Winter break is just around the corner as we come out of fall break, and many students are wondering how they should be spending their winter breaks, as well as what other students are up to. This blog post can provide you with some ideas, depending on your career interests!
1. Work a job or volunteer.
Whether it’s a Panera Bread, at a local clothing store, the holidays are a busier time for retailers and mall stores, as people are more free and Christmas shopping. Many students enter Cornell having worked jobs elsewhere, and that is always a way to make some extra cash.
2. Start studying for major standardized tests (MCAT, LSAT, GRE, etc.)
Winter break is the perfect time to take either self-study and look for online materials, or take a prep course, many of which are very long and are more effective if done in one sitting in a focused period of time.
3. Shadow people in fields you’re interested in.
While winter break is a little short for a full internship for career exploration, it is a great time to set up shadowing opportunities with local professionals in fields you’re interested in pursuing.
4. Reach out to alumni for phone calls or informational interviews
Along a similar vein, Cornell Handshake is an option for students to find alumni and send them messages. Many students have used it successfully to set up informational interviews and phone calls.
5. Apply for summer internships.
If you’re ready to get going on an internship, many summer internship applications are already open in the winter.
6. Send out cold emails for research opportunities.
For students who want to get involved in research either in their hometown, on-campus, and/or during the summer, a lot of the coordination can happen during winter break.
7. Take a class.
Although they are expensive, Cornell offers a winter session with classes that students can take. Some also use this as a way to get ahead on their credits and graduate early.
8. Continue your research.
For students who are already involved in a research lab, many continue their work because they are able to work full-time. For others, winter break is an opportunity to start working on their honors thesis.
9. Work on a hobby.
During the school year, it can be difficult to stay in tune with students’ non-academic needs. Take a break this winter break by engaging in your hobbies!
10. Workout and get into an exercise routine.
Along the same vein, exercise is important for mental health. Habits take time to build, and winter break is a great time to get started.
11. Relax (and maybe go somewhere fun!)
What other opportunity will you have to take an extended vacation? You are important, and you deserve a chance to escape the Cornell bubble and have some fun.
Winter break, the time between fall and spring semester can be a great time to rejuvenate and pick yourself up from the stresses of fall semester, and also to get ahead for the upcoming semester. It’s your choice! Do what fits your schedule best.
Photos courtesy of Unsplash.