Staying (or Getting) on Track
At the end of this year, you will be halfway to graduation! Now is the perfect time to do a self-audit: are you on track with your courses and degree plan, with your resume, with the experiences you want to cultivate during your four years at UT?
Academic Advising
Set up an appointment with your ACADEMIC ADVISOR to check in
Not sure what questions to ask? Here are some to get your started:
- Am I making good progress on my degree plan, or is there a class I may need to pick up over summer to stay on track to graduate in four years?
- Are there credits I still need to claim, or transcripts I need to submit from other institutions?
- I want to Study Abroad. How can I fit that into my degree plan and stay on track for my four-year graduation?
Declare a major by the end of your second year
And know what you can do with that major. Not sure where you're headed with your major? Set up an an appointment with a CNS Career Coach to talk about your options.
Make a Plan B
If you haven't already, consider your parallel paths for career/graduate school/professional school goals (what's your Plan B if you're not admitted to med school?). Never put all of your eggs in one basket; make sure you're diversifying your experiences appropriately so you can feel secure in your options no matter what happens.
Study Abroad
Are you interested in Study Abroad? Start exploring now and working with your Academic Advisor to fit time abroad into your four year plan.
Asking for Help
If you're struggling academically (or non-academically) please tell someone.
It can feel intimidating, but asking for help is a good thing! We are here to help you, and we want you to be successful. Who can you talk to?
Social Media Checkup
Social media is your online résumé
Now that you are a second-year student, it's time to begin thinking about your professional image.
- How does your social media reflect your image?
- Are you cultivating an online reputation you would feel comfortable with an employer seeing? (we promise, they'll look!)
- Google yourself and see what comes up
- Decide if there's anything you need to change/adjust on your social media accounts
- Familiarize yourself with the privacy settings on all of your social media accounts
- Are you sure that the people you want can see your profile?
- If there are things you'd like to keep private, make sure they are set to private
Social media isn't just for friends
Did you know you can use social media to network and leverage professional opportunities?
- Set up an account with LinkedIn
- Have a professional head shot taken (CNS Career Services usually sets up a photo shoot at career fairs if you need help taking a professional head shot - keep an eye on thier page for more information).
Professional Development
Your second year is prime time to think about your resume and professional experiences. Find an opportunity to develop leadership on campus.
Career Planning
Career Coaches
This is a great time to meet with a Career Coach and begin planning your steps to get to where you want to be after you walk off that stage at graduation. Not sure what questions to ask if you meet with a Career Coach? Here are some ideas to start the conversation:
- How do I write a professional email?
- How do I create meaningful relationships and build strong recommendations for future applications?
- I want to get an internship, but I'm not sure where to start
- What should I include on my resume? How do I start creating a resume?
Health Professions
Aiming for health professions? We have an office for that!
Not sure what questions to ask if you meet with a Health Professions Coach? Here are some ideas to start the conversation:
- What will help on my applications?
- How does my overall competitiveness look right now, and what are the areas I need to strengthen?
- How do I get involved in the kinds of extra-curricular activities that will make me stand out?
Beyond Career Services
Career planning doesn't have to take place in a Career Center. Here are some great opportunities to get involved AND plan for the future.
Leadership Opportunities
If you're already involved in a student org or the Austin community, consider planning an event for or taking on a leadership role your organization.
Here are some Leadership Opportunities happening around campus
Leadership with a philanthropic focus
- Alternative Breaks - want fun and travel while tackling social issues? Check out Alternative Breaks!
- The Project- apply to be part of the event staff, team lead, or a committee member
Research
FRI & ARI
Some of you are already part of FRI (the Freshman Research Initiative), but did you know you can also apply to begin reserach after your first year? Check out the Accelerated Research Initiative! If you weren't in FRI, but you want to get involved in research and can commit to a 6-8 week research internship over summer, you can start your second year in ARI!
eureka
Eureka is a database that houses information on all kinds of reserach happening across campus. Explore some areas of interest and see what's out there!
Getting Involved
Our most successful students tell us that some of their best memories of UT involve trying something outside of their comfort zone
During your first year you were placed into a small learning community, and hopefully you made some lasting connections from that experience. During your second-year, you have the opportunity to strengthen or build your sense of community at UT, so don't be afraid to try something new! Not sure how to find a community? Here are some places to start exploring:
Social Media Checkup
Social media is your online résumé
Now that you are a second-year student, it's time to begin thinking about your professional image.
Social media isn't just for friends
Did you know you can use social media to network and leverage professional opportunities?