Students blog

As a college student I am constantly thinking about “what’s next”. How many times have you thought about a world beyond college? Did these thoughts make you anxious or stressed? There are many factors that affect the transition for college students into a post-college world. These factors can determine whether you have a positive transition out of college or a negative one. A college graduate can experience a career gap when transitioning due to a variety of reasons. There are two main reasons, which include not attaining an internship and a failure to network and build connections.

Internships

Finding a productive post-college experience is substantially influenced by the internship you attain. To begin with, completing an internship is a way to decide whether the career you are pursuing is the right one for you. Securing the correct internship can set you up with a possible job offer after college if it goes well. Moreover, internships provide a significant advantage for those who can secure them because they can be used as recent experience for the career or specific job you are pursuing. A good internship program looks great on your resume as well.

Networking and Connections

The connections that you build throughout your college journey have significant importance on your transition out of college, too. Networking while still in college can be positive post-college because it can make your job search process go more efficiently. For example, in the business world it is a lot about who you know; therefore, business students spend a lot of time connecting with professors and attending job fairs to build their networks. In fact, building your network by creating connections plays a significant role in getting your brand and name out in your career field, and, as a result, makes the transition out of college more effective and efficient.

The environment beyond college is a whole new world with all new challenges, opportunities, and people for college students to explore. Students should begin preparing for this transition as soon as possible because it can sneak up on you. Therefore, students should be given an idea and be prepared for all these new possibilities in this new world. Connections get you so far and help you find roles you never knew about or never dreamed you could reach. We never get anywhere by ourselves, so building connections and fostering relationships goes a long way.

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As a student taking steps towards my future career, I have learned some things you can take to secure that internship you have always been dreaming of. It doesn’t matter whether you are a freshman or a senior, these steps apply to everyone and can be used to help propel yourself to getting closer to that offer.

To start off, it is important for you to understand what type of industry you see yourself working in. This not only narrows down what you may be interested in, but it also allows you to tailor your documents that may be needed when applying.

Once you have figured out where you want to apply, now you must start preparing you respective documents. The first and arguably most important one is a resume. There are many resume templates online that you can utilize and reference. You can even reach out to a friend or colleague to gauge how they applied for a similar position using their resumes. The main points on the resume should be your contact information, list of achievements, and any activities or clubs that you may be a part of that are relevant to this job opportunity. Next, you want to edit and make sure the resume is clear and legible. Most recruiters look at an applicant's resume for a maximum of ten seconds, so it is very important you have an easy-to-read resume. This allows someone to quickly browse through and gain an understanding of the type of person that you are.

After you have created a resume, it is time to create a LinkedIn. This form of social media is very helpful in developing connections and staying in contact with your colleagues. It also can prove to be a place where future opportunities may present themselves to you. Here on LinkedIn, it is important you once again list your achievements and relevant experience to the industry you are seeking to work in. You can also feature a link to your LinkedIn profile on your resume.

Once both your resume and LinkedIn have been finalized, now comes the application part. It is important that you apply to as many jobs as you can that your experience matches up with. Rarely will the first couple of applications land you an interview. For me personally, whenever I have some free time or I’m bored, I’ll generally use that time to apply to a couple job postings. There are many sites one can use to apply to jobs. I tend to use Handshake and LinkedIn. Handshake is great as it's geared towards college students, so a lot of the job postings will be geared towards your level of experience. LinkedIn is also great as most employers utilize LinkedIn to recruit.

What also helps if you’d like to gain more experience is to join clubs at your university that are geared towards the industry you are interested in. If you like learning about cars and want to design cars, maybe try joining a car club on campus. Having activities and interests that are also aligned with what you are trying to pursue upon graduation makes your resume stand out even more.

The process to secure an internship can sometimes be disheartening, however it is important that you persist and continue trying. Even though initially you may not get the results you desire, if you are improving and trying every day, you eventually will get to your goal of securing your dream internship.

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As you make your way through your college career, you are bound to run into some rough times. Whether it’s due to extenuating circumstances outside of the classroom or difficult course content, you might find yourself in a situation where the semester didn’t quite turn out like you originally planned. So, what do you do if this does happen? Here are four tips to help you through this stressful time to help get you back on track to do well in the semester ahead.

1. Take a deep breath.

It’s going to be all right. The courses you are taking are designed to be challenging. It’s okay if you struggled this past semester. This is the time to assess the situation you’re in and make any necessary changes. Double-check on important matters, like financial aid, and make a game plan to ensure that you’re not too affected. Look at next semester's course schedule and adjust your classes accordingly. Breathe. You’re going to make it through this.

2. Keep your notes and course work.

While they might not be the most helpful to you now, if you end up re-taking the course, they can be a great roadmap to build off of the second time around. Look at your notes and see where they can be improved. Keep any practice problems and work on them in between now and when you take the course again. This can help you build a solid foundation for your next attempt. Use what work you did put into the course to your advantage.

