life after college essay

Essay on Life After College

Students are often asked to write an essay on Life After College in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Life After College

Stepping into the real world.

Graduating from college is like opening a new book. It’s exciting and thrilling, but also a bit scary. You’re stepping into the real world, leaving behind the safety of school life. You’re no longer a student, but a young adult ready to make your mark.

Finding a Job

The first thing most people do after college is look for a job. This can be tough. It’s not just about finding any job, but finding the right one. You’ll need to think about what you studied, your interests, and where you see yourself in the future.

Managing Money

Once you start working, you’ll begin to earn money. But with money comes responsibility. You’ll need to learn how to manage it wisely. This means budgeting, saving, and spending carefully. It’s a big part of adult life.

Living Independently

After college, you might move out of your parents’ house and live on your own. This means taking care of yourself, cooking your own meals, and paying your own bills. It’s a big step, but it’s also a chance to grow and learn.

Continuing Education

Just because you’ve finished college doesn’t mean you stop learning. You might decide to get a higher degree, or learn new skills for your job. Life after college is full of opportunities to keep growing and learning.

250 Words Essay on Life After College

Life after college is like stepping into a new world. It’s like moving from a small pond into a big ocean. The safety and comfort of college life are replaced by new challenges and opportunities.

Job Hunting

Firstly, you start looking for a job. This can be tough because you are competing with many others. You need to make your resume stand out. You might face rejection, but don’t lose hope. Keep trying until you find the right job.

Independence

Next, you experience more independence. You may move to a new city for work. You have to manage your own money, rent, bills, and food. It’s a chance to learn and grow.

Building Relationships

Also, you will meet new people. You build relationships with colleagues, bosses, and clients. These relationships can help you in your career. They can also bring joy and support in life.

Continuous Learning

Lastly, learning doesn’t stop after college. You learn new skills at work. You may even go back to school for more education. You continue to learn and grow throughout your life.

In conclusion, life after college is an exciting journey. It’s filled with challenges, but also opportunities. It’s a time to learn, grow, and make your mark in the world.

500 Words Essay on Life After College

Starting a new chapter.

When you finish college, you start a new chapter in your life. This time is full of changes and can be both exciting and scary. It’s like stepping into a whole new world, where you’re no longer a student but a grown-up with responsibilities.

One of the first things most people do after college is look for a job. This can be tough, especially if you don’t have much work experience. You might have to send out many resumes and go to a lot of interviews before you find the right job. But don’t lose hope! Just keep trying and remember that every no brings you closer to a yes.

Learning to Manage Money

After college, you also need to learn how to manage your money. This means making a budget, paying bills, and saving for the future. It’s important to be careful with your money and not spend it all at once. Try to save a little bit each month, even if it’s just a few dollars.

Making New Friends and Keeping Old Ones

Life after college also means making new friends and keeping in touch with old ones. You might move to a new city for a job and have to make new friends. Or you might stay in the same place but lose touch with college friends as you all get busy with work. It’s important to make time for friends and keep your social life active.

Taking Care of Your Health

Another important part of life after college is taking care of your health. This means eating healthy, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. It can be easy to neglect your health when you’re busy with work, but it’s important to make it a priority.

Planning for the Future

Finally, life after college is a time to start planning for the future. This might mean thinking about where you want to live, whether you want to get married and have kids, and what kind of career you want to have. It’s a time to dream big and set goals for yourself.

In conclusion, life after college is a time of change and growth. It can be challenging, but it’s also an exciting time full of possibilities. So don’t be afraid to take risks and make the most of this new chapter in your life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on What Makes A Man Truly Human
• Essay on What Makes A Hero
• Essay on What Makes A Great Teacher

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Life after college – Definition essay

Introduction

In my essay, I define what life after college means to most people based on my experience and some general assumptions. There is a certain feeling amongst most students that their life will be different after they leave college compared to if they entered the working world without going to college. My essay defines the experience most students expect to have after leaving college.

The Qualification

A student leaves college with a qualification. The qualification – whether academic (degree) or vocational (certificate or diploma) usually garners respect. This respect comes from either the wider community (usually for academic qualifications) or from specialists and employers (vocational qualifications). There is also usually respect and a sense of pride and achievement from members of the graduate’s family.

Time to become an adult

Many students believe that being in college extends the amount of time they are not yet part of the adult society. This is because students may continue to live with their parents when they are studying, which means house rules similar to those the student had as a child. Alternatively, a student may live in a college dorm, which too may be considered an extension of childhood because there are a lot of rules in dorm–especially when it comes to adult behavior such as smoking, drugs, sex, parties and drinking. It is therefore not illogical to assume that under these circumstances a student experiences an extended childhood.

Getting a job for a better wage

Life after college should mean that a graduate gets a job that pays more money than someone who didn’t go to college. This is true in many cases, though the current economic climate, a qualification or degree of any kind is no guarantee of a job and no guarantee of a higher wage. There are even arguments that experience counts for more in some industries. In jobs where experience is more important than qualifications, the student with the degree is at a disadvantage.

Having to work after being in extended education

Having to work a full-time job after being in extended education is another aspect that defines life after college. A graduate has to adapt from being in college with a fairly easy-going timetable to being in a job with rigorous timeframes. There may be far fewer opportunities to expand knowledge, and a job may become mundane very quickly. There is also the fact that the person may not have much experience working for a boss or working with coworkers and may struggle in adapting to the working life.

Life after college can be defined as when students become adults, when they learn how to work and fit into a corporate environment and when they may get a better wage than if they were unqualified. None of these definitions are set in stone, as there are so many possibilities open to students when they leave college, but the definition given is the one most expected and most experienced by students, both in college and those who have left college.

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21 Things Nobody Tells You When You Graduate College

I have never been invited to give a commencement address at a college. This is disappointing because, for the first time in my life, I own a sports coat that fits and a belt that is not two-sided.

I might be considered too young, as I am only 39, despite the gray hair I’ve acquired that prompted a TSA agent to recently proclaim, “You sure that’s you?” upon seeing my dark-haired driver’s license.

But I have spent 17 years in the workforce. I’ve worked at big companies and small ones. I’ve been promoted and fired. I’ve started my own business. I found and left my dream job. I’ve learned a lot, mostly the wrong way (and would prefer you didn’t). So before you throw your cap in the air — or at least before you stage an Instagram photo of you throwing your cap in the air — allow me to share some things nobody will tell you.

The real world is more fun than grumpy adults have ever told you.

Don’t listen to people in their 40s who act like the best part of your life ends the minute you get your diploma. Is the real world all cotton candy and unicorn rides? No. But sometimes, misery loves company and recruits it too. When you start a new job there will inevitably be a group of people there who don’t like their job and don’t like being an adult. Avoid these people like the plague. They’ve bought into the cultural lie that a “job is just a job” and that you should only work for the weekend. Nonsense. Your job can be meaningful. Your weekdays can matter.

One of your friends will be instantly successful.

They will move to New York or San Francisco and make finding a great job seem easy. They will earn the kind of money that allows you to pay for your own HBOGo pass instead of stealing your parents’. You will hate them at least a little bit because watching their meteoric rise through the filtered window of social media will make you feel like it will never happen for you. Don’t get caught in the trap of comparison.

Your first job might not involve your major in a major way.

That’s only a minor problem though. You have 40 years to reunite your job with your major — or to find out your major may not have major bearing on what you do in life.

Your 20s are lonelier than you think they’ll be.

They’re glamorized in culture, presented as the time of your life. As you bingewatch an entire season of House of Cards on Netflix, you will wonder, Is every other person my age at an amazing party right now that I didn’t know about? They’re not. The truth is, when you leave college, you leave the tightest, largest concentration of people who are your age. Suddenly, you’re scattered around the country and community won’t involve walking out onto the quad. You’ll have to fight for it. That’s not failure, that’s reality. Seek it out. It’s not easy to make friends as an adult but it’s definitely possible if you’ll be brave.

Being an adult comes with an obscene amount of paperwork.

Stay on top of it. Taxes, 401K enrollment, healthcare, apartment contracts… Prepare to be awash in forms that make the Apple iTunes agreement seem pleasant. Don’t ignore the paperwork. I once did and assumed the company I worked for would handle a healthcare issue I had. (I thought I had kidney stones; turns out it was just an ultimate Frisbee injury. What an adult I was!) I threw the paperwork in the trash. I didn’t think anything of it until years later when a collection agency came after me for $81 and my credit was garbage.

Your generation gets unfairly labeled for entitlement. Don’t accept that.

Be humble at work. Show up with questions and a willingness to learn. Don’t act like you know everything already. You don’t, but you know what? Neither do we. People my age and the generations older than I am are a little afraid of you sometimes. We’re scared of the technologies you might know about that we’ve never even heard of. We don’t want to look dumb when we ask, “What is YikYak?” The truth is, we need you, just like you need us.

Pay attention in meetings.

Roughly 93% of your job depends on your ability to do this. You might have been able to tune out in a class of 400 people for an hour but if you try that in a meeting at work, people are going to notice. Don’t text under the table with your phone either. We can see you.

Treat email like it matters.

The other 7% of your job will be managing email. I sure wish it wasn’t because I hate email. (In fact, if you want to give me feedback about this article, just tweet me @JonAcuff instead. Feel free to say, “@JonAcuff your commencement tips are awesome/suck” depending on how you think it’s going.) You have to communicate clearly in your emails. You need to respond to your managers and coworkers quickly. You need to stay out of stupid passive-aggressive traps, like CCing someone’s superior, as a veiled threat. Work your inbox like it’s your job. Because it is.

Take risks.

You don’t have mortgages or kids or other responsibilities yet. Want to go abroad for a year and make a micro-salary teaching English? Want to start a business specializing in a heritage breed of rabbits for hipsters who are tired of suburban chickens already? Go for it. What’s the worst that can happen? You try it for a year, it fails and now you’re 23. You’ve got the rest of your life to play it safe.

Don’t put off your college loans.

The 9,000-pound elephant/gorilla/large scary animal in the corner is your student loans. Sallie Mae doesn’t mess around. Ignoring that you owe money doesn’t make the loans go away. Paying them back does.

Hold your money with an open hand.

Money is a something that pretends to be an Everything. It’s perfectly fine to take a job for a few years just to pay the bills and get by. There’s nobility in that. As your career progresses though, be careful that you don’t chase money at the exclusion of everything else. The amount of cash that will make you perfectly happy is always a “little more.” It’s a never-ending chase that has hollowed out many a 40-year-old.

If you move home, make sure you bring an exit strategy with you.

Pay rent to your parents. Do your own laundry. Buy your own food. Have a deadline for how long you’re going to stay there. Home is comfortable but the distance between comfortable and complacent is surprisingly short. Just because you’re sleeping in the same room you had in middle school doesn’t mean you have to act like an adolescent. And if anyone tries to make you feel ashamed to be living at home with your parents, don’t listen to them.

Don’t spend all your time with idiots and then wonder why it’s hard to meet someone great to date.

If you moved to the desert and then told me the kayaking there is terrible, I would agree. Then I’d ask why you expected sand dunes to offer optimal water sports. “Become the kind of person you want to be with” might be clichéd advice best suited to Hallmark cards, but “Go where the people you want to be like are” isn’t.

Don’t ask to work from home the first week of your new job.

Though more companies are offering that option, it’s still a privilege, not a right.

Jump into the wild west of side jobs.

The days of having the same job for 40 years and then getting a gold watch when you retire are over. Hooray! Your job won’t be limited or defined by geography. The Internet has leveled the playing field. Anyone can connect with anyone. You don’t need a physical storefront or even a physical product to start a business. Your ability to make money will only be limited by your ability to hustle.

