Find College Boring? Here’s How to Make It Exciting

How to make college exciting

There's a lot to cope with in college as you have to balance your academics and social life. Every college student, I'm sure, has felt the stress of trying to manage their time, especially when they're going to submit all of their assignments for each topic at the same time. 

The fact that we're often pressed for time and have next to no cash causes stress and this, in turn, impacts performance in academics. But if you think it's impossible to be happy in college, think again. Happiness in college students is entirely possible.

Unmudl tips to make college more exciting

Follow our tips below to add a bit of fun and spice to your college life and beat that stress:

1. Choose a major that you are passionate about

There is still a mindset that your job isn't your pastime; you're not supposed to love it; you're supposed to make money from it. As a result, many people place a higher value on income than on job fulfillment and general happiness. 

That, however, does not have to be the case. Whatever career you choose will be hard at times, but working on something you are passionate about makes everything easier. 

Remember that selecting a major entails spending three or four years at university studying the subject and potentially a lifetime of work. So, to the extent possible, find something that actually moves you and will not frustrate you in the future.

"If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life," we've all heard. You'll have a more enjoyable college experience if you choose your college major with this thought in mind.

What are your interests? How may those interests be channeled into a quest for knowledge? Is obtaining a degree in software development a good fit for your love of computer games? Is it possible to turn your passion for food into a career as a dietician?

While it may not always be possible to match your interests to a specific college major, you should make it a point to explore majors that are related to activities you already enjoy. College is an excellent opportunity to develop your interests and passions into assets that will last a lifetime.

Check out: Best Alternatives to Traditional College

2. Keeping the difficult semesters interesting

Not all semesters are created equal even by your own hand. College is not like high school as you have the freedom to pick your courses in a combination that suits you. 

But even with this freedom, there are some limitations, such as pre-requisites and the fact that the majority of the courses will most likely be serious subjects. What this means is that no matter how hard you try your semesters will eventually start getting tougher and boring.

One great way to add some excitement is to spread your electives evenly throughout the year and pick the ones that will bring some excitement to each semester. 

If none of your classes appeal to you, it can be difficult to stay motivated. Electives can also provide a mental respite from a semester with major requirements that all cover the same topic.

If you've always wanted to play music but didn’t have the time to do so, now is your chance to get credit for it. If you've always wanted to build things with your hands, that elective in woodwork will be the most fun thing you did in college.

Elective courses give students the opportunity to fall in love with their course material. 

Important: Make sure you're enrolled in these experimental courses as a non-major. Students in Painting 101 for non-majors, for example, are frequently graded on their effort, improvement, and ability to follow directions, whereas students majoring in Art are graded on their talent and technical proficiency.

You may want to check out: 7 Short Courses for a Rewarding Career Change

3. Take a break and do something exciting

Sometimes your major of choice is simply going to be dry and electives can only help you so much.

If the frustration and stress start getting to you don’t give up on college, take a semester off or take a lighter semester with fewer courses and take a course in parallel that will re-energize you.

You can take American Cinema, Game Theory, or anything your heart desires. It's entirely up to you! 

You don’t even have to take the course in the same college you are in. The change of scenery and surroundings for a semester or two will be refreshing in itself.

Here is a list of some courses that can re-energize you during college:

Deep Dive Intro to Game Design and Development

Love playing video games? Well, why not learn how to design them as a hobby? 

Learn how to make a digital game with Unity, a popular game engine. The demand for game design and development skills in the digital realm has skyrocketed.

Digital game production is not only being applied to create fun games for entertainment, but it is also being used to develop 'serious games' - gaming for business, government, and educational instruction.

By 2023, the digital game creation market is predicted to generate more than $200 million in revenue (Forbes, 2021). Really smart to have a hobby you can use as a backup plan if your major at college doesn’t pan out.

After this course, you will be able to do this - Using Unity assets and resources, learn the fundamentals of digital game design, game psychology, game mechanics, and game creation.

