Summer 2018: Ideas that are both Productive and Fun

By Rachel Dranetz on January 22, 2018

With spring semester on the horizon, the next worry on every student’s list is making plans for the summer. While during your younger years the few short months between school years could be spent lazing around, as an adult this is much less practical; adults have to put in work, make plans, and reach towards future goals. But just because you can’t just sleep (all day, every day) the summer away, doesn’t mean it can’t be the experience of a lifetime!

Here are some ideas for what to do with your summer.

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1. Summer Session

While summer school used to only be referenced as a punishment for bad students, in college summer school is more like an opportunity to get ahead. Summer sessions can be 6 weeks or 12 weeks, and there are a variety of both cool and relevant courses available for students to take.

And you don’t necessarily have to spend your summer buckling down; there are a ton of fun classes available too. Whether you take a cool new elective to try out something new, or stick with your designated major curriculum, (or even a combination of the two), summer session is a great experience for students. The campus is less crowded, the weather is nice, and for the most part the professors are more laid back. What’s not to love?

2. Study Abroad

A lot of students don’t consider studying abroad a viable option. Studying abroad seems expensive and like a lot of work to plan out. But what students don’t know, is that there are tons of ways to save money while studying abroad, and that the whole process can be unreasonably simple.

Program expenses can differ massively depending on the location and duration of the program. Summer programs in particularly, are way cheaper than a full semester living abroad. A lot of students choose to study abroad over summer for exactly this reason, because there is an affordable way to make traveling possible.

Scholarships are available for nearly every program, so getting financial aid is entirely possible. Just ask anyone who’s studied abroad; it’s really the experience of a life time. And not only is it a wonderful chance to explore new places and meet new people, there’s a lot to learn that you just can’t learn in your regular classroom. Check out the FSU International Program site here!

Don’t see a program that fits you? Other programs are available too!

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3. Work

College students, for the most part, are dirt poor. College is expensive, and even though a lot of students are supported by family to help pay for tuition, there are still living expenses and text books to pay for. Getting a summer job is a great way to save up some extra cash. There are a number of places in Tallahassee looking for employees over the summer, and most people have to still pay rent over the summer anyways, so might as well make the most of it!

If you absolutely don’t want to stay in Tallahassee, you can always look for work back in your hometown, or even in other locations. You can decide what kind of job fits best for you; like a job that is great professional experience and looks good on your resume, or a less glamorous job that is just waiting tables or working at summer camps.

4. Internship

The ideas behind landing an internship and getting a job are similar, except that you’re less likely to get paid. But fear not! Completing an internship is a super important way to gain professional experience in your field, and can mean the difference between you getting your dream job or not after graduation. (That’s why some majors even require you to have one.)

Internships are your chance to learn soak up all you can, to test out the kind of things you might be interested in doing in the future, and to make some very valuable connections with your coworkers and employers. In this day and age, as more people attend college, it’s becoming harder and harder to stand out from other graduates in the eyes of employers. Having done an internship shows that you are capable, experienced, and a valuable asset to your potential employer.

5. Travel

It’s a sad truth, but students eventually come to realize that they’re not getting any younger. After graduation there will be jobs, and rent, and commitments; making it nearly impossible to set out time to travel and explore. So getting out and having fun is also an important experience for college students. Whether you spend the whole summer backpacking across Europe, or plan a drive down to Miami with your friends, traveling is a memorable opportunity that you might not have in your busy future.

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6. Mix and Match!

These options are by no means limited! Find something to do over the summer that works best for you; whether you want to focus on your education, your profession, or just on saving up money. Find an internship abroad. Take classes alongside having a job. Check out overseas work programs. Find a paid internship here in Tallahassee.

Whatever you chose to do, just make sure you make the most out of your summer!

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