Conor Williams

PhD, Government (Political Theory)

Joseph Arthur Renwick Mechanical Engineering Cornell University

    Get to know your professors! One of the keys to my success was taking advantage of my professor's office hours. When one on one, a professor can help your growth and understanding within their class, and are a great source for advice and information about your future! Plus, when you get to know them, your college experience will really feel like a community which supports you.

Kathryn Navickas

Master of Arts in English

SUNY Fredonia, and Binghamton University

Networking ~ This is just a common sense way of saying "ask those around you for help and suggestions." I would never advocate anyone being an educational mooch, but if the stranger sitting beside you has had your current professor before, maybe she can tell you a little about his testing styles or the types of questions he asks. This is NOT a form of cheating! So many students feel as if they are committing a crime by trying to network to make things easier for themselves. Networking can also include forming study groups or joining academic related clubs. Many times the professors who sponsor these clubs or honor societies will offer you private advice and suggestions for success within their department. Networking is just another way of saying "make friends and work with them."
 

Jonathon Fields

PhD, Educational Leadership

East Tennessee State University

    Get to know your classmates. By getting to know your classmates you can form a study group. Study groups are helpful for mid term, finals, and any other test. Two heads or more are always better than one when studying for a major exam. What you may have missed in class, your classmate may have the answer you need. Never under estimate the power of making friends and networking.

Barbara Keith

Master of Education

Prairie View A&M University

    Internships are a great way to get experience in a career field and have an edge over classmates graduating with the same degree. Yes, a high Grade Point Average is very important to future employers, but nothing proves your worth like showing you can make it in industry. Furthermore, an internship allows a student to put classroom knowledge into practice, making the invaluable connection between academia and industry. When graduation arrives, a student with internship experience will better understand the different directions or tracks of his/her field of study and can pursue the best one for him/her. Some internships are paid positions, providing income for the student to use towards academic or living expenses. While an internship may extend one's graduation by a semester or two, the professional experience gained will be invaluable towards starting a lifelong career.

Jeffrey Gibson Master of Science in Electrical Engineering University of West Florida

On contacts.....

Network, network, network. Constantly expand your circle of acquaintances in whatever field you are pursuing. Make genuine friendships however. Do not be guilty of meeting and greeting only for personal gain. When you meet people that are anywhere remotely near your field of interest, maintain that contact. You may be able to help them and they in turn can help you. Perhaps it might simply be remembering something a classmate said worked for him and repeating that idea in a job interview. Or it might be that you need an expert opinion on a topic and now you know someone who can give it. Never underestimate anyone's significance in your life's journey.

Cathy Hooper

Master of Arts in Educational Leadership

Texas A&M University

It is also important to become involved in the college itself. Take advantages of membership of clubs, and social networking, it can pay off in the experiences one has at school, and it's a great use of time and can provide networking opportunities post-college in getting a job. It's also a good way to meet new people and develop lasting friendships

Leigh A. Dudley

Master of Performance Improvement, Training and Development

Northern Michigan University

    Working as a research assistant has been one of the most beneficial experiences for me while in college. I strongly suggest others to become a research assistant no matter their major. As a research assistant I have gotten to know my research advisor well, who is a professor in my field of study. My research advisor has assisted me in many aspects of my academic career by helping me plan my courses, writing recommendation letters, and setting up internships. While conducting research, I have learned more about my area of subject, which has been helpful in classes. Research is a great opportunity to explore possible career paths. Being a research assistant also looks good on a resume.

Caitlin O'Callaghan

Biochemistry and Biology

Roanoke College

    Having a great relationship with your professors can lead to success in many ways other than the expected. Soon after I graduated with my accounting degree, I began job hunting. I worked as an intern in college, and so decided to send my resume to various accounting firms in my area in the hopes someone would contact me for an interview.

    On my list of references I included my advisor and major professors. I had a special relationship with my advisor. I had taken numerous classes with her and participated in extra curricular organizations for accounting majors. I had often times asked her advice on my career choices and greatly respected her opinion. She also had an equal opinion of my abilities as a student and accountant.

