Key to Balancing Life as a College Student and Soon to Be Professional: My Tips for Staying Social and Career-Focused

College is one of the most exciting and transformative times of your life. For me, being a senior at James Madison University (JMU) means embracing all the friendships, social scenes, and campus traditions while also keeping one eye on the future. With graduation just around the corner, the balance between enjoying the now and preparing for what's next has never felt more real.

As someone who loves being social—whether it’s wine nighting with roommates, going downtown with friends, or darty-ing for the Dukes—but also wants to succeed in my marketing career, I’ve had to figure out how to balance these two worlds. Here are my tips for making the most of college while staying career-focused, inspired by my own JMU experience.

1. Use Alumni Networks to Your Advantage

JMU’s alumni network is massive and full of successful professionals who genuinely love giving back. Whether it's through career fairs, marketing expos, or informal meetups, these connections can be game-changers.

• Attend Career Fairs and Expos: When alumni return to represent their companies, they’re looking for candidates who remind them of their time at JMU. Show up, be yourself, and take advantage of their willingness to mentor and guide you.

• Follow Up: Don’t just collect business cards—connect on LinkedIn with a personalized message or send a thank-you email. These small actions can lead to future internships or job opportunities.

Pro Tip: Mention a shared JMU experience when connecting with alumni. Whether it’s chatting about tailgates or reminiscing about the COB bagels, showing your school pride can build instant rapport. 

2. Treat Social Time as a Reward, Not a Distraction

There’s no shortage of fun things to do in Harrisonburg, from hitting up Jack Brown’s for a late-night burger to catching live music at Clementine. Nights out with friends are essential for maintaining your sanity and making memories, but it’s all about balance.

• Prioritize Your Schedule: I use a digital calendar to block out work time, class time, and study sessions first. Then, I reward myself with social plans, like grabbing drinks at Billy Jack’s or karaoke night at a local spot.

• Say Yes to Networking Events: A lot of networking can happen in social settings, especially when alumni host informal happy hours or mixers. These events are a great way to combine socializing with career development.

Pro Tip: When juggling social invites, stick to the "two-event rule" per week (or whatever you find works best). It’s enough to stay connected but leaves room for focused career prep.

3. Build a Career Toolkit While You’re Still in College

Your resume, LinkedIn, and portfolio (if applicable) are your calling cards when you start applying for jobs. Treat them like works in progress that you can fine-tune over time.

• Get a Head Start: If you’re a marketing major like me, start documenting your class projects, internships, and freelance work now. I built a website to showcase my work, which makes me stand out during job applications. (you’re reading it right now LOL)

• Leverage Campus Resources: JMU offers plenty of career workshops, resume reviews, and even mock interviews. Take advantage of these—it’s literally why they’re there. Also, software and ‘premium’ membership access that JMU provides (Hootsuite, Canva, Wix, etc.)

• Set Monthly Goals: Break down your professional aspirations into small, manageable steps. For example, one month, focus on revamping your LinkedIn profile. The next, research potential companies to apply to after graduation. For someone who has extreme ADD (ADHD - inattentive) being able to break this huge goal of ‘being successful’ into digestible chunks I can achieve actually works. 

  
  

4. Be Selective About What You Commit To

It’s tempting to say yes to everything—clubs, internships, social plans—but overcommitting can lead to burnout… and trust me, that is not path easy to come back from.

• Evaluate Opportunities: Not all extracurriculars are created equal. Focus on activities that align with your career goals, like being involved in a marketing org, while still leaving room for downtime. 

• Protect Your Free Time: I’ve learned to say “no” when I need a night to recharge. It’s okay to skip a night out to work on a portfolio project or just relax. Balance doesn’t mean doing everything—it means doing the right things. 

  
  

TO CONCLUDE

Balancing the social side of JMU with the professional side isn’t always easy, but it’s absolutely doable. By leaning into the strong community here—both on-campus and through our incredible alumni network—you can build meaningful connections while enjoying every moment of your college experience.

So, go to that tailgate. Hit up the Philly bar. But also, show up to that networking mixer and polish your resume. JMU gives you the best of both worlds—embrace it!!