Figure out which part of your career needs the most work.

The best careers and biggest adventures are determined by our ability to invest in four distinct things: Relationships, Skills, Character and Hustle.

Don’t become a dinosaur.

Just because your formal education might have ended doesn’t mean you should stop learning. If you don’t keep old skills sharp and continue learning new ones your career will become obsolete.

Don’t burn many bridges.

Every industry is smaller than you think. Do your best to leave as many relationships intact at every job you have. Chances are, you’ll work with a lot of the same people again during your career.

Put your phone down when you’re talking to someone.

Nothing says “this job doesn’t matter to me” like staring into your phone when you’re having a face-to-face conversation with a co-worker. Want a simple way to build the kind of character that will serve you for a lifetime? Ignore your phone instead of the people you’re with.

Remember, it’s all an audition.

I am one of seven people in America who have not seen the musical “Hamilton.” Despite that fact, I do know a thing or two about the audition process. That’s because full-time jobs are getting harder to find as more companies lean on the contract model. They’ll hire you on a part-time basis or even as a full-time contractor, but won’t jump into a long-term relationship without testing you out first. That’s not failure, that’s the future. Treat it like an audition. You might feel like just an understudy stuck backstage, but you’re not. You’re proving to that company you have what it takes to earn a leading role. Don’t have a “full time job or nothing” attitude when it comes to your job search. Today’s job market demands flexibility, hustle and occasionally tap dancing.

Drake was right.

You are going to start at the bottom. That’s OK. Put your pride aside and recognize this as a starting point. This isn’t your final job, it’s your first job. You’ve got one foot on the ladder and now you get to climb it. Give yourself time and be patient.

Welcome to the real world, where people who are almost 40 reference Drake in a thinly veiled attempt to seem hip. I’m not. I need you to teach me about what’s coming next. So does everyone else.

Congratulations on finishing college.

Congratulations on joining the real world.

We’ve been waiting for you.

Jon Acuff is the author of five books, including the recent Do Over : Rescue Monday, Reinvent Your Work & Never Get Stuck, which focuses on building a long-lasting career by investing in a “ Career Savings Account .”

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• College Life Essay

Anticipated Experiences During Our College Life

College Life is one of the most remarkable and lovable times of an individual's life. Unlike School Life, College Life has a different experience, and a person needs to have this experience in his/her life. College Life exposes us to whole new experiences which we always dream of experiencing after our school life. Lucky are those who get the chance to enjoy their college life, as many people don't get this chance due to their circumstances or financial issues. For every person, College Life has a different meaning. While some people spend their college life partying with friends, others become more cautious about their careers and study hard. Whatever the way, every individual enjoys their college life and always wishes to relive that time once it is over.

College Life Experience: How is it different from School Life?

Both school life and college life is the most memorable time of a person's life, but both of them are quite different from each other. While in School life, we learn everything in a protected environment, College Life exposes us to a new environment where we have to learn new things and face new challenges by ourselves. We spend half of our young lives in school, and thus we get comfortable living in that environment. But College Life is for three years only, where every year introduces new challenges and lessons to us. While in school, our teachers and friends always protect and guard us, in college life we form a relationship with our mentors, and they don't protect us all the time as our school teachers did. 

Unlike school life, we don't have many limitations in college life, and it is up to us how we want to spend our college life. In college life, we see new faces and experience a unique environment in which we have to mingle ourselves. We make new friends there who stay with us for the rest of our lives. Also, we get a chance to shape our careers asking the right decisions and studying hard. College life is not only about the study but also about the overall development of an individual through various activities and challenges.

In College Life, one gets a chance to make their own decisions. In school life, students get an opportunity to be class monitors. In College Life, an individual gets a chance to nominate himself/herself for more prominent positions like College President, Vice President, Secretary, and Vice Secretary. Apart from deciding the course and stream, an individual gets a chance to build his/her confidence by being a part of various societies and events that take place all year.

Different from School Life, College Life has its importance in a person's life, and one should always enjoy his/her college life.

A Bridge Between Our Student and Adult Lives

College life is considered a bridge in our lives between our school days and our career. It prepares us with the finest academics and platform to generate dreams into realities. It acts as a transition to prepare us to be more independent. In school, we were dependent on our parents. However, we became independent in college regarding studying, traveling, decision-making, and financially independent after college. It is a valued and very smooth transition where we do not realize that we have become independent. 

Some Fun Memories from College Life

Firstly, some of the most fun memories of college are “college canteen”. The canteen is supposed to be where most of the students satisfy their hunger and hang out with their friends. 

Secondly, it’s the “annual fest” of the colleges. Fests always filled the student’s life with excitement and buzz. It gave new opportunities to explore, compare, compete and provide a platform to showcase their talent. It became a place where students take lots of pictures and record their experiences. 

Last but not the least, it’s the college trips. One of the best things in college life is field trips where they can go out and have quality time with their friends and teacher and learning experience. Field trips or just any other college trips are filled with stories and dramas. Every student has their own story to tell about their college trips. 

We should enjoy our college days as they cannot be brought back just like our school days. 

The Hardest Part of College Life

As a college student, the hardest part of college life was leaving college after graduation or post-graduation. The last days of college were the hardest, knowing that soon you will be departing your friends, the campus, teachers and completely leaving behind a part of life.  

My College Days Experience

Talking about my college life, I had enjoyed my college life to the fullest and had some of the best college days of my life. I was a student of one of the most reputed colleges of Delhi University and, i.e. Gargi College. I have completed my B.A. (Hons.) in Applied Psychology from there. Gargi College is one of the renowned and best colleges of Delhi University. Built in a larger area, it is a beautiful college with many courses in streams like Science, Commerce, Arts, and Humanities. With an outstanding academic record, it is a girls college.

When I took admission to this college, I was really afraid as all the people were new to me. But soon, I started enjoying my college life and made some fantastic friends. I loved everything about my college and participated in the events at my college. Even I joined the dance society of my college and participated in many dance competitions that occurred in different colleges of Delhi University. 

One of the best things about college life is that you get a new experience every day. In my college life, along with studying, I and my friends enjoyed a lot of other things. We traveled to lots of places, had new experiences, and learned many new things. Our college's canteen was a remarkable place in my college life as whenever we got time, we used to chill in the canteen. 

Another thing I loved about my college life is Annual Fests. Every year, every college of Delhi University organizes an annual fest that lasts for 2-3 days. In this annual fest, various competitions happen, and students from various colleges come to be a part of this annual fest. Every year, our college organizes a massive annual fest and all the students of our college participate in various events and enjoy a lot in this fest. These fests allow students to socialize with new people and showcase their talent to everyone which builds their confidence and helps them in their future. I have participated in my college's annual fest for all three years, and I have got the best exposure and experience of my life through this fest. I had the best time of my life in college, and my college life memories will always make me happy.

Life After College

One fine day, you will be silently smiling with wet eyes, looking at the pictures from your college and old friends, and remembering all the good times you had in your college days. That is the beauty of studying in a college. Despite climbing the ladders of success, you will cherish the memories of your college life.

College Life is a remarkable and essential time in a person's life, and everyone should enjoy it. College Life teaches us many things and builds our confidence to face the challenges and struggles in our future. Instead of just focussing on the study, a person must participate in other activities and socialize as much as possible in his/her college life as all these things help in the overall development of a person.

FAQs on College Life Essay

Q1. What is the difference between college life and school life?

When compared to each other, they both are completely different from each other. College life provides us with different opportunities to explore to nurture our confidence in the outside world. In school, the teacher acts as a monitor whereas, in college, they act like our friends, and not to forget, in college, we face more challenges than we had in our school.

Q2. Explain some of the common memories of college life.

Whenever you hear the word college, the first thing that comes to our mind is “college canteen”. The most beloved place for every student was to feed their empty stomach, spend time with friends, and create thousands of memories. Another most common memory is of the annual fest that bought buzz in every student’s life.

Q3. Why are colleges necessary?

When we go to school, they ensure that we have common educational knowledge. Whereas in college, we get specialization in a particular field we want to pursue as our career. That’s the reason our school friends get scattered in various colleges to make their dreams a reality and open better career options.

Q4. Which two things need to be focused on the most in college?

The two most important things in college are the Grade Point Average (GPA) and your participation in other co-curricular activities.

Navigating Life After College: Tips From a 25-Year-Old

A class of 2017 grad shares his advice for combatting post-graduation anxiety.

Editor's note: The following essay was contributed by Lute Moss, a sales development representative on Handshake's Employer team. To learn more about life as a Handshake SDR, check out this post !

Forget the “Sunday Scaries”—not knowing what comes after graduation can feel like the most nerve-wracking moment of all. Like many graduating students, I had no idea what my future held when I received my diploma only a few years ago.

Getting paid to do what you love doesn’t just magically happen. There are lessons you have to learn. There are obstacles you have to overcome. But guess what? Everything will be okay! How do I know? Well, I’ve gone through the ringer and come out the other side. (Not unscathed of course… but that’s the fun part!) Here are five suggestions, based on lessons I’ve learned, for navigating your way through those first few years after college.

Explore people, places, opportunities, and anything else you deem worthy of exploration. Use the uneasiness of not knowing your path yet to explore as many options as possible. Some people know exactly what they want to do from a young age, but if you’re like me, it’s not always that easy. Use this time as an opportunity to discover your likes, your dislikes, and people you do and don’t enjoy spending time with. It’s a great time to discover areas where you truly excel, and identify other things that you might need to work on.

College is an amazing time in your life. Many people view it as the first time you truly have the ability to make your own decisions. However, I’d argue the first few years out of school is even more freeing. Why? College is structured, while post-grad life is not. You can learn to thrive in this environment by exploring as much as you can, as often as possible.

2. Define what success means for you

Trust me: this is not as straightforward as it sounds. Success means different things for different people. What’s important to you? 50 years from now, who do you want to be?

Before you define what success means for you, consider defining your value system. Knowing your values — a system of principles based on what is most important to you, and what is least important — is critical when understanding what you want out of life. Don’t overestimate the amount of time you have to figure this out; life starts now, and trust me, it goes by fast.

3. Read everything

Read short books. Read long books. Read books about history. Read books about fantasy. Read The Defining Decade by Meg Jay. Read news articles. Choose a random book, from a random bookstore, from a random part of town, and read it.

If I were to give a single piece of advice to any young twenty-something, it would be to get into the habit of reading as often as possible.

It’s hard to read for pleasure when you’re in school because there’s always another assignment waiting in the wings, or a test to study for, or some task to check off some list while working towards your degree. But don’t let the years of school-mandated textbooks distract you from continuing your self-education after college! The more you know, the more you’ll grow.

4. Get off Facebook for a while

While you’re at it, get off Instagram and Snapchat for a while too. Everyone needs an occasional break from social media, and taking that break right after finishing college is the perfect time. Trying to navigate your own life’s challenges and goals as a young professional is difficult enough without spending time looking at your peers’ highlight reels; comparison can hinder your own self-discovery period.

There's no denying that social media is an amazing tool to communicate with the world—it’s how you can build your own digital brand, communicate with potential employers, and more. So if you can’t go cold turkey, simply be mindful of the way you’re using social media. Scrolling through TikTok is fun until you realize you’ve seen the same video four times and wasted hours of your life. (Trust me… I have firsthand experience with this!)

5. Be intentional

The biggest mistake I made coming out of college was not being intentional about what I was doing, or considering why I was doing it. Do you want to own your own business one day? Great! Use Handshake’s network of employers to find somewhere to work that will teach you skills applicable to that goal. How about having a family at some point? Amazing. Now is a great time to start making responsible financial decisions, and thinking about where you might see yourself living in the future.

