What is life like after college?
What is it like leaving college having a job in the field you studied and living on your own? Is it hard to buy a house after you graduate? What’s the best way to save money and build credit in college while also paying normal expenses and for college? #help #scacred #confused #college #money
3 answers
Ken’s Answer
Life after college depends greatly upon how you plan your education/career journey starting as soon as possible. College does not have to create great student debt. One can approach college as any business expense with an eye to economy. Also, taking advantage of professional associations to which people working in your chosen career area belong can provide important networking connections which will help you through your education and through your career years. Many times these associations have or know of internships, coop programs, scholarships, and other financial assistance plans which might help with your education. Through my years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I have developed these steps which will assist a person in having a positive experience during and after college. First, here is an important video for you to watch, which emphasizes the fact that it really does not matter where you go to college: ## http://www.ted.com/talks/julie_lythcott_haims_how_to_raise_successful_kids_without_over_parenting?utm_campaign=social&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=talk&utm_term=education<span style="color: rgb(103, 106, 108);"> </span>
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Ken recommends the following next steps:
Katie’s Answer
Life after college can take some adjustment--some big and some small. Each person's experience is different because college and after college can vary so greatly.
When I was in school, I tried not to schedule early morning classes, and I was very much a night owl. My first job after school required me to be at work at 7:00 am. It also seemed really weird to me to go home at 3:30 and not take any work with me because I was getting paid by the hour. Luckily, I had co-oped so that made the transition into the workforce easier.
If your first after college job requires you to move to a new city or state, it can be a little lonely especially if you lived with friends. Many companies offer after work activities including sports and volunteer opportunities that can be a great way for you to meet people and discover more about your new home. My mother would also encourage you to find a new local place of worship as a way to to meet new people.
The ability to buy a house after graduating from school really depends on your local housing market and what type of house you want to buy. I was able to buy a house 2 years after graduating from college in a suburb of Columbia, SC. Unfortunately, I had to sell it less than a year later when I got the opportunity for a bigger role in a different state. Before buying a house, you may want to think about how long you plan to live in your first after college location
Simeon’s Answer
If you're interested in getting good credit, many banks and credit unions offer a credit builder loan, essentially giving you a small loan with small interest to pay back just for the sake of putting something on your credit record. Businesses tend to have a hard time giving loans to people with no credit history at all, which I always found surprising given you have to start out somewhere. Luckily, for cars, a lot of car places are offering deals for recent graduate that help them get a great financing plan without a credit history.
If you can manage to do so both during and after college, I recommend splitting the cost of renting a house with a group of friends. You can save a ton of money on rent and food while ya'll take time to get on your feet. Plus, it can be really fun to live with friends to boot. Just make sure ya'll all set clear expectations up front.