By Simone J.
So…I am sure most of us believe that college life is difficult, challenging — some even think it is overrated, but all can say it is much like a rites of passage into the corporate world. And in these trying times, it’s been as much in demand as reality television. The statistics shown can do enough to intimidate us into or out of college with the rise in dropout rates and other crises. However, now’s my time to show my success regimen for getting into college, milking out those memorable college experiences and hitching the path from degree to promising career. In four years, I’ve done it, and now I am receiving job offers, interning and am pursuing a graduate degree. Despite college’s challenges, there are some suggestions– big and small– that can help you maximize your college earnings.
Firstly, upon entering college, many have an idea of what they want to major in while some are cuckoo without a clue. In any case, my first suggestion is Take Time to Explore Possible Talents.
If you already know what you want to do, it can’t hurt, and for those who don’t know (or are undecided), it helps a great deal. Most universities have a career or advising center that allows you to take a career interest exam to determine what field of study would be a good fit for you based on your likes, strengths and interests. I took the exam even though I knew what I wanted to study, and the results were still refreshing.
Okay, so after you determine that the major you chose is the one you’re sticking with, it’s time to study, study, study, and make the grade, right? Yeah…in a sense, but that’s not the most important thing. Although we live in a knowledge-based economy, we also live in a skill-based economy. So I’m emphasizing that practical experience is just as important. My second suggestion: Be Seen and Be Involved.
There are many ways to do this which include volunteering, mentoring and taking on leadership roles. I personally recommend getting involved in activities that strengthen your proficiency in your major. For example, I majored in mass communication as an undergraduate and made it my business to work with the campus television station, radio station and newspaper. For every major, there are clubs you can join such as International Business Club, Chemistry Club, Environmental Club, etc. It looks really good to employers; they see that you not only know your books but have the experience to back up what you’ve learned.
So…now that you have your grades and experience, it’s time to showcase it. Nobody wants to do a butt-load of work that has people asking “whodunit.” To proudly display your skills, my third suggestion is Show Off Experience with an Experiential Transcript.
Although many don’t know, most universities give students the opportunity to put volunteer work and any other extracurricular activities onto their academic transcript. The process is pretty simple, I believe. For the most part, you record and keep log of the activities you want in the transcript. Contact your university’s advising center, and they can direct you.
Okay, so this next suggestion is kind of a biggie. You know how you’re given an advisor that figures out which classes you need to take and when? My fourth suggestion is Be Your Own Advisor.
Advisors are like condiments (for lack of a better comparison): provided by the school to beef up your chances of graduating. However, they are not calculators nor are they yours exclusively. Leave it up to you to check how on track you are and to meet your requirements.
That about covers it for academics. There are other keys to unlocking a better, healthier, college-made you. Calling this a Tips, Part 2, it’s now time to talk tough about what leads to trouble in our years. My fifth and sixth suggestions are for sound body and mind.
Eat Healthy and Exercise. This tip is as old as time, yet we struggle with it constantly. My suggestion, in college terms, is to join an exercise program or class that holds your interest and commitment to buring calories. At my school, I took aerobic dance and Zumba for free, and it helped me trim and feel good.
Lastly, Seek Stress Management. Point blank, stress is like a sickness, but it is treatable. Find care for your emotions through your school because there are people who get paid to listen to you. There’s nothing wrong with speaking to a counselor about stressors; it doesn’t make you crazy. I actually saw a counselor regularly my last semester, and dare I say, she changed my life. Exploring the lesser known, I suggest taking a stress management course. It’s easy, fun, and you learn such essentials as time management, conflict resolution and, of course, stress management: hardcore life lessons.
My theory is if you take these tips, and use them to your advantage, you should have an enlightening experience while in college. And they will more than likely stick on you for life! Awesome, right?
And not to leave you hanging, things I recommend post-college are working what you know and who you know and building your resume and relationships while networking. I’ve lived it, and I need to say I am not pulling these suggestions from a book or my rear end. I’m a recent graduate, and thanks to my “G” or rather grade A mentality, I am interning and seeking jobs in Atlanta. In the next few years, who knows where you’ll be.
Just remember, apprentice, success is determined by the decisions we make every day. It is not so much where we start but where we end!
Good luck & all the best!
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Simone Jameson graduated from Georgia College & State University in May 2010 with a B.A. in Mass Communication. She is currently an intern at Creative Loafing, an alternative newsweekly in Atlanta.
Thanks for this, Simone! I’m passing it on to some of my younger cousins today!