    By a stroke of luck, the owner of one of the accounting firms I sent my resume to was an alumnus of my university and had had the same advisor as me. He called my advisor to inquire about me and received a glowing recommendation. As a result, I was called for an interview and shortly after offered a job with his firm. The owner had not even been looking for a new employee, but was so impressed by the recommendation from our mutual advisor that he felt he could not pass up the opportunity to hire me. In this way my relationship with my advisor helped me even after graduation.

Jennifer Marie Hanson

North Georgia College and State University

In a day and age where a college degree has become as essential to real-world success as a high school diploma, college students find themselves desperately searching for a way to stand out among the hundreds of others possessing diplomas with the same words printed across them. As a talented writer and artist with much experience in the professional field, one of my journalism mentors once told me, "When you walk across that stage at graduation, all you have is a piece of paper in your hand. Employers don't just want to know what you KNOW. They want to see what you can DO."

Working part-time in my related field was the best decision I ever made in college.

Four years of absorbing textbook knowledge and digesting lecture notes, continually proving comprehension with multiple examinations and trying to foster a real-world perception with all of the above aids in preparation for life after college. However, no late night study sessions or practice exams to keep up one's GPA will ready students for their career better than an internship or part-time job in their related field of study. What better way to gain valuable advice and experience, as well as hands-on practice, than to get paid for stepping into the field where one is planning to, perhaps, spend the rest of one's life? What better way to be certain that an individual is working so diligently toward the degree that he or she truly wants? What better way to gain useful skills and learn how to apply them with confidence?

As a communication major with an emphasis in journalism, I joined the staff of my college newspaper to gain experience writing articles and taking photos for a real publication, rather than for a grade in class. The instruction and insider advice I received from the seasoned director and assistant director of the publication allowed me to drastically improve my journalistic style and former attempts at producing a decent photo. With the guidance of these professionals and the support of a hard-working, real-world staff, eventually, I became head Editor. Seeing my own layout designs, articles, graphics, etc. in print for thousands to read and critique forced me to produce work that I could take pride in and allowed me to build a professional portfolio. Evidence of what I can DO.

I heard the benefits of internships outlined early on in college. Dedicated professors or advisors give the advice to partake in an internship constantly. So why is it that more and more college graduates wind up entering the job market feeling lost and unsure, rather than capable? Why do students ignore the opportunity to gain a leg-up in the competitive foray into the professional realm?

In many cases, students are unaware of how to go about finding an internship. They are not told where to look, what type of jobs are available or simply believe an internship is merely one more obstacle to slow down the graduation process. Students need to realize that there are many internship/co-op opportunities available to fit one's particular lifestyle and graduation plan. Why work at the local video store if you're a math major? Why do retail if you want to be a reporter? Doing an internship does not slow down the graduation process; it enhances it. College students need to take time to be certain they are getting the experience they need while they still have the opportunity to do so. A ten-minute talk with one's advisor could be the first REAL step down the path to success. Find time to DO.

Lauren Ann Helling

Lamar University

If you are planning on attending a graduate program or looking for a certain job upon graduation, it's extremely beneficial to have good connections. be sure to develop a good relationship with a couple of professors in your major/field of study because their letters of recommendations will be quite influential on your acceptance to the institute of your choice- the better/longer they know you, the more they will be able to say about you personally. Also, certain professors may have connections to job opportunities, internships, research programs, or graduate programs that may provoke your interest. Make yourself known early on so that you'll have more options to choose from in your future.

Paola Annoni Biology Georgetown University

Networking is certainly useful, but it is best not to force it. I had a friend in college who read a book recommending that she make a list of the 100 people in our college who she predicted would be the most influential later in life, then try to form a connection with them. She actually followed this advice, seeking out the people in her top 100 list.

Don't do this. Be friends with those people whom you like, those people with whom you share interests and activities, and those people to whom you can speak and relate. Most of these people will not prove useful to your future career. Some will. Those that will are going to have the genuine bond of friendship to back you up. Some cursory, false networking interaction is not going to generate the same ends. Networking may be useful, but don't focus on it as a goal. Let connections come; don't try to force them.

Alex Harris Harvard University

The earlier you become an active member of a professional community or association, the more opportunities you will have after graduation. Many students (undergraduate and graduate) are unaware of the variety of opportunities that their university provides to them for the purpose of becoming involved.

