Mid-degree crisis: Planning ahead for life post-university, 6 ways how

The days of not being a fresher anymore can become too much for some - not with these helpful tips though

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March: the Easter break is rapidly approaching, along with the end of year exams. Deadlines are cropping up again after the post-exam lull, and the prospect of life after uni becomes increasingly omnipresent in the minds of anyone who isn’t a fresher.

Talks on dissertations, master’s degrees, internships and graduate schemes begin to litter the timetables of second-year students and strike fear into the hearts of many - cue the mid-degree crisis.

It’s totally normal for students to feel adrift and uncertain about life after university (after all, applying for uni courses aged just 17 isn’t conducive to creating a solid career plan for when you’re in your 20s). Luckily, there are numerous steps you can take to ward-off your own crisis by getting organised, setting achievable goals and putting yourself in the right frame of mind to get work done whilst still enjoying uni life:

1) Speak to your adviser or university careers service

Careers advisers are professionals, and you’re more-than-likely already paying some hefty fees, so it’s time to reap the benefits of all that money you’re spending.

Guidance from a careers adviser can be invaluable in suggesting career options to suit particular skillsets and providing internship opportunities. Personal advisers/tutors can also be a fantastic support, and a chat with yours could be enough pastoral care to stop your mid-degree crisis in its tracks.

2) Look into graduate schemes and/or master’s degrees

Finding a great grad scheme at a certain firm might motivate you to apply to their summer internship scheme, or a master’s course that catches your eye could prompt you to tailor your final year modules choices accordingly. It’s all about planning ahead to make choices that will benefit you in the future.

3) Think about final year modules and dissertation ideas

This applies to all areas of organisation - any little thing that reduces the ever-so-common ‘I-have-no-idea-what-I’m-doing-with-my-life’ feeling will contribute to diminishing the overall crisis. You’ll thank yourself come September if you’ve got some ideas to go through with your dissertation supervisor too.

4) Network

Utilise uni careers events like speeches and fairs and use LinkedIn to form connections with people in industries you’re considering after your careers advice and personal research. Having contacts post-uni is incredibly beneficial and. Simply following some professionals in the careers you’re considering on Twitter could help to shed some light on the kind of stuff they’re doing and if that’s the path for you.

5) Maintain a sensible work-life balance

Now that first-year is over and the work actually counts, for some people, it’s easy to overcompensate by severely limiting their social life and getting stuck in a work-heavy rut. This is dangerous - it’s important to strike a balance between work and fun for the good of your mental health. Find a way to de-stress after a heavy day of essay writing, be it sport, a society, or going out.

6) Stay rational

It’s crucial to stay in a rational, pragmatic frame of mind. Chat with your friends about it, but don’t whip each other into a frenzy. Don’t bury your head in the sand, but don’t sacrifice the quality of your work by panicking. Mostly, just follow some of these tips - it’ll all be alright in the end.