3. Do some research.

Look around your campus and see what resources they provide to their students. Find the tutoring services and utilize them throughout your courses. See if your university has any grade forgiveness programs in place and learn how to apply for them once you retake the class successfully.

4. Use the resources you have.

Ask classmates to join your study group. Utilize TA and professor office hours. Look at your own study patterns and adapt them as is necessary for your own success. Find clarifying videos online and use any course materials provided to practice before your future exams. Build healthy habits that can make your semester run smoother. Get organized and make sure you’re ready to take the semester head on!

Using these tips can help to prepare you for the current semester and the semesters ahead. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone has rough semesters. If you take the steps to bounce back strong you can help set yourself up for success! Good luck!

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Studying abroad is more than taking classes in foreign countries. It is a transformative journey and immersive experience that broadens the horizons. The decision to study abroad opens doors to a plethora of experiences that are not offered within one’s home country. Studying abroad is an opportunity that one should seize if they are offered. College students who study abroad embrace diversity and gain global perspectives. While there are numerous advantages to why one should embark on this journey, the opportunity to improve personal and professional growth is number one.

Being surrounded in foreign cultures and new countries contributes to one’s personal growth. College students can learn how to become independent and self-reliant as they navigate a new environment. This opportunity may come with discomfort, but embracing the experience with an open heart and mind can transform one into a whole new person. Open-mindedness is a key trait to possess while studying abroad. There will be hard times and challenging obstacles but keeping a positive outlook on the experience is key.

Students also learn how to become adaptable, which contributes to professional success within the real world. Traveling alone, meeting new people, homesickness, language barriers, and managing finances are some of the major factors that a student may experience while studying abroad. These experiences and challenges provide opportunities of resilience. Discomfort eventually turns into self-assurance, which is something that most people experience outside of study abroad. In a world that is constantly evolving and changing, being adaptable will help one succeed in life.

In conclusion, there are many benefits that one might receive through participating in a college study abroad program. However, the opportunity to improve and expand personal and professional growth will transform an individual’s life for forever. Studying abroad is a once in a lifetime experience, no matter where one is in the world. Stepping out of the comfort zone and putting a foot forward to improve personal and professional growth will only lead to good things later down the road.

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After dozens of applications and nerve-wracking interviews, you finally secured your first internship within your perspective career field! Starting your first internship can be overwhelming, but I am here to say you’re not alone! Last summer, I completed my first internship as a Rice University Research Intern, and I want to share the lessons I learned so you can start your first day with a mindset that will help you succeed. I spent 10 weeks at Rice and while it was a struggle at first, I was able to successfully complete my internship thanks to these 3 lessons:

Manage Expectations

Coming into my first week, I knew how fortunate I was to be selected for my internship, so I placed a lot of pressure on myself to be the best. I took notes, stayed after hours doing lab work, and spent nights outside the office doing research on my research topic. While this helped me be productive, it also stressed me out as when I had issues like bad results, I began to think I was failing. I met with my mentor, and he explained to me that I am not supposed to know everything and that the whole point of an internship is to learn. This was eye opening for me as I finally realized I was my own problem. Simply put, understanding both what is expected of you and what you expect of yourself will prevent you from placing excessive stress upon yourself, and help you focus on learning as much as possible.

Relationship Building is Key

As an introverted person, I was very nervous about meeting new people, so I kept to myself for weeks. At first, it let me focus on my work; however, it eventually got lonely as I would spend hours alone doing lab work or typing up presentations. This changed when a new intern named Robert started and I was given the task of showing him around. Getting to talk with somebody helped me open up and eventually I was jamming to Taylor Swift with my lab mates and sharing stories about life. Building relationships with the people around is a great way to make your internship more enjoyable, but also opens doors to other learning opportunities.

Value Your Personal Time

Many internships are full-time or 40 hours a week, so if you don’t have any experience with that work schedule then it is an adjustment period. I remember struggling my first few weeks because I always felt tired and sluggish, but I was eventually able to get used to the hours. However, what made things worse was how I managed my personal time as I chose to stay late to keep working. The added hours and decreased time to spend with friends or on hobbies made me really dread getting up early in the morning for work. By setting the boundary that work does not seep into personal time, you can speed up your adjustment period and establish a healthy work-life balance.

Ultimately, your first internship is one of the most formative experiences of your life as it prepares you for your future. Keeping this value in mind, managing your mindset is one of the single best ways to get the most out of the experience as the right mindset ensures you are focused on what is important and not placing extra stress on yourself. While not the perfect guide to internships, I hope that these lessons offer some good insight and I wish you look with whatever internship you are about to start. I know you’ll do great!