Most departments, colleges or student governments will pay expenses (hotel, registration and airfare) for undergraduate students to attend conferences and professional meetings. Many graduate students can also receive funding, but they are often times required to present a project or research at the event, in addition to attending. Interested students should contact their department’s student services office or the dean of students’ office for more information. Your schools website can also be a useful resource –using the search terms “travel grants” or “conference scholarships” will help you find relevant information. Remember that deadlines for funding can vary, but are often at the beginning of each semester.

In addition to funding, professors and instructors recognize these development opportunities and will excuse absences and provide make-up assignments. Involvement in professional associations plays an important role in supplementing professional skill development for students in academic programs. These skills, which complement those taught in academic settings, include networking, management and communication.

This often overlooked support can help you overcome the two most common barriers to getting involved –time and money. Many students are not aware that the development of these professional skills is an important aspect of being a productive member in the field. Speaking from personal experience, if you become involved within an association as a young professional you will be more likely to accept positions of leadership and remain a productive and valuable member of the community.

 

Jon E. Berg Masters of Forest Resources and Conservation University of Florida

    College can be a huge place compared to high school and networking can make it feel smaller. You may go to college with a group of friends, or you may not. Whatever the case, you can network with other students in classes to study together or simply hang out together. Join a club or organization that you have an interest in. You can join a fraternity or sorority. Also, get to know some of your teachers because they can write you letters of recommendation for internships or scholarships. You can network with everyone you meet. Networking does not mean you have to be close friends, it just means you made a contact that can be helpful to either of you in the present or future. Networking is valuable because you can learn about opportunities, which may help advance your education and career.

Sarah Becker Arizona State University

    As you enter into college you should be planning on your career field and begin to form a network. Networking is building relationships and forming connections. By the time you are a sophomore in college you should already have a career goal, so networking should be the next important step in your life. Your sophomore year is the best time to start networking and joining student chapters is a must. Most of my connections came from clubs like The National Scholars Honor Society, Phi Alpha Phi, Phi Kappa Phi, and Social Work Club. I learned to introduce myself to every guest speaker that I encountered in class, clubs, and organizations. Overall, my best networking resource was during my internship class. Now that I am a graduate student, I now can see the benefits of all my network resources. I do not know how many times I had to find someone to help me with my school or even with a client. I know whom I can ask for help and where to find resources within my school and community. Networking is worth your time and effort and can help you get ahead in the professional world. Oh, I almost forgot, keep good contact with your professors, because they are a great resource to have. If I did not learn to network, I would not be successful today. Begin to network early, because those connections with people may be the most important aspect of your future career. The best jobs come from word of mouth.

Brooke Alston Jennings Master of Science in Social Work Radford University

    A great way to make your years in college smoother is to always appreciate your departmental secretary. All departments have a secretary or administrative aide who deals with paperwork and is a wealth of information. The secretary works under the department chair and will be able to answer normal organizational questions that are generally beneath a professor.

    Befriending the secretary and consistently appreciating his or her time will go a long way to making sure your questions always get answered. The secretary usually knows the whereabouts of a professor who is inconveniently missing from the office. In a bind, the secretary can process forms or make a strategic phone call to help you get things done. Remember to make the effort to properly thank the secretary and remember that person at Christmas or appreciation day.
 

Jessica Lynn Taylor Master of Arts in World History East Tennessee State University

My secret to success as a former undergraduate and recent graduate student earning a Masters Degree, in Human Development and Family Studies in May 2008 , is my involvement in professional organizations. My personal and professional growth and development have soared as a result of my many leadership roles in organizations. I have held numerous opportunities engaging in public speaking events, participating in cultural research tours, presenting my research at professional conferences, networking with alumni, and studying abroad. Equally important, my academic excellence and my affiliation with organizations have opened doors to internships, being inducted into honor societies, and receiving numerous awards.

I encourage all students to be bold and courageous and go out of their "comfort zone" and explore new leadership opportunities while on campus. These experiences will ultimately contribute to your success both in and our of the classroom and symbolize that you have excellent potential as a future employee and/or entrepreneur.

Micere Sidi Oden

Masters, Human Development and Family Studies

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign