The second year is when a student’s future should begin to roughly take shape. During this year, parents should still act as a soundboard, directing their student to campus resources, but they should also start speaking with him or her in terms of majors and minors that he or she wants to declare.
Parents should also be asking if their students plan to have an internship or study abroad, and students also should begin to map out classes for the rest of their college careers.
A student works on a laboratory experiment.
During this time, it is important not to take only distributives. While this may seem like an easy way to clear up the requirements, if all students have left their junior and senior year are their major requirements, they may become frustrated and overwhelmed. This can cause students to want to change majors, even if they are studying something they love.
Instead, students in straight academic majors might consider getting involved in dance, exercise or even an art class each semester to keep new and exciting knowledge flowing, while students in the humanities might consider a computer science or mathematics course to challenge the other side of the brain.
During this year, students may begin to feel stuck in the Alma “bubble,” but there are ways for students to get away for a bit.
A student runs on the Fred Meijer Heartland Rail Trail.
“The Alma College Union Board provides excursions to Cedar Point or sporting events,” says Blandford. He also recommends students get involved in the community, go downtown, take a bike ride or walk down some of the trails that the college has.
