• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
College Magazine logo

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
    • Find Your College
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
Home » Latest Posts » The Real World: Graduating From College
Life

The Real World: Graduating From College

Facebook Tweet
Kiara Anthony   June 4, 2012

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES! You’ve finally done it: you finished college and you’re still alive! That is truly something to be proud about. To think, only four years ago you were a tiny and helpless freshman but now you've become a real person! But what now? What’s your next step and how will you get there? Where are you going to live? What will your next job or career entail? Will you own your own business or will you be flipping burgers at McDonald's?

All of these are reasonable questions to be asking. But a common misconception among many graduates is thinking that everything has to happen at once. Progress comes with time and hard work. Nothing is going to fall into your lap. If you haven’t learned anything from the past four years as an undergrad, this should be priority. You are officially an adult which means that it is now time to make adult choices. 

But what kind of choices should you be making in a post-grad world?

Grad School

For many careers nowadays, one degree just doesn’t cut it. The more titles and experience you have under your belt, the more marketable you are. Take the summer to look into other programs related to your major, if you haven’t already. Or if there is something else that you are interested in and you want to pursue further, look for an extensive program.

Also, be sure to do something you love. Recent Temple University graduate Lawrance Ogunkua’s goal is to increase health literacy in disenfranchised communities. He wants to continue to push himself to the max in order to excel at his passion.

“I plan on attending graduate school in pursuit of a Ph.D. in higher education administration," Ogunkua said.


trending

378

10 Student Organizations Breaking the Mold at Berkeley

249

The Teacher I Hated Changed my College Journey

170

Top 10 Spots Around Emerson College to Get Inspired


This is the perfect opportunity to further your education, gain more experience in your field—or fields, if you're extremely ambitious –of interest, and expand your resume.

In the end, this means more money on your paycheck. Why not consider it?

Internship

You're probably thinking something along the lines of “I don't need one of those 'internships,' they're for the young and inexperienced; I need to look for a real job.” Well, if you were as experienced as you think you are, you’d have a job right now. So don’t knock it until you’re actually paid a real, grown-up's salary; not one by hour.

Internships mean more experience and a stronger resume. It’s all about selling yourself, people. Give employers a reason or two as to why they should hire you over the next person. Plus, if you make a great enough impression at your internship, who’s to say they won’t offer you an official position?

Workaholic

There will be the fortunate ones out there that land a job straight after college. Temple University graduate Alexander Brown is one of these fortunate few.

“I got a job in West Philadelphia as a full time site coordinator at LIFT and I enrolled in the MSW program at Temple with a concentration in health and mental health," Brown said.

Brown may be taking classes again but he didn't let that get in the way of what's most important: getting a job and financing all of the stupid [un]necessities you'll be blowing money on later in life. If you don't start working after college, however will you be able to afford whatever mid-life crisis you have coming for you? Take some pointers and see what others did—or who they got to know—in order to get that great job.

Relax

Now, this is not a bad idea. You’ve worked hard. You’ve pushed yourself to the limit. All of your hard work, sweat, anxiety and tears have paid off. You deserve a break. Take some time off, if this is what you feel you are called to do. Relax for a bit. Go see a movie or go on a date with a special someone. You deserve to at least have the summer off.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a breather. However, don’t use this as an excuse to not push yourself to get to the next level. Continue to broaden your horizons and find that “thing” that you love to do. Everybody has a calling. Now is the time to find yours.

About Kiara Anthony

Junior > Journalism and Mass Communication > Towson University

What I Wish I Had Known About Mental Health So I Wouldn’t Have to Call Myself a College Dropout

Ant-Man Opens the Doors for Marvel’s New Phase

10 Boba Tea Spots for Houston College Students

10 Ways to Have Fun with Your Friends Indoors

Do You Actually Care, Or Do You Want to Look Like You Do?

unsplash.com

Top Ten Inspirational Quotes from Your Favorite Sports TV Shows

I lived with my three best friends. Here’s how it went.

21 Things to Do in Williamsburg When You’re Under 21

The Beauty and Pain of Living Alone

Previous Post:Top 10 Schools For Celebrities
Next Post:Pretty Little Liars Preview: A Q&A with Bad Boy Caleb

colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

College Magazine logo

Copyright © 2023 Powered by BizBudding