When you first get to college, everything from decorating your room to getting a cup of coffee at the campus café is exciting. But as soon as everyone settles in and begins their regular schedule, the everyday, mundane tasks of college life don’t seem too special. It’s so easy to get caught up in the typical, stressful student routine that sometimes you can forget that college is supposed to be educational and fun.
So take out a pen and paper. Without thinking too hard, write down a bucket list of things you want to do in college. Do you have your list? Now, check out the comprehensive list of things every college student should do before they graduate below, and see how many items match your list. If some of these things aren’t on your list, you should really consider adding them as they are sure to create lasting memories. This list of opportunities and experiences will bring your four years at college all together in a comprehensive way for both your academic and social life. If you haven’t achieved these goals already, buckle down and start crossing things off your bucket list!
Connect with your roommate
Most colleges require freshmen to live in dorms, so you can cross this item off your college to-do list quite easily. But even if you decide not to stay in the dorm your freshman year, seriously consider living with a roommate at one point in your college life. Living with someone besides your family can be uncomfortable at first, but you learn to be more considerate of others. Also, with a roommate, you can share the burden of housework, rent, and the fear of growing to be independent. Who knows? Your roommate might be your long-lost soul mate.
Join a campus club
In high school, you might’ve joined a few clubs and played some sports. Or maybe you weren’t given many options to choose from. Well, college is a whole new world—and it’s all about exploring your interests. You get to decide which classes to take, but even better, you have the privilege of choosing which student-run organizations to join—or maybe even start yourself! What sparks your interest? Music, arts, sports, service, religion, politics, or culture? Whatever it is, there is probably a club on your campus for it, so go explore your passion.
Related: Campus Activities, Clubs, and Other Fun Ways to Get Involved at College
Sit in on a random class
Speaking of which classes you take! Most professors will not mind if you sit in on their class for a few sessions, even if you aren't officially enrolled in it. (And if you email them or stop by their office hours to ask permission, you might strike up a meaningful conversation about why the class interested you in the first place. Can you say, “Hello, potential mentor?")
If you go to a big school where class sizes are a couple hundred, no one will even notice. Sitting in on another class you’re interested in but couldn’t quite fit into your schedule is a great way to learn something without all the stress of worrying about tests or grades. My roommate, an Engineering student, once sat in on my international relations class, which gave her a different perspective on things outside of her usual physics labs.
Pull an all-nighter
You are probably imagining one of two pictures: first, you’re sitting at your desk, furiously studying for your finals and internally screaming, “Sleep is for the weak!” Or, second, you're chatting, dancing, and snacking the night away with your closest friends. Whichever scenario you prefer (warning: the first one might be inevitable), make it your goal to pull an all-nighter sometime during your college experience. Watch the sky from sunset to sunrise. Make unforgettable memories with your friends. You might feel tired the next day, but you won’t regret it. (Just don’t make all-nighters a habit!)
Related: 5 Easy Ways to Prepare for Your College Finals
Indulge in late-night food adventures
Staying up to study for a test? Hungry after that party? College is the prime time to indulge in some midnight food cravings off campus. If you're already pulling that all-nighter, might as well make use of your time with a tasty treat. If a college town surrounds your campus, many food places will stay open until at least midnight (if not later) to cater to students. Another popular food adventure is food trucks, which are fast and affordable. After college is over, you may not have the luxury (or metabolism) to just leave your home in the middle of the night to satisfy your food cravings. Take advantage while you can!
Cook a meal with your friends
Another food-related college bucket list item is cooking with your friends. Up until this point in your life, you’ve probably had a parent or another adult cook most of your meals for you. Unless you live off campus and/or did not purchase a meal plan, you probably still eat food that other people have prepared. When you have some spare time, try your hand at cooking an entire meal with your buddies. It will be a funny learning experience (not to mention helpful life skill) that will show you how much time and energy it actually takes to prepare a healthy, satisfying meal.
Related: Tyler's Ultimate College Cooking Collection: All the Best Microwave Recipes
Attend a school sports event
Not a sports fan? It’s okay! You don’t have to know or even love any sports to enjoy a college game, whether you decide to check out soccer, basketball, football, baseball, lacrosse—you name it. A school sporting event is just a good excuse to spend a Friday night with your friends, in the heat of the games, cheering excitedly for your school’s team. Dress up in school colors to show support. Go crazy, and unleash your school spirit.
Study abroad
More and more nowadays, students are studying abroad, with some colleges even requiring their students to go abroad at least once to graduate. Just go up to any college graduate and ask about their most memorable experience in college. The answer, I guarantee, will always be the same: studying abroad. Luckily, most colleges will allow a student to go abroad for the same price as they would pay at their home institution, so there is almost no excuse not to embark on this amazing adventure.
Living and attending college in a faraway land can be intimidating, but with risk comes opportunities. College is the perfect time to travel and study your passions before you’re tied down by a career. Also, living alone in a new country will force you to become more mature and worldly as you adjust to life in another culture. Studying abroad gives you a chance to experience foreign cultures, master new languages, and make friends all over the world! Get out of your campus lecture halls—book a flight to visit ones around the globe.
