Let me start off by saying congratulations on your graduation. If this is your first degree, this should be a proud moment for you. It is necessary, however, for you to stay focused in these final months before you walk across the stage. While the term “senioritis” normally applies to high school students, it can also apply to college seniors, and you should work to avoid it. Ensure that you are putting in the time to complete those final assignments, as your degree and final GPA depend on it.
For those of you who have “moved away” to college, here are some tips to push you in the right direction:
- Have you submitted your “Intent to Graduate?” At this point, you need to have a conversation with your academic adviser to ensure that you have met all of your academic requirements needed for graduation. Most schools should have emailed you the “Intent To Graduate” instructions by now; if not, then visit your academic adviser. At other schools, this may not be a necessity, and with any luck, you will know where you stand with regards to graduating without having to ask.
- Your resume and cover letter should be up-to-date and prepared to be posted on job boards. If it’s ready to go, don’t delay in trying to secure yourself a job. If you haven’t created a cover letter or resume, or don’t know where to start, move on to the next tip.
- If you haven’t done so already, visit your college career center. Trust me, career centers are great resources. When I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree, the assistance from the Penn State Career Center landed me a job in New York the day before I graduated. Even if you think you are prepared for your life after college, still, make an appointment. Further reading: The Benefits of Career Centers.
- Check your closet; do you have a suit or appropriate attire ready for possible interviews that will pop up over the next few months?
- Aim for paid jobs. If you’re graduating with a Bachelor’s degree, then ideally you should not be looking for internships at this point. There are quite a few entry-level jobs out there; go for those.
- (Applies to on or off-campus students) You need to decide whether you are staying at or near your college, or if you are going to move back in with your parents. This is 2012; there should be no shame moving back in with your family.
- (Applies to on or off-campus students) If you’re living off campus, then you really need to take a survey of your belongings in your apartment. When I left Penn State, I had enough belongings to fill a U-Haul truck. I had bought a bed, a mini-fridge, a desk, a television, and a lot of other things that you bring with you to make your college room/apartment feel like home. You may not want to think about moving out, but it can be quite a process if you’ve accumulated a lot.
- If you’ve taken out student loans, you need to have a full understanding of their repayment conditions. If they are government loans, such as Stafford or Perkins, you will almost certainly be required to attend a question-and-answer session on campus.
- Typically, your payback begins six months after you have graduated, though in some cases the “grace period” is longer.
- You should have a plan in place to repay your student loans, which might include immediately finding a job. The bills will eventually begin rolling in, so carefully consider where that money will come from and what you can do to eliminate the loan as soon as possible.
Before I end this article, here is one tip that I wish someone told me when I graduated:
Don’t worry!
Things will work out. Life is stressful, and trust me, there are millions of students who are in the shoes as you. Stay focused, but don’t go crazy in the process.
If you have any questions please
