What should I be doing in order to build my resume when I go back to school?

[rks102]

Hello parents of CC. I am asking this question on this subforum because I find the best advice here.

Here is a little bit of background:

- Going to be an IUB transfer student in Fall 2012. I have 48 credit hours in Biology.

- Changing major from Biology to BA in Economics and Computer Science (double major)

- Planning on graduating after the Fall 2014 semester (5 semesters)


I've already looked up course requirements for each major. The reason I want to get a BA in Economics and Computer Science is because that's the only way I could double major.

The reason I want to double major is because I truly love studying economics, but I'm more interested in going into informatics later down to road for a career (specifically bioinformatics).

This double major will allow me to take classes that I like and also have a practical career in mind.

I have two summers to do something internship wise. I planned on taking some difficult courses related to my major during the first summer because I won't have enough CS experience to actually apply for a CS internship. If I get some difficult courses out of the way, then the rest of my few semesters at IUB will be more relaxing.

I was going to save the second summer for an actual internship. But my main goal is to apply to a masters program for Bioinformatics.

My resume is kind of empty. I messed up my first 3 semesters of college, got a 2.85 gpa as a Biology major, then had to drop out Spring 2012 to go into therapy and rehab for mental issues and substance abuse (I finished treatment about a month ago).

All I have on my resume is that I tutored underprivileged children and middle schoolers and I've worked 60 hours a week of manual labor each summer and the semester i dropped out.



My question:

What should I do as soon as I start school at IUB?

What sorts of activities should I participate in to help out my resume, but also support my interests in computer science and economics?

Who should I talk to?

I sort of feel lost when it comes to this type of stuff. I know we live in a society where degrees don't matter anymore and the experience is much more important.

I remember in high school I had to make a resume for college apps and I felt like I had to work very hard to think of everything I did in high school to type up a 1 page resume.

It turned out to be really good because it included my leadership positions, volunteer work, awards, hobbies, skills, and work experience. I ended up getting accepted to all of the colleges I applied to, so I'm guessing I had a decent resume that complemented my gpa and test scores.

I'm also worried about securing an internship in the future...

[rks102]

bump.

/10char

[blossom]

Hugs to you. Pick one major that you're interested in and that you are good at. Do well at it. Continue with your recovery and do what your therapist tells you to do to stay healthy. Don't worry about your resume. Don't worry about an internship. Focus on going back to school and maintaining your health.

Do not worry about double majoring. Do not worry about loading up with difficult courses in order to play catch up.

[rks102]

I've actually already been treated, so I'm 100% confident that I'm ready to move on. Even my therapist is confident that I'm ready to go back to school.

I'm set on majoring in Computer Science and Economics. The double major won't be difficult because the requirements are pretty easy to fulfill in 5 semesters. I won't be overloading courses as well to "play catch up".

I think my next step is to worry about my resume.

[blossom]

If your current cumulative GPA is a 2.85 then I respectfully submit that focusing on your classes is the way to go. I'm thrilled your therapist is supportive of you moving back to school. The current mania for double majoring puts a lot of pressure on students to take on too much- you will be more employable with a 3.0 in Econ or Computer Science than a 2.85 in both. I know you feel you will do much better this time around- and I'm sure you're right-- but having enough room in your schedule to take classes that are not part of either major is important for your education as well.

Good luck to you. Master's programs in Bioinformatics are going to care about your actual performance in the actual courses you've taken, plus professor recommendations.

[rks102]

My gpa is going to be basically reset, even though my transcripts from my LAC will still be there to be looked at. Ill definitely be working harder this time because I've learned from my past mistakes.

And the double major isn't going to put any pressure on me. I talked to an advisor and he said it's doable in 3 years and I won't have to cram in courses as long as I spread out my classes.

Idk, I really like economics though, so that's why I want to major in it along with Comp Sci.

[doame]

To answer your primary question, I think you should be doing things that interest you. Try not to overthink/over-analyze what will look good on a resume or to some prospective employer.

Actually getting ivolved in things, in addition to seriousness of academic study, is what matters. Go to the club fair and join one, get to know your professors & go to their office hours with questions, volunteer for something that looks fun. You make "contacts" everywhere.

As a parent, I will tell you life's path has an interesting way of meandering here and there. If you point yourself in the direction you want to go, study what interests you (and to a degree with which you can support yourself) -- you will have a rewarding interesing career.

[Georgiatwins]

I agree with Blossom and much of the other sage insights offered here. You have been through some very tough times and emerged on the other side, seemingly focused and stronger. Give yourself some space=I agree with the number of people encouraging yo to concentrate on your first passion-econ. and slowly bring our GPA up for graduate school. You can always take the extra computer classes and build an additional concentration.

Grad schools of all types not only look at GPA, GMAT or GRE scores, but the do want to see a student who is involved in their community. Just as in high school, longevity in one area shows commitment and will give you a perspective that will be helpful as you re-enter the academic world. Our son just graduated from a top 50 LAC with an excellent GPA in English-he is spending the summer working for a private equity firm, and from what the CEO tells him, it was our son's extra-curricular work/community involvement that helped him stand out.

Take good care of yourself and be proud of what you have been through.

[juillet]

I agree that you want to focus on your classwork, but involvement in your campus and wider community can also be what helps you. I too have faced mental health problems, and what cheers me is actually working on things that are unrelated to my major focus of study. Sometimes the things other people would tell me were stressors were actually what was keeping me sane.

I agree with the above post in that yes, you do want to perform well in your classes, but employers will prefer a 3.2 with significant internship and leadership experience to a 3.5 without that stuff. It is as you said - employers value experience, and it is because experience is often the best teacher.

With that said, if you have a true interest in bioinformatics, following your interests is going to be the best thing for you here. You may be interested in a summer program in biostatistics or an REU/SURF type program. But don't be afraid to go off the beaten path - maybe you'll see a summer program in community health that really appeals to you for whatever reason, or maybe you want to spend the summer building houses in Nicaragua or something. Your passions make up you, and you should do what you are passionate about and really like.

[Olymom]

Wow. You set very high standards for yourself. Many, many college students have this as their agenda:

1) Survive the week
2) Party

I suspect you will find that you either work very well in programming or you don't -- ditto economics. You can only ride one pony down the road after graduation, so be a bit flexible about the double major idea.

I actually hate the idea of double or triple majors. Too often a student ends up cramming the schedule full because of all the required courses and there is never time to take a light term (and take up ping pong) or there's never time to take a fun course (history of medieval weaponry or Romantic poetry or whatever).

You are not in a race. The important things here are:
1) You stay healthy
2) You learn -- about things and about yourself
3) You find a path that you value in a way that pays well enough that you are reasonably content

I would not sweat getting an internship at this moment. By all means let your instructors know you'd like to get an internship. Find out from them and the internet who in your area has internships. Follow up and apply (on time).

But if that doesn't pan out, keep paddling. For instance, you might be able to do website development/computer programming/economic analysis for a nonprofit you believe in -- and you can do that weekends and off hours while you wait tables or wash cars during the summer months. The nonprofit will benefit from your dedication and you will learn by doing.

Talk to the departmental secretary and other staff in Econ and C.S. about opportunities to serve the community. It may be that one of your classes can have a requirement fulfilled by doing a service. Then that service will go on your resume.

I am going to pm a website to you that was done by a recent C.S. graduate -- you can see where he uses his hobbies, CS programming and class experience to give a good picture of what he can do. Good luck!