Articles
Academic | Career | Financial | Alumni
ACADEMIC
Staying Safe on Campus
Fall semester is just around the corner and with that comes a new group of students. During this
time, people are more likely to be outside, oftentimes at night, and with this new found freedom
come the opportunity to partake in parties. The combination of these three factors can make
students more susceptible to crime. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind while you get ready
for the new school year.
Time Management...in College?
For most of you, college is your fi rst real taste of freedom. Of course, this freedom comes with certain
responsibilities – particularly in regard to your use of time. From reading, researching, papers, exams, jobs, not
to mention your social life. At times, you may feel like you’re scrambling to fi t it all in. However, if you learn how
to manage your time effectively, you will fi nd that you can get through the day and still have time for fun.
Take
Control… Of Your Job Interview
Job
interview season is quickly approaching! If you’ve been to your
campus career center lately, you’ll probably have noticed upcoming
job fairs and on-campus interviews. Throughout the next several months,
you will no doubt encounter some job search adversity while speaking
with employers. One of the major stumbling blocks students have is handling
employer objections. From “You don’t have experience” to “Your
grades are too low,” objections tend to defeat students and send
their job search in a different direction. However, you can defeat employer
objections by using the fi ve step process below and reinforce why you
are the ideal candidate.
GO
AHEAD – Talk to Me!
Talking to your instructors outside of class is absolutely necessary if you intend
to get the most out of your education. A minute spent picking a professor’s
brain will go further to helping your grade than a minute spent doing anything
else. Think about it. How much information can you absorb after studying for
a few minutes, or reading textbooks? Not much. But making a point to seek out
and chat up your instructor can make a world of difference, be it to your grade,
strategy for the class, or even direction you choose to pursue after college.
Is
Your Alcohol Education Program Effective?
According to Terry Arndt, President of Life After Graduation, LLC, most
college alcohol education programs are missing the mark. Simply telling
students that drinking is bad doesn’t work. An effective alcohol
education program needs to connect with students on a more personal level
and be presented in a medium students are familiar with.
Myth
#1: Paying for a Liberal Arts Education is a Lousy Investment
Many recent graduates lament that their fi rst professional jobs have
no intellectual content, aren’t challenging, and require little
more than an eighth-grade education. You would expect then that some
of these graduates would question the value of a liberal arts education.
In our experience that rarely happens.
Orienting the MySpace Generation
As a young administrator, I’ve planned the traditional Freshman Orientation
programs to try and “get students involved” only to be disappointed
with low turn-out or lack of attention. I’ve determined it’s
not that they aren’t interested – it’s that I’ve
failed to fi nd the appropriate ways to include them in the program.
Get the MO$T from Financial
Aid
Ring in the new year with some financial aid cheer! The Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is much, much more than just another
form. It’s
a test. It’s a game. It’s a headache. We provide you some tips on
how to qualify for more financial aid and save yourself and your parents some
of the pain associated with this yearly ritual.
CAREER
When to Ask for Your First Raise
There are a lot of fi rsts involved with your fi rst job, and the one you may end up remembering most is the
fi rst time you ask for a raise. As you start your job, you’ll soon see that you and your employer have naturally
confl icting interests when it comes to your salary. You will most likely want to make more money, and your boss
will most likely try to save money. Any talk of a raise should be well-thought out strategically.
Are
You Going to be Underpayed?
How Your Personality Can Affect Your Salary & What
You Can Do About It.
Volunteering
Abroad
Are
you wrapping up college, and not sure what to do next? Do you want
to see how people in other countries live? Are you looking for
adventure, challenge, and meaningful experiences? If you are answering
yes to these questions, then volunteering abroad may be the right
choice for you.
To
Get Ahead . . . Get Involved
Decades of research supports the idea that students involved in campus activities
(fraternities, residence halls, student government, community service) are more
likely to graduate and are more likely to develop leadership skills that prepare
them for “life after graduation”.
What Did You Say?
In a recent Life After Graduation, LLC survey, employers and college
career centers ranked verbal communication as one of the top skills
college graduates lack – and recent college graduates agree.
When asked what skills do you believe would have been benefi cial to
learn prior to entering the workplace, nine out of ten recent college
graduates cited verbal communication in their top two responses. Understanding
pay and benefi ts was #1.
Getting Ready to Start a New Job?
Then get ready for
your first task – Winning Over Your New Co-Workers.
Terry Arndt, President of Life After Graduation, LLC offers rock-solid
tips on making a stunning first impression.
FINANCIAL
Financial
Education PAY$
Well-rounded, intellectually-stimulated, and emotionally mature young adults
are among the hallmarks of a college education. Though less prominently displayed
within collegiate marketing materials, a university degree also provides the
means to a fi nancial ends. As is well-documented, college graduates have a superior
ability to obtain competitive, higher-paying jobs than those without the diploma.
Loan Consolidation
One of the biggest financial decisions many college graduates face is whether
they should consolidate their student loans or not. Consolidators promise lower
interest rates, one easy payment, and fi nancial fl exibility. But, is it right for you?
You
need health coverage.
While you may be young and healthy, you are
taking an enormous risk by going without health coverage. The outof-
pocket cost of a simple broken ankle is over $1,500. Going to the
ER for a sore throat, getting tested, and being told to go home and
get some rest will run you about $500.
Are You in Charge of Your Money?
Financial security and success depends upon whether we are in charge of our money
or our money is in charge of us. Money is not everything, but financial success
and security allows for the pursuit of the important things in life without
the stress of being in debt.
ALUMNI
And You Thought College Was Expensive???
Life for the new college grad can be expensive. As we emerge into the working world, there are many
things we want to buy to fi t into our new professional lives. We fi nd ourselves rationalizing expenses. ‘You know, having a car would really make the commute into work a whole lot more comfortable… And
I need some new clothes.
Staying Connected (Part 1)
As a recently graduated college alum, your attitude may be one of go forth and
conquer. And if this is so, then may the wind be at your back, the ground rise to meet
your feet, and all that good stuff. Just be sure to keep one thing in mind – it pays to stayconnected to your school.
Staying Connected (Part 2)
Firstly, you should know that the mere act of staying in contact with your school is a big help to the
institution. Your school relies on its pool of graduates for statistical information that’s used to shape
the direction and funding of its programs. Also, by adding your name to the database of alumni, you help the alumni network grow and get stronger.
