With the status of the economy today jobs are becoming harder and harder to find after graduation. College graduates with degrees in every field (Engineering, Biochemistry, Humanities, and Political Science just to name a few) are having a lot of trouble finding jobs after graduation. Many of these graduates end up working in administrative assistant jobs or interning because there aren't any other options. According to the CNN Money article Have Degree - and Pink Slip, "There are currently a record number of unemployed college graduates seeking work. So many, in fact, that they outnumber high school dropouts on the job hunt" (CNN Money.com).
If you want to get ahead of the game, then Graduating with Confidence is the perfect book for you. This book will show you how to make the most of your time outside of the classroom in order to define your career goals and take the extra initiative you will need to get that dream job.
Circle K, M.E.Ch.A., Delta Gamma, Crew, Resident Advisor...Ever heard of these?
Whether you've heard of them or not, it's time to start your research! The items listed above are names of ways that YOU can get involved. Circle K is a community service organization, Delta Gamma is a sorority, and Resident Advisors students who guide, mentor, and plan activities for students living in the residential halls.
Getting involved on campus not only has professional benefits (meeting people who will become good friends and career contacts, learning new skills, building your resume), it can also be the highlight of your college experience.
There are a variety of on-campus opportunities available that you should be taking advantage of – join a karate club, work as a swim instructor, or attend an all-campus dance. The friends you make and the events you attend can make up some of your greatest college memories and your best future professional contacts. The wonderful part about getting involved is that it is entirely up to you. You get to choose what to be involved in, how involved you want to be, and how much time you want to spend. Regardless of if you join 20 clubs or if you just attend one on-campus event per quarter, taking the initiative to get involved will truly enhance your college experience.
Involvement on campus is one of the biggest factors in deciding whether you enjoy your time at your college. Many students go through college so focused on academics that when they graduate, they do not have very many fond memories of their college experience. The students who really enjoy their college years are the ones that joined fraternities/sororities and had weekend retreats in the mountains, worked on campus and made new friends with co-workers, or went to campus concerts and festivals.
In his article, “How to Help Students Achieve,” George Kuh describes how on-campus involvement gives students a better relationship with their college and improves their undergraduate experience, “When students are responsible for tasks that require daily decisions over an extended period, they become invested in the activity that deepens their commitment to the college and their studies. Our survey shows that members of athletics teams, choirs and bands, and fraternities and sororities tend to graduate at higher rates, in part because the momentum of the group carries them forward, buoying them during difficult times. They also derive personal satisfaction by being a part of something larger than themselves.” Being part of a group on campus can connect you with people who may be able to guide or support you during your college years.
So, it does not matter if your college has 40,000 people and a vibrant social atmosphere, or if you are attending a small, private college that appears to have no social life. Every college has a variety of unique opportunities available. And, more likely than not, if you are attending the small, private college and you are extremely involved, you will enjoy your college experience way more than those students at the other college who did not care to get involved.
It's summertime...the perfect time to start thinking about what organizations/activity/event you will join this upcoming year. Search your University's website (go to "Student Affairs" or "Student Life" and look for a listing of all of the organizations) and see what peaks your interest. If you can, email the president/advisor to learn more about the organization and how you can join. If you really want to be part of an organization that doesn't exist (i.e., "underwater basket weaving"), create your own! Next thing you know, you'll have a group of like-minded friends to get together and have fun with.
There are a variety of on-campus opportunities available that you should be taking advantage of – join a karate club, work as a swim instructor, or attend an all-campus dance. The friends you make and the events you attend can make up some of your greatest college memories and your best future professional contacts. The wonderful part about getting involved is that it is entirely up to you. You get to choose what to be involved in, how involved you want to be, and how much time you want to spend. Regardless of if you join 20 clubs or if you just attend one on-campus event per quarter, taking the initiative to get involved will truly enhance your college experience.
Involvement on campus is one of the biggest factors in deciding whether you enjoy your time at your college. Many students go through college so focused on academics that when they graduate, they do not have very many fond memories of their college experience. The students who really enjoy their college years are the ones that joined fraternities/sororities and had weekend retreats in the mountains, worked on campus and made new friends with co-workers, or went to campus concerts and festivals.
In his article, “How to Help Students Achieve,” George Kuh describes how on-campus involvement gives students a better relationship with their college and improves their undergraduate experience, “When students are responsible for tasks that require daily decisions over an extended period, they become invested in the activity that deepens their commitment to the college and their studies. Our survey shows that members of athletics teams, choirs and bands, and fraternities and sororities tend to graduate at higher rates, in part because the momentum of the group carries them forward, buoying them during difficult times. They also derive personal satisfaction by being a part of something larger than themselves.” Being part of a group on campus can connect you with people who may be able to guide or support you during your college years.
So, it does not matter if your college has 40,000 people and a vibrant social atmosphere, or if you are attending a small, private college that appears to have no social life. Every college has a variety of unique opportunities available. And, more likely than not, if you are attending the small, private college and you are extremely involved, you will enjoy your college experience way more than those students at the other college who did not care to get involved.
It's summertime...the perfect time to start thinking about what organizations/activity/event you will join this upcoming year. Search your University's website (go to "Student Affairs" or "Student Life" and look for a listing of all of the organizations) and see what peaks your interest. If you can, email the president/advisor to learn more about the organization and how you can join. If you really want to be part of an organization that doesn't exist (i.e., "underwater basket weaving"), create your own! Next thing you know, you'll have a group of like-minded friends to get together and have fun with.
Here's an A-Z list of student orgs to give you an idea of what is available:
A-Z List of Student Orgs
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Advertising and Marketing Club
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Jane Goodall Institute Roots and Shoots organization
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Scuba Diving Club
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Ballroom Dance Club
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Korean Student Cultural Association
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Triathlon Club
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Circle K
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Latin American Student Association
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Undergraduate Business Society
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Delta Delta Delta Sorority
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MEChA club
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Vegetarian Cooking Club
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ENGINuity
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National Society of Collegiate Scholars
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Women in Science and Engineering
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Filmmakers Association
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Outdoor Adventure Club
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X-Men Fanatics
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Green Campus
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Psi Chi, Psychology Honor Society
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Yoga Club
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Hip Hop Club
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Queer Student Union
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Zeta Phi Ro Fraternity
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Ice Hockey Club
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Residence Hall Association
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