Success takes more than a degree

It really upsets me watching people who have college degrees work shitty jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with what they studied. It also really upsets me when some of those people claim "college is a waste" and "my degree did nothing for me."  Yes and no... Either the college you attended did nothing for you, you did nothing for you, or both. I wouldn't place full blame on the degree you received but the institution from which you studied. How many colleges teach career planning along with the subjects offered as part of the curriculum? Too many college graduates are under prepared for the real world because all they practiced in those 4 years was how to regurgitate information. You will need a lot more than memorized theories if you want to have a career. The other half of the blame goes to the student who didn't take the initiative to research, plan (or try to plan) and execute the steps needed in order to work in the field in which they desired. Also, shame on them for allowing themselves to waste their degree, money, and time spent in college.

If there is one thing I am really proud of it is how Bunker Hill Community College wants to prepare students to be successful in every aspect of their lives. That is why the new LifeMap center was developed in the first place. Same with the Learn & Earn Program where students who study Biotechnology, Business Administration, Computer Technology, Engineering and Visual Media Arts gain paid work experience at some of the largest businesses in Massachusetts. Internships play a large role in gaining real life experience, work related experience, as well as a way to narrow down your career objectives. At Bunker Hill we have a long list of departments and services that are all committed to helping students discover their career and educational objectives and give them the tools necessary to achieve their goals.

It takes research, planning, hard work, and commitment to be successful. It also takes more than just attending class and submitting homework. Potential employers look for individuals who get involved on and off campus. Of course getting involved helps you to stand apart from your competition but it also teaches you how to appropriately interact with others. You learn invaluable interpersonal skills that will allow you to be more successful in both your professional and personal life. It may seem like common sense that interpersonal skills are a must but you would be surprised how many people lack the ability to communicate effectively or are unaware of their non-verbal cues. Having worked for over two years at a 2 year institution I have interacted with a wide variety of people. It saddens me to say  that the level of disrespect, psychological projection, blame, and straight up insulting interactions I have witnessed and suffered through myself shows there is a problem. I understand in certain cases it can be the individual who might suffer from say a mental illness or as humans sometimes we can have a bad day and treat others poorly because of it. But I am getting off topic... More than history, science, and math needs to be taught in our school systems.

When making the decision to pursue an education it is so important to ask yourself the right questions.

Questions to ask yourself:

Identify your educational, career, life goals:
Do I have any hobbies? If yes, what are they? How could they be incorporated into a career?

What makes me happy? How can that be incorporated into a career?

What do I hope to achieve in one semester? (4.0 GPA, join a club, etc.) 

What do I hope to achieve by continuing my education? 

Where do I see myself in the future? Overall, what is my "big picture"? What steps can I take to get there?

Educational Plan/Course Selection:
What is my program of study?

What requirements must I fulfill in order to complete my program?

Do I meet all pre-requisites? If not- which development courses do I need to take? How will they fit into my academic timeline? Or, which introductory course do I need to take first before taking a core course?

Which courses, if any, are taught only once a year (just fall semester/just spring semester)? How does this affect my academic timeline?

Begin exploring transfer options:
What is my career objective? What major will guide me to my prospective career?

Which schools offer my major?

Once a list of schools is compiled-- what are their general education requirements? Do my courses fulfill their Gen Ed requirements? Compare course descriptions.

Do any of my core courses match the core courses offered at the schools on my list?

If I am unsure what classes/credits might transfer, contact the admissions office at prospective schools. Set up a time to meet, discuss everything via email, and/or take a campus tour--learn more about the schools. 

What does each school offer me outside of the classroom? Internships? Professional network? Connections to the industry I want to work in? State of the art facilities? Community? Sports? Clubs?

Develop Financial Plan for continued education and life after graduation:
How much does it cost to attend? 

In state or out of state tuition?

How much aid have I used so far? Grants? Subsidized Government Loans? Unsubsidized Government Loans? Mass no interest loan? Scholarships? 

How was each financial aid section distributed? 

What do I currently owe? 

What is the interest rate on my loans? In x amount of time it takes me to complete my degree-- how much will I owe + interest?

Depending on the repayment plan-- what will my monthly payments be?

How much money am I currently making? What are my expenses? Will I have enough at this wage minus expenses to afford my student loan payments? 

How much is tuition and fees for my prospective schools of transfer? 

Will government aid be enough? Or will I have to consider private loans?

There is so much planning that should occur when deciding to go to college. First it is important that you truly want to go to school and are willing to put in the time and commitment to complete your degree. It won't look good to employers if you cannot finish something you started.

If you do not know what you want to study at first that is ok. Not everyone knows what they want to do with their lives but what they do know is that they want to get an education. If you do not know what to study maybe apply for the general education program, take several different elective courses and pursue your options during your first year. Once you become a second year student you should have a better idea of the direction you would like to bring your life. If not, seek the help of an advisor, career counselor, volunteer at organizations or companies, intern, go to www.myplan.com and browse the different careers and majors... just stay active in discovering yourself and set short-term, mid-term, and long term goals.

Actually, the most important things you can do while in college is volunteer at organizations/companies, intern, join clubs on campus, and stay active within the community. Not only are you learning interpersonal skills, but being involved is how you are going to build your network. Networking is very crucial when applying to jobs. You never know how someone can and will play a certain role in your life and in helping you secure a position or by passing along information of opportunities. Ask the successful people that you know how they got to where they are. I bet most of them knew someone who assisted them in landing the position/s needed to be successful.

On that note, be nice to everyone! You never know when you might run into them again and if they might be your boss someday. What goes around certainly comes around.

And finally, it isn't just about who you know. You may know someone who could get you that job you've been eying... but will they? Are you someone with integrity and reliability? Use your time at college to build who you are and become that person no company could turn away.