Gaining experience outside class

Four years may seem like a long time. But in reality, your college years will be over before you know it -- it's never too early to begin planning for life after graduation.

This doesn't mean that you should forsake the curiosity, uncertainty and experimentation that characterize the college experience. You're not supposed to know at age 18 what you want to do with the rest of your life -- most seniors are just as undecided as you are, if not more so.

Terms like "resume building," "research positions" and "career-related internships" sound intimidating at first, but they are all about one thing: experience. And experience is more than just a few words on paper -- it's what shapes your perspectives, goals and, ultimately, your career decisions. Use your freshman year to experiment, get informed and, most importantly, meet the people who can help you get the experience you want and need.

Your most valuable resources will be your professors. Whether you already have an interest in a particular field or are still testing the waters, professors will be able to enlighten you as to the practical aspects of their field -- what kinds of jobs are available, what post-graduate schooling is necessary, what graduate and professional schools look for, etc.

Don't be afraid to chat with your professors after class or visit them during office hours -- most would love to talk about their work with a young and aspiring student like yourself. And as Hopkins is a research university, the professors here conduct their own research, making them very current and knowledgeable mentors.

Hopkins' focus on research tends to spill over into the undergraduate student body. There is a strong emphasis on gaining research experience as an undergraduate, which may or may not be necessary depending on your career plans. Medical schools, for example, tend to value hospital clinical experience more than lab research.

If you are interested in a field that has a research component, such as one in the natural and social sciences, it is a good idea to experience the day-to-day life of a research scientist. The life of a research psychologist, for example, is quite different from that of a clinical therapist.

If you are interested in gaining research experience, your most important resources are, again, your professors. The vast majority of students who take part in research do so under the direction and supervision of a professor, assisting with his or her own research work. Begin exploring your options by talking with your professors, or contact the department chair in your major for advice on where to get more information.

If you have absolutely no clue what you want to study at Hopkins ... welcome to the club. Even the guy who now seems dead-set on becoming a clinical microbiologist might develop an intense passion for film direction by junior year.

Experimentation in diverse fields is not only acceptable but actually encouraged by graduate and professional schools. It will also make your college experience that much more enriching. As long as you're proactive about gaining experience, your goals and career desires will naturally narrow.

If you do plan on pursuing post-graduate education, you will need to make sure you have the classes, experience and skills you'll need to be accepted into and succeed in your graduate career. In addition to your professors, the Office of Academic Advising and the Career Center will be an invaluable resource in helping you put your course work and resume in order. As a freshman, be sure to meet regularly with your academic advisor, and let him or her know if you're struggling or overwhelmed -- as long as you successfully adjust to college life and establish a strong academic foundation, you'll be able to build upon it in any direction you choose.

The Career Center will likely advise you to get internship experience at some point in your college career. Undergraduates are in a unique position to receive experience and guidance from professionals, who love to help and advise aspiring students -- once you graduate, you're just another working stiff looking for a job.

So take the time at some point during college to work side-by-side with a professional. Although internships are infamous for providing students with slave labor for meager wages, there are programs that offer grants to student interns. The advisors at the Career Center can give you information on how to apply.

As a freshman, you have your entire college career ahead of you, and plenty of time to decide on a career. Make good use of your time and be proactive about gaining learning experiences; in short, do something.

Whether it's hiking with the Outdoors Club or extracting DNA in a biology lab, it's a character-building, life-enriching experience that will not only be attractive to graduate and professional schools, but will help shape your life goals as well.