You’ve completed high school (and hopefully your high school bucket list too!), and now you’re ready to start adulting. With your newfound freedom and grownup responsibilities, you have to find a way to effectively maximize your college time. But, for you to have the best experience while here, you definitely need to have a college bucket list. There are hundreds of fun activities and things to do in college, and having a well-defined list will help to ensure that you accomplish most, if not all, of them.
Below is a collection of great ideas to get you started.
College Bucket List: Activities & Fun Things to Do for the BEST Experience
1. Ace a Final
This should definitely be the number one thing on your college bucket list! Prioritize your classes, rewrite your notes, have a study schedule, test your knowledge, and then go and ace a final. If you need help studying, then check out Shorelight’s 21 best study tips for final exams
2. Apply for Your Dream Internship
Don’t let fear keep you from applying for your dream internship in your field of study. Who knows, if you do a great job and with the connections you make you may even have something lined up for you after your senior year!
3. Apply To Graduate School
Once you have made it your goal to get a four-year degree, then move on to a higher education by applying for graduate school. This is where you can develop expertise in a certain academic subject that interests you, and the extra education will provide you with more knowledge, skills, as well as expand your network.
4. Attend a College Formal Dance
College definitely isn’t all about studying, there’s lots of social fun to be had too. Get all decked out in your best dress or suit and attend a formal dance. It is the perfect way to meet new friends or reconnect with ones you haven’t seen in awhile because you’ve been so busy studying.
Looking for a formal dress? I LOVE the ones at Revolve, and Windsor has some really cute ones too!
5. Attend a Fraternity/Sorority Party
Going to a fraternity or sorority party during your college experience is a must-do activity! Not only are they fun, they offer opportunities to make connections and build lifelong friendships.
6. Attend a School Sporting Event
While college sports might not be something you’re fully into, it can actually be a really fun thing to do in college, especially if you go with your friends.
7. Be a Part of a Sports Team
If sports are your cup of tea, then don’t hesitate to join a sports team. This can help you have a defined routine for your college life, give you access to scholarships, and even an opportunity to build your sports career.
8. Become a Foodie
There will be so many new experiences during college, why not add becoming a foodie to that list. Expanding your horizons with the types of food you eat or even the restaurants you eat at will help you get out of your comfort zone, and make new friends.
Get foodie-inspired by these articles:
9. Binge Watch an Entire Show’s Season, in One Sitting
Getting out of bed on a day where you have no classes can sometimes feel like a chore. But, for this college bucket list idea, you won’t have to leave the comfort of your sheets. How about spending the day binge watching an entire TV show season? Get some yummy snacks, comfy jammies and spend time just chilling. Just put on Netflix or Amazon Prime and stream one of your favorites or may try out a new one.
Don’t know which show to choose? Check out the 25 Best Shows Of 2021 That Will Become Your New Obsession.
10. Build Your Resume
The professional sector is highly competitive and having a good resume is one of the things that can make you truly stand out. Make sure that you know how to write the perfect resume (this Step-by-Step Guide will help), and don’t forget to include a cover letter!
11. Celebrate a Holiday on Campus
You don’t have to always go home for holidays, especially if it’s quite far away. If possible, make a plan to celebrate at least one holiday on campus with your friends.
12. Cook a Meal For Your Friend
College diets can be quite boring and monotonous. So, if you have time and the right ingredients, prepare an awesome meal for your friends and surprise them. Even if you’re not a gourmet chef there are plenty of easy recipes for college students. And, who knows, in future they might just do the same for you!
13. Craft A Creative Graduation Hat
From sparkles to flowers, there’s dozens of ways to spruce up your graduation hat. So, get creative and design something artistic. Struggling for ideas? Here’s plenty:
14. Crash a Party
Generally while in college, you are going to spend time with your friends and go to similar events together. But, sometimes there might be one party that you didn’t get an invite to but really want to go to. You may want to consider crashing that, attending it without the invite. It can be quite thrilling and fun because it allows you to hang out with a new bunch of strangers.
