Second Year
Expand Your Involvement
Begin to reflect on your first semesters at KU--the classes, your experiences and involvement, and meetings with your academic advisor. As you reflect, consider what you would like to build on during your remaining semesters. In the second year, you will explore even further and build your KU network.
Continue your journey with your academic advisor:
We aren't going anywhere! We are invested in you and your journey. During the first weeks of the semester, your advisor will reach out to check-in with you. We want to know how your break was: What experiences did you have? What skills have you gained?
Your continued academics:
Your JAA advisor will begin to work with you even more as it relates to specific skills and values you have or areas you want to develop further. You and your advisor will also continue to talk about your academics so far; we can help you pin-point what courses you might take next to further your knowledge and interests and help you find the right classroom experiences that enhance and add to your personal interests, values, and employability.
Expand on your University of Kansas network as well:
Think about everyone on campus and in the community who value your success! Beyond your classes, we will ask you to really begin engaging with the KU campus even more. For example, go to professors’ office hours. Join student clubs and organizations. We want you to be confident as you build your network.
As your credit hours build, more opportunities arise! These often appear as on-campus jobs, leadership positions, and internships. You don't have to know your major to take advantage of these experiences. Your advisor can help you find what is best for you along the way. You will also find that as you continue to take more courses and move up in level, the number of students in your classes often go down. This leads to more intentional connections with your fellow Jayhawks. Finding peers that have differing experiences and interests is also a valuable way to explore!
Maximize your academic interests:
By the end of your first year, you and your advisor will also have developed a major shortlist. We will help you continue to narrow this or find ways to accomplish everything you want to achieve! After all, KU has a lot of majors, minors, certificates, and experiences that you can combine in infinite ways.
Print the Exploration Activities worksheet (.docx),and fill it out with your advisor.
Explore Career Options
The University Career Center provides several resources to help you. See the University Career Center: Career Exploration to explore by careers, interest areas, and majors. Take advantage of these free resources, including those related to Career Communities!
Take this quick, fun quiz to help you find out which Career Communities might be most beneficial for you. Then, browse the Career Communities, and check out upcoming events. On your specific area of interest page, you will see there are already some Career Community suggestions listed.
Your JAA advisor can also help build off what you have learned from your University Career Center Career Coach. If you develop an Action Plan with your coach, we would love to see it. Bring it to your academic advising meetings.
Not sure if you are ready to choose a Career Community? The UCC provides resources to help you explore by interest area, major, or career also. Begin with either a Career, Interest Area, or a Major you might already have in mind! If you find something that you want to further consider, schedule to meet with a career coach at the University Career Center about your options. Filling out their Action Plan worksheet (.docx) is a great way to get the conversation started and organize your thoughts.
Connect with a KU Alumni Mentor
The free KU Mentoring program operated through the KU Alumni Association pairs you with KU alumni who will serve as a mentor and answer questions to help you with your professional and career development. This is a great way to build your network and explore major and career possibilities.
