What I Would Do Differently If I Started College Today

Grace Cotton
May 10
8 min read

I recently made a YouTube video about what I would do differently if I started college today, and honestly, I could have talked for hours.

After four years of classes, internships, career fairs, group projects, friendships, burnout, office hours, bad study habits, good study habits, and many small identity crises, I have developed a very specific opinion about college: College is not a vending machine.

You do not put in four years, press a button, and receive a job, a life plan, and a fully formed adult identity at the end.

At least, that was not my experience.

College is more like a portal. It gives you access to people, resources, events, professors, jobs, internships, clubs, software, study abroad programs, writing centers, career services, and weird little opportunities you would probably never find on your own. But you still have to walk through the portal.

That is the part I would do differently.

I would stop waiting for college to “work” on me and start using it more intentionally.

Your Degree Is Not the Whole Plan

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that your degree matters, but it is not the entire plan.

A degree can open doors. It can qualify you for certain jobs, help you build credibility, and give you a foundation. But your major does not have to become a cage.

The New York Fed’s labor market data shows wide differences in unemployment, underemployment, and earnings depending on major, and it also tracks how recent graduates move into jobs that may or may not require a degree. In other words, the path from major to career is not always simple or linear.

That is actually comforting to me.

It means you are not doomed because you picked the “wrong” major at 18. It also means you cannot rely on the major alone to carry you.

If I started college today, I would think less about choosing the perfect major and more about building a strong skills stack.

Can I write clearly? Can I speak in front of people? Can I use software that matters in my field? Can I manage a project? Can I communicate professionally? Can I solve problems? Can I show proof that I have done things?

NACE, the National Association of Colleges and Employers, defines career readiness through competencies like communication, critical thinking, professionalism, teamwork, technology, leadership, and career self-development.

That is the real game.

Not just “what did you study?” More like: what can you do, how do you work with people, and can you explain your experience in a way that makes sense?

Relationships Compound

I used to think networking meant going to big professional events, wearing a blazer, and trying to sound like a tiny businesswoman.

And sometimes it is that.

But honestly, some of the most useful networking in college starts much smaller. It is the person sitting next to you in class. The professor whose office hours you actually go to. The student who tells you about an internship. The classmate who becomes a friend, then a reference, then a coworker, then someone who thinks of you when an opportunity opens up.

Relationships compound.

This does not mean every conversation has to be strategic or weird. It just means people remember people.

If I started college today, I would be braver about starting conversations earlier. I would get people’s numbers in class. I would ask people if they wanted to study. I would talk to professors before I desperately needed something from them.

I would also stop thinking of professors as just “graders.”

Professors are people with research interests, industry connections, stories, opinions, and often a surprising amount of willingness to help students who show genuine interest.

Gallup has found that graduates who strongly agreed that a professor cared about them as a person were 1.9 times more likely to be engaged at work and 1.7 times more likely to be thriving in their wellbeing. That does not mean every professor is going to become your mentor. Some will simply teach the class and go home. Fair enough.

But some professors can become important people in your life if you give them the chance. A very simple way to start: before the semester begins, look up your professor. See what they study, what they have worked on, or what their background is. Then ask one thoughtful question early in the semester. Not a fake question. Not a “please like me” question. Just a real one.

It is much easier for someone to remember you when you have given them something specific to remember.

Use the Resources You Are Already Paying For

This is one of my biggest pieces of advice: use the free stuff.

And by “free,” I mean included in the large and painful amount of money someone is paying for you to be there.

Writing centers. Career centers. Resume reviews. Mock interviews. Career fairs. Speaker events. Free software. Library databases. Tutoring. Study spaces. Professional headshot events. Workshops. Student discounts. Counseling services. Academic advising.

Use them.

Use them before you are panicking.

Use them before senior year.

Use them before you “need” them.

Because once you graduate, a lot of those same resources either disappear or become much more expensive and annoying to access. A professional headshot can cost real money. Resume help can cost real money. Software can cost real money. Coaching, tutoring, advising, and professional development can all cost real money. College puts an absurd number of resources in one place, but no one is going to chase you around campus forcing you to use them.

You have to decide to be a little annoying and seek things out.

