friendships, relationships, and even business partnerships. Speaking from the perspective of a Texas A&M student, I can tell you that our unity and passion that we apply to cheering on the Aggie football team at Kyle Field extends far beyond sports into every area of our life. Going to your college sporting events can teach you about teamwork that doesn’t need to stay on the field.

4. Concerts and Plays

Universities often host entertainment events including plays and concerts. They may not always be the type of music that you listen to, but the cost of a ticket is often something to take advantage of for a college student (if students even have to pay for admission).

College theaters often host world-renowned artists who you may not be able to see in the future and at least not for such an affordable price as student tickets will cost. In addition to famous artists on tour, college students are always putting on their own shows on or around campus and living in a college town is the one time you can see your fellow students do these things.

5. Setting Your Own Schedule

In college you’re in charge of setting your own schedule, and I mean that in several ways. For one, you often get to pick which courses you’ll be taking, which allows you to structure your class schedule in the way you want. But more importantly concerned with college life is that outside of class; the culture surrounding campus is very liberal when it comes to sleep schedules and what activities are acceptable at what times.

You will regularly find yourself staying up all night with a group of friends and meeting to study or hang out at various times of the night. Because we’re learning about how to live as adults while we’re here, we get to do some experimenting with how we structure our days. Although most of us will probably fall into the schedule of most adults eventually, it can still be enjoyable to watch sunrises and sleep through the afternoon sometimes.

6. Expert Presentations

Universities are places where high level thinking and important research happen constantly. Experts from around the world will come to your school to give presentations on whatever their area of research is, from foreign relations to theoretical physics. If you have an interest in any academic areas of research, you should look into who might be speaking at your school and find out what you can learn while you’re there.

7. Getting to Know Professors

Sometimes professors are boring old guys who tell you how to get credit for a course. But you might be surprised to learn how many of them — boring old guys and young fun ones alike – can be great people to get to know. You can talk with them before or after class, or use their office hours to go in and chat.

A good professor will like getting to know a student and it can turn into a friendship if you talk with them enough. This means you have a great source of information on your class and possibly a powerful letter of recommendation waiting for you when you need it. As USA Today put it in an article on how to take advantage of college resources, “most professors aren’t evil.”

8. Joining a Club

Universities often have hundreds of student clubs and organizations you can join, covering every area of interest you can imagine. If your school doesn’t have a club for your interest, create one. This is likely the best way to take advantage of your time in college outside of the classroom and you can find a list of ways to get involved on campus here.

9. Career Fairs

You’re probably in college for the purpose of starting a career, so why would you let career fairs pass by without going to them? Universities have career centers which can help you find jobs and perfect your resume before you go on the job search. US News published a helpful article on how to take advantage of these career services while in college.

10. Study Abroad

This may not be something appealing and accessible to every student, but if you want to spend a few months or more of your life living in a foreign country, college is definitely the best time to do it for most.

Wayne Beckerman, a third year political science major at Texas A&M, said college was the time to live abroad because “students can easily set other obligations aside and learn while traveling.” If at all possible, I highly recommend finding a study abroad program that fits your degree plan.

While you’re in college, you can spend all of your time outside of class studying, drinking, or just hanging out with old friends, but there is so much more to learn during these four years and so many opportunities to take advantage of, you might regret it one day if you don’t use your time wisely. Look into what kinds of opportunities you have at your school and remember college is an open slate, so make of it what you will.

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