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This is a guest post by our Campus Ambassador Taylor Ellis from Ball State University.

We’ve all been that freshman during orientation being bombarded with information about college life. One of the things we hear most is “get involved,” but instead of listening to this valuable advice many of us tell ourselves that we’ll get involved when we’re ready and settled in at school.

While many see getting involved in student organizations as something to do when you become an upperclassman and are comfortable with more responsibility, I believe it’s actually more valuable to get involved the moment you arrive at school.

From my personal experience at Ball State, I’ve found that getting involved is actually what helped me feel more comfortable settling into my new college life. Not only did I meet a ton of new people by getting involved in student organizations, but I also grew as an individual by pushing myself to take on responsibilities within the organizations.

For those of us majoring in journalism or communication fields, we have no choice but to get involved if we want to have something on our resume one day when we go to interview for jobs. However, the weird thing is, I still see many of my peers not getting involved in student media or organizations until there junior or senior year, when it’s usually too late to get a lot of experience or work your way up to leadership rolls.

Many claim that they have no time or that they will get involved when they need to apply for internships. While this may work for some, I think it’s a much safer route to make sure you have done all you can in college to guarantee you will get some type of job in your chosen career field when you graduate. Why not be safe rather than sorry, right? You have to have something on your resumé eventually, so why not start sooner rather than later?

I don’t know, maybe that’s just me, but it seems to be working so far. I immediately became involved with my online and print magazine Ball Bearings and volunteered for any story I could take. I admit it was stressful at times, and that I had no idea what I was doing when I first started; however what I realized is that if you are willing to learn, people will want to teach you. Upperclassmen who are usually in charge of the organizations want them to continue, so if they don’t teach someone how to do their work, then the organization will cease to exist eventually.

Through volunteering for stories and various responsibilities within Ball Bearings my freshman year, I was asked to apply for a leadership position on the editorial board of the magazine as an online producer. I ended up getting the position as a sophomore due to the simple fact that I was one of the only freshman that was actually involved all year. It was that simple, just stay involved, and volunteer when opportunities or stories present themselves.

I’m not going to lie, being a leader as a sophomore was one of the most intimidating things I’ve ever done due to the fact that I still feel that I have so much to learn. However, what I’ve discovered is it’s ok to learn as you go and put yourself out there, even if you have no clue what you are doing : ) You will always be taught if you are willing to learn!

This is a guest post by our campus ambassador Angeliz Torres from University of Puerto Rico.

Hello everyone! I hope you’ve found my last two blogs to be useful. This will be the last
part of my Study Abroad series in which I’ll talk about what happened and what I did
once I was back home. Besides getting hit by reality, there are a few things I had to think
about, and you should to.

Reflect your experience, accomplishments, new friends, knowledge gained, and
everything else you got involved with! Now comes the tricky part, what are you going
to do about it? Personally, I did a lot of volunteer work and community service and was
involved in Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) so I started looking for community service
initiatives in Puerto Rico and get to know the local SIFE coordinators so I could begin
working with that here at home. So, think about what you did while you were abroad
and look to continue your efforts at home whether it be by joining the local chapter of an
organization or doing your own thing.

There’s a newfound confidence in you, make the most of it! I had just been away from
home for a semester, I had grown independent and I wasn’t going to back down. Take
initiative in looking for internships, mentorships or student advisor positions. Have faith
in your decisions and stick with them, believe me, conviction goes a long way.

Share your experiences with your friends and classmates. I believe everyone should go
abroad at least once during their college life and take on the challenge a new culture
presents. Volunteer to be a Study Abroad Advisor (I did!) and help others achieve what
you did. Like I said before, reflect and remember what you went through before and
during your study abroad experience and motivate others into searching for different
programs in order to find the one that best suits their needs.

Finally, don’t forget to keep in touch! I met lots of new friends, professors, and faculty
members that made my experience unique and I still tell them about how life’s treating
me now that I’m back in Puerto Rico. Professors like to know about your academic
progress and that you’re really trying to better yourself. Also, you always want to know
how your friends are doing, add them on FaceBook and Twitter! You never know when
you’ll need their help.

I hope everyone found my Study Abroad Series useful and I encourage you all to go
abroad and explore the world beyond your country of origin. You never know what
you’ll find and learn.

This is a guest post by our campus ambassador Alyssa Markowitz from Simmons College.

When I started college, I heard a lot of different things from many different people. But I didn’t have an older sibling or a close friend who was at the time a senior in college. I braved it out on my own and learned for myself. But now as I complete my senior year in college and I look back on the last four years wondering would I have done anything different. And the truth is I would. So here are the top ten things I wish that a senior had told me when I was a freshman.