Fast Track to Carpenter

What if you like building things with your hands? Well after this course you can build anything from your own furniture to your own house! 

There are different courses in the Carpentry Fast Track. UBCT-107 Basic Safety, Hand & Power Tools, Blueprint Reading and UBCT 105 Professionalism in Service, Construction Math, Basic Rigging are virtual courses, meaning you'll interact with your instructor in an online environment.

Carpentry I, BCT 145, is a hybrid course. Students learn fundamental abilities in an online classroom before demonstrating them in a four-hour lab each week.

Textbooks, laboratory materials, and certification tests are all included in the course fees. Professional guidance is provided. You'll learn skills from professors who work in the industry when they're not teaching. Training on brand-new equipment.

After this course, you will be able to do this - Build things using wood and lumber. Explain the terms that are typically used when talking about wood and lumber, as well as the many types of fasteners and adhesives. Demonstrate how to use hand-held, portable power, and stationary power tools correctly.

Delivering Great Web Presentations

Learn what you need to know to build powerful web presentations. This course can add so much value to both your future career and your college as making successful presentations are a critical part of both.

The course is offered at GateWay Community College which has a long history of innovation in Phoenix. It is one of the fastest-growing major metropolitan areas in the country. 

While the college is known for educating and training future workers in fields such as healthcare and nursing, manufacturing and industrial design, automotive, beauty and wellness, as well as business, IT, water technologies, and the legal system, they also offer courses to help students begin a bachelor's degree. 

Avnet, PetSmart, Apollo Education Group, Republic Services, ON Semiconductor, Insight Enterprises, and Sprouts Farmers Market are just a few of the Fortune 1000 worldwide organizations with headquarters in Phoenix that GateWay is near or partners with.

The knowledge you will gain during this course includes - Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Personnel/Human Resources, English Language, Mathematics, Clerical, Economics, and Accounting.

After this course, you will be able to do this - Active Listening, Coordination, Monitoring Social Perceptiveness, Public Speaking, Critical Thinking, and Reading Comprehension.

Check out: How to Deliver Better Web Presentations

Leadership Academy-Conflict Resolution

A successful leader is one who can effectively manage conflict. Imagine being able to walk into a room and having the skill to immediately take control of a spiraling conflict situation.

Understanding human behavior is not only fascinating it can reward you tremendously in your career

Conflict is unavoidable in any workplace. It's impossible to avoid it. There are likely to be some issues when you have a bunch of people operating under duress with a variety of personalities.

The fact that there is disagreement is not the issue; having an effective conflict resolution strategy in place to settle that conflict if it becomes a business issue is critical for any management. 

While disagreement may be a creative engine that drives teams to compete and work more efficiently, it can also quickly escalate and bring everything to a halt.

But how do you defuse a situation that is fueled by rage and other emotions that don't respond to reason? It isn't simple, but there are options. This class will show you how to do it.

After this course, you will be able to do this - Here are some resolution tactics that you will learn in this class to assist you to handle volatile team members:

• Define what constitutes acceptable behavior
• Don't shy away from conflict
• Locate a Neutral Area
• Don't make hasty judgments
• Provide advice rather than solutions

Private Pilot Ground School

Who doesn’t want to learn how to fly! Well, get yourself ready with this course. This 35-hour online ground school course will help you pass the FAA Written Exam on your journey to become a Private Pilot. 

It covers the theory component of the exam and includes an Instructor Endorsement, which is required to take the exam. Over 800 practice questions, a 44-page student guide, and a pass guarantee are all included.

The course is offered at SUNY Broome Community College which is a vibrant presence in the heart of Upstate New York's Southern Tier. As part of the State University of New York, it is a nationally and internationally renowned college (SUNY). 

In nearby Binghamton, NY, IBM was created, and the flight simulator was invented. Dick's Sporting Goods, Eureka! Camping and Johnson Outdoors are among the important companies operating in the area.

After this course, you will be able to do this - Understand basic flying operations and procedures some of which are listed below:

• Understand the factors that affect flight performance, including hypoxia and various illusions,
• Assess and mitigate risk,
• Identify and predict dangerous weather phenomena,
• Read and understand aviation weather reports such as METAR, TAF, and PIREPs.
• Understand how airports are organized and how to decode airport data,
• Communicate on the radio and understand what controllers and other pilots are saying,
• Identify airspace on charts,
• Read charts and extract useful information to safely conduct your flights,
• Navigate the aircraft using onboard instruments,
• Master the use of flight computers,
• And more importantly, successfully plan a cross-country flight!

Spring Inspired Mocktails

Why not do something completely wacky and learn how to make mocktails! Now there is a skill that is fun for you and entertaining for your guests!

Are you looking for some spring-inspired mocktails? You've come to the right place! This course will introduce you to a wide range of delicious and attractive non-alcoholic beverages. We are confident that you will discover something to compliment any party or celebration.

Mocktails are made with a variety of ingredients that span a wide range of flavors, with some even emulating the flavors of bourbon, gin, vermouth, bitters, and other bartending essentials. 

Making a mocktail isn't simple; in fact, it might be nearly as difficult as creating a well-balanced alcoholic beverage. Juices, sodas, infused waters, and a variety of other non-alcoholic components are commonly utilized in the correct proportions.

The drinks that go with a meal have an impact on the overall flavor of the meal as well as the dining experience. When planning a restaurant menu or simply serving meals to friends at a dinner party, drinks are very crucial to consider. 

While alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and cocktails can all enhance a meal, non-alcoholic beverages are frequently disregarded.

After this course, you will be able to do this - Learn how to make a variety of spring-inspired mocktails.

Etsy for Makers

Wondering how to enjoy college as an introvert?

How cool would it be to run a bit of a business on the side while you study? Earn some extra bucks? Well, look no further. This great course will help you set up a small shop online where you can sell anything from hand-crafted goods to baked goods.

Learn the ins and outs of running a successful e-commerce business within an online marketplace using Etsy. The course shares ideas gained from years of working behind the scenes at Etsy so that you can turn your ambition into a reality. 

You'll learn critical techniques and effective approaches to help you develop an online storefront that sells, from designing a winning product to carefully crafting your brand. Topics in the course include:

• Fees linked with Etsy and the advantages the site can provide
• What is the best way to locate your target market?
• How to get noticed in a web search and how to win at SEO
• How to take outstanding web images that will help you sell your product
• The most effective method for handling packaging and delivery for your online store
• How to use social media to advertise and market your shop in order to increase traffic and sales
• How to put up a home photo booth for selling, marketing, and social media purposes

Leadership Workshop

Here is a great course that they might not teach you as part of your curriculum but it is critical for building your future career. If you feel college is becoming boring, why not take a short break and do something that will help you become a future leader.

In almost every organization, strong leadership is recognized as one of the top predictors of organizational success and a vital skill required for career advancement. 

Leadership, however, is a complex and frequently misunderstood phenomenon. Although difficult to define, we all recognize good and terrible leadership when we see it.

Learn through a series of fun videos, interviews, case studies, written reflections, peer feedback, and other self-reflection exercises. This course will assist you in identifying your own leadership principles and ethics, as well as developing your self-efficacy, or confidence in your own ability to attain desired outcomes.

The following topics will be covered:

• Management and employee communication
• Leadership vs. Management
• Approaches to leadership
• Management methods, accountability, and Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
• Managing absence and other issues
• Maintaining a sense of fun as a goal
• Winning within your firm

4. Diversify Your Activities Off-Campus

Anyone can tell you that cooping up in your dorm room isn't fun. If you are wondering about how to be happy in college, just get out of bed, put down your books, and head to the party that everyone has been talking about. If partying isn't your thing, contact a friend and go exploring around campus or in the city. It doesn't matter what you do as long as you break free from your monotonous academic routine.

