Must Do’s for Any Temple Student

By Jackie Kausch, Owl Ambassador

As I have recently graduated and my time at Temple is coming to a close, I have spent time reflecting on the most memorable aspects of my college experience. Here are a few things that all first-year Temple students should be sure to do to make the most of their four years.

Join a Club

Temple has over 350 student clubs and organizations that students can join. You can choose to get involved with organizations related to your major/future industry, or you can find friends with similar interests to your own. During my time at Temple, I immersed myself in a wide variety of activities outside of my classes, including volunteering in a preschool with Jumpstart Philadelphia and marching two seasons with the Diamond Marching Band. Many students also choose to work at an on-campus or off-campus job; I have made many of my closest college friends working as an Owl Ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Attend a Temple Owls Football Game

One of my favorite parts of every fall semester was traveling down to South Philadelphia to head to a football game. Our Temple Owls play at Lincoln Financial field, home to the Philadelphia Eagles. Temple students not only get free tickets to the game, but also free transportation to the stadium and a free student tailgate in Lot K. I love seeing students and alumni coming together to show their Cherry and White spirit and do cheers like “T for Temple U”.

Talk to Your Professors

I quickly found that all of my professors at Temple were incredibly helpful and accessible to their students. Whether through email or in person during office hours, it is a great idea to communicate with your professors, even if you are not necessarily struggling in their class. For example, as an education major I enjoyed chatting with my professors about different situations that I encountered in my fieldwork in the classroom. Professors are there to help you learn and be successful. Networking with them may even help you to land an internship or job via their connections in the field.

Explore Philly

There are tons of things to do on Main Campus, but Temple students also have the entire city of Philadelphia at their fingertips. An essential skill for any student is learning how to navigate SEPTA, Philadelphia’s public transportation system. Students can easily travel from campus to destinations around Philadelphia using the Broad Street Line subway, bus routes, and Regional Rail train lines. There are countless things to explore throughout the city, from museums to performing arts venues to historical sites to sporting events. Many of these locations even offer student discounts, either by presenting your OwlCard or purchasing your tickets from The Reel box office in the Student Center.

Eat at the Food Trucks

When it comes to lunch time, Temple has a plethora of great options to choose from, including the dozens of food trucks parked around campus. They serve many types of cuisine, from Mexican to Japanese food, and you could really eat something completely different every single day if you wished. I love the sweet crepes from The Creperie, located outside of the Tyler School of Art, and the chicken and waffles from The Honey Truck, across the street from the College of Engineering.

Study Abroad

During their Temple careers, some students choose to branch out from Main Campus and study abroad for a summer, semester, or full academic year. Students can choose to travel to one of Temple’s two international campuses, in Rome, Italy or Tokyo, Japan, or they can select one of many other destinations worldwide. Regardless of your major or academic trajectory, the advisors in the Office of Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses can help you to find the program that is the best match for you. For me, that was a summer semester spent at Temple University Rome, which was a life-changing experience that fit in perfectly with the course requirements for my degree program.

Utilize the Career Center

Of course, the most important part of your college experience is getting that dream job in your industry. The Career Center at Temple has tons of great (and free) services to help students in the process of applying to, interviewing for, and accepting internship and job offers. They will review your resume and cover letter, hold mock interviews where you can receive helpful feedback, and host job fairs throughout the year to connect you with potential employers. Temple has a strong network of alumni across the country and around the world to help guide you; we always say that “Owls are everywhere”.