Once you get accepted into college and go on to get a degree you’re set for life, right?
Wrong. Only 53 percent of students who start college will actually graduate and a whopping 70 percent of those who do graduate end up unhappy and disillusioned in their career within the first five years. This is the college crisis.
Unfortunately, a college degree is no longer an instant ticket to success. If you want your education to lead to abundant career opportunities, financial independence and fulfillment, then pay close attention to the following seven strategies. They are essential for avoiding the college crisis and ensuring you a spot among the students who actually graduate and love what they do. For most people, college is the biggest investment of their lives. You can guarantee an excellent return on your investment by making these strategies part of your college curriculum. 1. GET THE GRADES YOU NEED, THEN MOVE ON TO WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT As difficult as it may be to believe, a high GPA is not directly correlated with post college success. Stanford University published a study in 2003 that revealed GPA ranked 11th on the list of what employers look for when hiring graduates. Grades are important, but what really matters to employers is your ability to communicate, organize, work in teams, among other skills that simply can’t be developed by memorizing a textbook. Get the grades you need in your field of interest, but venture outside the classroom where you can put theory into practice and develop the skills employers really want. 2. DISCOVER WHAT FIRES YOU UP The reason 70 percent of graduates are unhappy in their careers is because they speed through college and default into a career without taking time to discover if it’s something they truly enjoy. As Benjamin Franklin once said,“Most people die when they’re 23 and aren’t buried until they’re 70.” Passion is a necessary fuel to keep us fired up. Take time to focus on finding a career you’re passionate about. Do an online career assessment like the one at passionpuzzle.com. 3. BUILD AN ALL-STAR TEAM The best way to predict your future is to envision the future of the five people you spend the most time with. Who are these five people in your life? Do they share your values and support your dreams? Will they be where you want to be 10 years from now? Through your college years you will consciously or unconsciously develop a core group of friends. If you want all-star results you’re going to need an all-star team to support and encourage you on your journey. 4. VENTURE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM WALLS It is extracurricular activities like student clubs, student government, volunteering and sports that allow you to gain the real world skills employers want. These skills cannot be taught in a classroom; you must venture beyond the classroom walls. Avoid the “too cool for school” syndrome. 5. RE-FOCUS EACH SEMESTER What do 3 percent of Yale students do that lead them to more success and bigger bank accounts than the other 97 percent combined? The answer is they have clearly defined and written goals. It’s easy to get sucked into the college routine and forget your main reasons for being there. Setting goals each semester will help you re-focus regularly so you stay on track and make the most of your college investment. 6. GET YOUR PASSPORT STAMPED The benefits you will gain from traveling abroad are too extensive to list. Understanding new cultures and languages, expanding your comfort zone, making friends across the world, having a ton of fun and gaining an enlightened perspective of what you want to do with your life are just a few. The No. 1 regret of graduates is not taking advantage of study abroad programs. Don’t become one of them. 7. DO AT LEAST THREE INTERNSHIPS It’s the students who do three or four internships who gain the most valuable work experience, establish excellent contacts and gain crystal clarity on what career they want to pursue. As a student you have a unique four-to five-year window of opportunity to test drive careers and find one that will get you out of bed in the morning.
Use these strategies yourself so can you ensure college is the best investment of your life. (Andrew Hewitt and Luc d'Abadie are co-authors of “The Power of Focus for College Students” and educators for Trump University.)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 6, 2006. Read the original PDF.