Sonja
Will it have everything that I need to be successful?
Some collages are different and have different ways to help us with things we need but even though they are different, can all of them help the exact same way? Like #art. Will they help the same way also?
4 answers
Epoch Team
Epoch’s Answer
It's hard to define 'successful'. It's all up to you. And don't be afraid of missing out on something. You can't have everything. Once you can define 'successful', you are already halfway there.
Stuff like art is food for your soul. It may not be something that you can immediately benefit from. But it will help build your character.
Epoch Team
Epoch’s Answer
Thank you for your question.
I don't believe that college will have everything that you need to be successful but it can be a great resource to set you up for success.
Before I expand on that, what is your definition of success? It is important to define that for yourself so that you can work backwards on the steps you need to take to be successful and what results you want to achieve. For some people success is doing great in their job. For others it is to make a certain amount of money. For others it can be starting a family. It is also extremely important to define success for yourself and do your best not to let outside factors influence your definition of success like our parents wishes for us or looking good in front of our peers. Take some time and define success for you and this definition most likely will change over time.
College can be a great resource to set you up for success. There are classes, clubs, business fraternities/sororities, networking events, panels, conferences that you will have access to. There are also local businesses and alumni that can help set you up for success.
I recommend that after you define what success it to you, to find a mentor that has the type of career and has the type of life that you want. I also recommend finding peers that are on a similar career/success path as you want to be. If you want to be an artist, spending time with a group of friends that want to be veterinarians may not be the best path to your success. However, it is also good to have a balance in your life and have groups outside of your success track. You may learn other opinions that can be applied to your success journey.
Outside of college there are Facebook groups, LinkedIN groups, now Clubhouse (new social media app), in which you can virtually find groups. Also live conferences are a great way to network to find a group of like minded people to connect with.
There are also other resources online on Youtube, online courses, blogs, podcasts that may help you in your journey.
Best wishes!
Eric Vincent
Eric’s Answer
Colleges vary; area of study, way things are taught, projects, but the foundation of these classes are similar in providing you the basic foundation of your chosen degree track.
Professors may all teach differently, but the foundations are similar. After all as an artist understanding color interaction is rooted in science you will need to learn. I tell you this in the event you may bounce from one college to another and see differences in the methods.
All colleges are the same when it comes to you succeeding, however it's up to you to put in the effort to succeed, meaning; if you are the quite student that sits away and absorbs everything around you but doesn't ask questions, seek help, or demand to know more, then you are not maximizing the opportunities. Join clubs, be part of events in your area of study, ask questions, don't rely on one perspective from one person - get multiple points of view, get tons of advice. Ask fellow students for help.
Live by this: A Closed Mouth Never Gets Fed.
Eric recommends the following next steps:
Andy Wang
Andy’s Answer
Every college and university has their own individual characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. Vocational and trade schools will focus more heavily on the skills needed to get a specific job or work in a specialized field. Traditional 4-year colleges will allow you to specialize but also require you to take some courses outside of your major.
Choosing a college or university can be a difficult decision so try to keep in mind what your goal is. Are you interested in pursuing one specific track and getting through as quickly as possible? Are you interested in learning a lot of different things and having a broad base of knowledge from which to choose your next steps? There are no wrong answers here as different people have different goals and needs.
With respect to art specifically, check with their alumni and professors to see if they line up to the field you are most interested in. Does their career center have strong relationships with companies that you would want to work for? Do their graduates end up in fields that you want to pursue? Are their professors coming from backgrounds that align with your passions?
Also, look into the campus and student life. Some vocational and trade colleges don't have traditional campuses and so interacting with other students may be more difficult. Look at extracurricular activities like student groups and clubs. Do they have communities that you would be interested in participating with?
It's great that you're thinking about how these colleges and institutions can help you to achieve your goals. Keep looking forward and planning ahead. Good luck!
Andy recommends the following next steps: