The Ultimate College Bucket List

Looking for ideas for your college bucket list?

I put this list together with 15+ ideas of things to do before you graduate college. These are some the best things to add to your college bucket list!

I’ve always had a bucket list of things I want to do in life (mostly fun, adventurous things but also some serious goals!) and college was no different.

Here are some great ideas to add to your own college bucket list:

1. Participate in campus traditions.

Every college has its own unique traditions. Some of them might seem corny, but I can guarantee you’ll enjoy the memories looking back on them!

2. Study abroad.

Studying abroad for a semester in Paris was absolutely the number one highlight of my college experience.

It’s one of the only times in your life where you’ll have the opportunity to live and take classes abroad, and surprisingly, it’s very rarely more expensive than a regular semester at your home university.

If there is one thing I could tell EVERY college student to do, this would be it.

3. Go for a midnight food run.

Is there anything more satisfying than going for a late-night food run to a fast food place or diner after a late night of studying (or partying…) when you’re in college? I think not! Definitely do this at least once.

4. Visit a friend at another university.

Spend a weekend visiting a friend who attends a different university.

It’s a great way to stay in touch with old friends from high school, and it’s always fun to see what life is like at another college.

5. Celebrate Friendsgiving.

Plan a Friendsgiving celebration with your college friends.

The easiest way to do this is to organize a potluck where everyone brings an entree, side dish, dessert, or beverage. This is a fun tradition to do with your college friends the week before Thanksgiving break!

6. Go to a college sports game.

Confession time, I literally hate watching sports.

But I still went to a handful of college football games, and I’m ultimately glad I had that experience during college!

Even if you don’t go to a big football school, pick some college sport to support (basketball, baseball, volleyball, etc.) and go to at least one game!

7. Keep a journal.

Keeping a journal is a great way to have a record of your college years.

Although if you’re too busy to write in a traditional journal (like I was) you can always get a one question a day journal.

I had this exact journal during college and it’s really fun to look back now and see how my answers changed over four years!

8. Take a fun elective class.

Most degrees allow you to take at least a few free elective classes. Use at least one of these to take a “fun” class that you personally find interesting, even if it has nothing to do with your major

I used my free electives when I studied abroad and ended up taking classes in Travel Writing and Acting Shakespeare (which I was terrible at!) Both were fun and unlike anything I took related to my major.

9. Rush Greek life.

If your university has Greek life, try it out! Even if you don’t end up joining, you can always go through rush just to see if it’s something you’re interested in.

Being in a sorority in college was definitely a great experience for me.

10. Join a club or organization.

Another option if you’re not interested in Greek life is joining a club or organization on campus. There are most likely dozens, if not hundreds, of clubs and organization available to join!

You can do something related to your major, try out a creative new hobby, or join a cause that’s meaningful to you – the options are endless with this!

11. Decorate your dorm room.

If you’ll be living in a dorm room one or more years during college, personalize your space by decorating it! It will make living in a tiny shoebox-sized room so much better if you love the space you’re in.

12. Go on a spontaneous trip with friends.

There’s nothing like planning a spontaneous weekend trip with your friends during college! Whether you snag super-cheap flights or just take a road trip, this is something you should do at least once.

13. Pull an all-nighter.

Definitely don’t make a habit of this… but no college experience is complete without spending at least one night pulling an all-nighter to study for an exam!

14. Play intramural sports.

Much like item number six on this list, I can honestly say that I hate playing sports as much as I hate watching them.

But I still wanted to try intramural sports during college and I’m glad I did. I played on my sorority’s intramural flag football team for exactly two games… before dislocating my thumb and having to go to the emergency room!

15. Score free food on campus.

Most colleges have all kinds of random events where you can get free food for attending. It might involve sitting down for an hour-long info session or seminar, but it’s always worth it for a free lunch!

16. Go to a music festival.

Is there a music festival in the city or town where you go to college? If so, grab some friends and go! Or plan a trip to a popular festival like Coachella or Bonnaroo for a really memorable experience.

17. Get a job or internship.

College is a great time to build your resume through either a part-time job or internship. I was able to land four professional internships during college, along with a bunch of other random college jobs!

Take advantage of your college’s career resources to help find opportunities. I

18. Go to random campus events.

If you’re looking for something free or extremely cheap to do, see what kind of campus events are going on! You won’t have to go far to find something to do, and you’d be surprised at how many things like concerts, performances, and other activities are occurring on your campus!

These are just a few ideas you can add to your college bucket list!

For more college tips and ideas, check out the following posts:

The Ultimate College Bucket List