Survive What? Tips for Emerging Unscathed
Aug 23 '01
The Bottom Line College isn't half the test of survival that living in the real world is. Some tips that make college harder but the real world much easier to deal with.
I attended the graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2001 at my college, mostly because I wanted to hear Bill Cosby speak. Growing up without a consistent male role model, Bill Cosby had always been the wisdom-imparting father I wished I had. So it was with great excitement that I snagged a seat and listened to his speech. In his speech, he said many great things, none of which I remember perfectly. But his main idea was that college really wasn't a big deal; that students haven't "survived" much of anything, and that before rushing out to change the world they should learn how to balance a checkbook. I found myself enthusiastically laughing in agreement when I noticed the students were shocked. They thought he was being negative.
And when the time came for the student speaker (can you imagine having to follow Bill Cosby???) he rambled on for quite a while about the "experience" of college, and how much the Class of 2001 had "survived" together. After it was all over, I realized that these kids didn't have a clue. Neither did I, at graduation, but the fact is, there's really not much "survival" going on in college. They thought that the college experience was difficult, and that they had proven something by getting through it.
Well, my friends, you can talk about survival when you have to pay three months of rent while unemployed because your college degree doesn't mean much in this modern world of ours. Survival doesn't begin until you are housing yourself, feeding yourself, and paying all of your own bills. Now, I realize that some people work very hard to put themselves through college, and for them it really is an exercise in survival. But for the vast majority of college students, this isn't a problem. There's a roof over their head and food in their bellies, and all they have to worry about is grades, beer, and sex. Don't try to tell me it's not true- though not the story of everyone, it's the story of the vast majority.
Since much of being successful has to do with things that you do while in college, I have thought up a few tips and tricks that will make post-college survival much easier on you, that need to be done throughout your college career.
Tip Number One
Get a job. Whether your parents are supporting you through college or not, nothing will hone your time-management skills like having a part-time job during college. In addition to this, and more importantly, if you save at least half of what you earn, even in a low paying job, between your freshman and senior years, you will have something to fall back on when you graduate, if you do not already have a "real" job lined up. Even more, if you have a part-time job at the Bath and Body Works, if you do not have a real job upon graduation, you will at least be employed and making a little money. And if you are particularly good at saving your earnings, you won't have to work full time over the summer, meaning you can really enjoy your last summer vacations. For these reasons, it is good to have a part time job off-campus.
Tip Number Two
Unless you are planning on going to a very competitive graduate program (vet school, law school, etc), try to concentrate more on activities, sports, and socializing than you do on your classes. This will not only save stress by giving you an outlet, it will help with time management, and college is the last time in your life you can ever be a part of some groups. Being in an a cappella group is not easy in the real world. Enjoy these things while you have the opportunity. And trust me, after your first few years out of school, NO ONE cares what your GPA was.
Tip Number Three
DO NOT, do not, ever get more than one credit card. Credit companies are swarming over college campuses these days. If you apply for one, they give you a free shirt or any number of really pathetic bribes. You are in college. You eat ramen noodles and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. You may work part time for minimum wage while juggling classes and social/leadership responsibilities. You DO NOT have the money for credit cards. It is good to keep one card for emergencies and incidentals (gas for the car, food, etc) but do not have more than that. If you have that one card, pay it off completely every month. If you do not do this, you will graduate with more debt, which makes post-college life harder than four years alone on a desert island.
I know of at least twenty people who got into serious credit trouble in college. Don't let it happen to you. Further ways to reduce likelihood of this are to NOT use credit when going out with friends (dinner, bars, etc). If you do not have the cash to do something, find another way to have your fun.
Tip Number Four
Networking. Pay attention to networking events sponsored by your college's career development or alumni offices. Making connections is the number one way to score a good job after college. Alumni are especially valuable. If you can, volunteer to help with reunions, dinners, or whatever other alumni events are happening. Also volunteer when big-name speakers come to town. Several folks from my school got internships at the White House after volunteering to help when Hillary Clinton spoke at the school. These internships helped jump-start fabulous post-college careers.
Tip Number Five
DO NOT, EVER, have unprotected sex. I've seen too many good people crash and burn this way. Never, never, never, never. It could ruin not only your college experience, but your whole life. In addition, you are young. You have plenty of time to meet boyfriends and girlfriends. Do not make serious relationships your core experience at college. Do not go with the expectation that you will meet your soul mate. If it happens, great, but in all likelihood, it won't happen, and to focus on it or worry about it will just cause you to be more miserable.
Tip Number Six
Eat dining hall food as much as possible. It's gross, but it's paid for.
Tip Number Seven
Start seriously searching for a real job in November of your senior year. Starting too late can be a serious problem, as I and many of my friends can attest to, after surviving, unemployed, for several months after graduation. If you have followed my tips on networking and working part-time, this will be much, much easier. You will have connections in high places, and already have a small source of income.
Start by looking online, at www.monster.com, to at least get an idea of what positions are out there and what they pay. Keep in mind, your college degree can help you, but it is no longer a guarantee of good pay. For this reason, you need time to find a job that will compensate you decently. Start as early as possible. Most colleges have on-campus interviews with employers set up periodically. Even if you are not interested in a particular employer, go to these interviews, for practice at the very least.
Tip Number Eight
If you do not already live off-campus, start looking for places to live at least two months before graduation. Waiting longer than that can result in living in a place you don't like, or not having anywhere to go at all- which is fine if you like living with your parents and have a job close to home, but can leave you stranded in most situations. Many students ended up in very poor housing conditions after college because they did not give themselves enough time to look, and many of the nicer places "sell out" early.
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Now... doing all the things I mentioned will definitely make life at college more difficult. But being self-sufficient in the real world is inherently more difficult than most college experiences. Doing these things will guarantee an easier transition to real life, and make you more secure. You should enjoy college as much as possible, but enjoy it too much and those months after graduation become sheer torture.
College isn't the real world for most people. It is not a "survival experience" for most people. And it's really not that difficult. Students tend to think it is, but once you get out... well, that's when the real challenge begins. Prepare for it early, while still a student, and life will be much, much easier.
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