College Bucket List: 75 Things Students Should Do

Whether you’re a freshman or senior, there are plenty of experiences and opportunities you should be taking advantage of before graduation. That’s why I created a college bucket list full of 75 ideas for you!

I’ve divided everything into the following categories: Academics, Campus Life, Financial Aid, Career, Adulting, Self-Care, and Random (because sometimes the best things in life don’t fit into a category). After you read through them all, I’d love to hear how many you’ve checked off your college bucket list so far!

Academics

1. Learn how to manage your time effectively (check out Stress-Free Scheduling for more info on how to do just that!)

2. Create a degree plan

3. Take a class in a topic you wouldn’t normally be interested in

4. Take a personal finance course

5. Take the lead on a group project

6. Give a presentation for a class

7. Visit your professors during office hours at least once each semester

8. Learn how to properly cite sources

9. Create a study schedule

10. Complete a research project and present your findings

11. Create and conduct a survey

12. Make the Dean’s List at least one semester

13. Get an A on a test (use my tips for getting a’s in college)

14. Learn a foreign language

Campus Life

15. Attend a sporting event

16. Go tailgating

17. Join an on-campus club/organization

18. Attend a random campus event (i.e. movie night, etc.)

19. Participate in intramural sports

20. Make it a point to know your neighbors

21. Take photos by your school’s memorable statues and landmarks

22. Take a photo with your school’s mascot

23. Learn your school’s alma mater and fight songs

24. Take a group fitness class at your rec center

25. Eat lunch/dinner with a random person

26. Attend a lecture that’s on a topic you know little or nothing about

27. Throw a surprise party in your dorm

Before you graduate, make sure you accomplish this college bucket list which is full of 75 things students should do. Ideas fall into several categories, like campus life, financial aid, career tips, and more. Be sure to repin for future reference!

Financial Aid

28. Apply for a scholarship

29. File your FAFSA every year

30. Meet with a financial aid counselor to see if there are additional funding resources you haven’t discovered yet

31. Understand the terms of your student loans (including interest rates, repayment options, etc.)

Career

32. Work at an internship or part-time job

33. Attend a networking event

34. Create a professional resume

35. Learn how to write a cover letter

36. Learn how to write an effective thank you note to potential employers 

37. Participate in at least one mock interview

38. Improve your public speaking skills

39. Volunteer either individually or in a group

40. Set up a professional LinkedIn profile

41. Research potential employers you’d like to work for after graduation

42. Learn how to negotiate a starting salary

43. Schedule and conduct an informational interview 

44. Take a personality assessment through your career center (or take this free one online)

Adulting

45. Create a budget (use this free college budget template to get started)

46. Learn the basics of investing

47. Start building your credit

48. Know what your credit score is

49. Run your free credit reports on AnnualCreditReport.com

50. Begin making payments on your student loans (if you have them)

51. Know how to properly sort and wash your clothes

52. Complete and file your own taxes

53. Take on at least one babysitting gig

54. Schedule and go to your doctor appointments

Self-Care

55. Exercise at least three times a week

56. Take a self-defense class

57. Host a movie night with your friends

58. Eat more vegetables

59. Have a spa day

60. Meditate for at least five minutes a day

Other Random College Bucket List Ideas

61. Go without your phone for one day

62. Avoid checking social media for 24 hours

63. Take on a DIY project

64. Learn how to change a tire

65. Learn how to meal plan

66. Host Friendsgiving one year

67. Go on a road trip with your friends during one of the breaks

68. Visit a friend at a different college

69. Create a 1 Second Everyday video to document your adventures

70. Read a book that isn’t required for school

71. Find the best pizza place

72. Create and use a capsule wardrobe for one semester

73. Try a new hairstyle

74. Fill a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child

75. Start a blog (read this post to learn how to get started)

Before you graduate, make sure you accomplish this college bucket list which is full of 75 things students should do. Ideas fall into several categories, like campus life, financial aid, career tips, and more. Be sure to repin for future reference!

What else would you add to your college bucket list?

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  • Anna
    October 24, 2017 at 8:02 am

    Great list! I’ve definitely done most of these, but they were fun to read because they brought back some memories from previous years of college!

    • Tori
      October 24, 2017 at 8:07 am

      Writing this also brought back a lot of great memories for me! There are definitely some things on this list I wish I had done (or had done more).

    • Michala
      September 5, 2019 at 7:47 pm

      I agree! Honestly I miss those days because they were carefree

      • Michala
        September 5, 2019 at 7:48 pm

        Or at least more carefree lol

  • Kuleigh
    October 24, 2017 at 8:28 am

    This is THE ultimate bucket list. I wish I had figured out more “adult” things in college like budgeting, taxes, and more self-care.

    • Tori
      October 24, 2017 at 5:06 pm

      Me too! I felt so unprepared after I graduated.

  • Rachel Ritlop
    October 24, 2017 at 10:48 am

    Honestly wish I did half of these things in college!

  • adriana
    October 24, 2017 at 11:06 am

    I wish I had this when I was still in school haha! Such a great list, awesome ideas!

  • Rachel Ritlop
    October 24, 2017 at 11:18 am

    Taking advantage of my universities mock interview option was one of the most valuable things I did in college. It helped me immensely when the time came to look for a job and going through that interview process.

    • Tori
      October 24, 2017 at 5:06 pm

      Yes, same! They even videotaped one of my mine and it helped me to focus more on my posture – super helpful!

  • Annaliese
    October 24, 2017 at 11:33 am

    Ah I did a lot of these when I was in college! This is a great and very well thought out list!

    xoxo A
    http://www.southernbelleintraining.com

  • Michelle Paige
    October 24, 2017 at 2:17 pm

    Such a fun list! I have to send this to my sister who just started college this year.

    • Tori
      October 24, 2017 at 5:05 pm

      Aw so fun! I hope she enjoys it 🙂

  • Jordyn
    October 24, 2017 at 6:13 pm

    This is a wonderful bucket list. I definitely recommend taking a class (or classes) in a subject you never knew you would/could be interested in. There is SO much to learn! I also wish I had learned more about finances (like my credit score) in college rather than waiting until I graduated.

  • Rachel
    October 24, 2017 at 6:13 pm

    What a great list! If only I had a time machine to go back to the college days!

  • McKenna bleu
    October 24, 2017 at 7:10 pm

    This is a great bucket list. I can tell you spent a lot of time and thought on this.

  • SometimeSaturday
    October 25, 2017 at 12:18 pm

    This is such a great list! Perfectly organized and thought out.

  • Kristen
    October 25, 2017 at 3:52 pm

    This is such a great list! I loved going to sporting events during my college years and even now 🙂 there are so many things to do when in college!

    • Tori
      October 25, 2017 at 4:11 pm

      I did too, and I still love them! College football runs deep into my blood now lol

  • nicholle
    October 25, 2017 at 4:57 pm

    Creating a budget early in life is so important! It helps once you’re in the real world!
    -Nicholle
    http://www.nichollesophia.com

  • Ashley
    October 25, 2017 at 5:52 pm

    Love your career section! The things that I did in college for my career has made all the difference!

  • Kait Around The Kingdom
    October 27, 2017 at 10:29 am

    This is so fun! Takes me back to my college days!