1. Get Involved

It took me until my senior year to become involved in organizations and I love it. I wish I had more time and had explored more options. I attend a small school but even if you go to a big school you’ll thank yourself for joining at least one club or organization!

2. Work on Campus

I have had an on-campus job for three years in the Office of Undergraduate Admission and it’s fantastic! They work with your school schedule, you don’t have to travel to a place between classes and you build great skills that you’ll be able to use after college. So even if you take a job that’s only a couple of hours a week it’s totally worth it!

3. Go to Events

Events on campus are probably the biggest thing I regret not going to. Although some of them might seem lame, the secret to events is that there is ALWAYS free stuff there. Whether it be free food, a pen or a grab bag of items go to get the stuff and you can always leave. But who knows you may enjoy it!

4. Network, Network, Network

This is something I wish I had learned two years sooner. Networking is probably the most important skill you will take away from college. When there is a networking event offered at your school, go because it is always worth your while. And I know social networking is big right now but to get a job it is always advantageous to get in some old school networking!

5. Explore Your Interests

This might seem like an obvious one but it’s important that you make sure to try everything you might think you’d ever want to do. This doesn’t even specifically mean academically either. For example, I have always loved to sing and my school has both a choir and an a-capella group and I am so mad I missed my window of opportunity to join either.

6. Take at least 1 fun class a semester

This is for your sanity. If you take a semester full of work heavy, hard classes you will go insane and chances are you will end up doing poorly. It’s always good to incorporate a lighter class into your schedule.

7. Make it a point to know your professors

Even if you go to a big school it is always good to know your professors. If your professors connect with you or at least know your name and face they are more likely to help you when you need it. Whether you are struggling in the course or your need a recommendation for graduate school or a job they will be open to helping you out if you take the time to know them.

8. Look Ahead

Although as a freshman or a sophomore it may seem like you have a ton of time until graduation, it’s not true it’s much sooner than you think. Remember back to high school, how fast those four years flew by, well it’s the same amount of time and the older you get the faster time passes. So plan ahead, whether it be the classes you are going to take, the jobs you plan to have or your plans for after graduation. I really wish someone had explained this to me.

9. Get Internships, Early and Often

I know this is echoing the Intern Queen herself but I truly do belief this. Because the more work experience you have the better off you will be after graduation. Additionally it will give you a chance to see what you like about certain work environments and what you don’t like. Internships are just another part of your education so take advantage of them while you can!

10.     Have Fun

Now I know this is not a hard concept for most college students, but it’s important that you make time for all of the things I mentioned and balance it with the fun. Going to college is about getting an education but it’s important to remember that all of the learning doesn’t happen in the classroom!

This is a guest post by our campus ambassador Cat Pylant from University of South Florida.

Recently I have had some friends who vented to me about their lack of experience and positions when it comes to their resumes. Due to jobs and other commitments they have no field experience, but they have a great work ethic. It is not easy to stand out amongst all the competition when applying for jobs and internships, but that does not mean one should lose hope! There are a few ways to make your resume look just as appealing!

1. Build relationships with your professors. This can be a lifesaver in college. Not only do they have great advice, but also some professors are truly willing to go through hoops to help you succeed. If they know you are a hard worker, you may even be able to get a letter or recommendation to go with your resume!
2. Join organizations at school and in the community that pertain to your major. If you are unable to dedicate all of your time to an internship, clubs are a great alternative because they are not an everyday commitment. Also you can put these on your resumes and it looks good to be involved!
3. Volunteer. Volunteering is a great resume booster and you can do this in your free time. Pick something that relates to your major or something you are passionate about and go for it! Even volunteering on campus shows employers you go above and beyond by being involved on campus.

This is a guest post by our campus ambassador Caitlin Pfaff from Florida State University.

As an active college student, one of the biggest challenges I have faced is maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the power a quick gym session can do.  Whenever I’m stressed, I make sure to find a way to fit in a quick gym session.  It does such wonders for my mental and physical health!   However, one of my biggest challenges is eating healthy sense I’m constantly on the go.  One thing that I’ve started to do is make sure that I pack an apple with me every day.  Don’t forget, an apple a day keeps the doctor away!  Another great snack that I’ve found is granola bars! There are so many varieties, it’s impossible to get sick of them.  One of my favorite kinds is the Special K brand, Chocolatey Pretzel flavor.   To stay healthy even when I’m eating out, I make sure to check nutrition info online before I make my decisions at restaurants.  Something I’ve started to notice lately is that what seems like the healthiest option on the menu usually isn’t.  Don’t forget that there are many applications available for smart phones that can be used to help you live a healthy lifestyle! Good luck!