With graduation near, I can't help but think about the things that I would have done differently had I known earlier. Although I'm a big believer in everything happening for a reason, my college experience could have been a smoother process if someone was there to help me out with these tips.
- Sign up for dual credit classes: I took mostly AP courses in high school. AP courses are college-equivalent, so if you pass the AP exam by the end of the year, you receive college credit for that class. What they don't tell you is how hard the AP exams are. Since English appeals to me, I was able to pass the English AP exam without a sweat. When it came to taking the AP Biology course, though, even our valedictorian had a difficult time passing the exam. Some of my friends took dual credit classes, which I've heard are easier than AP classes and transfer as a pass/fail for college credit.
- Participate in extracurricular activities: By joining various groups, you open yourself up to making life-long friends. Creating these friendships will help when you begin to miss home. Camaraderie aside, having a list of organizations you've joined is appealing to employers. It shows them that you've taken full advantage of college and that you've taken strides to start molding your future. Perhaps the most important factor is networking. By joining multiple groups, you are exposed to multiple connections. Many sororities, especially, post jobs and internships on their Facebook group chat.
- Your counselor is your best friend: I am biased, but I personally think I have the best college counselor out there. I transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington halfway through college, and now I am not only graduating on time, but I am graduating early! I went to high school with my counselor's daughter. Since she knew me, she was already aware of my situation and which career path I wanted to take. She transferred as many credits from my previous university as she could and even added me to courses early to make sure I was able to enroll before the rush. Thanks to her help with rearranging my schedule, I will graduate in December 2016.
- TCC is not lame: I started my freshman year at a four-year college away from home. While I did get the full college experience of learning how to do laundry and realizing that eating Chick-fil-a for every meal may not be the best plan, I still think going to a community college is a wise decision. I took one summer history course and I loved it. The teacher felt very passionate about sharing his knowledge. It was not a blow-off class, and it actually felt just like a course that I would take at a four-year university…but for a lower price. Going to community college, especially if you are paying your way through school, is a financially smart plan. If you want to experience both, get your basic credits out of the way at TCC during the summer and get back to the “real college” experience once fall starts.
- Your social media accounts can make or break you: Multiple jobs will look at your Facebook profile before anything else now. Clean up your profiles! Bathroom selfies, break-up diaries, and emotional rants will not look like a primary candidate for a professional position. My advice would be to treat your Facebook, Instagram, and other accounts as a secondary resume.
- Professors can control more than grades: I am currently taking a communications course. I have participated in every class providing commentary, exemplary work, and willingness to ask every question in the book. It definitely helps when you have a great professor teaching a course you're passionate about. By the end of this semester, my professor wrote me a glowing recommendation and gave me the contact information for a possible internship. This could possibly shape my future, all because of a teacher who believed in me.
