Farewell Emily Mancuso | Graphic by Rose Taylor | The Wright State Guardian
As a part of the Wright State Guardian and WSU community for the past three years, here is some advice and recommendations I have for the Class of 2029. To everyone that has read my articles the last few years, thank you.
Try everything, but focus on a few
There are over 200 clubs and organizations on WSU’s campus. The first year on campus is key to finding the club or organization that will be your extracurricular focus.
However, I would recommend being heavily involved in no more than two organizations. Your mental health will be more stable and you will appear more marketable to graduate school as you will have developed your skills much more extensively in your chosen areas.
Want to do long term study abroad? Do it early
You may think that study abroad would be best as an upperclassmen as you are established in university and thus more ready to study abroad. I would recommend going early, such as your freshman or sophomore year.
This is especially true long term. To go overseas for credit, the classes you take must count toward your degree. Oftentimes upperclassmen classes are too specific or too time specific to get credit for overseas or you may be involved with activities you don’t want to leave for. One of the biggest regrets I have is not doing long term study abroad because it was too late.
Utilize ambassador programs
However, I was able to do an ambassador program. Wright State offers a unique opportunity that most universities don’t, which is study abroad ambassador programs.
They are more affordable options for study abroad with plenty of scholarships. It's a great option for studying abroad with other Wright State students and it's often hosted by a Wright State professor.
Career services
Another service you should utilize early is career services. I used career services early freshman year to polish and craft my resume, which resulted in an internship that directly led to a job offer and admittance into a highly competitive program.
Additionally, go to career fairs. Even if it doesn’t seem likely the employers will want you, talking to them can yield relevant information you may not have known otherwise.
Expect the unexpected
It is more common than one would think that you fall into a career, internship or interest you never planned for during your university career. Personally, I never planned to double major, get the internship I did or be admitted into the program I did.
It never hurts to apply to programs you even may remotely be interested in. However, if you pigeonhole yourself into a certain plan, you may never be presented with various opportunities.
Major, not career
Only around 46% of college students say that they work in a field related to their major. Don’t let your major hold you back from applying to what you want to apply for.
Talk to professors and staff
The professors and staff at WSU are some NPCs in your academic journey. Especially in your field of study, they can offer amazing opportunities. These are also the people that write your recommendation letters. The less the professors know you, the worse the letter. And besides the obvious, building relationships with teachers and staff can help the university experience feel much less isolating.
Community college is your friend
Due to taking community college courses during high school and summers, I am graduating a semester early. Taking one or two classes during the summer may be less stressful than you think, and can be extremely helpful in the long run.
Go to events
Go to events, even if they do not seem relevant to you. It is better you go to an event and regret going than to forever wonder if it would have yielded a great experience. It also helps with the challenge of going to a commuter college where involvement may be more difficult.
Farewell
It has been an honor and a privilege to have been a part of The Wright State Guardian and the Wright State community for the last three and a half years.
I wish everyone the very best in their university careers and future careers. Thank you for giving my articles a chance. Please have a happy holiday and a happy new year.
Goodbye and good luck!
