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EXPERIENCED
TIGERS
OPPORTUNITIES
Students continuing beyond their first year
and transfer students are often looking
for opportunities to continue to make the
most of their time in college while also
preparing for life after college. Take time
to encourage your student to start looking
at career development options, leadership
development and graduate school. This is
also the time your student may begin to
think about off-campus housing. You can’t
forget about the excitement that awaits
surrounding graduation!
As you navigate supporting your
experienced Tiger, it is also important to
recognize each new year in college can
present new challenges in their transition.
Most notably has been the sophomore
slump. Yes, the sophomore slump is a
thing. Your student’s first year in college
is exciting! They are excited to come to college and start their journey as an adult. They are
curious about what college is like, the new friends they will meet and having a fresh start.
Sophomore year feels different. In the first year of college, students have more attention
on them. There is Orientation, and a variety of transitional efforts and programs for new
students as they figure everything out. Then, they hit their sophomore year, and college no
longer has the spark of newness. Also at this point, they have started to see a career is more
reachable as they start to get into their major classes. After being home for the summer, they
may have realized their relationships at home have shifted and some may be drifting away.
As your student approaches the end of their college experience, they are faced with equally
important transitional concerns. Graduating students will have to consider how they
will maintain relationships with college peers and mentors, what the next phase of their
relationship with family members entails and how to connect with new people. For many
students, college becomes a home away from home and to leave it brings many of the same
emotions and feelings they experienced when they left home to start their career. It is also
important to recognize that for some students they still have many questions or unknowns
about life after college. Overall, there is a lot happening.
STUDY ABROAD
Clemson University students are strongly encouraged to incorporate an international
experience into their time at Clemson. There are a variety of programs offered to Clemson
students, which include third-party, exchange and faculty-directed options. All study
abroad programs are offered through Clemson’s partnerships and affiliations with overseas
PARENT TESTIMONIAL
“Although our daughter wished she had
done more research on the politics,
economic issues and social relations
in the country where she studied,
her overall experience studying
abroad made her very confident.
She has shared on several occasions
she actually found herself while in
Argentina. She has a new passion and
drive in future goals she did not have
before. The experience also gave her
the opportunity to connect with other
people from different cultures and
backgrounds.”
Charlene and Tensley Cheeks
Chesnee, S.C.