<p>After completing my first semester and coming home, I've had some time to look back and think about what I need to do for the rest of my years at university. You parents have "been there, done that," so I am hoping you can provide me with some encouragement/words of wisdom/etc. </p>
<p>I didn't do so hot academically, scraping out a measely 3.0 in my core educational requirements due to motivational, not intellectual, struggles. I also failed to secure a job on campus, meaning I have now officially gone 18 years of my life without working for a wage a single hour. My returning high school friends all excelled academically at their colleges and even had jobs relating to their proposed career fields (the animal science major volunteered on the campus barn, the chemistry major worked as a lab technician, and etcetera). </p>
<p>Next semester, I want to start making something out of myself. I know I have the book smarts to do well in school, but I'm afraid my relatively poor grades and lack of work experience (and heck, throw in poor interpersonal skills, to boot) will prevent me from getting a good job, now, and in the future. Plus, as a potential history major looking at law, I'm not even sure what kind of job to get! Would it be bad to bus tables (in the hopes of getting a waitressing position) or work in the dining hall cleaning dishes while I focus on school and think about my options? Or do I need to start securing relevant leadership positions/internships now (I do have a history of procrastinating)?</p>
<p>Basically, what can I do to get myself on track, both in terms of school, and my career (which I realize are interrelated)? It's a big question, I know. Thank you all for anything you can offer.</p>
<p>Congratulations on making a resolution to improve your attitude; that is the most important step of all!</p>
<p>Since you have no job history, I don't think you are going to have the opportunity to be picky about immediate employment opportunities. The coming semester is the time to find any job that will work with your school schedule and establish a record as a dependable, energetic employee. Future job or internship opportunities will probably require a recommendation from a supervisor from your first job, so take it seriously, no matter how mundane you think it is.</p>
<p>I think your primary focus next semester should be on living up to your academic potential. I believe you when you say your lackluster performance was do to lack of motivation rather than ability; you have plenty of company there. If you have particular bad habits that interfere with getting to your studies promptly, such as television, computers, video games, telephone time, sitting around coffee shops shooting the breeze, etc., first priority is breaking those habits.</p>
<p>Have you ever tried formally writing out lists in which you prioritize what needs to be done? Making a schedule? Find a method that keeps you on track to keep your promise to yourself that you are going to "buckle down" and "get on track". </p>
<p>You still have plenty of time to improve your academic record and establish a job history, but there is no time like the present. As you noted, above, a lot of other students have a head start. </p>
<p>Well, I do have some experience working as an unpaid intern at a local newspaper one summer during high school. I would love a job that would not be too difficult to secure but would 1.) help me develop better "people skills" and 2.) pay, so that I can wean myself off of using my parents' money for spending cash. My best ideas are working up to a waitressing/hostess job or being a receptionist in a campus office. Are those reasonable goals? I feel like I am very behind and that might be underreaching, especially if I am unable to secure the jobs I want and end up washing dishes at the dining hall. What else can I do to "catch up?" Look into some service-oriented clubs that I might be passionate about? I am not part of any clubs, either, and that kind of activity interests me more than the "pre-law society" or some other academic option.</p>
<p>I agree that I should focus on my academics. That was one of my primary reasons for not getting an on-campus job first semester (I guess it didn't do me much good). I have tried making lists, but all I do is ignore them! One thing that helps me is finding new places to study. This cuts down on procrastinating, too, because I am not distracted by my friends in my dorm or bored to tears at the library.</p>
<p>Thanks for responding. It helps to both hear suggestions and even just write out my thoughts concerning some reasonable goals.</p>
<p>Can you get a job doing research for one of your profs? Work in the library? or in one of the offices on campus? It's a good idea to work, not just because of the money but also because it imposes discipline. Working ten hours a week is very reasonable.</p>
<p>As for study habits, here a re a few tips:<br>
There is a temptation to fritter away time between classes. Instead, use that time to study so that you will have longer blocks of time later in the day for socializing or working. Make a schedule of what is due on what day of the week. Begin working on those assignments at least a few days ahead. For example, if you are supposed to read a book for a discussion section on Thursday, begin reading over the weekend or Monday at the latest. If you have a paper due, begin research and writing well in advance.</p>
