Summer is almost here—and, trust us, we want you to enjoy it! Relax, recharge, and soak up the sun. But if you find yourself with some extra time between vacations and binge-watching your favorite shows, why not take advantage of the resources available to you to make for a productive few months? Even if you're not taking summer classes, Pitt IT is still here year-round to support you!

Level Up Your LinkedIn Game

Do you know what pairs well with summer? Career growth! Take some time to:

• Complete LinkedIn Learning courses – They’re free with your Pitt account and cover everything from Excel to graphic design. (Even recent graduates can keep using LinkedIn Learning into the summer.) Take a few courses or complete a whole learning path to gain some proficiency with in-demand skills.
• Update your LinkedIn profile – Add new skills, clubs, classes, and experiences that you completed in the last year. Revise your personal statement. Expand your connections by searching for professionals in fields that interest you and start networking!

Get Ahead with Summer Courses

Considering an extra major, minor, or certificate? Want to lighten your future course load? Summer classes can help you graduate on time (or even early!). Make sure to check PeopleSoft/Highpoint CX and your Pitt Email for any updates on class offerings and schedules. Pitt offers courses that range from the full summer term to 12-, 6-, and even 4-week terms, so you can fit in a class without taking up the whole summer.

Organize Your Digital Life

Rising seniors, this one’s for you—your OneDrive is probably packed with files from the last few years. Take some time to:

• Rename vague files (goodbye "FinalFinalFINAL.docx")
• Sort documents into folders (future-you will thank you in the fall!)
• Clear out what you don’t need to free up space and declutter.

Check Your Email (Just a Little!)

We get it, summer is email-free bliss. But logging in once every week or two can save you from missing:

• Class cancellations or professor changes
• Tuition payment alerts
• Important university updates
• Class announcements or early welcomes

Plus, a little upkeep now prevents a flood of unread messages in August! So go ahead and log in a few times.

Improve Your Skills with Pitt IT Resources

Been meaning to try out Photoshop? Want to learn coding? Now’s the time! One of the best ways to learn a new app is to just get in there and mess around with it. This is way easier to do when you don’t have a looming deadline and lots of other responsibilities. So get in there and just start learning how to use it. You can access the apps from the Virtual Lab or by logging into the cloud apps from your device.

• Adobe Creative Cloud – Experiment with Photoshop, Illustrator, and more. If you only do simpler creative projects, get the hang of Adobe Express.
• BioRender – Perfect for science students looking to create professional visuals for papers and posters. It’s meant to be intuitive, but it still takes some time to get used to it. And it’s free for students!
• Qualtrics – Many projects and activities may require you to do a survey or registration page. Qualtrics helps you design surveys with advanced designs and logic.

Plan Ahead for Work & Housing

• Federal Work-Study and Financial Aid Applications – With changes to Department of Education staffing, we recommend applying as early as possible.
• ousing Situations – Whether you’re moving off-campus, staying in the residence halls, renewing a lease, or subletting, sorting out housing now avoids last-minute stress of finding a decent place at a reasonable price.

Enjoy Your Summer (But Stay Connected!)

Whether you're taking classes, working, or just enjoying the break, Pitt IT has your back. Stay on top of things little by little, and you'll head into fall feeling organized and ahead of the game!

Have questions? Need tech support? Pitt IT is here all year long. Visit technology.pitt.edu for more info!

-- Haree Lim, Pitt IT Student Blogger, Class of '25