15. Decorate Your Dorm Room
Apart from your lecture rooms on campus, you’re going to spend a significant amount of time in your dorm. So, why not make it cute and comfortable? You can dress it up with the perfect comforter or make it cozy with a photo wall (Mpix has a great photo collage wall kit that makes it easy!). Or check out the 12 Dorm Room Ideas to Make Your New Space Feel Like Home.
16. Discover a New Culture
Try a new food, learn about a unique holiday and/or listen to a different genre of music from another country. Pick a culture you are fascinated with and fully immerse yourself into any aspect of it. Who knows, you might find your new favorite dish or song!
17. Do a Karaoke Night
When it comes to karaoke it doesn’t matter how good your voice is, it is all about having fun! So grab your friends, muster up the courage to take the stage and belt out a few tunes.
There’s plenty of great songs to choose from, but for some help see these epic 150+ Best Karaoke Songs of All Time
18. Dye Your Hair
Your time in college is usually a time of discovery and self-expression, so don’t restrict yourself when it comes to your hair. Dabble with pink ends, blue streaks or even some fun blonde highlights. Or for something even less scary, try some colorful (and temporary) hair chalk instead.
19. Eat at Every Dining Option on Campus
Let your taste buds sample every possible dining option on your campus—hit up the coffee hut for breakfast, the cafeteria for lunch and an on-campus food truck for dinner.
20. Enroll in a Random Class
Most colleges allow students to sign up for one or two random classes that don’t particularly align with their major, so take advantage of it. Whether it be a class in creative writing, yoga or guitar, try something new, and maybe a little less stressful than one of your other classes.
21. Explore a New Neighboring City
College has most likely already taken you to a new city, or state, but take it one step further and explore one of your neighboring towns. Take a day trip, or even spend the weekend, talking to strangers, museum hopping, and trying a new restaurant.
22. Explore Another State
Now that you’ve got your feet wet by exploring a neighboring city, it’s time to venture a little bit further—to a different state. Make a travel itinerary, hop on a plane, train or bus and allow yourself to get “lost” in all that a nearby staten has to offer.
23. Fall In Love
Most people would agree that college is a great place to find a life partner, and just maybe that is where you’ll find your future special someone. Once you do, don’t forget to get started on checking off the Couples Bucket List of fun activities & romantic things to do.
24. Find a Subject You Are Passionate About
Regardless of your college major, you’re going to come across an array of different subjects before you specialize. Find a subject in an area that you’re passionate about.
25. Find Your Group of BFFs
You’ll definitely be meeting a ton of new people in college! Socialize and network until you have formed a special group of BFFs to hang out with. After, you may even consider completing this bucket: Best Friend Bucket List: 50 Fun Things to Do With Your BFF
26. Find and/or Be a Mentor
If you are still in your junior years, then either find a senior mentor or even a professional already working in your chosen field to guide you. In case you’re now a senior, then find a mentee to help lead down the right path.
27. Get a Job on Campus
Join student organizations, contact the students career office, and check the bulletin board for available college jobs. With a little effort (and that killer resume you created) you may be able to score a job on campus in the library or coffee shop.
28. Get a Midnight Snack Off Campus
Is there a nearby coffee shop or food truck open late? Then take a break from studying and step off campus to grab a little snack that can help nourish your mind.
29. Get a Tattoo
You may want to commemorate your years in college (or graduation day) by getting a special tattoo as a memory. It is best to know beforehand what permanent ink you would like so that you’re 100% sure of the design and tattooist that you trust. After that, you can simply book an appointment for some body art.
Need cute couple tattoo ideas? Cosmopolitan has 35 great tattoo ideas! If you are not committed to a forever tattoo, then check out Etsy’s fun temporary college tattoos.
30. Get a Scholarship
There are scholarships available based on merit, major, financial need and just about everything else. All of them can save you lots of dollars in tuition and accommodation expenses, so take some time to research and apply for all that are a fit. The Federal Student Aid website has lots of great advice about finding and applying for scholarhips.
31. Get All Dressed Up for an Event
Not every day of your college years should be spent wearing comfy jeans and T-shirts, some are meant for being dressed to the nines. At the next big event, take your time getting all dolled up.
32. Get Coffee with a Professor
Your professors play a crucial role in your education, and can be an integral part in the preparation of your future career. So, when you find one that you respect and get along with, request for a coffee meeting. PS: this may be also be the perfect opportunity to ask for a recommendation letter!
