Why I’m Making a “50 List” as a College Senior — And You Should, Too

The experience of being in college is really unlike anything else. If you live on campus, it’s the time in your life when all your friends live within a few minutes of each other and when your days are filled with classes, late-night conversations, spontaneous plans, and the strange but wonderful process of figuring out adulthood together. For a few years, your school’s campus becomes your whole world.

And then suddenly, you’re a senior. It’s March. And it hits you that this place that’s felt like home for so long won’t be your home much longer. The days start to feel numbered in a way they never did before, and you realize how many little moments you still want to experience before it’s over.

I had that realization recently after seeing the TikTok video that every college senior seems to be talking about — the one that points out how few Fridays of college we actually have left. It made me realize that maybe I should see my friends more, go to more events, and spend a little less time worrying about what comes next and a little more time paying attention to what’s happening right now. Because one day soon, this chapter of my life will be over. 

That’s where the idea of a “50 List” comes in.

A 50 list is essentially a college bucket list for the last 50 days before graduation.

Unlike a traditional senior-year checklist (like our postgraduation prep guide), which focuses on things like updating your resume, job hunting, or planning your move after graduation, the 50 List is all about the fun stuff.

The truth is: Senior spring gets busy fast. Between classes, job applications, graduation planning, and everything else, it’s easy to accidentally skip the little things that make the last few months memorable. A 50 List reminds you to lean into the silly and nostalgic and fun, to say yes to the spontaneous plans, the last few parties, and the late-night hangs that you’ll miss most once everyone moves away.

Think of it less like a to-do list and more like a memory-making guide for your final semester.

Below are 50 ideas to add to your senior year of college 50 List. Pick the ones that feel fun, meaningful, or just a little chaotic — that’s kind of the whole point.

1. Have one last late-night dining hall dinner together.
2. Dress up and go out as your alter egos for a night. 
3. Host a nostalgic sleepover with your favorite childhood movies and treats.
4. Re-create a freshman-year group photo that used to make you cringe.
5. Have a themed dinner night in your dorm or apartment.
6. Watch the sunrise or sunset on campus all together.
7. Host an “empty my fridge” potluck — you and your friends each make a dish with whatever you have. 
8. Spend a whole day saying yes to spontaneous plans.
9. Go thrifting together and style outfits for each other.
10. Make a shared playlist that reminds you of college.

11. Rearrange your room one last time just for fun.
12. Have a movie marathon of films you loved freshman year.
13. Bake cookies and give them to your roommates or neighbors with a sweet note.
14. Deep clean your room while blasting music.
15. Host a “college memories” PowerPoint night.
16. Decorate your door with photos from the past four years.
17. Cook breakfast for dinner because you can.
18. Make a scrapbook or digital photo album of your favorite college memories.
19. Leave a note of encouragement in your dorm or apartment for future students.
20. Film a “college apartment tour” video for memories.

21. Visit your favorite study spot one last time.
22. Take graduation photos somewhere unexpected on campus.
23. Go to a sporting event, free campus concert, or something else you normally wouldn’t attend.
24. Eat at your favorite campus food spots one last time.
25. Stroll through campus after one of your final classes with no destination in mind (you can also invite a friend!). 
26. Get permission to sit in on a random lecture just because it sounds interesting.
27. Take photos in front of your freshman dorm.
28. Buy something small from the campus bookstore as a keepsake.
29. Spend an afternoon people-watching in the quad.
30. Check out a campus landmark you somehow never went to.

31. Eat at a restaurant you’ve always talked about wanting to try.
32. Visit your favorite coffee shop and journal for an hour.
33. Take a long walk or bike ride through your college neighborhood with your bestie.
34. Go to a local event, market, or festival.
35. Order your usual go-to meal one last time.
36. Explore a part of town you’ve never visited.
37. Find a book set in or near your college town and read it in a park.
38. Leave a thank-you note for a favorite local café or shop.
39. Revisit the place where you made your first college friend.
40. Volunteer at the local animal shelter (and maybe even foster an animal if you’re able!). 

41. Write a letter to your future self about your college experience, and how you feel right now.
42. Make a list of your favorite college memories from each year.
43. Take one last spontaneous road trip.
44. Have your friends write each other letters about what they’ll remember most about this year.
45. Say thank you to a professor who made an impact on you.
46. Spend one full week off social media.
47. Watch your favorite TV episode or movie about graduation the night before your commencement.
48. Tell your freshman-year self at least one thing you’re proud of them for.
49. Take a final photo of your empty dorm or apartment before moving out.
50. Buy yourself a little treat to celebrate finishing something huge: your college chapter.

Your 50 List doesn’t have to be perfect, aesthetic, or even fully complete. The goal isn’t to check off every item but to slow down enough to notice the moments happening around you. The random late nights, the small traditions, the ordinary campus walks that turn into hilarious memories. Years from now, those are usually the moments people talk about the most. Senior spring moves so fast. Don’t let it pass you by without doing the things you love!