Journal Entry #1

There are two main mistakes that students need to avoid in order to become successful professionals. The first is waiting until last minute to career plan, and the second is choosing the wrong college in terms of finances. Beginning to prepare for your career as early as freshman year and choosing a college that values education over money are two major actions that students will benefit from as professionals. Unfortunately, most students don’t realize the things they should have done until they are post-graduate and wondering how they are not prepared.   Often, upon undergraduate (and in many cases graduate) graduations, students realize they don’t have the necessary tools to thrive in their dream careers. Because they make these mistakes, students have more trouble finding jobs because of things like lack of professional experience and debt.

            In Late to Launch: The Post-Collegiate Struggle, an article by Julie Halpert, she claims that some students are “not using college effectively” and that many don’t immerse “themselves in experiences throughout their college years that prepare them for the job market.” This is mistake number one that students make, they wait until senior year to prep for the “real world”. Career planning should begin as early as freshman year, and this takes the form of internships, community service, volunteer work, connections with professor, etc. When you plan early you give yourself enough time to explore options and have a resume of professional experience under your belt. As opposed to visiting the career center for the first time a few months before graduation, having relatively no time for any internships, fellowships etc. That’s the main benefit of career planning early, this way you know exactly what you need and how you can achieve it and you actually have the time to do so. Career planning early will make students way better professionals’ post-college.

            Another major mistake that students make is going to colleges that don’t have their best interests at heart. For example, In College Inc., it is reported that many “For- profit” schools run more as a “business” than a place for students. While these schools’ programs and missions may appeal to the student’s needs (such as flexible schedules, online classes etc.) and pose as a promising reality, the name kind of says it all. “For-profit” means that these organizations operate to make a profit. Students, especially older and/or graduate, sometimes eager and chasing a dream, some of whom are parents or work long hours at work, some of who can’t afford to have debt jump at schools that fit their needs jump at this false opportunity. What they don’t know, and are often blindsided by later on, is that schools either don’t have credentials to deliver as promised, or something as such that that there are many hidden fees. Some schools, however, are true to their mission. The University of Phoenix for example, according to College Inc. has proven to be a major success in online classes. Affordable and awarding degrees and certificates as said. It’s important for students, no matter what school, always make sure schools have the best interest of the student at heart. This is more than just visiting web pages and campuses (if any). This includes reaching out to staff and professors, calculating all costs and fees and reviews/ testimonies from graduates etc. If more students have the proper information needed to choose the school that best fits their needs and costs, millions in dollars of debt would be saved. Graduating without/ with a relatively small amount of debt is better than the 50k+ debt that most students graduate with in the United States (College Inc.) This will make for better professionals because as Dr. Kefalas in her New York Times article says debt is responsible for a thing known as “post-graduate depression”. While it is already for difficult for students to find jobs because of not career planning early, it doesn’t help that they are drowning in debt of student loans or money owed directly to their schools. It’s a burden over college student’s shoulders and I feel that it is a main cause of students not being successful professionals. How can they be expected to be flourish when they are being held back because of financial troubles? Financial circumstances should never be able to hinder education, but that’s just my opinion. 

While both these mistakes go hand in hand, simultaneously preventing students from being successful professionals, they can be avoided. Avoiding these mistakes begins with early planning and finding the best school for you. When you have the right experiences and a school that truly supports your needs, you will be fostered into a professional ready to tackle the workforce.