Winter break is right around the corner. Though it is important to relax and regroup during this time, you can also take advantage of your free time in many ways.
- Get A Job
- This is the most popular path that may students choose over winter break. A job is a good way to boost your resume over breaks as well as a way to make some spending money for the upcoming semester. Even low-level jobs on a resume will show recruiters that you are motivated and have a good work ethic.
- Prepare for The Upcoming Semester
- Most students will have already scheduled their courses for the next semester. You can use winter break as a time to research and begin to review for these classes that were scheduled. It is always better to go into a class with a general understanding of the basic concepts and coursework pertaining to the class. Most classes will also provide descriptions of the course in lion path that you can use as a starting point to review.
- Take A Course That Interests You
- Obviously, winter break is too short of a time to enroll in a class to take through Penn State. However, there are many virtual courses all over the internet that students can take to better their skills in a variety of different areas. Three sites that I recommend students to use to take a course would be LinkedIn learning, coursera and Kahn academy. For example, this break I will be taking a class on python.
- Research Career Paths and Internships
- This is especially important for freshman and sophomore students. You can gain a large advantage over other applicants by reaching out and applying to companies who have internship development programs or internships for younger students. By showing interest in a company from the beginning of your college career will make it more likely that they will remember your name when you apply as a junior or a senior.
- RELAX
- Though it is important to be productive over break, it is also a time to relax. You just completed another stressful semester at Penn State. Give yourself a pat on the back! Find time this break to have fun and separate yourself from your school work. You deserve it!
