Your Four-Year Plan: Tasks for Each Year

Things You Can Do: Important Career & Academic Checklists for Each Year

While you’re a freshman…

• Try out classes that interest you as your schedule permits
• Explore majors to find out what they’re really about – talk to professors and upperclassmen
• Set some goals for what you want out of your time in college – both short and long term
• Develop effective and productive study habits…whatever habits you develop now will stay with you, for better or for worse
• Take the Job Interest Profile as part of Master Learner Class
• Learn about your personality and behavioral style by taking the DISC and PLSI in Master Learner
• Familiarize yourself with how to search for jobs through College Central Network
• Seek help from academic labs on campus as needed
• Make friends and get involved on campus

While you’re a sophomore…

• Continue learning about various majors & career options—attend a Majors Fair
• Start narrowing down major choices – declare a major
• Continue to utilize academic labs on campus as needed
• Start thinking about career related internships, volunteer, or other part time positions. Use College Central Network to help you find opportunities.
• Keep an eye on your GPA – you’ll be glad you did later

While you’re a junior…

• Register for a faculty-approved internship (or senior year)
• Focus in on and explore in depth several career/occupation possibilities that are most interesting to you
• Take the FOCUS online career assessment.  Contact the Office of Career and Academic Development for keycode and instructions.
• If you’re interested in graduate school, start looking at schools, options, and their requirements
• Come to the Office of Career and Academic Development for help writing your resume and cover letter and to talk about interviewing skills
• Consider a job in the field in which you’re most interested for the summer…see what it’s like in the “real world”

While you’re a senior…

• Begin job search in earnest
• Update your resume and post it on College Central Network
• Attend MS Governor’s Job Fair and Belhaven’s On Campus Recruiting Day in the spring
• Apply for and take necessary examinations for graduate school
• Talk to on-campus recruiters when they visit