A warning to those thinking of going to college

[smileyeagle1021]

I don't get how people go through four years of college, interacting with people devoted to their chosen degree, yet they come out boggled about why they "don't know anyone."

Because for those of us whose last name isn't Romney, Gates, or Buffet, we have to work, and things like picking up extra hours to be able to pay rent this month are more urgent than taking time off work to meet with the professor to try to build a network that may or may not bring any benefits. Same thing goes for "well, why not get an internship to get experience", because internships typically aren't paid anymore, and again, not living on the street kind of takes priority for most people.

[AdminAssistant]

It doesn't have to mean meeting outside of class time, although you should be having meetings with your advisor a few times a semester. Just paying attention in class, being an active participant, always being on time, not showing up in pajamas...that makes you stand out in my mind. In my department, if someone asks me if I have any students that would be good for a show or something, I'm going to recommend the person who makes an effort.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Because for those of us whose last name isn't Romney, Gates, or Buffet, we have to work,

Hey, guess what. My last name isn't Romney, Gates, or Buffet. I had to work my ass off with full time classes, a job, and an internship which was REQUIRED for me to get my degree. Please take your rage and aim it at someone else, because your assumptions that my family is rich so I nilly-willied my way through college without a care in a world are sorely mistaken and insulting.

[TheHuckster]

Because for those of us whose last name isn't Romney, Gates, or Buffet, we have to work, and things like picking up extra hours to be able to pay rent this month are more urgent than taking time off work to meet with the professor to try to build a network that may or may not bring any benefits. Same thing goes for "well, why not get an internship to get experience", because internships typically aren't paid anymore, and again, not living on the street kind of takes priority for most people.

First of all, I should also point out that the idea of not finding a job after college is a reflection of the shit economy we have now. I do sympathize with those who started college in 2004-2008, since it's really unfortunate timing and not any graduate's faults. And being left with student debt while being left with unemployment or underemployment really sucks the royal one. Hopefully the economy will improve soon and college graduates can get back on track again. I really think these set of circumstances are temporary.

That being said, I can't accept the argument that one can't find the time to network with other students or professors. The purpose of college is to get a better job afterwards. If you aren't able to apply yourself, for whatever reason, then college is going to be a waste of time and money and you're better off either waiting for a better opportunity to go to college or not going at all.

To say you don't have the time or ability to network with other students and professors is the same as saying you don't have the time or ability to study to get a good grade. If you aren't able to do the work you need in order for college to be worthwhile, then college will turn out to be rather pointless.

And it is hard work. I worked harder in college than I did any other 4 years of my life. I did have to spend weeks burning the midnight oil running on Red Bull and Ramen. Every time I felt discouraged I realized just how much I didn't want to have a career in retail to get me motivated again. In the process I not only got my first career job right out of college thanks to someone I worked with in a college job that complimented my career, but I also learned lessons in time management and networking that would help me afterwards.

[protege]

That being said, I can't accept the argument that one can't find the time to network with other students or professors. The purpose of college is to get a better job afterwards. If you aren't able to apply yourself, for whatever reason, then college is going to be a waste of time and money and you're better off either waiting for a better opportunity to go to college or not going at all.

I don't buy that excuse either. You have to make the time to network. By the time I graduated college, I knew quite a few people. Granted, it was a small school, but still. It helped that I took a couple of preparatory classes during the summer...and didn't solely hang out with accounting/finance majors all the time. I hung out in the computer labs a bit, joined various clubs, and did other things simply to meet people. Oh, and I lived in the dorm my first year. That's an easy way to meet people.

To say you don't have the time or ability to network with other students and professors is the same as saying you don't have the time or ability to study to get a good grade.

Again, I call bullshit. You have to make the time. I took a somewhat heavy class load, and still had the ability to network. What I did, is that I'd arrange my schedule so I had some gaps to work with. Gaps, that I could use to hang out with friends during the day, meet with my advisers and professors, and even do some volunteering at the school's museum. Advisers and professors are there to help you...why not use all of your resources?

And it is hard work. I worked harder in college than I did any other 4 years of my life. I did have to spend weeks burning the midnight oil running on Red Bull and Ramen.

I too had to bust my ass in college. My grades in high school weren't exactly great. Not my fault, since I was trying to deal with some mental issues and getting very little help from my parents. Dealing with depression is a bitch...never mind trying to figure out what you want to do with your life!

Every time I felt discouraged I realized just how much I didn't want to have a career in retail to get me motivated again. In the process I not only got my first career job right out of college thanks to someone I worked with in a college job that complimented my career, but I also learned lessons in time management and networking that would help me afterwards.

Same here. When I got out of college, my parents were in a huge financial mess. There simply wasn't much money coming in. My dad's advertising agency had failed some years prior, and even with both parents working...it wasn't enough. Dad worked multiple jobs--retail, refereeing soccer, manual labor, etc. for not very much cash. Most of the money that came in...went towards raising 3 kids. After seeing my parents struggle all those years, it became a very *powerful* motivator. Poverty sucks ass, and I'll be *damned* if I'm going to go through it again.

I'll second (and third) the idea that networking has its benefits. I got my college internship simply because I knew someone. One afternoon, as I was leaving class, one of my professors pulled me aside, and told me that I should apply for the internship at the local bank. Because it was a small firm, nobody had applied for it. So I did...and got the job. Found out later that one of my grandmother's good friends was on the board of directors Oh, and one of my uncle's friends...was VP of accounting. Small world

Same year, I was put in charge of assisting my accounting professor with the year-end project assigned to entry-level students. You'd keep the books for a small office-supply company. There were journal entries, dummy receipts, etc. all of which had to be filed and noted. Not really a difficult project, but time-consuming. Again, nobody wanted the job. I was given the job, simply because I had straight-A's in his classes, never missed one, and worked my ass off.

Along that vein, I ended up with a short-term computer lab assistant job after graduation. Because I hung out in the computer labs, and got to know that department's staff...I was asked if I'd help out with one of their summer programs. Basically, I'd get paid to help senior citizens with learning...and surf the web.

But lastly, networking got me my current job. One of my neighbors knew that I was looking for work after college, and put me in touch with someone he once worked with at a major bank. Apparently, he put in a couple good words for me, and I've been with that firm 15 years now.

What I'm trying to say is, that there's always time. It just depends on what you do with it.

[fireheart17]

I'm actually glad that my teaching degree requires that I spend so many hours in a school.

Turns out that the principal of my current placement school taught at my first primary school. She also remembers one of my primary school teachers. One of the relief teachers (who also does some other support roles in the school) I also knew as she worked at my OSHC when I was a kid. My mentor at the university is constantly offering jobs and internships and in fact, several of us are offered placements out at rural schools (which I would love to have taken if it wasn't for the fact that they do not pay for accommodation).

Next year I have to do my final teaching placement.

[mikoyan29]

I graduated in 1992 and it took me 2 years to find a professional job after that. It was through a guy I met in a couple classes that got my foot in the door but it was me that kept me in the door. In the meantime I was working at Kroger and probably could have made more money working there in the short term. In the long run, I think I made out much better having a degree than not having a degree.

The worth of a degree greatly depends on the field you are going in and how you apply your knowledge.