The Ultimate College Bucket List - 50 Things to Do before you Graduate

the ultimate college bucket list- 50 things to do before graduating college

Today we are going to be talking about what needs to be on your college bucket list! Of course, you can (and should!) customize, but these are my 50 things to do before graduation!

This college bucket list is also available as a free printable! Fill out the form to get it straight to your inbox!

Alrighty, let’s get into it!

1. Write a Letter to your Senior- Self!

I’ve done this in High School already, and loved opening it at the end and reflecting on my hopes and goals.

Seeing what I’ve reached and done directly compared to before the year, is incredibly amazing and I recommend doing it freshman year- senior year.

2. Ask Random Students to Help you Move-in!

Move-in day isn’t an experience you make too often, so how about asking random students to help you with your stuff?

3. Decorate your Dorm Room

I absolutely love decorating my room, and I’m so excited to decorate my dorm in just a month!

Here are a few tips and ideas for that btw

4. Join a Club

Or a few!

I’ve got the green club, international club, and entrepreneurship club on my bucket list! (as I’m updating this; these are like 100% the clubs I am still in haha)

5. Take a Fun Class

This college bucket list idea is a must! You will have many classes that you are required to take. So how about trying a fun class to mix it up?

6. Volunteer

College is a great time to work on your resume- and your social and environmental mindset.

Volunteering isn’t just good for your resume but it is also fun to do, whether with friends or on your own. (Gotta learn that too).

7. Involve others in Sustainability

This is a personal goal of mine, but you can apply it to anything important you are passionate about.

I know that many people aren’t aware of everything that is bad for our planet.

So bringing my thoughts closer to them is definitely something I want to do in college.

8. Take a Trip with Friends

Don’t we all love to say “hey let’s do a trip together sometime!”?

But then it never happens? Cause same! My college bucket list definitely has this idea on it. Who wants to join?

9. Go to a Sports Game

Try to go to sports games, or to a sports game for every sport your university offers!

I am definitely going to do this, and I know I can do it. (did it in High School). But well, we will see I guess!

10. Go to a Formal

I wish colleges had homecoming or prom dances! But some do have formals.

11. Rush @Greek Life!

This college bucket list idea is another personal one, but I am sure lots of you will have this on your bucket list too.

I am talking about rushing for Greek Life!

Whether you actually dream of belonging to a chapter or not, it’s worth a try! Maybe you will actually find your tribe there!

12. Get an Internship

Internships are key to getting jobs after graduation! And it’s also a good resume and experience booster. Can’t ignore that.

I am sure your college has some kind of job fair or internship fair going on at some point, so look out for that!

Related Post: 10 Gap Year Ideas For Students

13. Skip Classes for one Day

College doesn’t just consist of studying and sleeping. Have fun for a day and skip a class or two!

But keep it at one, okay? Be responsible and go to class, since that’s what you pay tuition for.

14. Go to Free Campus Events

Take advantage of your opportunities and resources and go to campus events!

You pay to go to college there so why not use what you get? It can be fun too.

15. Go to a College Party

I’m sure you’ll do this anyway, and more than once, but I couldn’t just ignore it in this ultimate list of college bucket list ideas!

Parties are part of the college experience, and even if you’re not a party-lover, try it at least once so you can say you’ve been.

16. Participate in a 5k Run

Wanna avoid the freshman 15? Here is your chance!

You can make this one a goal and practice for it, which will probably be more efficient, or just do it for fun.

Either way is fun and keeps you (somewhat) in shape.

17. Have a Roommate- Bestie

Though getting a random roommate and becoming best friends is pretty rare, it’s pretty awesome when it happens.

I am sure that in at least one semester of your 4 years, there will be one roommate that is your best friend.

Whether that’s a random roommate or your long-time best friend!

18. Participate in a Campus Tradition

I love this idea, and if my university has some kind of tradition, I will try to participate!

19. Ace a Final (or More)

Getting straight A’s is an understandable goal that pretty much all students have, but keep it realistic.

My goal will be to pass all the classes I will take and ace at least one final every semester.

I don’t wanna get scared when looking at my study goals but still be proud of myself and get that degree!

20. Cook a Traditional Meal for/with Friends

Since I am an international student at college (from Switzerland to the US), I would love to cook something Swiss or German for my friends. I hope I’ll get a community kitchen next semester! (Update: I do! But now covid won’t let me have friends over:(

But you don’t have to have a fancy background story to make a meal or cook with your friends! It’s just a fun thing to do and is much healthier and more money-saving.

Related: How to Save Money as a Student

21. Pull an All-Nighter

Even though everyone says to NOT do this, I feel like you can’t know until you do it. Haha.

Whether you missed studying for an exam or just wanna watch a series, try it at least once to stay up 24 hrs!

22. Study Abroad

Even though I already am, studying abroad, I still wanna study abroad for a semester somewhere! So if you haven’t studied abroad yet, you gotta!!

I also studied abroad in High School and it was honestly the best year of my life. You can also just do a summer session or study abroad for 3 months only. (or an internship!)

It’s just important to do it and get out there. Here is my video about my whole year:

23. Go to a Concert or Festival

What is a better time for concerts and festivals than college! Grab your friends and have a fun weekend together.

24. Decorate your Dorm for Every Season

I am honestly so excited to change up my room decor for every season. Autumn colors in fall and Christmas decor for winter are my favorites!

I am still trying to decide what colors to do for the spring.

But to do that, your dorm furniture and general things that are there all year round, need to be in neutral colors, so you don’t end up throwing things out cause they don’t match.