In your early 20s, you’re not expected to have life all figured out—but that doesn’t mean you can’t be purposeful about what you do. There are many ways to be intentional, but for me it meant writing down goals: yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals. This helped me become purposeful about paving a path for myself to become successful. Setting measurable goals can help motivate you when you wake up every morning. Try it! You might just find that life after college becomes easier to navigate when you do.

Find the right jobs for you. Get hired.

Related stories, most recent stories.

How to Plan for a Future After College

In this article, CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Expert Meaghan shares tips for how students can take steps to plan for a future after college. For more guidance on planning for the future and the college application process in general,  sign up to work with an admissions coach 1-on-1.

Life After College

As a high school student, you might feel like everything has been leading up to the college process. And, in a way, it has. However, as you enter the college process, don’t view college as the finish line. It’s a new beginning.

The college application process is actually a great time to start thinking about your life after college. As you develop your college essays and build your candidate profile, you’ll consider your broader story. In other words, who you are and what has influenced you. You’ll reflect on your values and decide who you want to be as an individual and as a community member. All of these things are just as important—if not more so—than the school you attend.

There are many ways to explore your interests and define your values. Identifying what you enjoy doing and learning about will help you determine your goals and how you can achieve them.

As you grow and try new things, you may pivot, and that’s okay! You don’t need to know everything about your future right now. However, exploring, planning, and goal-setting can help clarify your vision.

Explore Your Interests

We’ve all been asked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Usually, the answer is something that you’re good at or something that you enjoy, and ideally, it’s both. Sometimes the answer is not so easy. Thankfully, there are many different ways to explore your interests and passions that can help shape your plan.

Academic Coursework

Think about the classes that you’ve taken throughout high school. Did you gravitate more to STEM or social sciences? Did you love your music and art electives, or were you more excited about your computer programming elective?

The classes that you enjoyed most can be an eye-opener to what you might want to pursue in the future. Use your junior and senior years of high school to take higher-level courses in your favorite subjects (AP, IB, Honors). Take advantage of exciting electives that your school might offer. In addition, check with your guidance counselor to see if you can pursue dual-degree classes at your local college or community college.

Your academic interests can also help you better understand how you view your role in the world beyond the classroom. For example, if you love history, ask yourself why that is. Do you have a passion for helping people’s stories be told? Do you want to learn from the past such that we can bring those lessons to the future?

Most students won’t ultimately spend their lives in classrooms. Classes—in both college and high school—teach us practical skills. They also teach us how to exist in a community with one another. As you develop your interests, keep an eye on how these interests inform your relationship to the world around you.

The workplace is changing, and many of today’s jobs—particularly in science and technology—did not exist twenty years ago. As a high school student, you don’t need to know exactly what you want to do as an adult. Instead, use this time to pay attention to the ideas, relationships, and spaces that engage you. Find your passions, and follow them—they might surprise you!

Extracurricular Activities

Once you’ve narrowed down your general interests, you can further explore them through extracurricular activities. For example, if sports are your thing, you might want to join an athletic team or volunteer as a team manager. Maybe you love STEM classes but want to explore engineering. Join an engineering club or pursue research. It is a great way to learn more about what a future in that field would look like. Perhaps education is your passion and you love working with kids—there are many volunteer and part-time job opportunities out there when it comes to tutoring, camp counseling, and babysitting.

Extracurricular activities also allow you to function as an individual in a less structured setting. While leadership roles might look good on college applications, these roles are made more valuable for the interpersonal skills that they help you develop. Don’t view your extracurriculars as a means to an end; instead, use them to greater understand the kind of person you want to be.

Get Experience for After College

The best way to solidify your interests is through experience. By undertaking internships and work positions, you’ll get a taste of adult life. These opportunities will also help you learn about the roles you might want to pursue after college.

Internship/Externship

An externship is a short-term experience that provides you the opportunity to shadow a professional in their day-to-day work and ask them questions about their job. This is a great way to get a better understanding of different career paths in an informal setting with a low time commitment.

An internship consists of meaningful and practical work experience that gives you a taste of a career in a particular field. In high school, internships typically occur during the summer. However, you can check with your guidance counselor to see if your school offers credit for internships during the school year. Hands-on experience in a field that interests you can help you determine whether you want to seek additional opportunities in that area.

When having these experiences, be sure to ask questions that will help you determine if you can see yourself working in that field. Think about what level of education is needed for the job, what major people in that particular field typically study in college, what excites them most about the job, and what they like least about the job.

If you choose to intern, keep in mind that every workplace is different. Use these opportunities to develop your career skills as well as your interpersonal skills.

Whether you are interested in STEM, the social sciences, or anything in between, research is a great experience to have before heading off to college. Check out your local college to see if there are research opportunities available for high school students. By performing research, you will gain deep expertise in a topic while also learning research skills and methodology. This will be very valuable when you write papers in college or pursue research in the future. If there are no local opportunities, don’t be afraid to reach out to professors who are conducting research on a topic you are interested in and see if you can connect virtually.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to support your local community while also gaining experience. For example, if you are interested in the environment and sustainability, you can help out with beach cleanups and food recovery. Not only will this help you obtain a deeper understanding of the different facets of environmental sciences, but you will also be providing an important service that has widespread benefits. You can find many different volunteer opportunities for a range of fields both through your high school and by searching externally.

Above all, if you choose to volunteer, do so because you  genuinely want to . Don’t use volunteer opportunities to pad your college applications, and be wary of entering into other people’s communities.

Align Interests to Potential Careers

Once you have a better understanding of what subjects and activities you enjoy, it’s time to identify different careers that align with your interests. Remember that there are many possibilities available, so consider various options before narrowing them down further.

Though colleges ask applicants to present a cohesive application narrative, this does not mean that you need to decide your career at age 18. As stated, college should be a beginning rather than an ending. Think about who you are, what interests you, and what you value. Use this to inform your career and life goals.

Life After College: Final Thoughts

Finally, as you plan your future, remember to keep an open mind. For example, you may find yourself being excited about a new field of study once you’ve started college, and that’s totally fine! It’s never too late to try something new, and you can always change your major or modify your plan.

This informational essay was written by  Meaghan Gee , Cornell ‘19. If you want to get help with planning your future from Meaghan or other  CollegeAdvisor.com  Admissions Experts ,  register with CollegeAdvisor.com today .

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Articles & Advice > Student Life > Articles

10 Ways to Prepare Now for a Great Life After College

There are many things you can do during college to build a great foundation for career success and life after graduation. Here are 10 steps to get started!

by Leon Collier Blogger and Academic Writer

Last Updated: Mar 16, 2023

Originally Posted: Apr 30, 2021

While college students have the freedom to manage their time a little more loosely, procrastination is a common affliction that affects most students, and sometimes you lose track of your goals. But prioritizing your schoolwork, skills, and knowledge creates a great foundation for your future career and postgrad success. These 10 tips can help you prepare well and plan for life after your college education.

1. Actively look for a job

The more you apply for appropriate job opportunities, the better chance you’ll have to be employed as soon as possible after graduation. Job boards, social media, and network referrals are some of the ways you can find career opportunities. Frustration may build if you’re applying for jobs and you don’t get an interview, especially during a time when so many others are looking for employment. You might want to stop, but the secret is to never give up. Always work to improve your résumé and ensure that you’ve listed relevant skills mentioned in each job post. Tailoring your application to every opportunity you find could make a world of difference to your job search success.  

Related: Job Search Advice for the Coronavirus Crisis  

2. Take on internships

As much as organizations need vibrant and youthful employees, they require people who demonstrate that they have the skills to do the job. Having internships in college will give you hands-on experience and the confidence to handle assignments and deadlines. If you’re an underclassman, you don’t have to wait until you graduate to start building your job experience . Long breaks and periods when you have fewer classes are the perfect time to take on internships.

3. Build your network

Active networking has a lot of benefits for career growth. When you surround yourself withpeople who have the same interests and goals as you, you’ll get new ideas, career support, job referrals, professional advice, and long-lasting personal relationships. Your network can be made up of professors, advisors, friends, family members, coworkers, or new people you interact with every day. Building a good reputation with these people and being a regular contributor in group settings will help you reap the maximum benefits of your network.

Related: How to Use Your College Network to Land a Job  

4. Find a mentor

Every successful professional has someone to look up to as a mentor or role model—someone who inspires them to reach greater heights. A mentor will guide you through your career and entrepreneurial journey by providing you with advice and encouragement and improving your overall life. Remember that a mentor should not do it for material gain; instead, they should be driven by the urge to help others succeed and want to share their success stories with you.

5. Stick to a budget

Even if you’re still in college, you need a way to manage your finances every day. Coming up with a financial plan can be a daunting task, but the trick is figuring out one that works for you by making adjustments until you’re satisfied. By creating and sticking to a budget , you’ll be able to track your income, identify situations where you’re spending the most money, cut the unnecessary spending, and funnel the extra cash into your goals and savings. But remember, a financial plan is not a fixed blueprint—it should be reviewed regularly and updated according to your lifestyle and changing circumstances. 

Related: Budgeting Basics for College Students, Plus Example Spreadsheet  

6. Refine your social media profiles and posts

LinkedIn is afoundation for personal branding. You should build a LinkedIn profile that strongly describes your professional skills and experiences to potential employers. A good account will have a professional profile picture, relevant skills, an eye-catching headline, and relevant highlighted job experiences. While you’re at it, polish your other social media networks too, like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Get rid of things that you wouldn’t want employers to see. It’s normal to have fun, but you need to protect your professional image online.

7. Service your loans

You may have sought financial assistance in the form of student loans to help finance your college costs. Help yourself out with those by boosting your pocket money now with a small business project or part-time job. There’s no secret formula to paying off your loans, but you can make financial sacrifices, stick to your budget, look for side hustles, and stay motivated to enjoy the power of living a debt-free life as soon as possible. Fast loan servicing means that you pay more than the minimum payment required every month, so be sure to factor that into your postgrad budget.

Related: 8 Ways to Pay Off Student Loans Faster and Save Money  

8. Follow your interests

Your interests are the most vital aspects of your career success. Take time to research what you love most and would enjoy doing every day concerning your field of study. While there are numerous factors that will influence you to drift away from your interests and career development , the most valuable thing is never losing focus until you see the results you seek. You should never choose a career based on salary, people’s influence, or prestige, as it may lead to dissatisfaction and job disqualification.

9. Have a clear plan

Failing to plan is planning to fail—it’s that simple. While you’re in college, you should create an outline of the path you wish your career to follow. This plan will help you see how far you progress in achieving your set goals and how far you still have to go. Map out how you’ll acquire job skills, manage class time and free time, and navigate the postgrad job search . This road map will motivate you to work harder and accomplish your life goals within a shorter period.

10. Prepare for your next step

If you’re still in college, preparing well for exams and avoiding last-minute cramming should also be part of your success plan. Schedule study time and make outlines with key points to help you comprehend what you need to pass your exams and ace your courses. For those about to enter the real world, putting your practical skills to use is vital to boosting your employment chances. Get as much hands-on experience as possible, whether it’s through part-time work, internships, or volunteering. And before any job interview, be sure to familiarize yourself well with your résumé, practice common interview questions , and research the hiring company. 

Related: 4 Great Ways to Start Thinking About Your Future Career

If you’re graduating this year and have put off some of these tasks, it’s not too late to get on track. Taking these steps will no doubt lead to a promising future, but it’s also crucial to relax, hang out with friends, and have fun to remedy stress. By finding a good balance between your educational, professional, and social activities, you’ll have the best job search experience and be ready to conquer the real world. Good luck!

Looking for an internship or your first postgrad job? Check out all the advice in our Internships and Careers section.

