@State Dec. 2014 - Get a head start on the spring semester
7 Ways to Get a Head Start on the Spring Semester
Everyone needs a break. But at some point, you’ll have had your your fill of turkey (or tofurkey) and the thought of another trip to the mall will make you want to curl into the fetal position.
If and when that time comes, check out these ways you can get a head start on the spring semester long before you’ve walked into a classroom in January.
- Boost your employment potential: The largest career fair of the spring happens on February 19 in Montezuma Hall. If your resume or your interviewing skills could use some work, check out the spring workshops on the Career Services calendar – it’s updated all the time!
- Find a new way to connect to campus: Could your social network use a refresh? Maybe joining a new-to-you club or organization is just the thing you need to reconnect to SDSU. Check the list of student orgs on the Student Life and Leadership website.
- Find some money: Downtime between semesters is the ideal time to search for scholarships you might qualify for and perfect your scholarship essay. SDSU’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships maintains a scholarship search tool. Many scholarships have a February 13 deadline, so there’s still time to apply online!
- Increase marketability by studying abroad: Employers and graduate schools are looking for students with diverse educational experiences. What could be more diverse than studying in a foreign country? Summer study abroad program deadlines aren’t until February or March, so now is the time to find a summer or fall program that works with your major and your interests. Check out the Aztecs Abroad database for hundreds of programs and find the international experience that is right for you.
- Get paired with a mentor: What could be better than learning about the career path you’ve chosen from someone working in that field? Hundreds of SDSU alums are ready to give great advice on the work world to juniors, seniors and graduate students who sign up for mentoring through the Aztec Mentor Program, or AMP. Registration for the spring semester of mentoring opens January 20, but you can read more about the program on the AMP page.
- Seek out support if you need it: If you discover you ended up on academic probation after this semester, consider enrolling in the Bounce Back program. Offered through Counseling and Psychological Services, this one-unit class provides time and stress management techniques, resilience and study skills
- Rejuvenate and recreate: The break between semesters is a great time to reboot your mood through relaxation and recreation. Visit the Mission Bay Aquatic Center over the break, squeeze in some workouts at Aztec Recreation or check out the stress relief offerings at Counseling and Psychological Services.