A shout out to my college seniors! Time flies by, doesn’t it? It seems like it was only yesterday I was a doe-eyed freshman, making my way from COPU for my 10:00am Introduction to Media Class to my 11:30am humanities class all the way over in Generales. It’s been an amazing four years, but lately a thought has been creeping over my shoulder these past few weeks.
For seniors, April is the cruelest month as the grand T.S. Eliot would say, as it’s the time to squeeze in our exams, extra-curriculars and everything else to stay on point until May, when finals come around. A few of my fellow graduating peers have been accepted into their dream schools, and a few others have had job offers laid out. As I’m still waiting for the answer that will decide my near future, it got me thinking about what I should do if my Plan A doesn’t work out. I know what you’re all thinking – you MUST have a Plan B! The truth is I do – sort of. But what about someone who doesn’t? There are so many options to follow and so many unsettling moments in these months where all we can do is wait, that it’s inevitable for some of us to rethink our choices.
Post-Grad Problems (And How to Deal)
I didn’t get into my dream school/didn’t get my dream job.Getting that acceptance letter into your dream grad school is probably something you’ve worked for since the moment you stepped on campus – maybe even before then. So what happens if you don’t get accepted into your dream school? It would probably be a very difficult experience, a worst-case scenario. Maybe you thought to apply to a few other schools, known as “safeties”. You might compare this situation to applying to get into college, but on the graduate level, it seems that getting rejected from your #1 choice can prickle the fiber of your very core.On another note, let’s say you have a few job interviews lined up, and one of them just happens to be the perfect job for you.You prepare yourself for your interview like never before, but then you find out you didn’t get it. What now?How to deal: Under NO circumstances should you lose your confidence. It seems like a lot to ask of yourself – after all, you gave everything you had and you still weren’t accepted – but that doesn’t mean you weren’t good enough. This even applies to a job – many candidates are interviewed who have all of the qualities needed for a specific job, but don’t get hired. So many factors are at play than many of them are probably out of your control. So keep your cool, take a deep breath, have a good cry and time to prioritize your next step.
I got into my dream school/got my dream job…but I’m not sure if this is what I want.As collegiettes there is an insane amount of pressure put upon us every day. At this young age we are supposed to figure out what we want to do for the rest of our lives. It comes as no surprise then, when everything goes as planned, there is a possible wave of doubt that may surface. Whether it stems from self-confidence or has to do with external variables, being unsure of your future is a completely expected reaction.How to deal: Evaluate your long-term goals and think about how your plan ties into them. If it feels like something doesn’t click or doesn’t feel right, talk to a mentor or look for guidance in someone who is in that field that you already admire. It may be just a normal batch of self-consciousness, or it could be a more serious issue that would require heavy deliberation when making your choice.
I got into my dream school/got my dream job, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for what’s next.Even the best-case scenario doesn’t come without worries! Once the ecstasy of finding out you’re on the path that you want to be wears down, there comes a time where the anxiety sets in. The reality of the situation is that college is over – real life is about to begin. Some of us might feel more ready than others, but all the same it’s completely normal to be apprehensive.How to deal: Prioritize your time so as to not lose yourself during this new process in your life. Staying organized and reminding yourself of why you chose this particular career path in the first place, and how much it means to you.
I’m graduating and…I have absolutely no idea what to do next.Time creeps up on you. One minute, it’s syllabus week and before you know it it’s time for your last finals, and for graduation. Except….you have nothing planned out afterwards. Many young collegiettes have found themselves in this position, without any job offers or graduate school prospects once graduation rolls around. You may feel like you’re up a creek without a paddle, but think about it this way: it’s an opportunity for a fresh start.How to deal: Pursue a hobby you haven’t had time to practice properly, start a long-term project or find a flexible job while you plan out what to do next. Take a cooking course, learn a new language, volunteer in your community. Taking a gap year after graduation doesn’t mean you’re automatically a failure or won’t be successful in life – on the contrary, it might be what you need to do while you decide your plans at your own pace.
Leaving college behind is a bittersweet experience for the most part. The place you called home for the last few years will be no more. Embarking on a new journey after graduation can be especially difficult, but every situation merits proper attention by the only person who matters: yourself. Never doubt your choices, and if you feel like you’re not on the right path, it’s never wrong to ask for help. So get out there and start building your empire!