33. Get Comfortable with Public Speaking
Speaking in front of a group of people is one of the number one fears in the world! But, in college you will be able to nurture and develop your skills by engaging in various public speaking activities. Start by mastering simple class engagements, and then maybe speaking at a faculty or school event.
For extra help you may want to that TJ Walker’s Public Speaking Masterclass online, or just read Forbe’s 10 Ways To Get Over Your Fear Of Public Speaking.
34. Get Your First Credit Card
If you don’t have one already, college is the perfect time to get your first credit—but, be careful to pay off the balance EVERY month as not a hay the extra monthly fees. When used properly, your credit card can give you the best opportunity to build your credit score and increase your purchasing power. You can also earn rewards, such as miles points or cash back!
Don’t know what credit card to start with? Experian does a great job of giving information about a lot of different cards. Make sure to read the fine print before applying and spending!
35. Go Home For The Holidays
Don’t just dedicate your free time in college to hanging out with friends. During your holidays, plan a trip home to spend time with your family. I’m sure they are missing you as much as you are missing them!
36. Go on a Date
College gives you the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, which makes it one of the most ideal times for you to make the most out of dating. So, go on several dates and make sure you have an open mind without expecting much. And when you have found that special someone, then you might want to get started on the Date Night Bucket List: 75 Cute Ideas for a Perfectly Fun Evening
37. Go on a Hike
Let’s face it, college can be stressful, and one thing that can relieve a little bit of that stress is being outside with nature. The perfect way to do that is by taking a hike. It can be a simple couple mile loop or pack a picnic and make a day of it. Not only is it good for the body and soul, it’s also a cheap college activity!
38. Go to a College Party
For the most part, there’s a college party planned almost every weekend, so you may as well partake in at least one to see what the hype is all about. Don’t worry if you are not a big “partier”, you can find one that’s a little bit smaller in size and where getting tipsy is not the main priority!
39. Go To a Music Festival
One way to really let loose on the weekend is to attend a music festivals where you can dance the day away to a variety of bands, with thousands of other people. Snag some tickets, make a plan and grab your group of BFFs for a fun event.
40. Go To Free Campus Events
Colleges usually have lots of resources as well as opportunities that allow them to host an array of different events. You are already paying for a lot of things in college, so make sure that you take advantage of all the free events that they offer.
41. Go to a Career Fair
Soon you will be out of college and joining the corporate world, but before then prepare your by attending a career fair. This is the perfect place for you to ask about the recent job market opportunities and get unique insights regarding what recruiters are looking for.
42, Join a Fraternity or Sorority
Want instant college friends? Join a fraternity or sorority. This is the best way to get into a social circle, participate in charitable events and mingle with like-minded people who share common values and goals as you.
If you want to know more, Town and Country listed some of the best sororities and the best fraternities
43. Join a School Club
From language to math to cooking—there’s plenty of college clubs to consider joining. You can join a club in an area of your major or one just for fun.
44. Join a Study Group
Sometimes studying alone gets boring, especially if the subject is quite challenging. However, joining a study not only allows you to bounce ideas off each other, but also is an opportunity for a little socializing at the same time. If those aren’t good even reasons, then read these: 10 Reasons Why You Should Form a Study Group.
45. Be a Part of the School Paper
Extra! Extra! School papers are great for keeping students and faculty updated about happenings around campus. But for you, this could also be a perfect opportunity to use your creative writing, reporting or design skills.
46. Learn a New Language
You can learn a new language at any age, but during your college years is a great time because it may be an elective class choice and you’ll have plenty of resources to learn. Besides that, adding another language to your resume is surely an impressive addition for any employer.
If you can’t get into a college language course, then Rosetta Stone and Duolingo are two great programs to get you started.
47. Learn How To Cook
If you haven’t yet picked up cooking, now’s the high time—you can’t eat at the school cafeteria every meal! You don’t have to be a wizard in the kitchen to make some simple and delicious meals, and just the simple joy from having made your own dish will make it taste so much better than a pre-packaged meal you’d get from the grocery store.
