Thoughts after graduating college?

[BatmanVSuperman]

So last week of finals, and I actually made it. Ok it is a bachelors and took me 6 years (I had to work as well dang it all ) so 25 is probably kind of old for a 4 year degree. Finishing though! lol.

Anyways, I kind of feel numb. It's almost surreal. Any college grads here have some thoughts on how they felt upon their graduation?

 

[Warhammer]

I graduated last December. I'm also 25 and it also took me 6 years to complete my degree because I changed universities (moved) and changed majors. Hooray for being a super senior. I also worked 40 hours a week while doing 12-15 credit hours a semester. Damn man, we're similar.



As for after graduation, it was a mix of happiness and sadness. My favorite professor told me that after people graduate, some experience the "student death". Up to this point, one spends 16-18 years being a student. Like a job, it is a part of one's identity. I felt lost.

For me, the worst feeling is that I still can't find a job I want. I thought that getting a bachelor's degree would be this magic ticket that would give me a bit of an edge. I was wrong. All it got me were congratulatory statements and pats on the back. Please, if you haven't done it already, build those connections with people. In this world, the majority of it is who you know (regardless if it's right or wrong, it's the status quo). If you plan on going to graduate school (like I do), maintain connections with your professors. They will be great references and/or give you great letters of recommendation.

 

[Donner]

People say that after high school, you enter the real world. That isn't true. It's after college/university graduation that the realness begins.

I liked university. Going to the pub and playing drinking games, learning, meeting new people. It was all good. Even the all night cramming. And graduating made me feel an awesome sense of accomplishment.

But it was hard afterwards. What came was the struggle of finding a job and not just any job, but a good paying job. One that could get you a house later on. I currently work in a position where my degree means nothing. It helped me get the job because I used my time in university to bolster my resume (you know, acquiring critical thinking skills and all that), but what I learned and what I currently do have no relevance to each other.

 

[Victarion]

Time to kick start the career. And to do so, take Warhammer's advice about grad school.

 

[Erzengel]

Vacations becoming special.

 

[Immortalfire]

"I gained 20 pounds, became obscenely addicted to coffee, battled mega anxiety and depression, racked up 30 grand a year in loans, and now I'm given a piece of paper that somehow qualifies that I can begin my professional life. Why exactly did I do this?"

 

[Dark Victory]

Congrats everybody! Should be graduating this semester, but I switched majors from Journalism to Computer Science and Statistics and picked up an additional major in Neuroscience. Will be finished with both degrees this same time next year. Super-senior squad

Still not sure if I want to pursue those areas professionally, but I'm happy where I'm at. I remember having migraines and being on the verge of panic attacks worrying about the future my Freshman year, and I laugh about it now. If I knew then what I knew now....

Last four years have been completely reckless, too, and went through some really dark patches. Still here kickin', though.

Please, if you haven't done it already, build those connections with people. In this world, the majority of it is who you know (regardless if it's right or wrong, it's the status quo). If you plan on going to graduate school (like I do), maintain connections with your professors. They will be great references and/or give you great letters of recommendation.

God, couldn't agree more. Besides STEM programs and post-grad academic plans, classes don't count for **** -- it's a stupid, arbitrary rite of passage. Make connections with the right people, get your name out to HR departments, get involved with research on campus, do extracurriculars that count for something, all that jazz.

I have a friend in computer science who just got a job at Google with a 1.9 GPA. He couldn't tell you a theoretical model to save his life, but he runs several popular student apps on campus. What do you think caught the recruiters' attention?