Related: Our Best Advice on Studying Abroad in College
Volunteer for a cause you care about
While you endeavor in your studies abroad, you should also consider taking some time to volunteer in foreign countries (what a lucky coincidence). You can also volunteer through programs offered by organizations like Projects Abroad. But don’t forget about all the important causes and amazing nonprofits nearby either! Many college student unions will list local volunteer opportunities, and it’s always easy enough to do a Google search for “volunteer opportunities [your city]” to find plenty of options. And of course, you don't have to go abroad to volunteer, working in your local communities can be just as, if not more rewarding.
Explore your dating life
You’re in college, you’re young, and you’re surrounded by a bunch of other (super cute) students who are so much like you. Before you know it, you’re in love—or maybe just dating around a bit. Enjoy it! Campus can be a surprisingly romantic place to go on dates: Enjoy a picnic for lunch, watch a school theater performance, and finish the night with a walk around the campus. College is a great time to explore what you’re looking for in an ideal partner or what type of non-exclusive dating habits you’re comfortable with. Figure out what’s right for you and makes you happy. Don’t put pressure on yourself to find The One, but also don’t hesitate to let yourself fall in love in college.
Related: 5 Inexpensive Date Ideas for College Students on Valentine's Day
Fight for something you care about
As we take classes that expand our worldview and develop our morals and ideals, we become more politically and socially aware. Historically, college campuses are places where major social change movements have begun. College students are generally very passionate people who are excited to rally for a cause they stand for, which includes holding organized on-campus protests. Although you may not be very interested in politics or feel socially aware, reading about on-campus protests and talking to people who are participating in it can open your eyes and help you reflect about the issues around you. When my school held a week-long sit-in over poor faculty and administrative action, I began to talk to people despite my fear, and I grew so much in awareness and knowledge about the social issues directly affecting my community.
Get a campus job or an internship
If you are on work-study, getting an on-campus job is one of the first things you want to do. Working part-time, even if all you do is the grunt work, teaches you dedication and perseverance. Sure, it may not be super meaningful to your future career, but internship recruiters and future employers will appreciate the fact that you could balance school and a job to support yourself financially. Working my two on-campus jobs has taught me a lot and gives me some extra spending money so I can go out with my friends.
Don’t forget to also continue building your résumé in college. Working as an internship related to your major provides firsthand experience of prospective careers in your field and enables you to gain professional skills. Some internships offer college credit and/or pay. And if you (like so many of us) need a source of steady income, consider working a part-time job too. You can learn to be more prudent and responsible while supporting yourself financially.
Related: 7 Fun On-Campus Jobs You Really Want in College
Splurge at the campus bookstore
I remember the first thing I bought at my college bookstore: my expensive $50 college sweatshirt. After that, I looked around at all the college-logoed binders, pillows, clothes, and other school supplies and decided that it was just too expensive. People say to stay away from the bookstore for a reason, after all. However, buying a couple of expensive items from your college bookstore is okay and can be quite memorable years after you graduate. So if you are a really frugal college student like me, know that it is okay to splurge every once in a while.
Sing karaoke with your friends
Karaoke is a great social outing that can be an alternative to the typical college party. Many places offer an hourly room rental complete with a karaoke machine and a flat screen TV to sing your stresses away. Don’t worry if you aren’t good at singing, as most rooms are soundproof so only you and your friends will be able to hear you. Although it can be pretty expensive if you go at night, many karaoke sites offer a special happy hour during late morning to mid-afternoon hours.
Related: 13 Ideas for a Fun Night in Without Leaving Your Dorm
Make the dean’s list
A dean’s list is an honor bestowed on students who are excelling academically. The requirements vary from one school to another, but the GPA cutoff is generally around 3.5. Certainly, making the dean’s list is no piece of cake, but the challenge is worth an attempt. Having your name on the list can lead to scholarship opportunities and invitations to special celebratory events (aka parties). Achieve your full learning potential in college—after all, you are there to learn.
Go on a road trip
This is every college student’s dream. And it’s never too late to make it come true. Even just a few weeks before graduation, go on a road trip with your friends. You don’t have to spend hours or days planning a perfect trip. There is a ton of fun in the spontaneity of road trips, and with your closest friends by your side, any obstacles along the way can be overcome. In fact, the more challenges you face during your travels, the more memories you will later have to cherish throughout your life. Don’t think about it too much. Just hit the road.
Related: 5 Things Every College Student Should Keep in Their Car
Visit a friend on another college campus
While you're already going on that road trip, it’s time to get into your car and actually go visit that friend you said you would see when you graduated high school. Visiting a friend on another campus not only gives you the chance to catch up, but it allows you to see and experience life at another college or university. Your friend may be able to treat you to some food with their guest passes at the dining hall, and you could have them show you around their college town. New experiences abound with an old friend!
Write letters to those who have influenced you most
This is probably the most meaningful thing on this bucket list. Writing heartfelt notes to the people who have made a genuine impact on your life—your closest friends, professors, and mentors—is one of the most touching gifts you can give them. Even if not all the memories were positive, tell them how you’ve grown together and how you are glad that you met them. When I’m feeling down, I still read my old high school yearbook messages and try to remember the strong friendships I’ve made over the years.
Related: 6 Tips for Maintaining Healthy Relationships in College
Fortunately, your college bucket list doesn’t need to end here. These are just some universal items that most college students should be checking off their list. And if some of them aren’t your thing, that’s okay too. For instance, some people may not be into dating at all and will choose to focus on the other items on the list. A bucket list should be personal to you. But if you want more ideas, many colleges have bucket lists unique to their campus traditions, so be sure to check those out for your schools of interest or college you’re already attending. Have fun!