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — Graduation — Life After University: What I Want to Do After Graduation

What to Do after Graduation from University

• Categories: Graduation Life Goals

About this sample

Words: 485 |

Published: Jan 28, 2021

Words: 485 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

• A gap year.
• Studying a master’s degree in abroad.
• Travelling Asian countries after master.
• Do an internship for good job.
• Getting a job.

Works Cited:

• American Association of University Women. (2017). The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap. https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/simple-truth/
• Ahmed, L. (1992). Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate. Yale University Press.
• Khan, F. (2019). Hijab and Muslim Women's Dress: Beyond the Headscarf. Routledge.
• MeToo. (n.d.). Home. https://metoomvmt.org/
• National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2021). Sexual Harassment Statistics. https://www.nsvrc.org/statistics
• United Nations Development Programme. (2019). Gender Inequality Index. http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/gender-inequality-index-gii
• United Nations Women. (n.d.). Empowering Women. https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/empowering-women

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7 Things No One Tells You About Life After College

Does life get better after college? Here are 7 things you need to know about life after college that no one tells you.

Life does get better after college. Graduating college is merely the beginning of your life and there are many opportunities for you to find success in your life after college. If you are worried about what life will be like after college, I’ll be sharing these 7 honest truths about life after college.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing a product or service through an affiliate will earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please read our Disclaimer Policy for more information about the use of affiliate links on this site.

Life after college isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible either

The transition from college to adulthood can be quite a shock.

It’s no surprise, though, that after being in school for the past 20-ish years you’re used to the structure and the grind of learning something new, getting assessed on it, and going through the motions of moving up one grade-level at a time.

But now that college graduation is nearing, you are now being thrusted into the world of adulthood that’s full of uncertainty.

For some soon-to-be college graduates, the thought of life after college can be relieving. No more homework, no more tests, and no more teachers or professors controlling and sucking all the happiness from you.

But for others, life after college is frightening. There’s no true guide or manual to adulthood. You practically get handed a huge blank canvas and are told to paint whatever you want on it.

With all the uncertainty that comes with life after college, I am here to give you the inside scoop of what life after college graduation is really like: here are 7 things you need to know about life after college that no one tells you.

Life does get easier after college

The structure of school for the past 20 years has provided you a safe and consistent routine.

Get up, get dressed, go to school, do homework, eat, shower, and sleep–rinse and repeat–it’s a routine you can probably do blindfolded after being spun around 5 times.

However, once you graduate college, you’ll be surprised (if you haven’t recognized it already) how soul-sucking of a routine it is to go to school all day, do homework all night, and be expected to function day after day for 20 so years.

With that in mind–life after college is actually easier. Here’s how it gets easier…

Your success is no longer driven by letters

Grades in school are the absolute worse, especially if you’re wildly driven to succeed, study hard, and still do not get the grade you worked hard for. For some college students, grades can be anxiety-provoking and one bad grade can ruin their confidence.

Luckily, life after college means no more grades. And having no more grades can be so freeing. Now instead of grades, you’re working towards a paycheck, which can buy and get you a lot more than just an A+ written in red ink on your test ever could.

You get to pivot as much as you want

College places you in a weird situation where if you don’t settle on a college major, you’re going to be stuck in college way longer than you anticipated and spending more money just trying to find your pathway to a fulfilling degree.

However, if you do “settled” down with a major and want to change it later… well good luck graduating on-time.

Your life after college lets you pivot as much as you want.

You can literally start something and stop something whenever you want to and you can continue to progress through life.

New opportunities will always be right around the corner, as long as you seek them out, and there’s a lot of different pathways to success. In college, there’s only one pathway to success–passing one class at a time.

Money buys you happiness comfort

You’ve probably been told time and time again that money does not buy you happiness.

And while in some cases, money cannot buy you happiness–like working an extremely stressful job that pays well–in most cases, money does buy you happiness. But even more-so, money buys you comfort.

Having the money and knowing you have the money to pay for rent, groceries, gas, clothes, and non-essentials lifts a huge weight off of your shoulders.

However, many soon-to-be college graduates struggle with the thought of and making an action plan to start paying off their student loan debt.

According to Nerd Wallet , in 2018, the average student loan debt per student was $29,200. Knowing that you have to pay off that money, plus pay for your basic needs, can be overwhelming especially if you do not have a job lined up after college.

Here are a few things you can do before graduating to help ease your worried mind about student loan debt:

• Start building an emergency fund in college–begin with the goal of saving up $1000 and then go for a 3-month and then a 6-month emergency fund.
• Learn how to be more frugal with your money –like not buying a Starbucks coffee every morning, only buying things you absolutely need or buying second hand.
• Go to job fairs , be intentional with who you interact with, and make sure to follow up with the recruiter after the job fair.
• Get a part-time job and allocate 5-15% of each paycheck to help you pay off your student loans–every penny counts.
• Open up a savings account, like Qapital , that allows you to round up your purchases to the next dollar and use those round-ups to help you pay off your student loan debt.
• Do a deep cleaning of your college apartment and sell the items you won’t need post-graduation. You can use websites like eBay, Mercari, and Poshmark or even Facebook Marketplace to easily sell, advertise your listings, and communicate with potential buyers.

No one cares about your GPA after college

So you know GPA you worked your butt off for in college?

It doesn’t even matter after you walk across the stage at graduation.

Literally, no one in the real world or the workforce cares that you got an A+ in your organic chemistry class or if you got a C in statistics.

And no one goes around at parties using their GPA as an icebreaker.

Really all that truly matters is that you got the degree and, most importantly, that you can accurately apply the skills you learned in college.

Now if you are going for a Master’s Degree, Ph.D., medical degree, law degree, etc. your GPA does matter a whole bunch, so keep up the good work! But take what I’m saying into perspective though.

Of course, your GPA isn’t something you shouldn’t care about while you are in college. And I’m not telling you to do just the minimum in your classes. You pay good money for your classes, so make the most out of your education and strive to always do your best.

What I really mean is: your GPA does not necessarily guarantee you will be successful in life after college.

In other words, getting a 4.0 GPA doesn’t automatically result in you getting a 6-figure job out of college.

If it did, everyone and their mom would be striving for a 4.0 GPA. But do you know what could potentially result in a 6-figure salary after graduation?

Your experience and skills you have acquired during college.

So essentially if you are debating between a unique internship experience versus taking a few summer college classes to graduate early, take the internship!

That internship will look way better on your resume, you’ll be able to network with people in the industry, and potentially have a job lined up after graduating college.

And that’s a million times better than graduating early or stressing out about a B- on your last test.

You will lose touch with friends

Unfortunately, some of the friendships you made during college will dwindle once you graduate college.

You may slowly find yourself not speaking much to your sorority sisters post-college graduation or not reaching out to your previous roommates except for a few times a year on their birthday or around the holidays.

And it’s not because those friendships didn’t mean anything, they meant a lot to you at the time, but when you graduate college your priorities change.

No longer are you worried about studying for the next test or trying to see who wants to grab lunch with you on campus before your next class.

Now your focus is on being in the workforce and creating a future for yourself whether that means starting your own business, starting your own family, or even moving across the country for a brand new job opportunity.

You may also like: 9 Steps You Can Take To Prepare Yourself For Life After College

Your friendships will naturally grow apart and you will find yourself keeping up with your friends from college from afar on social media like Instagram and Facebook. And this is all perfectly normal.

You will make new friends in your current stage of life and you will find comfort in the people who mean the most to you like your significant other, siblings, parents/guardians, and those one or two best friends from college or childhood.

Nowadays, two years post-college graduation, I rarely speak to any of my sorority sisters. Occasionally I will text my sorority littles , but it may be months before we catch up again. Instead, I spend a lot of time with my boyfriend, my twin sister, and my parents. And honestly, I’m content with that.

• You will always feel behind

One of the hardest parts about life after college is that you will constantly feeling like where you are in life isn’t good enough.

With social media platforms, like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and LinkedIn, it is easy to feel like where you are in life currently is 10 steps back from where everyone else is.

For example, you may feel angered seeing all your sorority sisters getting engaged, but you are still single and continuing to swipe right day in and day out.

Or, you may feel discouraged about the new job that you got at Target as a cashier, but everyone else on your Facebook feed is getting these sophisticated job titles at large cooperations.

It is normal to feel behind in life and honestly, everyone feels that way.

There will always be someone 10 steps ahead of you no matter what. But what is most important is that you find ways to be content about your life currently and take the necessary actions to mold your future into the way you want it to be.

How do you become more satisfied with your life? Here are some quick tips :

• Keep a gratitude journal like the Five-Minute Journal or simply keep a blank journal to jot down 2-5 things you are grateful for every morning.
• Start and end your day by focusing on yourself and your life by staying off social media the first hour you wake up and the hour before you go to bed.
• Reflect on your accomplishments and achievements. Those didn’t happen overnight, you made them happen. So take some time to reflect and write down your accomplishments and achievements. Save this list on your computer or in a journal and read it when you feel down about yourself. You can even use this list to help you create a resume or cover letter.
• Remind yourself that everyone is on their own journey and that there are probably other people in your life that wish they were you.
• Find or start a fulfilling hobby or side-hustle to fill up the time you would be spending on social media. And if you can monetize it or scale it up, even better!

It’s ok to not love your very first or second job after college

Many college graduates or soon-to-be college graduates get caught up trying to find the perfect first job out of college. But the truth is, the chances of you finding the perfect job out of college that you will be with until the day you retire is very slim.

You will most likely switch jobs many times before you find the job you want to stick with for the rest of your life.

Related: Adulting 101: How to Quit Your Job

And that’s ok because working the same job for 40 years would not allow you to grow as much or gain as many skills versus having three or more jobs throughout your lifetime.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , on average, a person will change their job 12 times within a lifetime. With half of those jobs being held between the ages of 18 to 24.

It’s ok to start your first job out of college and quit it within the first year.

Your first job out of college doesn’t have to be a long-term thing. You can pivot as soon as you see the red flags, and trust me, it is more worth it to quit a job to save your sanity and mental health than to struggle day-to-day to get up for a soul-crushing job.

Routines and systems are the keys to success

For you to be successful in your life after college, it is important for you to create sustainable routines and systems for yourself.

Having systems and routines in place such as…

• A morning routine
• An after-work routine
• A night routine
• A system to pay your monthly bills
• A system when you go grocery shopping
• A system to clean your home

Will help you keep your life more organized, productive, and manageable, especially when you are having a busier week.

I remember after graduating from college, I started my first job out of college as a vision therapist and moved into my first apartment with my boyfriend. And I felt completely overwhelmed by EVERYTHING.

Related: How to Use the Pomodoro Method to Boost Your Productivity

I would stay up at night thinking and feeling completely stressed out about how I would get rent paid, the laundry cleaned and put away, and when I would have time to go grocery shopping.

And I was a complete mental wreck the first two to three months of moving out of my parent’s house.

I ended up, over time, creating routines and systems for myself so I now have a plan to do laundry every weekend, to pay my bills on the 15th and 30th of each month, and to go grocery shopping bi-weekly every Saturday after I go for my morning run .

So if you are feeling overwhelmed by all the things you have to do when you start your life after college, start by setting aside just 5-minutes a day to do laundry or clean the dishes.

Then decide on a day when you will pay your bills.

If you are paid bi-weekly, plan to tackle your bills twice a month the day you get paid. And go from there. Soon you’ll be a pro at keeping your life together 99.9% of the time.

Concluding thoughts on life after college

There are a lot of unknowns about life after college. And there’s a lot that people won’t tell you about what it is really like after college.

In this blog post, we discussed 7 things no one tells you about life after college.