<p>I had a mediocre freshman year; what I think helped me (and I don't know if your school gives you the luxury of this) was choosing classes that had good reviews by former students, sitting in the front row of class, and visiting the instructor during office hours. Also, identifying a faculty member who could be a good mentor or advisor to you is a good idea. There was a LOT of counseling for just about anything offered at my school, but I didn't take advantage of it early on. And then when I did, the dean I saw was really nice and remembered my name when he saw me on campus, and called me to follow up. It made me feel like I had a personal trainer that I couldn't let down! </p>
<p>I had wonderful jobs on campus doing dishes, making French fries, etc. Nothing wrong with that when you're a freshman! If you are interested in law you might want to go to the career counseling office and look at summer internships. Good luck!</p>
<p>As an employer of a lot of teenagers and the owner of a retail business, I think every young person should spend a period of time in a 'deal with the public' position -- retail, waitressing, hostessing, fast food, etc. </p>
<p>It gives you a whole new perspective on our society -- as college students you are essentially in a little bubble of academically oriented achievers. As a retail clerk or a waitress, you are working with a complete cross section of society. And -- this is what I tell the kids working for me -- you may very well meet someone in a position to offer you a step-up job or internship. I'm always happy to boost one of my star employees to a career spot.</p>
<p>I agree with the previous post, but I'd like to add that I'd also recommend a commission based job (waiter or waitress counts) over a wage job like a clerk in a store. I used to be a vendor at major league sports events. The money is usually better, and it will be a better learning experience because you will learn how to deal with all kinds of people and will be compensated directly on how successful you are. Learning how to sell is a life skill worth learning for any career.</p>
<p>My grades went up in college once I got a job. It was just 10 hours a week shelving library books, but it help make me more organized about my time. If it were me I'd start off by looking for on campus jobs because there's less travel time.</p>
<p>Don't feel so pressured to "catch up" -- if you want to join clubs, etc. you should. But do it because you're interested. Join a few clubs you enjoy, and become a leader in one or two of those activities. You can't force yourself into leadership positions, so focus on enjoying what you do and the involvement/leadership will come naturally.</p>
<p>Over the next few years, you should definitely try to get a law-related internship or part-time job, but for now you are by no means "behind" everyone else when it comes to that type of thing!! Like everyone else, I think it's great that you've noticed some things you can work on, but don't let it stress you out! :)</p>
<p>Thank you all again! It's good to hear that I shouldn't stress out. I guess a lot of people I was acquainted with went into college knowing what they wanted, but I am just discovering it...seems to be more de rigueur to fumble a bit at the beginning, anyway, than to start at full steam ahead.</p>
<p>My daughter was the first one of her group of friends to get a job on campus because we insisted on it. It wasn't so much for the money as it would help her get a summer job this year. She is working as a "girl Friday" at a department in her school. Her GPA didn't suffer this firs semester because of her work. It probably kept her more organized and got her of the bed before 9am. Most of her friends have all found a job for next semester working on campus - receptionist at the gym, library, etc.</p>
<p>As far as GPA, I think it's more of a "want to" rather than lack of ability for most students. There is one friend, with the worst GPA, would tell you(and her parents) that she studied her butt off. But my daughter would tell me that her friend never started studying until after 10pm every night because she was on the Facebook, texting, socializing during the day. When you are away at school, there is a lot less structure, and a lot more distraction. It is good to develope disciplin early on to stay focus on tasks at hand.</p>
<p>Don't take too long to find yourself. There isn't that much time in college. If you are looking to study abroad, you need to find out the requirements - language, GPA, other course requirements. If you want a good internship Junior year in order to get a job after graduation, you need to start to build your resume and maintain a certain GPA (many employers require a minimum GPA 3.5).</p>
<p>How can I build my resume? Is a job on campus as a receptionist the best I can do? That's why I thought about joining some service clubs that interested me. In high school, my interests were very diverse but I have fallen away from many of the things I was involved in then. So I feel as if I'm building myself up off of the ground...</p>
<p>Anyway, I now have a really detailed plan as far as my academic track is concerned, and some (albeit limited) career ideas. So I am definitely done "finding myself" and ready to get on track! I think just knowing what I want will help me improve my grades.</p>
<p>If my academic plan requires 5 yrs rather than 4 to graduate (ex. a tough double major/triple major/etc.), would grad schools/employers look down on that?</p>