Here are a ton of dishes to start your culinary journey with:
48. Live on Campus
There will be plenty of college semesters to rent an apartment with your besties, but before you even think about that live on campus for a quarter or two. It’s the best place to be while you are getting adjusted to college life because you’ll be close to your classes and all the resources needed.
49. Make a College Scrapbook for Every Year
The years you spend in college will soon pass by and you will be left with nothing but memories (and a degree!). However, you can choose to preserve these memories in a personalized way by creating a college scrapbook for every year.
If you think you are not creative enough there are plenty of page ideas on the internet. Check these ones out: Scrapbook Ideas for Beginners: 25 Inspiring Layouts and 33 Cool DIY Scrapbook Ideas You Have To Try. Or for something even easier just buy a page kit that has everything you need.
50. Make a Vision Board
A vision board is a place to put all your future goals and dreams that you wish to manifest into reality. Your college vision board should have words and images that remind you everyday WHY you are HERE and WHERE you want to GO. Create something meaningful that’s meant to spark your dreams and remind you of your goals and values in life. Basically, create something that’s inspirational and interesting. It will make it easier and fun for you to smash your goals.
51. Organize a Road Trip with Your Friends
This might take some planning to work out the perfect route, or just pack up your bags, take time off work and hit the road with choosing your destinations on the fly. Either way, your college road trip with friends will be epic. It doesn’t even have to be a long trip, it could just be for a day or two, but make sure you have plenty of entertainment along the way.
For some extra inspiration read our 75+ Road Trip Quotes to Inspire Your Next Long Drive
52. Participate in a Campus Tradition
From naked quad runs to a mud volleyball tournament, every campus has its own traditions and some of them are quite quirky. Don’t let the opportunity go to waste since it’s one of the best ways to get a better understanding of your campus.
53. Picnic in the Quad
You will have to break out that dusty old picnic basket for this cute college activity. Pack it with your favorite snacks and a bottle of bubbly, then pick a quiet spot in the quad to create a memory. Need a basket? Check out this cute wicker picnic basket or get a modern 2-person picnic backpack. Plus, Real Simple magazine can help you out with their Picnic Packing Checklist.
54. Plan an Epic Spring Break Vacation
The week of spring break is one of the most exciting times for a student, it’s the period where they get to take a break from academics to relax. And one of the best things to do in college to relax during this time is go on an epic spring break vacation. Whether it be a vacay to the beach or to the mountains, grab your best friends and enjoy the break!
55. Play Beer Pong
Beer Pong anyone? All you need to liven up your college party is some red solo cups, a ping pong ball and some beer (if your of legal age, of course). The beer pong rules are pretty easy, where the basic goal is to end up drinking all the opposing teams beer so they have not cups left.
56. Pull an All-Nighter
Pulling an all-nighter doesn’t have to be just because you are both cramming for a test, it can also be for something fun. For example, you may want to have an overnight horror movie marathon or you’ll want to stay up to see the first sunrise of the year.
57. Read a Book (Textbooks Don’t Count!)
I know, this may not sound like the funnest college thing to do, but have you ever gotten so lost in a book that you weren’t able to book it down? It’s a great way to escape!
Don’t know what to read? Here’s 25 of the best classics to read or Amazon’s top New York Time’s Best Sellers.
58. Rent an Apartment with Your Besties
The idea of finally getting to leave dorm-life and rent an apartment with your besties while in college can be so exciting. It’s one more step towards “adulting” where you don’t have to follow the restrictive dorm rules and you can choose your roommate.
59. Run a Themed 5k
From a mud run to a zombie run, picking a themed 5k to participate in with friends will surely be an activity to remember! Check Active’s 5k Race Finder for runs near you and use this guide to start preparing: How to Train, Run & Finish Your First 5k Race
60. Skip Classes For One Day
Of course, consistently attending classes is a must, but sometimes you just need an unscheduled break to sleep, relax or go on a spontaneous road trip. Just make sure that it’s not going to affect your grades!
61. Spend a Holiday With Your Roommates Family
When you are in college, your friends and roommates automatically become like family. That’s why it’s fun to spend at least one holiday break with their family so you can get a better understanding of them.