• Life gets easier after college
• Money buys you comfort more than happiness
• No one cares about your GPA after college, so don’t stress too much about it
• You will lose touch with your friends from college, but make new ones or get closer to the friends you still have
• It’s ok to not love your first or second job out of college
• Having routines and systems are the key to success

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 177 college essay examples for 11 schools + expert analysis.

College Admissions , College Essays

The personal statement might just be the hardest part of your college application. Mostly this is because it has the least guidance and is the most open-ended. One way to understand what colleges are looking for when they ask you to write an essay is to check out the essays of students who already got in—college essays that actually worked. After all, they must be among the most successful of this weird literary genre.

In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 11 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work. With links to 177 full essays and essay excerpts , this article is a great resource for learning how to craft your own personal college admissions essay!

What Excellent College Essays Have in Common

Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you write your own essay.

Visible Signs of Planning

Building out from a narrow, concrete focus. You'll see a similar structure in many of the essays. The author starts with a very detailed story of an event or description of a person or place. After this sense-heavy imagery, the essay expands out to make a broader point about the author, and connects this very memorable experience to the author's present situation, state of mind, newfound understanding, or maturity level.

Knowing how to tell a story. Some of the experiences in these essays are one-of-a-kind. But most deal with the stuff of everyday life. What sets them apart is the way the author approaches the topic: analyzing it for drama and humor, for its moving qualities, for what it says about the author's world, and for how it connects to the author's emotional life.

Stellar Execution

A killer first sentence. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: you have to suck the reader in, and the best place to do that is the first sentence. Great first sentences are punchy. They are like cliffhangers, setting up an exciting scene or an unusual situation with an unclear conclusion, in order to make the reader want to know more. Don't take my word for it—check out these 22 first sentences from Stanford applicants and tell me you don't want to read the rest of those essays to find out what happens!

A lively, individual voice. Writing is for readers. In this case, your reader is an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays before yours and will read thousands after. Your goal? Don't bore your reader. Use interesting descriptions, stay away from clichés, include your own offbeat observations—anything that makes this essay sounds like you and not like anyone else.

Technical correctness. No spelling mistakes, no grammar weirdness, no syntax issues, no punctuation snafus—each of these sample college essays has been formatted and proofread perfectly. If this kind of exactness is not your strong suit, you're in luck! All colleges advise applicants to have their essays looked over several times by parents, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who can spot a comma splice. Your essay must be your own work, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help polishing it.

And if you need more guidance, connect with PrepScholar's expert admissions consultants . These expert writers know exactly what college admissions committees look for in an admissions essay and chan help you craft an essay that boosts your chances of getting into your dream school.

Check out PrepScholar's Essay Editing and Coaching progra m for more details!

Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar.

Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges.

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Links to Full College Essay Examples

Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these.

Common App Essay Samples

Please note that some of these college essay examples may be responding to prompts that are no longer in use. The current Common App prompts are as follows:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you? 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of 177 college essay examples responding to current and past Common App essay prompts. 

Connecticut college.

• 12 Common Application essays from the classes of 2022-2025

Hamilton College

• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2026
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2018
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2012
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2007

Johns Hopkins

These essays are answers to past prompts from either the Common Application or the Coalition Application (which Johns Hopkins used to accept).

• 1 Common Application or Coalition Application essay from the class of 2026
• 6 Common Application or Coalition Application essays from the class of 2025
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2024
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2023
• 7 Common Application of Universal Application essays from the class of 2022
• 5 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2021
• 7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2020

Essay Examples Published by Other Websites

• 2 Common Application essays ( 1st essay , 2nd essay ) from applicants admitted to Columbia

Other Sample College Essays

Here is a collection of essays that are college-specific.

Babson College

• 4 essays (and 1 video response) on "Why Babson" from the class of 2020

Emory University

• 5 essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) from the class of 2020 along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on why the essays were exceptional
• 5 more recent essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on what made these essays stand out

University of Georgia

• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2019
• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2018
• 10 Harvard essays from 2023
• 10 Harvard essays from 2022
• 10 Harvard essays from 2021
• 10 Harvard essays from 2020
• 10 Harvard essays from 2019
• 10 Harvard essays from 2018
• 6 essays from admitted MIT students

Smith College

• 6 "best gift" essays from the class of 2018

Books of College Essays

If you're looking for even more sample college essays, consider purchasing a college essay book. The best of these include dozens of essays that worked and feedback from real admissions officers.

College Essays That Made a Difference —This detailed guide from Princeton Review includes not only successful essays, but also interviews with admissions officers and full student profiles.

50 Successful Harvard Application Essays by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson—A must for anyone aspiring to Harvard .

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays and 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe—For essays from other top schools, check out this venerated series, which is regularly updated with new essays.

Heavenly Essays by Janine W. Robinson—This collection from the popular blogger behind Essay Hell includes a wider range of schools, as well as helpful tips on honing your own essay.

Analyzing Great Common App Essays That Worked

I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay work. Full credit for these essays goes to the original authors and the schools that published them.

Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long)

I had never broken into a car before.

We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van.

Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back.

"Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?"

"Why me?" I thought.

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally. My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. "The water's on fire! Clear a hole!" he shouted, tossing me in the lake without warning. While I'm still unconvinced about that particular lesson's practicality, my Dad's overarching message is unequivocally true: much of life is unexpected, and you have to deal with the twists and turns.

Living in my family, days rarely unfolded as planned. A bit overlooked, a little pushed around, I learned to roll with reality, negotiate a quick deal, and give the improbable a try. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I definitely don't expect perfect fairness. So what if our dining room table only has six chairs for seven people? Someone learns the importance of punctuality every night.

But more than punctuality and a special affinity for musical chairs, my family life has taught me to thrive in situations over which I have no power. Growing up, I never controlled my older siblings, but I learned how to thwart their attempts to control me. I forged alliances, and realigned them as necessary. Sometimes, I was the poor, defenseless little brother; sometimes I was the omniscient elder. Different things to different people, as the situation demanded. I learned to adapt.

Back then, these techniques were merely reactions undertaken to ensure my survival. But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me.

Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence.

What Makes This Essay Tick?

It's very helpful to take writing apart in order to see just how it accomplishes its objectives. Stephen's essay is very effective. Let's find out why!

An Opening Line That Draws You In

In just eight words, we get: scene-setting (he is standing next to a car about to break in), the idea of crossing a boundary (he is maybe about to do an illegal thing for the first time), and a cliffhanger (we are thinking: is he going to get caught? Is he headed for a life of crime? Is he about to be scared straight?).

Great, Detailed Opening Story

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame.

It's the details that really make this small experience come alive. Notice how whenever he can, Stephen uses a more specific, descriptive word in place of a more generic one. The volunteers aren't going to get food or dinner; they're going for "Texas BBQ." The coat hanger comes from "a dumpster." Stephen doesn't just move the coat hanger—he "jiggles" it.

Details also help us visualize the emotions of the people in the scene. The person who hands Stephen the coat hanger isn't just uncomfortable or nervous; he "takes a few steps back"—a description of movement that conveys feelings. Finally, the detail of actual speech makes the scene pop. Instead of writing that the other guy asked him to unlock the van, Stephen has the guy actually say his own words in a way that sounds like a teenager talking.

Turning a Specific Incident Into a Deeper Insight

Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

Stephen makes the locked car experience a meaningful illustration of how he has learned to be resourceful and ready for anything, and he also makes this turn from the specific to the broad through an elegant play on the two meanings of the word "click."

Using Concrete Examples When Making Abstract Claims

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally.

"Unpredictability and chaos" are very abstract, not easily visualized concepts. They could also mean any number of things—violence, abandonment, poverty, mental instability. By instantly following up with highly finite and unambiguous illustrations like "family of seven" and "siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing," Stephen grounds the abstraction in something that is easy to picture: a large, noisy family.

Using Small Bits of Humor and Casual Word Choice

My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed.

Obviously, knowing how to clean burning oil is not high on the list of things every 9-year-old needs to know. To emphasize this, Stephen uses sarcasm by bringing up a situation that is clearly over-the-top: "in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed."

The humor also feels relaxed. Part of this is because he introduces it with the colloquial phrase "you know," so it sounds like he is talking to us in person. This approach also diffuses the potential discomfort of the reader with his father's strictness—since he is making jokes about it, clearly he is OK. Notice, though, that this doesn't occur very much in the essay. This helps keep the tone meaningful and serious rather than flippant.

An Ending That Stretches the Insight Into the Future

But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The ending of the essay reveals that Stephen's life has been one long preparation for the future. He has emerged from chaos and his dad's approach to parenting as a person who can thrive in a world that he can't control.

This connection of past experience to current maturity and self-knowledge is a key element in all successful personal essays. Colleges are very much looking for mature, self-aware applicants. These are the qualities of successful college students, who will be able to navigate the independence college classes require and the responsibility and quasi-adulthood of college life.

What Could This Essay Do Even Better?

Even the best essays aren't perfect, and even the world's greatest writers will tell you that writing is never "finished"—just "due." So what would we tweak in this essay if we could?

Replace some of the clichéd language. Stephen uses handy phrases like "twists and turns" and "don't sweat the small stuff" as a kind of shorthand for explaining his relationship to chaos and unpredictability. But using too many of these ready-made expressions runs the risk of clouding out your own voice and replacing it with something expected and boring.

Use another example from recent life. Stephen's first example (breaking into the van in Laredo) is a great illustration of being resourceful in an unexpected situation. But his essay also emphasizes that he "learned to adapt" by being "different things to different people." It would be great to see how this plays out outside his family, either in the situation in Laredo or another context.

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Example 2: By Renner Kwittken, Tufts Class of '23 (Common App Essay, 645 words long)

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration.

Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear.

I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

In the lab, Dr. Ray encouraged a great amount of autonomy to design and implement my own procedures. I chose to attack a problem that affects the entire field of nanomedicine: nanoparticles consistently fail to translate from animal studies into clinical trials. Jumping off recent literature, I set out to see if a pre-dose of a common chemotherapeutic could enhance nanoparticle delivery in aggressive prostate cancer, creating three novel constructs based on three different linear polymers, each using fluorescent dye (although no gold, sorry goldbug!). Though using radioactive isotopes like Gallium and Yttrium would have been incredible, as a 17-year-old, I unfortunately wasn't allowed in the same room as these radioactive materials (even though I took a Geiger counter to a pair of shoes and found them to be slightly dangerous).

I hadn't expected my hypothesis to work, as the research project would have ideally been led across two full years. Yet while there are still many optimizations and revisions to be done, I was thrilled to find -- with completely new nanoparticles that may one day mean future trials will use particles with the initials "RK-1" -- thatcyclophosphamide did indeed increase nanoparticle delivery to the tumor in a statistically significant way.

A secondary, unexpected research project was living alone in Baltimore, a new city to me, surrounded by people much older than I. Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research. Whether in a presentation or in a casual conversation, making others interested in science is perhaps more exciting to me than the research itself. This solidified a new pursuit to angle my love for writing towards illuminating science in ways people can understand, adding value to a society that can certainly benefit from more scientific literacy.

It seems fitting that my goals are still transforming: in Scarry's book, there is not just one goldbug, there is one on every page. With each new experience, I'm learning that it isn't the goldbug itself, but rather the act of searching for the goldbugs that will encourage, shape, and refine my ever-evolving passions. Regardless of the goldbug I seek -- I know my pickle truck has just begun its journey.

Renner takes a somewhat different approach than Stephen, but their essay is just as detailed and engaging. Let's go through some of the strengths of this essay.

One Clear Governing Metaphor

This essay is ultimately about two things: Renner’s dreams and future career goals, and Renner’s philosophy on goal-setting and achieving one’s dreams.

