5 things to do in your last semester of college that will prepare you for the real world

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'Tis the season for caps and gowns — and for many college seniors this can only mean one thing: It's officially time to panic.

While some students finish out their final semester with a job offer and a plan in hand, most don't. A 2015 study from AfterCollege.com found that 84% of college students who were actively looking for a job didn't have one lined up before graduation. 

But luckily, most college graduations take place in mid or late May, so there's still a little time ... and a few things you can do to make the most of these next few weeks.

Here are five things students can do to increase their chances of donning a cap and gown with a job offer in hand:

This is an update of an article originally written by Lydia Dallett.

1. Forget landing your dream job. Focus on what can get you there in the future

While your first job can serve as a springboard for your professional future, it's not going to make or break your career, and it certainly won't be your last. "There is a fear in deciding what to pursue, and a fear that the choice will be right or wrong," says Lori Balantic, a senior associate director in Connecticut College's career counseling program. But choosing a first job isn't an indictment on your future, she says. Rather, it's a chance to explore a new field, build a network, and gain skills and insight that will serve you regardless of where your career path goes.

For most millennials, that path will be long and winding. "These days, college graduates are staying in their first job for 18 to 30 months and then moving on," notes Diana Gruverman, a campus recruiting lead at AIG. Instead of searching for your dream job, "find something that will position you for your career goals," she advises. "Pick something interesting that will present you with challenges that will make you more marketable for your next job."

2. Map out each week of the rest of the semester, so you can visualize how you'll achieve your goal

If there are a few weeks left before graduation, figure out what your goals are — be it a job offer, grad school, or a summer internship — and then make a week-by-week plan for achieving that goal.

A sample plan may look something like this:

• Set up an appointment at Career Services.
• Make a list of your interests, skills, and desires for your first job (check out this article for good questions to ask yourself).
• Create or update your LinkedIn account, and check your social media profiles to make sure you aren't sending the wrong message to a potential employer.
• Update your résumé.
• Join your college's alumni network and plan on attending a few upcoming events or panels.
• Talk to everyone you know about what you're thinking about, especially professors, parents or mentors who know you well.
• Reach out to three alumni in your field of interest and ask if you can take them out to coffee or set up a 30-minute phone call where they talk about their experience.
• Set aside a few hours each week to peruse job listings through your college's career services homepage, and make a list of everything that interests you, even if you're not qualified.
• Apply, apply, apply!

Jumping headfirst into hundreds of job listings can be incredibly overwhelming and demotivating, so it's important to first think about who you are, what you're interested in, and what you're qualified for, so that you can tailor your job strategy to meet your unique goals and deadlines.

3. Make an appointment with Career Services ASAP

For student job seekers, a visit to career services should be top priority. "College career centers are a wealth of information for students," says Gruverman. Some of the dozens of resources they provide include internal job boards, lists of alumni you can contact in a variety of fields, self-assessment tests, sample resumes and cover letters, and information about applying to grad school.

The most valuable services they provide, however, are one-on-one meetings with career experts who can review your resume, conduct mock interviews, connect you to alumni, and help you practice your 90-second pitch.

"Students should be able to talk about their experiences and skills, and why they would make a great candidate for a job in 90 seconds or less," says Gruverman. Whether you practice with a friend, a career counselor, or the mirror, the important thing is make sure you don't sound too robotic or rehearsed. "Practice will make networking feel a lot less awkward," she adds.