What Every Current and Budding College Student Needs to Know

It is important to go to college. However, there is a way to go to college. Far too many of us know people who graduated from college only for them to work as security guards, store clerks, and other positions where one barely needs a high school diploma to get those jobs. Let alone a bachelor's degree and $40K in student loans. Thus, I have composed a list of things current college students need to do and the soon to be college students need to be aware of so they will not be bamboozled. Again, save yourself some time and money.

1) If you need remedial classes take them at a local community college where they are much cheaper. These classes will help you read, write, and do math for a fraction of a fraction of the cost that you would spend at a regular University. (Sigh) Only American schools graduate people from elementary school let alone high school without knowing the basics.

2) Get your class requirements for your major immediately and take those classes only (unless you're in your senior year and you need a few classes to pad your schedule). Do not take pottery when your major is elementary education. You are paying too much for classes that will not help you graduate. At the end of the day you must remember that the University is a business. You taking extra classes that you don't need will not hurt them. They're getting their money. They hurt you and you will be responsible for every red cent you use up whether you needed a class to graduate or not. This also means you need to pay attention when your department changes  requirements. You do not want to be stuck in your senior year because you 'didn't know'. Remember, you're in college or going to college. You're a big kid now and nobody is going to hold your hand. They are expecting you to know what's going on with your advancement.

3) Know the career path that is connected to the major that you are picking. Do not major in fashion design unless you understand that will need to bust your rump to get your clothes seen by designers and consumers. Don't major in psychology unless you understand that nobody will take you seriously unless you have a Master's degree. And even then, you're at the bottom of the ladder. Don't major in Black Studies unless you understand that nobody will take you seriously unless you have a Doctorate and a book. And even then, you're highest career title will be professor or department head where you're getting paid a quarter of what your education actually cost you. Know what is at stake. Don't major in journalism unless you understand that you better be looking (politicking) for internships at your local TV station the second you enroll in college. That industry is hard to get into. Therefore, the longer you are in it and making connections, the better your chances for a position once you graduate. These are just a few majors where people get sucked in and their degrees mean nothing to coporate America. Ask your professors what career opportunities are available.

4) Take business classes as a minor. When jobs for the above mentioned soft subjects don't pan out or don't pay the bills as much, you will want something to fall back on. Business is a great cushion to fall back on. In my college days, at the annual career fair  50% or more of the employers were looking for business (business, accounting, finance, etc) majors. Students from all of the other majors had no employers to submit their resumes to. Business credits allow candidates to compete more effectively. At the end of the day, you want to be able to feed yourself, comfortably. Business credits offer a great way to do that, if the major that you pick is not as marketable as you had hoped.

5) Internships. Internships. Internships. Get interntships. These will be the first companies to consider you for permanent positions once you graduate from college. That internship (paid or unpaid) will allow you to build experience. It may even show you that the major that you're getting your degree in will not work for you and will encourage you to change your major. These are excellent ways to build your resume, build contacts, and practice the business principles that learn so much about in your classes. Colleges also have co-op programs. Take advantage of thoseopportunities as well. All juniors and seniors need to live in their career development centers which coordinate job interviews and host business etiquette workshops. If your college doesn't have one, get with your Student Government and organize to get one pronto. I was awarded a paid internship where I lived in a hotel for 2 months not because I applied for the position but because one of the people that did apply, couldn't do it anymore and the career development office had to come up with another candidate for review. My name was offered (without me knowing) and I got the internship after a basic phone interview.

6) If you should have any incling that you may want to go into a different field, minor in it or be a double major. It is very hard to change careers in America. It is even harder when you have to go back to school. Getting all (or most) of your education all at once helps alleviate some of those challenges should you decide to change course.

7) Return the money. That refund check is not free money. Take what you 'need' & return the rest in order to keep your student loan debt as low as possible. Also, KEEP THOSE GRADES UP so you can compete for scholarships while in college. Also, recruiters are also looking for candidates with high GPAs.

8) Fight the freshman 15. This is where young adults (especially women) start putting on some major pounds. Every year they put on 10-15 pounds for several years. Weight management gets harder as you matriculate so don't think just because you didn't gain anything in your freshman year, you won't/can't gain it later. Even though you're out of puberty, your body is still changing. The roaring 20s is when people put their man-weight and woman-weight on and sometimes it's too much.  You do not want to look in your high school yearbook and not be able to recognize yourself.

9) Do study abroad. This is a wonderful way to expand your horizons and it also makes your resume look interesting. Most colleges have offices that specialize in this. Check them out. Take advantage of the full college experience.  Study abroad can definitely enhance the college experience.

10) Remember your college experience is what YOU make it. It's not up to any particular office to make sure you have a good time. It's yours. Love it. Enjoy it and don't forget to breathe.

And before I forget, remember to leave the hood off the campus.

Yup, I think that's everything.