But instead of listing off all the amazing things they’ve done to pursue their dream of working in nanomedicine, Renner tells a powerful, unique story instead. To set up the narrative, Renner opens the essay by connecting their experiences with goal-setting and dream-chasing all the way back to a memorable childhood experience:

This lighthearted–but relevant!--story about the moment when Renner first developed a passion for a specific career (“finding the goldbug”) provides an anchor point for the rest of the essay. As Renner pivots to describing their current dreams and goals–working in nanomedicine–the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” is reflected in Renner’s experiments, rejections, and new discoveries.

Though Renner tells multiple stories about their quest to “find the goldbug,” or, in other words, pursue their passion, each story is connected by a unifying theme; namely, that as we search and grow over time, our goals will transform…and that’s okay! By the end of the essay, Renner uses the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” to reiterate the relevance of the opening story:

While the earlier parts of the essay convey Renner’s core message by showing, the final, concluding paragraph sums up Renner’s insights by telling. By briefly and clearly stating the relevance of the goldbug metaphor to their own philosophy on goals and dreams, Renner demonstrates their creativity, insight, and eagerness to grow and evolve as the journey continues into college.

An Engaging, Individual Voice

This essay uses many techniques that make Renner sound genuine and make the reader feel like we already know them.

Technique #1: humor. Notice Renner's gentle and relaxed humor that lightly mocks their younger self's grand ambitions (this is different from the more sarcastic kind of humor used by Stephen in the first essay—you could never mistake one writer for the other).

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver.

I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Renner gives a great example of how to use humor to your advantage in college essays. You don’t want to come off as too self-deprecating or sarcastic, but telling a lightheartedly humorous story about your younger self that also showcases how you’ve grown and changed over time can set the right tone for your entire essay.

Technique #2: intentional, eye-catching structure. The second technique is the way Renner uses a unique structure to bolster the tone and themes of their essay . The structure of your essay can have a major impact on how your ideas come across…so it’s important to give it just as much thought as the content of your essay!

For instance, Renner does a great job of using one-line paragraphs to create dramatic emphasis and to make clear transitions from one phase of the story to the next:

Suddenly the destination of my pickle car was clear.

Not only does the one-liner above signal that Renner is moving into a new phase of the narrative (their nanoparticle research experiences), it also tells the reader that this is a big moment in Renner’s story. It’s clear that Renner made a major discovery that changed the course of their goal pursuit and dream-chasing. Through structure, Renner conveys excitement and entices the reader to keep pushing forward to the next part of the story.

Technique #3: playing with syntax. The third technique is to use sentences of varying length, syntax, and structure. Most of the essay's written in standard English and uses grammatically correct sentences. However, at key moments, Renner emphasizes that the reader needs to sit up and pay attention by switching to short, colloquial, differently punctuated, and sometimes fragmented sentences.

Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research.

In the examples above, Renner switches adeptly between long, flowing sentences and quippy, telegraphic ones. At the same time, Renner uses these different sentence lengths intentionally. As they describe their experiences in new places, they use longer sentences to immerse the reader in the sights, smells, and sounds of those experiences. And when it’s time to get a big, key idea across, Renner switches to a short, punchy sentence to stop the reader in their tracks.

The varying syntax and sentence lengths pull the reader into the narrative and set up crucial “aha” moments when it’s most important…which is a surefire way to make any college essay stand out.

Renner's essay is very strong, but there are still a few little things that could be improved.

Connecting the research experiences to the theme of “finding the goldbug.”  The essay begins and ends with Renner’s connection to the idea of “finding the goldbug.” And while this metaphor is deftly tied into the essay’s intro and conclusion, it isn’t entirely clear what Renner’s big findings were during the research experiences that are described in the middle of the essay. It would be great to add a sentence or two stating what Renner’s big takeaways (or “goldbugs”) were from these experiences, which add more cohesion to the essay as a whole.

Give more details about discovering the world of nanomedicine. It makes sense that Renner wants to get into the details of their big research experiences as quickly as possible. After all, these are the details that show Renner’s dedication to nanomedicine! But a smoother transition from the opening pickle car/goldbug story to Renner’s “real goldbug” of nanoparticles would help the reader understand why nanoparticles became Renner’s goldbug. Finding out why Renner is so motivated to study nanomedicine–and perhaps what put them on to this field of study–would help readers fully understand why Renner chose this path in the first place.

4 Essential Tips for Writing Your Own Essay

How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively.

#1: Get Help From the Experts

Getting your college applications together takes a lot of work and can be pretty intimidatin g. Essays are even more important than ever now that admissions processes are changing and schools are going test-optional and removing diversity standards thanks to new Supreme Court rulings .  If you want certified expert help that really makes a difference, get started with  PrepScholar’s Essay Editing and Coaching program. Our program can help you put together an incredible essay from idea to completion so that your application stands out from the crowd. We've helped students get into the best colleges in the United States, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.  If you're ready to take the next step and boost your odds of getting into your dream school, connect with our experts today .

#2: Read Other Essays to Get Ideas for Your Own

As you go through the essays we've compiled for you above, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you explain to yourself (or someone else!) why the opening sentence works well?
• Look for the essay's detailed personal anecdote. What senses is the author describing? Can you easily picture the scene in your mind's eye?
• Find the place where this anecdote bridges into a larger insight about the author. How does the essay connect the two? How does the anecdote work as an example of the author's characteristic, trait, or skill?
• Check out the essay's tone. If it's funny, can you find the places where the humor comes from? If it's sad and moving, can you find the imagery and description of feelings that make you moved? If it's serious, can you see how word choice adds to this tone?

Make a note whenever you find an essay or part of an essay that you think was particularly well-written, and think about what you like about it . Is it funny? Does it help you really get to know the writer? Does it show what makes the writer unique? Once you have your list, keep it next to you while writing your essay to remind yourself to try and use those same techniques in your own essay.

#3: Find Your "A-Ha!" Moment

All of these essays rely on connecting with the reader through a heartfelt, highly descriptive scene from the author's life. It can either be very dramatic (did you survive a plane crash?) or it can be completely mundane (did you finally beat your dad at Scrabble?). Either way, it should be personal and revealing about you, your personality, and the way you are now that you are entering the adult world.

Check out essays by authors like John Jeremiah Sullivan , Leslie Jamison , Hanif Abdurraqib , and Esmé Weijun Wang to get more examples of how to craft a compelling personal narrative.

#4: Start Early, Revise Often

Let me level with you: the best writing isn't writing at all. It's rewriting. And in order to have time to rewrite, you have to start way before the application deadline. My advice is to write your first draft at least two months before your applications are due.

Let it sit for a few days untouched. Then come back to it with fresh eyes and think critically about what you've written. What's extra? What's missing? What is in the wrong place? What doesn't make sense? Don't be afraid to take it apart and rearrange sections. Do this several times over, and your essay will be much better for it!

For more editing tips, check out a style guide like Dreyer's English or Eats, Shoots & Leaves .

What's Next?

Still not sure which colleges you want to apply to? Our experts will show you how to make a college list that will help you choose a college that's right for you.

Interested in learning more about college essays? Check out our detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application , some suggestions on what to avoid when writing your essay , and our guide to writing about your extracurricular activities .

Working on the rest of your application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The recommendations in this post are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Free Life after College Life Essay Sample

Change is ever evident especially between generations; each generation has its own unique way of making things happen. Some ideas are passed on to the next generation while others are completely changed or done away with. On the other hand some are alters to suit the generation needs and experiences. One thing is evident though, when at college life is cool and fun; it is the time to get the taste of the good life while you try to build a foundation for your life. Indeed some college students do not have the focus on the life coming up after college which is more important but they focus on the moment and how they can get the best of it. This paper, analysis three articles on the issue of life after college and how the generation is no adequately prepared for the future jobs. It tackles the article “ Generation Y | Last year of college offers cool reality check about life after SU ” “ The Posteverything Generation ” and thirdly “ Generation Y: They've arrived at work with a new attitude ”.

The educational system may have it flaws in preparing the children for the future; it has continued to mould students to focus on the good life after school. They think that it is just getting a white collar job and working in offices that is best; instead of focusing on broadening the minds of the individuals to focus on how they can involve in business. According to Tousignant, students are caught up in the good feeling of college life of determining their own schedules and freedom to manage their time and the harsh reality of seeking for a job. After college students get to know the real life behind being a dependant to being independent. They face numerous taxes, rents, and bills that are in employment.

In fact, Tousignant, asserts that they are misled to believing that life will be smooth if only one studies hard. On the other hand they come to realize that even getting a job is a great hustle which is not the same with the excitement in college. She quotes “ Endless inspirational talks have led you to believe every road in life is ready for discovery, a million opportunities are just within your reach, success is your destiny. And now? Well, I don't really sense the same level of excitement from family or friends. It's more of a slightly enthusiastic — or shrill — "Have you found a job? "

Handler talks of the quire behavior in colleges where the students will go for lectures very casually and listening to music. This is the freedom and ways of college not knowing that they will be facing their employer who will insist on the formal wear. He quotes “ with every other jaded sophomore wearing skinny jeans, thick-framed glasses, an ironic tee-shirt and over-sized retro headphones, just waiting for lecture to be over ”. It is described as the era of post modernism which is the order of many colleges.

The college life has also been a place to teach the youth about rebellion and war, they focus more on solving disputes the hard way instead of ensuring there is peaceful dialogue. This is a great problem since the same character is passed on to when they are in employment. If there is dispute or breakdown of communication the college grads will try to implement their old way of solving issues. One would say that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, this is the case for college students, who tend to transfer their own casual way of doing things to the workplace. You will find them wearing casually instead of the formal dressing just to attract attention of just to feel good.

In college they sign petitions, and get involved in many types of things but mostly all is not what the students focus to do in life. They always play a gamble instead of concentrating on the important issues of how to build their careers. They are not trained to be conscious of their goals like developing political careers, being inspirational and revolutionary and even developing a precise philosophy in their lives. They have no focus, direction, theme, meaning or structure in what they do in college. The generation gap therefore exists and only comes true when one is out of college and literally in the real world.

The college teaches rebellion which is a moral degradation especially due to peer pressure; in fact politicians will try to utilize the energy in campus students for their own gains. The students are not even taught the right channels of communication where they are always on chat rooms, and social websites hence lack basic communication skills. These communication skills are always very relevant in their search for a job and most will always complain and see the importance of these facts when it is already too late.

In Armour, article “Generation Y: They've arrived at work with a new attitude” it says that the generation comes in with an attitude. They are known for their don’t care attitude and their quest to seek attention. They even come to listen to iPods at work just a translation of what they have been used to in college. A good statement to describe them would be “ They want to work, but they don't want work to be their life ”. The campus life moulds the college graduates to be something else apart from being effective and efficient in their work; they focus more on the books rather than imparting life changing skills which are essential once they land in the real world per se.

They don’t love work but they want to earn and they even change careers easier than the way they change courses at college. The staff turnover for the employee even becomes high and just brings frustrations to those who need to recruit and retain the best talent and high performers. The systems have taught them to be dependant but not independent; in view of the fact that they are pampered and nurtured with swing ideas since they were children. This makes them be able to perform high but on the other hand have a high maintenance. They have been taught to question their teachers and even parents and they translate it to the employers and question them. They are not used to be commanded and controlled hence they want to be a master of their own and run their own show. They are more interested in jobs that will suit their lifestyles and accommodate their way of life instead of building a career which will be sustainable. They are more focused on the flexibility of the job and would even prefer part time jobs that are suiting their lifestyles. Armour, describes that they are not used to a single job that will be monotonous however they love change and hence will change careers often.

