You might assume that everyone is preparing for their career while they are in college, but this isn’t the case. Some are pursuing a major because they have a passion for it but they have no idea what they want to do after they graduate. Others are going to college simply because it was the next thing after high school and their parents expected them to do it. However, you may be one of those students who is very focused on a future career, whether or not you already have an idea of what it’s going to be. You can take steps to better prepare for that career while you are a student.
Choosing Your Major
Of course, the main thing you’re doing in college is getting a degree. If you’ve always wanted to be a marine biologist or a nurse or a teacher, your path is pretty straightforward. If you are like many students, however, you are still trying to find your dream career and may have a few ideas about what kind of job you’d like to do but you aren’t quite sure. Visiting your campus career office, talking to your advisor and professors, and asking people to do informational interviews that give you a better idea of what is involved in various jobs are all excellent ways to start narrowing down your options regarding your career. You should also make sure to talk to all of these people about what they majored in to help you figure out which ones would be appropriate for you.
Paying for School
One of the big hurdles you may face is how to pay for your education. Even if you have some savings or help from your parents, it probably isn’t enough. Loans are another option, but they may also be insufficient, and you also have to think about being able to repay them. Scholarships can be an excellent option. You can search and apply for Going Merry scholarships for college students and other scholarships online.
Work Experience
As a student, you should try to get some work experience. Internships are the traditional way to pick up this type of experience, but they aren’t accessible to everyone. Another option is to simply look for a part-time job in your field while you’re attending school. Volunteering is another excellent way to build some real-world skills and enhance your resume content.
Choosing Graduate School
Another thing you’ll need to think about is whether going to graduate school is the right choice for your career. Some careers, such as pharmacist or veterinarian, require professional school after your undergraduate degree. For others, such as the sciences, needing a master’s degree is common. However, for still others, such as in business, it really depends on the industry that you are in. MBAs may be required in some business sectors and might be a waste of time and money in others. It’s also worth noting that MBAs and certain other programs usually require a few years of work experience rather than accepting candidates straight out of an undergraduate program.