Try to discover what is outside the campus. Is the campus surrounded by scenic landscapes? Maybe you should plan a hike. Or maybe there is a popular club nearby that you can explore with your friends. Nothing like dancing to some club music to reset your mood and energy level. 

Different things work for different people and different places have different venues for entertainment, the important thing is that you need to discover them and frequent them once in a while to refresh yourself. This is the best recipe for bringing some excitement during your college life.

5. Make sure you have a good group of friends around you

Friendships can benefit you in a number of ways. Good friends teach you about yourself and push you to succeed in life. They motivate you to keep going when things become rough and celebrate with you when you succeed.

According to several studies, friendships are just as vital to your health as eating well and exercising. One explanation for the health benefits of having friends is that friends can encourage you in making lifestyle changes that have a direct impact on your health. 

Your friends, for example, can assist you in setting and maintaining goals to eat healthier and exercise more. If you're going through a difficult period, having a friend by your side can help you get through it.

Friends can also assist you in coping with difficult situations. According to one study, kids who hang out with their friends during a stressful situation release less cortisol, a stress hormone.

If you have friends who give you time, help you out in need, are ambitious and positive, you are more likely to develop those habits yourself. That by the way, also works the other way around… you should avoid negative people during college.

6. Utilize campus facilities while you can

Most college campuses have some amenities that you can use to refresh yourself. There usually are gyms, pools, computer laboratories, basketball courts, and other interesting structures that students can use. 

Depending on the kind of person you are you could use this to take breaks during the day from studies. Remember that taking short breaks helps you study better.

If you are an active person by nature it might be a good idea to shoot a few hoops with a friend or if you are not into physical sports a great idea is to utilize the computer lab to hold a small World of Warcraft tournament. 

Doesn’t have to be those things specifically, but I am sure you get the idea. By being creative you can make use of existing amenities to have a bit of fun and unwind. When I was in college and when it got stressful I would just grab my friend who played the guitar well and we would just sit down in the common room and play our favorite songs. The weekend Netflix binge-watching with friends and the billiards table in the main hall are some of the best memories I have of college.

Find out what your school has to offer and get out there and explore!

7. Get the rest you need... Sleep is very important

Having certain unhealthy habits are another reason why you no longer feel excited about college and life in general. Most college students think that spending sleepless nights back to back is a good way to study. Research has shown that the more sleep deprived you are the more difficult it becomes to study.

Sleep deprivation can impair your capacity to think, remember, and process data. It can make you moody and increase your chances of having confrontations with people. You may find it difficult to engage in routine everyday activities or exercise.

If you continue to work without getting enough sleep, you may develop more serious long-term health issues. High blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke are some of the most significant possible complications connected with prolonged sleep deprivation. 

Obesity, depression, a weakened immune system, and a lack of sexual desire are all possible side effects. So, your lack of enthusiasm for college might just be because of your unhealthy sleeping habits.

Try to fix your sleep routine by setting a cut-off time to go to bed and wake up early and fresh. With proper rest, you will reset yourself and start feeling better about college again.

8. When you have the option, pick teachers that are fun

Many a time you will have multiple teachers teaching the same course. Talk to your seniors and peers who have taken classes with these teachers and find out what their strengths are. If you have the option go for the teacher that is fun without compromising on learning.

It’s not that most teachers are bad, but if you have a choice you would rather pick a great teacher over a good teacher any day. Here are some reasons to do so.

Final thoughts

All of this advice appears to be rather simple to implement, right? All you have to do now is get things started. Taking that first step can have a huge impact on your academic progress as well as your emotional well-being.

You want to be able to enjoy your time in college, and these enjoyable ideas we shared above can help you make college exciting. You have a lot of flexibility as a student, especially in college, in terms of how and when you study. 

Although there will be deadlines, you will have more control over your schedule than you did in high school. As a result, to make the experience more enjoyable, you should try to plan your time around college in a way that does not drive you to the point that you give up on college altogether.

We hope you have a great time at your school and we wish you all the success!