Their dressing is also a major issue in the workplace, just as Armour, quotes “ In the workplace, conflict and resentment can arise over a host of issues, even seemingly innocuous subjects such as appearance, as a generation used to casual fare such as flip-flops, tattoos and capri pants finds more traditional attire is required at the office ”.

In conclusion, college life should be a bridge to ushering in the working environment and should always focus on that; however it has remained as a barrier for the students who would want to achieve a perfect career. There should be a real transformation in the ways college life prepares the students for their future especially in behavioral change and social expectations.

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Life After College: How to Transition from Undergrad to Postgrad 

After graduating from college , you’ll feel the thrill of freedom and pride that you worked so hard to achieve over the past several years. You might be excited at the thought of taking the next step, whether that be moving to a new city or starting your first job.

But what happens after the graduation high starts to fade? Let’s face it, “adulting” has a bad reputation, and entering the “real world” can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. 

From accepting a new normal to developing a monthly budget that will help you stay on top of your bills and financial goals, here are five ways to help ease your transition from undergrad to postgrad.   

Build a New Routine

Adjusting to life after college can be intense. No one tells you what it’ll feel like when it starts to set in that you won’t be going back in the fall. For many, it can be emotionally stressful.

Among the inevitable ups and downs, a solid, healthy routine can help keep you grounded. Adopt a quality sleep schedule and regular exercise habits to increase your productivity and balance the emotional toll of post-college life.

Don’t forget about your diet! Though it may be easier to live off frozen pizzas, making healthy choices that take care of your body is an essential part of moving from college to adult life. Grocery shopping, cooking, and eating at regular times is key. 

Some additional routines or systems you might consider include:

• A morning routine 
• An after-work / de-stress routine
• A night-time routine
• A system for paying bills
• A system for grocery shopping
• A system for cleaning your space 

Moving on is a big change. Making an effort to organize your days will keep you from feeling overwhelmed by the little things. 

Start Your Job Search 

Entering the workforce after graduation is the primary goal for many people. That said, moving from college to career isn’t always the easiest transition, especially if you’re just getting started.

When looking for a job, knowing the right people can be a big help. Get in touch with, and stay in touch with, the professional network you already have — professors, coworkers, classmates, school alumni, and people you met through internships. These resources have a network of their own and can alert you to opportunities you might not have known about otherwise.

Remember, your first job will likely be one of many in your career. It’s okay if it isn’t your dream job. Embrace the opportunity to learn and gain experience in your field. 

If you haven’t already, this is also the time to develop a professional social media presence. To continue to grow your network, particularly on LinkedIn , make sure your accounts are kept up to date and represent you in a positive light.

Prospective employers may look you up online. Anything you might not want them to see should be deleted. You don’t have to scrub everything, but make sure you’re comfortable with others seeing what’s left. 

Learn About Your Money 

Learning how to manage your money is critical to future financial success. Establishing a solid budget early answers several “adulting” questions like how much you can afford to pay in rent.

If you’ve never lived on your own, the list of expenses may surprise you. Consider talking with an experienced adult about creating a budget that includes these common expense categories: 

• Rent and utilities
• Student loan payments
• Phone and internet bills 

Write down how much you expect to spend in each category per month. If you find you’re spending more than you earn, look where you could potentially adjust. 

Having an organized budget will also help you maintain your credit score as well, which will be relevant if you’re interested in buying a home or financing a car in the future.

To keep your credit in good standing, you’ll need to pay your bills on time, including your student loans , and keep your credit balances low.

Explore Student Loan Repayment Options 

If you used student loans to help finance your education, it’s time to think about your repayment plan. Without preparing, new graduates often become overwhelmed, making little mistakes that have a big impact on their financial future like relying on deferment, racking up interest, and missing payments. 

Once you’ve found gainful employment, you’ll want to factor student loan payments into your budget. If you have federal student loans , repayment isn’t set to restart until May 2022, but taking the right steps now will help you pay off your loans faster, lower your monthly payment, or even help qualify you for forgiveness.

To ensure you’re setting yourself up for success, take the time now to educate yourself on all student loan repayment plans or talk with an experienced student loan counselor about your options.  

Embrace Your Changing Identity

Your twenties are glamorized to be the best times of your life. As you binge your third Netflix show of the month, you might be wondering if you’re the only one feeling lonely — you’re not.

The truth is, when you leave college, you also leave the largest concentration of people your own age. Your friends have moved all over the country, you don’t go out on the weekends much anymore, and your sense of community no longer involves attending packed football games. 

Making friends as an adult can feel challenging. You might have to work for it, but don’t get discouraged. Embrace this time to learn about yourself and know that you aren’t alone in the ways your life is changing.

Feeling like you’ve lost your sense of self is something no one tells you about graduating. But the good news is, it’s perfectly normal, and it won’t last forever. 

Drake was right when he said you’re starting from the bottom, and that’s okay. Your twenties are meant to be a time of exploration. Be patient with yourself as you enter the real world.

There are a lot of unknowns about life after college, but you don’t have to face it unprepared. Taking the time now to create a game plan for your post-college life will help set you up for success both professionally and personally. 

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If you have ever wanted to become an RA and are looking for some tips on how to excel in the process, you have come to the right place.

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Home / Blog

Life After College: What To Do After Graduating

January 9, 2019 

Life after college can be an exciting, although potentially confusing, time. You’ve earned your bachelor’s degree , but now you’re facing a job hunt and student loan bills. How can you put that degree to good use, and successfully go from being a student, to the next stage of your life?

Let’s dive deep into life after college, with tips and resources on how to find a job, advancing your career, pursuing higher education, balancing life, and managing finances.

Jobs After College: Career Tips

It will likely take some time, and you might not get your dream job right out of school, but eventually you should be able to graduate beyond entry level positions, and start getting to do work you love. There are some professional basics you’ll need to take care of, though. We’ll provide tips on how to find jobs, how to build your resume and write your cover letter, how to navigate interviews and internships, and how to survive your first job so you can keep moving up.

Finding a Job After College

The following sections will describe different aspects of finding a job with tips, resources, and best practices.

Job Hunting

The job hunt is the very beginning of your career. Start your search with your college, they will have career resources and maybe even a job board. Depending on the industry you wish to work in, there could be organizations with resources and job boards specifically catered for your field. Online, there are plenty of additional resources for finding jobs: Careers.org , Craigslist.com, Indeed.com , and Monster.com are just a few.

While job hunting online is convenient, there are plenty of opportunities for finding a job offline. Instead of waiting for your dream job to get posted, research the companies you want to work for in the areas you want to live. Watch their job ads, or even initiate contact with the human resources department or hiring manager. Work on building your professional network by joining a local group like the chamber of commerce or an industry-specific organization. Whatever you choose, remain active in your community and form connections with people in your industry.

Applications

Once potential jobs start coming your way, you will need to be ready for the application process. Some jobs will require you to fill out extensive online applications and forms, while simply emailing your resume and cover letter will suffice for others.

Some companies might use an applicant tracking software to streamline the application process. In this case, your application might be screened to match up the information on your resume with the needs of the job ad to determine if you are a match. Use keywords common to your industry and desired job, as well as those used specifically in the job ad throughout your resume and cover letter contextually.

You might also be asked to complete a few employment tests including cognitive or personality examinations or a background check. For some jobs, screening like background checks are required for employment eligibility. Personality tests are fairly common in job applications and usually only used to help hire the best-fitting candidate for the specific role.

Your resume displays your skills, experience, and education. While you might not have much professional or work experience at this point in your career, put anything you have done over your academic years. Did you take a part-time or summer job? Join any clubs or organizations? Pursue any personal projects? These are all examples worth mentioning on your resume. Potential employers will use this information to determine if you’re a good fit for their opening, so be sure to frame all of your experience in a way that is relevant to the job you are applying for.

Make sure your resume includes these main categories:

• Your contact information including: your full name, your permanent address, phone number, and email address.
• A summary describing three to four of your top skills or accomplishments that specifically apply to this job.
• Any work experience you have so far including your employer’s name or company, city and state, your job title, dates you held the job, accomplishments, main tasks or other highlights.
• List your education or training including your school or program name, city and state, dates attended, and the diplomas, degrees, and certifications you earned.
• List any volunteering activities, community work, sports, teams, or clubs you participated in. Include any activities that show your skills, responsibility and commitment.
• Professional references are also good to have on your resume, if you have a past employer or teacher who can give a professional reference for you, or write a letter to attach with your resume, this could help buffer any lack of experience. Just ask anybody for permission to be your reference before you list their name and contact information.
• If you have military experience be sure to list that as well as well as your dates served, rank reached and branch including any training or skills you acquired.

Download a sample resume or find resume templates on Google Docs . A good resume should look clean and polished with some white space, but be sure to include the essential information listed above.

Cover Letter

The cover letter is generally a one-page summary, bio, and/or statement of interest you write to send with your resume that explains why you are applying for the job and what makes you the best fit for the position. It’s a great opportunity to introduce yourself in a memorable way. It should cover what information will be in your resume, and expand on anything that is relevant or that might come up in an interview.

CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor provides sample resumes and cover letters as well as tips, job search help, and many other resources for college grads looking to enter the workforce.

Internships

If you didn’t complete an internship while still enrolled in school, it’s not too late. A post-grad internship may even give you a better shot at landing a full-time position. If you’ve already graduated, but you’re struggling to find employment, consider looking for programs that offer internships to graduates, or reach out to your professional network for recommendations. Keep in mind that internships for graduates don’t pay very much, if anything at all, so you might need to get a part-time job on top of your internship to cover the bills.

Your interview is not only the chance for employers to evaluate you, it’s your opportunity to evaluate potential jobs and employers. You might have a phone or video interview before an in-person interview, especially if the company isn’t local. Before any interview, you should thoroughly research the company and job you are applying for, and have a few of your own questions ready. During a phone interview, just remember to listen first, then talk. Answer the question thoroughly but avoid falling off track, and end the conversation on a positive note by thanking the interviewer.

The next step in the process is usually the in-person interview. Interview processes can vary widely depending on the size of the company and the job being filled. Just remember that this interview is also for you to determine if you want to work there, so do your homework and have questions prepared. Think of questions they may ask you based on the job and your experience so you’re more prepared to answer them on the spot. You should always dress professionally and show up five to ten minutes early.

With any interview experience, it is good form to send a “thank you” note in an email a few hours after the interview. It should be a brief email confirming your interest in the company, ability to do the job, and interest in next steps with a sincere thank you. Be sure to send it the same day, but not right after you meet.

Negotiations

Eventually, you’ll get offered your first job. Congratulations! Getting an offer is the hardest part. Many job seekers will accept the first offer that comes their way, but some prefer to weigh their options.

Early in your career, any experience is good experience, but you might choose to negotiate your pay or working conditions. If you do choose to negotiate an offer, ensure you’ve done your research first. Ask for an amount that’s appropriate to your job and your experience level and be ready to graciously accept a “no,” and accept the offer on the table, or decline entirely.

Surviving Your First Job

Your first job might not be the dream job you had hoped for in school, but it’s a start. Successfully navigating your first job is essential to gaining raises and promotions, and eventually, graduating on to other jobs with professional references.

Work is going to be different than school. You might have to wake up much earlier than you’re used to, and start dressing professionally regularly. Here are a few tips for surviving your first job, and avoiding novice mistakes in the workplace.

Not every job is going to expect business-professional attire, but some will, and you’ll want to be aware of these expectations before you start. Get to know the brand of the company through their site, social media profiles, and job ads. Go ahead and ask the hiring manager or the person who has been coordinating your offer and onboarding process. It pays to ask what the dress code is before your first interview; then you can gauge what other people in the office are wearing, and be that much better prepared for your first day.