Related:

25. Go to the Beach

Taking a trip to the beach is the perfect activity to relax a little bit and get your focus together to ace your upcoming midterms or finals.

26. Have a Fun Spring Break

I’m already excited for spring break, even though I have no clue what to do then yet.

You could take a road trip, do an internship, or have a typical beach trip to Florida!

27. Explore the Neighboring States

I always loved to travel, so this is a favorite on my college bucket list!

You can also make it a goal to check out every big city or famous place in an area of 50 miles while you are at that school.

I’m definitely excited to see more of the east coast!

28. Go Home for the Holidays

Since my family lives all the way in Switzerland, I will definitely want to go home for the holidays! (where else would I go?)

I love all the movies where college students come home for Christmas and it’s just magical. I’m a sucker for those…haha.

29. Do Things you Really Wanna Try

This bucket list idea is pretty general, but I wanted to include it too.

It is important that you don’t get caught up doing what other people want you to. Try to figure out what you want to have done by the time you graduate and do those things!

30. Take a Polaroid Picture each Month

I love keeping memories with polaroid photos!

I know they make a lot of waste, I wish they wouldn’t, but those pictures are really things I will keep forever, and so they won’t end up in a landfill or ocean (hopefully).

So yeah, my goal is to take more polaroids!

31. Pitch my Business Idea in a Competition

This is another personal one, but I thought I’d share it in case anyone else wants to study business/entrepreneurship.

I am so excited about the programs my university has to offer, which includes a business idea competition. I’m definitely making it a goal to try it!

Update: I pitched, and it was such a valuable experience!

32. Have a Valentine’s Date

Getting back to teen and tween stuff: I want a Valentine’s date!

If you don’t meet any guy or girl, you can also have a date with your friends!

33. Unplug for a Day

We all are way too addicted to our phones!

So if you have a day where you don’t need to study, use it to unplug and not use your phone or computer to check social media or watch stuff.

It opens up many other good things, such as good conversations with people or a girls night!

34. Get Lunch with a Professor

Try to make good connections with some professors! It might help you later on.

You can go to office hours, or ask for a lunch or coffee meeting.

35. Meet the University President Personally

This one probably won’t apply to most colleges, but mine has a really involved president who is also a business-man and has an incredible story of building up the college.

I’d love to talk to him personally! Always good to network and know people.

36. Do a Beach Cleanup

A volunteering option! If your school is anywhere near a beach, it’s a good idea to do a beach cleanup with your friends or join an event!

I’m so excited to do this, also because I’ve tried it in Mexico on my travels.

37. Join a Tree Planting Event

I have always wanted to do this but my town never offered it.

Now that I am thinking about it, I could’ve just planned one myself, but I think I’m missing resources, and connections.

If you can get your class or friends together, you can do it!

And there might just be a planned event in your area!

38. Go on a Hike

I love hiking and plan on going more often if I can. But even if you aren’t a hiking lover, you should totally go at least once!

Pick a nice place, mountain, or state park and take a hike with your friends (or as a date). I promise it’s amazing (especially if the view is good).

I can also recommend going for sunset:)

39. Do a Tailgate

Football tailgates are honestly the best!

My college doesn’t have a real football team, but I’ll go to any tailgate! haha.

You can also organize one yourself if you like.

40. Get a Campus Job

Not sure if I have time for this one, but it’s a good idea to consider!

If you don’t get any of the jobs, read my post here! It is about side hustles that can make you some good money.

41. Join a Study Group

Trying a study group is another college bucket list idea! I’m curious if it helps.

42. Visit your Friends in their Colleges

My friends from High School go to colleges all over the US, so I am pretty excited to visit them one day.

43. Take a Friend Home for the Holidays

I absolutely love this idea!

I’m not sure if I can do this since my family lives like 4,000 miles away and plane tickets are expensive, but I honestly love this.

Also, if for some reason I couldn’t go home for the holidays, it would mean so much if someone offered to spend Christmas with them!

So if you live closer than me, consider this idea!

44. Take a Coast Trip

I wanna do this so bad! Drive up the coast to New York and Maine would be so amazing! If you live in the middle of the country, you can also take a trip TO a coast if you like.

45. See the Other Side of the Country

This is something I really want to do, either in summer or spring break. I have never been to the west coast, so that’s where I’d love to go. What about you?

Related Post: 10 Gap Year Ideas

46. Do a Karaoke Night

Another thing I always wanted to do is Karaoke! I hope they have something like that in North Carolina. Comment if you wanna do this too!

47. Have a 21st Birthday Party!

I think most people turn 21 whilst in college, including me!

It’ll be fun being able to legally drink before everyone else in the same grade haha. (I’ll turn 21 in sophomore year already).

48. Make or Get a Surprise Party

I have always wanted to be part of a surprise party, but it hasn’t happened yet.

I feel like college is the best place for it since everyone lives close by (usually at least.)

Also, getting a surprise party yourself is a secret dream, am I right? But you obviously can’t tell them cause then it’s not a surprise anymore.

Know what? Send this post to your friends!!

49. Make a Creative Graduation Hat

Who hasn’t seen those creative and fancy graduation hat pictures on Insta and Pinterest?

I wanna make one like that! Anyone else too?

50. Graduate!

Last but not least, graduate!

Passing your classes and earning your degree is probably the reason why you came to college in the first place.

This is the last point on my college bucket list!

I really hope this list gave you ideas on what you want to do and get done in college. Want to add anything? Tell me below in the comments!

Share this post with your friends so you can check off this college bucket list TOGETHER;)

AND DONT FORGET TO DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE!

Until soon,

Oh Hello!

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