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Should I focus on academics or extracurricular activities?

I will start a one year graduate program this fall. I am also active as a volunteer and leader in several organizations that match my interests and later career goals. If my academic responsibilities and my responsibilities due to my positions in these organizations conflict, can it make sense to let my grades slip slightly to keep performing well in volunteer positions that might help secure jobs and connections that are relevant for my later career? Or should I prioritize keeping my grades up?

#college #extracurriculars #studying #grades #volunteer #jobs

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Austin’s Answer

Hi John,

Great question! I hate to say this, but you shouldn’t focus on one over the other, you should focus on them both. Balance in life should not be zero sum, by this I mean that you don’t have to put 100% in one thing and 0% in the other; you should put forth effort in both so that you are able perform well in both aspects. Balance in life is by no means easy, but it is something that we all have to work hard to achieve. It is possible to be done so try your best to develop a time management regiment so that you are disciplined in how you allocate your time. Your grades and your outside activities are both important so letting one slip at the expense of the other should be avoided to the best of your ability.


I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck!!


Best,

Austin

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Kim’s Answer

John,

You should always do the best you can at whatever you undertake. So , with all your activities, is it possible to let some go and keep some? It appears you have leadership roles in some, but not others? I would first look to that - focusing on the ones that will likely "pay-off" more.


As to grades, a lot depends on the major, and how "little" you want to let them slip. If you can get all A's and B's, you should be okay, generally speaking. Some majors are more content-specific, such as the sciences, whereas some are more theory/concept oriented. Someone getting a C in Political Theory is not as bad as getting a C in Accounting. Do you want a C-student doing your tax return?


Also, going against what anyone else will probably say, but I know some employers who are hesitant to hire straight-A students, as they perceive them as "book-smart, but possibly short on life experience/common sense." Also, other than the first job or two, grades often do not matter. They CAN be used on federal job applications, etc., so there could be a consequence to letting them slide.


Basically, this whole thing is a trade-off, that only you can truly evaluate: are you really making some good networking connections through your other activities, or is it just that it might possibly, if you get lucky, lead to that special connection? I guess it's a probability question!


Personally, when I look at resumes, those who have "done it" stand out a lot more than those who haven't. So, by all means, whatever you decide, please don't totally remove yourself from your other activities!


Kim
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Ken’s Answer

When you are employed, your major emphasis is on performing your job to the fullest extent. Your employer expects you to give the job the highest priority, so that you can accomplish your assigned tasks at your maximum level. This is the same way that you should look at your grades and the same way a future employer will look at your grades as an indication of the calibre of employer you will be. Doing well in school is the greatest and most important task at hand. Unless that you feel that you are not involved in the right major. If that is the case, you might want to revisit your choice of major by following the steps below.

Ken recommends the following next steps:

The first step is to take an interest and aptitude test and have it interpreted by your school counselor to see if you share the personality traits necessary to enter the field. Too many students whom I encountered in college recruiting skilled this step and found that they were in a job situation for which they were ill suited.
Next, when you have the results of the testing, talk to the person at your high school and college who tracks and works with graduates to arrange to talk to, visit, and possibly shadow people doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can get know what they are doing and how they got there. Here are some tips: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Locate and attend meetings of professional associations to which people who are doing what you think that you want to do belong, so that you can get their advice. These associations may offer or know of intern, coop, shadowing, and scholarship opportunities. These associations are the means whereby the professionals keep abreast of their career area following college and advance in their career. Here are some tips: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
It is very important to express your appreciation to those who help you along the way to be able to continue to receive helpful information and to create important networking contacts along the way. Here are some good tips: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-for-writing-a-thank-you-note-thatll-make-you-look-like-the-best-candidate-alive?bsft_eid=7e230cba-a92f-4ec7-8ca3-2f50c8fc9c3c&bsft_pid=d08b95c2-bc8f-4eae-8618-d0826841a284&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20171020&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20171020&bsft_clkid=edfe52ae-9e40-4d90-8e6a-e0bb76116570&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=214115cb-cca2-4aec-aa86-92a31d371185&bsft_pp=2 ##
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Fiona’s Answer

Academics is definitely important and can get you a head start in life as employers would likely look to this. However, extra curricular activities can provide you with the extra factor to get you noticed (especially if it is something unique). Often some extra curricular activities will help you develop skills that would be useful for your career. This would also be looked upon favourably by employers. Can you strike a balance? Keep the extra curricular activities that you are most interested in/would be most relaxant for your future career?
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