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Dogs are man’s best friend, and I have found that the most perfect way to destress in college is to spend some time at my local animal shelter. However, I have learned that no two dogs are alike, just like college majors. Based on my extensive time spent with both dogs and other college students, here are some similarities I have found between the two, and what dog breed I believe you are based on your major.

Business: Golden Retriever

Whether your business major falls under accounting and finance or marketing and management, a golden retriever is the definition of a business type of dog. Sometimes called the “easy major”, golden retrievers can be blown off as goofy dogs, but they are serious workers and often seen as K9s and service dogs, in the same way that business students are seen all over the workforce.

Journalism: Beagle

Known as hunting dogs (always looking for a good story), these loyal and happy-go-lucky dogs are the perfect comparison for journalism majors. Like these dogs, journalism majors are outgoing but also hard workers.

Speech Pathology: Border Collie

Easily trainable, attention to detail, fun but focused, all things that make border collies and speech path majors similar. They are hard workers and know how to have fun, but also are down for a night in after the workday is done, which is a trait all my favorite speech path majors exhibit.

Design: Cocker Spaniel

Arguably the most beautiful dog, the perfect example of a design major is a cocker spaniel. These dogs are sociable and adaptable, just like design majors, and are always looking their best, while impressing everyone around them.

Pre-Med: German Shepherds

In my opinion, these are the smartest dogs. Similar to golden retrievers, they are seen in all the “dog workforces” and are super intelligent and loyal to their people. Although pre-med students can be considered less sociable, similar to German shepherds, I believe it is just because they are harder workers than most of us, and sometimes that can be intimidating.

If you enjoyed these comparisons, I encourage you to check out your local animal shelter, and spend some time with different breeds, and make some of your own, as well as add to my list!

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It’s snack time! If you’re like me, you love to snack – whether I’m studying, watching tv, or relaxing with a book, I always have something to munch on. At school, that means I’ve usually found a bag of chips or a slice of pizza, but now that I'm home for the summer, I try to choose healthy options to nourish my mind and body. Here are three of my favorite go-to snacks for summer!

Frozen Fruit Bowls... The Cousin of The Açai Bowl

Ingredients and Equipment:

• 1 large frozen banana
• ½ cup of frozen blueberries and strawberries (or your favorite fruit combinations)
• ½ cup Milk
• ¾ cup yogurt
• Granola
• Nutribullet or blender

Directions: (10 minutes)

• Blend your frozen banana with a ½ cup of milk and add a ½ cup of yogurt.
• After about 30 seconds, or when your banana is almost fully blended, start to slowly add your frozen blueberries and strawberries until blended to your liking.
• Add the rest of your yogurt as you continue blending. You may have to add more milk depending on how thick you want your bowl to be. It can also help to put the bowl in the freezer for 1-2 minutes while you clean up!
• Once your fruits are blended, pour the mixture into a bowl, and sprinkle your granola on top.
• Add any other toppings you like and enjoy a healthy snack that will cool you down on a hot summer day!

Avocado Toast... But Add a Little Bit of Spice

Ingredients and equipment:

• 1 avocado
• 1 slice of whole grain bread (or a bread of your choice)
• 1/3 cup canned corn
• ½ tomato
• Salt
• Pepper flakes
• Toaster

Directions: (10 minutes)

• Mash up 1 avocado in a bowl until you reach a guacamole consistency.
• Put 1 slice of whole grain bread, or your favorite bread, into the toaster to toast while you dice your tomato into small pieces.
• Add your corn and tomato into your avocado bowl and mix it together. Depending on the size of your avocado, add as much or as little corn and tomato as you like!
• Once your bread is toasted, spread the avocado mix on the toast.
• Now for the spice... sprinkle some red pepper flakes and salt on the top for some extra flavor and enjoy!

Looking for something a little bit more filling? Scramble 2 eggs in a pan to put on top of your avocado toast!

Chickpea Chicken Nuggets... Where Vegetables Are Hidden in Plain Sight

Ingredients and equipment:

• 1 can of chickpeas
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup grated carrot
• ¼ cup minced onion
• ½ tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp paprika
• Sprinkle of black pepper
• 1 tsp olive or avocado oil + extra for cooking
• ½ cup oat flour
• Food processor
• Spatula and tablespoon

Directions: (20-25 minutes)