62. Spend a Summer Backpacking Through Europe
From exploring the beauty that Paris offers to enjoying the sunny beaches in Greece, backpacking in Europe should definitely be on your college bucket list. Spending a few summer months in different parts of Europe will expand your horizons by exposing you to different cultures in the world.
63. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Do you have an adventure in mind that you’d love to do but you’re scared to? Life is too short to hold yourself back from experiencing new things just because of fear or anxiety. One of the best ways to get over your fear is to have someone special by your side to encourage and support you while you are facing it head on. So, hike up that mountain peak, go on that roller coaster or swim in the ocean.
If you need a little push read my 8 tips to facing your fears in this article about overcoming anxiety to live your dream. And the these quotes may help too: 30+ Quotes That Will Motivate You to Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone
64. Study Abroad
There’s not much more exciting ways to study then by doing it in a different country! Pick a place that you’ve always wanted to visit or whose culture intrigues you then sign up for a semester abroad.
65. Tailgate
Sporting event tailgating is almost as fun as the games themselves! Tailgating is typically done in a parking lot of a stadium or other event. Snacks are served and socializing is done from the back of a parked car.
66. Take a Picture With Your School Mascot
Does your school have a fun mascot? Take the opportunity to get a silly photo taken with it! It’ll definitely be a pic for your scrapbook.
67. Take a Trip to The Beach
Your college studies can get extremely stressful, especially when midterms and finals approach. Celebrate a good test score or the end of the semester by taking a trip to the nearest beach.
68. Tell Your Crush You Like Them
Have you been admiring the cute boy that sits in the front of lecture class or that girl you see at the coffee shop every morning? Muster up the courage to give them a little hint that you like. All of us won’t find true love in college but you may never know if if you don’t tell your crush your feelings.
69. Throw a Party
We all know that going to parties is one of the top things to do in college, but how about you throw one yourself. It doesn’t have to be the ultimate rager, it could be a quiet dinner party, just as long as you and your guests have a great time!
If you’re game to throw a party, but don’t know which kind, then see these 50 Fun College Party Ideas.
70. Unplug for a Day
Another surprisingly scary one for the College Bucket List is this one, especially when so many of us struggle to even unplug for an hour. But our struggle with it is all the more reason why you should totally commit to checking off this goal. You’ll be more present, you’ll find yourself comparing your life to others’ way less, you’ll likely be more relaxed without the constant buzz of the apps, and whichever other discoveries you may come across. It’s up to you whether you simply unplug from social media for the day, or if you’ll unplug from all technology in general!
71. Visit All the Bars Near Your School
Most students turn 21 during their college years, so celebrate by doing a little (or A LOT of) bar hopping. Visit all the bars nearby, sample Their signature cocktail or work your way through our Cocktail Bucket List of 100 Classics & Other Great Ones to Try.
72. Volunteer
Like the old adage says, it’s better to give than to receive. Walking dogs at the shelter, reading to children at the library or spending an afternoon feeding families at the soup kitchen? Determine what’s close to your heart and then make a decision to make a difference today. Plus, it’s a bonus that you can impress future employers with your volunteer work on your resume!
Don’t know where to start? Visit VolunteerMatch who has opportunities in many major cities or check the United Way website.
73. Explore Your Entire Campus
You can learn so much about your college by just checking the official website.. However, there is no better way to get first-hand experience than exploring your entire campus by foot. Get to know about different departments walk through all the corridors and familiarize yourself with all the perfect places to study.
74. Write a Letter To Your Future Self
It’s up to you how you’ll write a letter to your future self, but the typical topics contain telling about your current life situation as well as your dreams and hopes for the future. It’ll be so much fun for you to open up the letter in the future, on a date of your choosing, and see how much you’ve changed and which of your dreams you’ve by then achieved. It may even work as a great reminder to get back to working on those dreams your younger self dared to dream. It would also be a little kick in the butt to make sure that she was heading in that direction and in order to limit life’s biggest regrets.
Make your letter even more special by picking some pretty paper (like this Japanese Stationary) and handwriting it.
75. Graduate!
Your time in college is so precious, but it can also pass by so quick since this is one of the busiest periods of our lives. But with this bucket list of things to do in college, you can have the best experience and create lifelong memories.
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