As kids, it is constantly drilled into our heads that we should attend college, get a degree, and then change the world with it. Makes sense, right? For sure, an education will get you further in life than no education and a degree will get you further than just a diploma or a GED. Is that really the truth, though, or just a helpful and supportive lie? Nobody talks about after you get your degree and they finally release you into the wild. That's when life gets hard for the average graduate. After you are on your own, it's time to find a career and get started. The truth is only 14% of college graduates get a career-like job right out of the gate. Most start down a long road of unemployment and endless job hunting. For most, it isn't an ideal situation, especially if you have to start paying back student loans just six months after graduation. So how do you prevent hopeless wandering and become a part of the 14%? I believe there are ways to get there. Here are a few things I wish I had done.
1. if you don't need it, give it back.
The very first part of your college career is figuring out how to pay your tuition. There are a few different options, depending on the student. If you get really lucky, the parents that wanted you to go to school so badly will chip in and help you out. If you were a good and diligent student in high school, you might get yourself some scholarships that will take care of the brunt of things. More often than not, you'll end up having to take out some student loans at some point in your college career. It is okay if they are a necessity for you, you are definitely not alone. Often, if you apply for a student loan and are approved, they will give you more money than you need. Not unlike mine, the naive freshman brain shouts 'Free Money!' and takes everything on the table. There is absolutely NO such thing as free money and senior graduating you will thank you dearly for realizing that. Send any extra loan money you don't need right back where it came from as soon as you can. It'll do you a lot more good than you realize in the long run.
2. Say yes to every opportunity that comes knocking on your door.
You are finally out on your own and making your own decisions—take advantage of that, in a responsible way, of course. Get out and do things with people, while still keeping an eye on your studies, do things you've never tried before, and make your college experience something to remember for the rest of your life. The big one for me is work opportunities. Most of them will be 'freelance' opportunities, which is just a fancy way of saying you'll do a lot of work for no money, but they will be greatly beneficial to your future. It's easy to turn your nose up because most people don't want to work for free, but without that experience under your belt, it's possible that will be your only option after college. So, say yes, get your hands into a few different things, and then plaster your experience all over the top of your resume. That's how you get paid. In the end, those experience points are worth more than you think.
3. Your professors are your friends.
Especially when you get into your major courses, your professors can become big, important contacts for you. The thing about employers is that they want to know who you are before you walk through the door for an interview. Letters of reference or recommendation from well known and established professors go a long way when attached to your resume. Talk to your professors, make sure they know who you are, and really show them what you can do.
Now that I've gotten a degree and am on the hunt for a career, I wish I would have taken advantage of more of the opportunities that were put in front of me. I didn't take the typical college student path and if I hadn't been so picky and scared, I may be having an easier time now. Hindsight is, of course, always 20/20, but hopefully others may benefit from my mistakes and we can help raise that 14% for the next generation. Don't just go with the flow, be proactive with your life.
