Ideas for what to do after college!
Life after college. What a time to be alive! It’s such an exciting time because you finished those four long years are finally out in the real world. Unless which you are continuing on with your education, then congrats to you for wanting to stay in school. What I am about to tell you is that what you decide do after college is entirely up to you. As cliché as it may sound, the world is your oyster and you can roam and do as you please (as long as you are being safe of course!). Let’s face it, the world can be a daunting place. We live in such a diverse and chaotic world now especially since the occurrence of the Covid-19 pandemic. We have to be more cautious in what we do and say, so I can see how it can be a bit intimidating. Now that you have finally finished your homework, what should you do next? Below are a few ideas on what do after you graduate from college and are yearning to do something new in life.
Intern
If you’re unsure of what to do after college, then applying for an internship is a wonderful way to gain experience in the field that you want to be a part of in the future. It’s also a great way to find out what you like and do not like as well. When you intern, you will network—develop connections who will not only work with you but train you in what you are going to be doing. Will you make mistakes? Yes, but interning is all about putting your foot in the door. You’re not supposed to be perfect. If you find that in the end, the career isn’t what you want to do, then cheers to you for figuring that out quickly. A bonus? There are in person AND virtual internships. With a click of a button on a laptop, your internship is right at your fingertips no matter where you go.
Join AmeriCorps/Peace Corps or the military
There are more options than people think when graduating from high school and college. For me, after I graduated high school, I enrolled in college at the University of Maine at Farmington but was absolutely miserable because I wasn’t ready. I wish someone had told me about the other options I had before making a GIGANTIC and expensive decision. But in the end, I have learned that everything happens for a reason and if it weren’t for my time at UMF, I wouldn’t have ever learned about AmeriCorps, nor would I be a part of such a wonderful community. By correct definition AmeriCorps is: a “network of national service programs, made up of three primary programs that each take a different approach to improving lives and fostering civic engagement. Members commit their time to address critical community needs like increasing academic achievement, mentoring youth, fighting poverty, sustaining national parks, preparing for disasters and more.” Joining this program absolutely changed my life and if you’re unsure of what to after college, look into joining AmeriCorps, Peace Corps or the military. Dedicating yourself to the community/nation is a life changing experience and one that I will never forget.
https://americorps.gov/serve
Entry Position
Like an internship, one of the best ways to gain experience in your field of choice is through an entry-level job position. Nowadays, EVERYWHERE people and companies are hiring due to staff shortages because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Your first step? Apply. And if you don’t get it on the first shot, apply again and again until someone is willing to take a chance on you. An entry-level job will also help build your resume and be a supporting factor as your prepare to apply for dream job, wherever that may be. Need help looking? Go to sites such as: Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster, and Zip recruiter. All of them have helpful tools in regarding your resume and cover letters. We all can use a helping hand sometimes, so why not take it when you can when the websites are offering it.
Graduate School
Are you unsure of what to do after you receive your bachelors? Are you still craving to learn new information on your degree topic of choice? Graduate school is never a terrible idea. Yes, college (especially in the United States) is expensive, but if you don’t want to stop learning, then don’t. The world is full of endless things to learn. For me, I am continuing my education with attending grad school at Southern New Hampshire University and am studying English. While I was taking my core English Language and Literature courses, I found that there was SO much more than I did not know, so therefore, I didn’t want to stop learning. A bonus? There are always plenty of scholarships to apply to if you would like help or have a difficult time affording university. Just contact someone in admissions at the school you would like to attend and they will be more than happy to help your educational goals.
https://www.augie.edu/academics/continuing-education-workshops
Gap year
Yes, you have most likely heard of taking a gap year after college numerous times and I am about to bring it up once again. If you’re unsure of what to do after college, take a gap year and travel! The world is HUGE and it’s full of places to explore, people to meet and things to eat! You are only on this earth once, so why not take advantage of the free time you have then right now while you are free and have all the time in the world? A gap year will help you meet new people, network all across the world (if you decide to travel) and soon you will be ready to enter the real world. Life is short. There is always plenty of time to make money and make adult life-altering decisions. Take your time, travel, see the world and soon you will know what you would like to do.https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2020/09/27/50-best-trips-for-solo-female-travel-and-why-now-is-the-time-to-go/
