Sophomore Year: Transitioning to Junior Year
The best advice often comes from our students. Below, juniors share their reflections on the third year and how it differs from their sophomore experience. While every student’s transition is unique, it can be helpful to talk with your student about his or her goals and expectations for the coming year as an upper-class student.
I think that students often see themselves as their major. Now that I’m in my junior year, I feel like I’ve found my academic home. The process of figuring out my major has given me a better understanding of my interests. Choosing my major has also opened up a lot of opportunities to me, such as student organizations, events, and career fairs.
—Chris W., international studies and political science major from Birmingham, Michigan
I would tell sophomore students looking to their junior year to anticipate more time commitments in their lives and expect that they’ll need to manage their time more efficiently. Building up my resume and looking for internships can sometimes feel like another class. Still, junior year is a lot of fun. I’ve felt more involved on campus and connected to the university. I’ve found by being more involved, I’ve gained a lot more friendships.
—Stephanie G., entrepreneurship and art history major from Oakland, California
Junior year is a time to take action. In my sophomore year, I felt like I had time to think about important decisions. Now that I’m in my junior year, it feels like things are happening quickly. Sometimes the best thing you can do is accept the fact that it’s okay to make a decision.
—Jaafar M., political science major from Baghdad, Iraq
In my junior year, I’ve focused on trying to get the experiences I need before I graduate. I know that during my senior year I’ll be looking to apply for jobs, so I’m trying to gain as many experiences as I can that apply to what I want to do when I graduate. Now that I know what a college schedule looks like and what I can handle, it’s been easier to get more involved on campus.
—Melissa M., communication arts and journalism major from Kenosha, Wisconsin
It can be easy to get a little comfortable when you’re a sophomore. During my junior year, I had to learn quickly to stay on top of my work, especially since I became more involved as a junior. I would really encourage sophomores to make it their goal to find their niche on campus, whether that’s through a student organization, campus job, or volunteer work. It’s important to have an outlet and a community.
— Kyle C., legal studies and political science major, criminal justice certificate, from Algoma, Wisconsin
As a junior, I’ve felt more like a campus role model. I would tell students coming into their junior year that they shouldn’t be afraid to share their ideas and make an impact on campus. Junior year has been a great time for me to reflect on my leadership experiences and identify the things that I still want to do before I graduate.
—Farah S., international business major from Barrington, Ilinois
As a sophomore I worried about figuring out what I was going to do later in life and if I was going to like my major. As a junior, I’ve been in more of my major classes and I’ve truly found out what I enjoy doing. I’m actually more excited about graduation and what I’ll do after college because my classes are so enjoyable.
—Bryan L., secondary math major from Ottawa, Illinois