Skills Matter More Than a Perfect GPA

Let me be clear: grades matter.

They especially matter if you are applying to graduate school, scholarships, competitive programs, or certain entry-level roles that use GPA cutoffs.

But for many students, obsessing over a perfect GPA at the expense of experience, relationships, internships, and actual skill-building is not the best trade. NACE reported in 2026 that GPA screening has declined as employers shift more toward skills-based hiring. In 2019, nearly three-quarters of employers screened candidates by GPA, typically requiring a minimum GPA around 3.0. By 2026, that number had dropped to 42%.

That does not mean GPA is irrelevant. It means GPA is one signal, not the whole person. If I started college today, I would still take my classes seriously, but I would not let grades become my only proof that I was growing. I would build a portfolio of experiences.

A part-time job. A leadership role. A project. A research opportunity. An internship. A volunteer position. A club I actually cared about. A presentation. A website. A design. A spreadsheet. A writing sample. A small business idea. A social club. A video. Something tangible.

Because eventually, you will need to answer the question: “What have you done?”

And it is much easier to answer that when you have actually done things.

The Fear of Being Perceived Is Lying to You

A lot of college is just being willing to look a little stupid.

Asking the question.
Going to the event alone.
Introducing yourself.
Sitting in the front.
Trying out for the club.
Going to office hours.
Asking someone to study.
Changing your major.
Leaving something that is not working.
Starting something new before you are good at it.

The fear of being perceived can make all of that feel unbearable.

But most people are not thinking about you as much as you think they are. There is actual psychology behind this. The “spotlight effect” describes our tendency to overestimate how much other people notice our actions or appearance. In the original research, participants believed more people noticed details about them than actually did. In normal human language: everyone is busy being the main character of their own life.

That is not depressing. That is freeing.

Ask the question in class. Half the room probably has the same question and is just relieved someone else said it first. Go to the club meeting. Most people are too busy wondering if they look awkward to notice whether you look awkward. Email the professor. Apply for the thing. Talk to the person. You are allowed to be seen trying.

Actually, you kind of have to be.

Extracurriculars Are Useful, But They Are Not All Sacred

I think there is a lot of pressure in college to be involved.

Join clubs. Join Greek life. Join student government. Join professional organizations. Volunteer. Lead things. Attend events. Build your resume. Be everywhere. Become impressive immediately. And yes, extracurriculars can be amazing.

They can help you make friends, build leadership experience, create structure, and find a sense of belonging. But they are not all equally worth your time.

If I started college today, I would be more honest with myself about what was actually adding to my life and what I was only doing because I liked the idea of being the kind of person who did it. Some opportunities are meaningful. Some are resume filler. Some are fun for a season and then stop fitting. Some are great, but not for your schedule, budget, mental health, or goals.

Learning how to leave something is a skill.

Not everything has to become part of your identity forever.

Sometimes the mature choice is not “push through.” Sometimes the mature choice is “this was good, and now it is not aligned.”

Study Abroad If You Can

One of the things I wish I had explored more seriously is studying abroad.

Not because everyone has to do it. Not because it is magically life-changing for every person. But because college is one of the rare times when there is an actual structure to help you move across the world for a little while. There are advisors. Programs. Scholarships. Credit transfers. Housing support. Other students. Built-in timelines.

After college, travel is still possible, obviously. But it often gets more complicated. You may have a full-time job, limited vacation time, rent, bills, pets, relationships, and a life that is harder to pause. So if you are even slightly curious about studying abroad, look into it early. You do not have to commit right away. Just go to the info session. Ask the questions. See what it would cost. See what scholarships exist. See whether your major allows it.

Do not self-reject before you even have information.

You Do Not Need to Know the Whole Answer

Maybe the most important thing I would tell my freshman-year self is this:

You do not need to know exactly who you are becoming.

You just need to pay attention.

Pay attention to what energizes you. Pay attention to what drains you. Pay attention to what you keep researching for fun. Pay attention to what people come to you for. Pay attention to the classes you actually care about. Pay attention to the work that makes you feel capable. Pay attention to the life you are accidentally building.

College is not just preparation for your career. It is also a long experiment in noticing yourself.