Time Management

You’ve probably had a lot of practice managing your time with classes, school work, extracurricular activities, and social activities in the last few years. But working a 9-5, or other structured schedule, can pose a unique challenge to new grads. In fact, many working adults struggle with time management , but there’s no shortage of time management tips to leverage.

Some find time tracking apps helpful, while others need pen and paper to write lists throughout the day. To survive your first job and move on to bigger and better roles, it is essential to show up to work on time, keep your breaks on schedule, and meet deadlines diligently. Tardiness and no-shows are much harder to explain away or make up in the workplace than in school.

Feeling stressed about new employment is common, especially in your first job. Just remember that sometimes uncomfortable growth is good, but that it’s also encouraged to ask for help. Never stress over a task for so long that it’s past due. Ask questions early so you can get work completed in a timely manner. Either your direct manager or co-workers should be willing to offer help, and after a while, you will get more comfortable in your new role and become more independent.

Outside of your new job, remember to reach out to your friends and family for support. New life transitions can strain personal relationships and stress from new jobs can make it even worse. Remember to maintain your personal care by exercising, eating well, and getting plenty of sleep . Spend time with your loved ones and give yourself enough time to relax and recharge before Monday rolls back around.

Graduating Beyond Entry-Level Positions

Ideally, you would graduate from college and get an entry-level job at a company you want to work for in the industry you studied. That’s not always the case, but it’s not a bad deal either. Entry-level positions can be a great way to try out industries related to your degree while gaining valuable work experience. Your dream job might even require some experience in a different but related field. You may discover alternative positions, employers, and opportunities you hadn’t considered or known about prior to graduation, and which end up being a better fit than your former “dream job.”

Entry-level work is where many people start careers after school. This is nearly always a necessary stepping stone to a greater position. A simple entry-level position can be a catalyst to the rest of your career, as long as you know how to make the most of it and move on at the right time.

Make the Most of It

Your entry-level position is not likely to resemble your ideal job. But to make the most of the experience, you’ll need to find a way to bring the same enthusiasm and energy you would have for your dream job. Rachel Bitte, a chief people officer at Jobvite says your mindset matters when your starting any job, and people can tell if you don’t want to be there. You never know what you’re going to learn in any position, so if you can’t get excited for the position, try imagining the possibilities it could lead to. Bringing an attitude of entitlement, impatience, or resentment to work is not going to get you where you want to be faster — more likely, it will hold you back.

Know When It’s Time to Move On

If you’re making the most of your job, the days are going to fly by, and entry-level doesn’t usually last forever. You should be applying for promotions that interest you, and always be keeping an eye on the job ads for interesting opportunities. While you don’t want to jump ship too soon and risk job hopping, you should know when you’ve outgrown your position and it’s time to move on. Always keep your resume and LinkedIn profile polished, just in case the right opportunity pops up.

Continuing Education

Now that we’ve covered jobs after college, let’s look at another aspect of life after graduation: continuing education. Depending on the occupations you choose, you will need to pursue continuing education or training if you want to earn raises and promotions. Should you pursue grad school right after graduation or gain a few years of work experience first? Are professional certifications a good alternative to another degree? We’ll discuss below.

Grad School

Choosing to enter graduate school and earn your master’s degree is a big decision many make to advance their lives academically, professionally, and personally. You might choose to enter grad school right after graduation because it’s an easier transition to continue an academic schedule and lifestyle. Alternatively, you could test the waters in the workforce, get a few years of experience, figure out where you want to pursue a career and then go back to grad school.

But juggling a work schedule and grad school is tough and forces many to choose one or the other. The decision should not be taken lightly. But if you are serious about attending, here are some resources to help you prepare for grad school :

Is Graduate School Right for You?

Why do you want to go to grad school? Does your dream job require it? Will it earn you a higher pay rate? Knowing your career goals will help you pick the right program for you and whether or not it’s the right choice for you.

Choosing a Program

Finding the right graduate program for you depends on many factors: location, program reputation, financing, and your personal goals. First, decide what kind of graduate degree you want, i.e.  a Ph.D. or Masters. Are you more interested in working in research or a professional career? Do you plan to pursue a doctorate? The answers to these questions will help you find the right program.

Online vs. In-Campus

Grad school students finally have the option to study either online, in-person on campus , or through a combination of classes. This has offered the flexibility needed for many professionals to pursue the further education they always wanted. Depending on the needs of your profession, you may be required to take some courses in-campus over remotely. But online education can offer so much more than flexibility, including independence and potential savings.

Professional Certifications

Professional certifications can offer a more flexible, and short-term, option to obtaining further education. But there are a lot of programs out there offering their own certifications on a number of different topics and disciplines. How do you know which certifications are worth your time?

Glassdoor reached out to recruiters and HR professionals to find out which professional certifications will actually impress employers . They found that while most certifications can help your resume stand out above the rest, not all are created equal. If you want to make a real impact by investing in professional certifications, look for certifications specific to your role like content marketing, human resources, sales, project management, or software.

Money After Graduation: Post-Grad Personal Finance Considerations

For most college graduates, finances are a big change to face. Suddenly, those far off student loan payment are not so distant. Here is some advice we can offer on how to handle your budget to tackle student loans and avoid credit card debt.

Budgeting After Graduation

If you haven’t already, starting a budget and managing your finances can make a big difference in your quality of life after school. Your finances are going to look a lot different not only with a new job but new bills as well. Here are a few simple tips to get your budget started without a hassle:

• The first step is to simply start by writing down all of your monthly expenses and income to figure out how much is coming in and how much is going out. This can be done on a piece of paper or with any of the budgeting apps out there.
• Plan ahead for living expenses you might not have had while you were in school. From rent and utilities in a new house to transportation to and from your new job, it can take you by surprise if you’re not prepared.
• Account for your upcoming student loan payments.
• Don’t forget to put a little savings away for an emergency fund, and even retirement.
• Establish a schedule to ensure all of your bills are paid on time every month.
• Start tracking your credit score with one of the free credit score report and monitoring services, like credit Karma .
• Live within your means and avoid depending on credit cards.
• Set long-term goals for savings, your credit score, or student loan repayment.
• Start couponing and finding deals on high-price items.

Paying Off College Loans

Financial aid and savings accounts can help pay for college cut college loans are usually an essential aspect of the equation. But now that you’re a graduate, it’s time to start paying for your college loans . The process for repaying your loans will depend on the loan terms you agreed to and the type of loan.

You likely have a federal student loan because they feature many benefits over private loans like, income-driven repayment plans, fixed interest rates, no credit checks, and no need for a co-signer. Federal student loans are often more accessible to independent students or those who are applying for aid without their parents. Regardless of the loan type, it’s time to start paying it back.

Most loans don’t require payment until after you leave college. Your lender will provide you with a loan-repayment plan explaining your due date, amount due, and number of payments required to repay the loan. Your repayment plan will also tell you where to make your payments either online or sent to your lender.

Be sure to focus on paying off your loan aggressively, the sooner the better. Even if you hit financial hardships, your loan cannot be cancelled or cleared. It will always be there collecting interest. Try to build an emergency savings while paying your full loan amount every month in order to prevent any lapse in payments. You should always contact your loan provider if you’re struggling to make your payments.

Credit Cards

If you didn’t already start building your credit score in college, you might consider applying for a line of credit now. But you’ve already likely graduated with a mound of student loan debt, so you don’t need to go adding onto that with high-interest credit card debt. A good credit score will be important when you apply for a car loan or mortgage. To build your credit score, it’s best to work at it safely and slowly.

Get approved for a small line of credit or get signed up as an authorized user on a parent’s card. Avoid ever using at or more than 30 percent of your line of credit, and ensure to pay off the premium every month before your due date. Interest rates on credit cards are high , especially if you don’t have a good credit score, and irresponsible spending could mean years of paying off debt.

Life after college is a new door opening for you. Take advantage of this time and thrive in all of the opportunities that come your way. We hope this guide has helped you successfully navigate a transitional time in your life.

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Life after College: Four Tips for Dealing with Post-Grad Anxiety

by Andrea Hernandez

As the summer approaches and the newest class of Wave-Makers prepare for life after college, students may begin to experience a wide range of emotions. The years after college can be some of the most exciting but also some of the most uncertain, unstable times of life.   

College graduation is a time filled with many celebrations as well as many changes and new processes. We can all use a guide as we navigate our way into the unknown.  

We recommend learning about helpful strategies to have a smooth transition to life after college, including these four tips to help ease your anxiety about the next phase (hint: it’s all going to be okay).  

1. Take a deep breath and celebrate everything you’ve just accomplished  

As soon as you graduate from college, it’s super easy and natural to obsess over your five-year plan or perhaps the fact that you don’t know what’s coming next at all.  

Before you start worrying about where you want to be in the next few years, focus on the fact that you’ve just graduated from college.  

This is a significant accomplishment so savor the moment and celebrate all the small and big wins with your family, friends, mentors, and community.  

2. Stop comparing yourself to others  

Everyone has their own college and career journeys and timelines.  

Finding what you want to do after graduation takes time, patience, and trust. It is important to acknowledge the many paths and speeds at which you will find success.  

Your time will come too. Just be patient and you will reach success at your own pace and accomplish your goals.  

3. You don’t need to have everything figured out   

How many times have you been asked, “Do you know what you’re going to do next? What’s your five-year plan?” or “Do you have a job yet?” It’s okay to not know what you want to do this summer or for the rest of your life. 

There is a good chance you will hear these questions numerous times by the time you walk the stage. There is absolutely no problem with not having it all figured out.  

Instead of getting caught up in your future self, start focusing on your present self and what you want to accomplish now.

Make a commitment to check in with yourself throughout the day and pay attention to your mind, body, and soul. Once you have a system set in place you will focus only on what the present has to offer. 

4. Trust the process  

There will be many highs and lows as you enter and navigate the post-grad world.  

You may or may not get the job you really wanted or may or may not get into the graduate program of your dreams. You may not be able to see why certain triumphs or setbacks happen in the moment, but you might look back later and realize certain decisions were for the best.  

Learn to embrace that everything happens for a reason. When you begin to let go of how everything “should” be, you’ll see more opportunities ahead of you.  

Transitioning into the post-grad world doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming. If you believe in yourself and trust what the future has in store for you, everything will work out just fine. 

What’s important to remember is that you’re not alone in this journey. Remember to be kind to yourself, be patient with the post-grad and career development process, and to lean on Making Waves Foundation’s CAP Alumni Team and our Wave-Maker community for support!  

Wave-Maker alumni support and resources  

We encourage you to reach out to Courtney Arguello , lead career and alumni coach, or to me ( Andrea Hernandez ) as the alumni coordinator, for alumni coaching.

Alumni coaching can be beneficial for Wave-Makers navigating college and career transitions, for those ready to set goals and plan for the future, or for those who want to find ways to utilize the CAP Wave-Maker network to their advantage. Our alumni work in a variety of fields such as law, healthcare, technology, education, and more.  

If you are interested in connecting with other alumni in the CAP community, please make sure to add our Wave-Maker Network page on LinkedIn !   

More resources  from Wave-Makers

Hear from Wave-Makers Camryn Downey, Mariana Duarte, Kim Luong, and Jesus Torres on how to design your life through personal development, as you prepare for your career and graduate school. 

College and career success resources

About making waves foundation  .

With a unique focus on college attendance and graduation,  Making Waves Foundation  supports historically underrepresented and underserved students in pursuing their dreams.  Making Waves Academy  is a public charter school in Richmond, California, educating more than 1,100 students and Making Waves Foundation’s  college success program, known as CAP , provides coaching, scholarships, financial literacy, and career support for more than 500 college students as well as a network for more than 500 Wave-Maker alumni.

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