1. Prepare your vegetables by grating your carrots and mincing your onion. Make sure you wash your carrots first and drain out any remaining moisture with a towel!
2. Open and drain the can of chickpeas.
   Note: Ask yourself: do I have oat flour? If not, you can substitute uncooked oats that you use to make oatmeal. Just place your oats into your food processor until you have a ½ cup!
3. Next, add your carrots, onions, chickpeas, and the rest of your ingredients into your food processor. Pulse your food processor a couple of times until the ingredients are combined but be careful not to over mix.
4. Moving over to the stove, heat cooking oil in a pan over medium high heat. Once heated, grab a heaping tablespoon to portion the mixture into the pan. Sometimes I even use another spoon to help me form a nugget shape in the pan!
5. Cook each nugget for 3-5 minutes and flip using a spatula. You may have to flatten some of your nuggets before cooking for an additional 3-5 minutes on that side. When the outside of the nugget is slightly golden you know you’re done!
6. Depending on the size of your pan, you can cook more than 1 nugget at a time and leave all finished nuggets to cool or enjoy as you cook!
7. This recipe will yield a LOT of nuggets which you can keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days and reheat whenever you feel like a fun vegetarian snack. Personally, I like to dip my nuggets in tomato sauce or salsa for some extra flavor!
   

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I have always felt like Daddy’s little girl, and I still feel the same now! My dad consistently supports my ambitions in and out of school, loves me unconditionally, helps me whenever I need it, and of course, he put up with the years of having a teenage daughter! My dad taught me how to be independent, strong, reliable, and trustworthy... and also passed down a pretty good sense of humor as well!

Spending time with my dad on Father’s Day is very important to me, but it can be hard to think of new and exciting things to do every year. Here are some activities I love to do with my dad that you can do with a fatherly figure in your life to celebrate today!

Soak Up the Outdoors

My dad and I love to be active! Soak up the sun by going for a walk, hike, or bike ride and explore a new place together. This is a great way to unplug and get some exercise! You could even check out a nearby town pool or take a trip to the beach if the weather is hot!

Play A Card Game or Board Game

Growing up, I played a lot of games with my dad and practiced some friendly competitions. You could usually find us with a pack of cards playing Aces or Uno or stretched out around a Ludo board. Pull out your dad’s favorite game and ask if he wants to play – you can even get the whole family involved!

Cook Dinner Together

Even though I’m not a master chef in the kitchen, I know that my dad loves to cook and enjoys teaching me. This Father’s Day, help dad cook dinner, and maybe, just because it’s his special day, you can volunteer to do the dishes after!

Watch A Movie

Pop the popcorn, grab some snacks, and put on your dad’s favorite movie! I always loved watching movies with my dad and just enjoying each other's company while we watched old James Bond films or Spiderman. Find something you and your dad will both love!

Regardless of what you choose to do with your dad this Father’s Day, he will simply love spending time with you so make sure you dedicate the day to him and remind him just how much he means to you! Happy Father’s Day!

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Education is for life! After their undergraduate years, many college students want to earn a master or doctorate degree and graduate school applications can be extremely competitive, stressful, and overwhelming! Here are 5 tips from my experience applying to graduate school to help support you during your application!

1) Identify someone for a letter of recommendation EARLY!

Letters of recommendation are crucial for your application! Most programs will suggest you ask a professor, faculty member at your school, or supervisor who can speak to your academic, professional, and personal qualities (while family members may have many wonderful things to say about you, I recommend asking someone who is more impartial and can speak to your abilities). It is important to identify your recommender as early as possible so that you can thoroughly discuss a timeline with that person and get your application submitted on time!

2) Update your resume.

Some applications will require a resume (it can also be optional), but you should make sure your resume is up-to-date and relevant to your career goals! Remember that a professional resume is typically one page written in reverse chronological order. I often like to attach a cover page as well to provide more insight about my qualifications. Be sure to include employment positions, awards, or special projects you’ve completed during your undergraduate years... but your time babysitting in high school may not be as relevant anymore!

3) Tackling the Personal Statement.

Almost all applications will ask for a personal statement or a response to a few essay questions. Write what you want to say, not what you think your graduate program wants to hear. Authenticity is key! Tell your personal story and how that led you to choose your specific graduate program. Be creative, avoid cliches, and as I always like to remind myself, there is only one of me and I have a unique story to tell... and so do you!

4) Oh no, there’s an interview!

Don’t panic! While interviews can be nerve-wracking, this is an opportunity for a graduate program to learn more about who you are as a real person rather than just what they can see on paper. Prepare some responses to general interview questions, have that “tell me about yourself” response ready, and most importantly, take a deep breathe! Many graduate schools will want to know how you plan to contribute to their program, what your future ambitions are, if you have any research interests, etc. so don’t be afraid to brag about yourself!

5) Proof, proof, proof.

You’ve finished your application having spent hours filling out your personal information and responding to essay questions... don’t forget to proofread! After all that time and energy, be sure to double-check that the information you provided is correct, there are no typos, and you have completed each section in its entirety. I recommend reviewing your application after a good night's sleep with fresh eyes to ensure you catch any mistakes!

While graduate applications can be stressful, any anxieties are completely normal, and I hope these tips help to relieve some of those nerves! Good luck with your application!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started!