2 answers
Madalyn
Student
Blaine, Minnesota
1
Question
Updated
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How do I get involved in my dream career while still in college?
I'm going into my freshman year of college in August. I want to have experience in my field before I finish my degree instead of just waiting. Without finishing my degree, what are some way I can begin working on what I want to?
*for reference I want to be an environmental scientist lol
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2 answers
Abinaya KSP
10
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Abinaya’s Answer
Start small, but start early. You don’t need to wait until graduation to “enter” your dream career—you can begin building it while you’re still in college.
First, get clear on what your dream role actually looks like. Not just the job title, but what people in that role do daily. Once you know that, try to get any kind of exposure to it. Internships are the obvious route, but don’t limit yourself—part-time jobs, volunteering, or even short projects can give you real experience.
Next, build skills alongside your degree. College teaches theory, but careers often need practical skills. Take online courses, do certifications, or practice through personal projects. For example, if you're into environmental science, you could join local clean-up drives, research projects, or sustainability clubs.
Networking matters more than most people expect. Talk to seniors, professors, alumni, or professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. Don’t just ask for jobs—ask about their journey, what they’d recommend, and what mistakes to avoid. People are usually more helpful than you think.
Also, try to create something of your own. It could be a blog, a small project, a case study, or even documenting your learning online. This shows initiative and makes you stand out.
And honestly, don’t stress about getting everything perfect. Try different things, see what you enjoy, and adjust. College is the best time to experiment without too much risk.
First, get clear on what your dream role actually looks like. Not just the job title, but what people in that role do daily. Once you know that, try to get any kind of exposure to it. Internships are the obvious route, but don’t limit yourself—part-time jobs, volunteering, or even short projects can give you real experience.
Next, build skills alongside your degree. College teaches theory, but careers often need practical skills. Take online courses, do certifications, or practice through personal projects. For example, if you're into environmental science, you could join local clean-up drives, research projects, or sustainability clubs.
Networking matters more than most people expect. Talk to seniors, professors, alumni, or professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. Don’t just ask for jobs—ask about their journey, what they’d recommend, and what mistakes to avoid. People are usually more helpful than you think.
Also, try to create something of your own. It could be a blog, a small project, a case study, or even documenting your learning online. This shows initiative and makes you stand out.
And honestly, don’t stress about getting everything perfect. Try different things, see what you enjoy, and adjust. College is the best time to experiment without too much risk.
Thank you so much!! This is so helpful!!
Madalyn
Madeline Zhang
Career Coach
5
Answers
Lacon, Illinois
Updated
Madeline’s Answer
Hello Madalyn
As a career coach, there are some advices that I could offer to you.
First of all, it’s great that you already have a clear career goal and sense of direction before starting college. Many freshmen are still unsure about what they want to do in the future or why they chose their major, so having early career awareness is already a strong first step.
The first thing I would suggest is making sure your major or minor aligns with your long-term goal of becoming an environmental scientist. Pay attention to which courses you enjoy the most and which areas of environmental science interest you most deeply. Building a strong academic foundation and gaining enough subject knowledge early on will help you later when pursuing internships, research opportunities, or graduate school.
Second, while you are in college, focus on building workforce and professional skills in addition to academic knowledge. Communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and professionalism are all important in any career field. You can start preparing your resume early and regularly check your university’s career services office for internships, campus jobs, volunteer opportunities, or student organizations. Even if some opportunities are not perfectly related to environmental science, they still help you develop transferable workplace skills that will be valuable in your future career.
Third, build strong connections with your professors. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, attend office hours, or talk with them about your career interests. Professors often have major-specific advice, industry knowledge, research opportunities, and professional connections that can help guide you in the right direction.
Fourth, try connecting with upperclassmen, recent graduates, or alumni in similar majors. Their experiences can give you realistic insight into internships, coursework, career paths, and job preparation. Sometimes students learn just as much from peers as they do from formal advising.
Finally, remember that your interests and strengths may continue to develop over time. College is not only about preparing for one job — it is also a time for exploration, growth, and discovering new opportunities. Stay curious, keep learning, and allow yourself to evolve as you gain more experience.
Honestly, you’re already starting in a good place simply because you’re thinking about your future this early.
As a career coach, there are some advices that I could offer to you.
First of all, it’s great that you already have a clear career goal and sense of direction before starting college. Many freshmen are still unsure about what they want to do in the future or why they chose their major, so having early career awareness is already a strong first step.
The first thing I would suggest is making sure your major or minor aligns with your long-term goal of becoming an environmental scientist. Pay attention to which courses you enjoy the most and which areas of environmental science interest you most deeply. Building a strong academic foundation and gaining enough subject knowledge early on will help you later when pursuing internships, research opportunities, or graduate school.
Second, while you are in college, focus on building workforce and professional skills in addition to academic knowledge. Communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and professionalism are all important in any career field. You can start preparing your resume early and regularly check your university’s career services office for internships, campus jobs, volunteer opportunities, or student organizations. Even if some opportunities are not perfectly related to environmental science, they still help you develop transferable workplace skills that will be valuable in your future career.
Third, build strong connections with your professors. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, attend office hours, or talk with them about your career interests. Professors often have major-specific advice, industry knowledge, research opportunities, and professional connections that can help guide you in the right direction.
Fourth, try connecting with upperclassmen, recent graduates, or alumni in similar majors. Their experiences can give you realistic insight into internships, coursework, career paths, and job preparation. Sometimes students learn just as much from peers as they do from formal advising.
Finally, remember that your interests and strengths may continue to develop over time. College is not only about preparing for one job — it is also a time for exploration, growth, and discovering new opportunities. Stay curious, keep learning, and allow yourself to evolve as you gain more experience.
Honestly, you’re already starting in a good place simply because you’re thinking about your future this early.