2 answers
2
Asked 559 views

What is something you can do to be prepared to begin college

Leaving home to go to college can be daunting how can you be confident that you will be fine and what can help you get on your feet #College Life

Answer This

+25 Karma if successful
From: You
To: Friend
Subject: Career question for you
2

2 answers

0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Ken’s Answer

The most important thing that you can do is to get to know yourself well enough to see how your personality traits relate to a career area and then talk to people who are working in that area to see if there is indeed a fit and getting their advice and suggestions.


Getting to know yourself and how your personality traits relate to people involved in various career opportunities is very important in your decision making process. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I ran across too many students who had skipped this very important step and ended up in a job situation which for which they were not well suited. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. First you have to be properly fitted for the correct size, and then you need to try on and walk in the various shoe options to determine which is fits the best and is most comfortable for you to wear. Following are some important steps which I developed during my career which have been helpful to many .

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. You might want to do this again upon entry into college, as the interpretation might differ slightly due to the course offering of the school. However, do not wait until entering college, as the information from the test will help to determine the courses that you take in high school. Too many students, due to poor planning, end up paying for courses in college which they could have taken for free in high school.
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. You can locate them by asking your school academic advisor, favorite teachers, and the reference librarian at your local library. 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 ##
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Nicole’s Answer

Hi Brandi S. I see that you posted this question a little while ago so I hope my answer to you (or others who may read this response) is still helpful.

I think one of the biggest favors an individual can do for themselves when preparing to begin college is to relax, keep a positive attitude and an open mind. Sounds a little cheezy I know :)...but...I share these three things because their opposites, worrying, being your own nea-sayer and being in a constant mode of fear could be show stoppers for someone who is trying to grow and be successful in their college journey.

More specifically, you can acknowledge that there will be challenges...exams, noisy roommates, navigating how-to for important things AND you can give yourself the umphf to decide that you can and will overcome those challenges. You can prepare yourself to understand that some things will take time to correct and/or understand but that with perseverance, the right outcome will occur.

In my opinion, success on any new journey starts with how you enter that journey and how you brush off after a stumble. My bet is that you can do it...well!

Best of luck to you!
0