Graduating Early...and have no idea what to do with my life

Parents Forum
1

<p>I am not a parent but I remember posting on this thread when my brother was in trouble with his university for disciplinary problems and I remember getting solid advice. He is doing well now. He just got admitted to Tulane as a transfer student and plans on graduating on time.</p>

<p>I am in a predicament right now. I go to George Washington University in D.C. and just recently went to my advisor to found out that I am a year ahead in class standing than I realized. I started college a part of the class of 2009, but because of AP credits and a summer program I did this summer, I am now on my way to graduating a full year early in May 2008. I am excited to soon have a degree, but I am starting to realize how completely unprepared I am to enter the real world. I am really involved with the GW TV station and I have held two internships while in D.C. (one on the hill and the other at the state department). However, I am unsure about what I want to do, but I might enjoy working in entertainment (like for a TV network for example). Unfortuately, I really have no idea how to go about doing that and am unsure my degree in International Affairs will actually help me in doing so. </p>

<p>I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for me now or after graduation. I don’t feel ready for the real world. I am not opposed to graduate school, but am unsure what I would even go for. I wouldn’t mind an MBA, but I would have to work several years before even being elgible for most programs. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I’m considering the Peace Corps but that kind of sounds scary since I am kind of high maintenance.</p>

2

<p>Go immediately to your college’s career center and ask them for guidance. Is your school sending you out in the world without any type of assistance? That should be the role of the counselors there. They have information on internships, job experience, and graduate programs. If you are high maintenance what are you doing to correct that? Some of that comes with maturity, however if you have ADD or something else that needs attention, this would be the time to do that, before you graduate, while resources are available to you. You can get counseling and anything else you need right on campus.</p>

3

<p>I’m not particularly high-maintenance…I just don’t really feel like roughing it for 2 years in a developing country. I have been to the career center…that’s how I got my internships. I suppose I could go and ask about graduate schools.</p>

4

<p>I would take a look at that Princeton Review Book about internships. I forget the exact title but it’s something like “The Best Internships for College Students and Recent Graduates.” That’s not the right title, but it’s similar.There are also some web sites that list internships. </p>

<p>There are a number of internships in broadcasting and related fields. The problem is many don’t pay much. However, you might investigate and see whether you can get one. One person I know (history major) got a summer internship with a news department of a cable station after graduation. It paid nothing. However, he was offered a paying job at the end of the summer. Took the job. He also got an offer from a major TV network, which he applied for about half-way through the summer with a rec from the cable station. It was in NYC, and he decided that the cost of living was too high. So, he stayed with the cable station. </p>

<p>Another kid got a year long internship at NPR. It paid nothing. His parents agreed to help pay his bills. He too was offered a paying job at the end of his internship. I think he was an English major. </p>

<p>Another kid took an internship 3 days a week and found a part time, low level scut job for 3 days. Internship gave the kid some experience and that lead to a job–not with the same company, but in the same field. </p>

<p>As a parent, although this wasn’t my situation, I’d rather have my kid tell me, look I’ve finished college in 3 years. I found an internship that will help me get a job in a field I think might be “it” but it pays only a little or nothing. Could you help me for a year? than have my kid asked for more $ to go to graduate school just because (s)he couldn’t figure out what kind of work (s)he wanted to do. </p>

<p>Now , your parents may not be able to help financially in which case, I recommend the getting a low level job plus internship route.</p>

<p>Another plan is to sign up with a temp agency. I’ve known several kids who did this–admittedly it helps that I live in NYC and most of them lived with their parents–and then figured out what they wanted to do from working in different environments. </p>

<p>Also look into things like Americorps and Teach for America–if you haven’t any interest in teaching. </p>

<p>Big part of the equation–**What are you doing this summer?**Try to line up something in a field that might interest you as a career. You’re already late looking if you don’t have a summer job.</p>

5

<p>The poster has had two internships.</p>

<p>Greenface, I’m not sure exactly what it is you are unprepared for. You’ve had some actual job experience. Is it that you still don’t know what you want to do? Your career services office at GW should be able to help you with the job search process and creating a resume. It’s not unusual to feel a little scared about such a big step - didn’t you sort of feel this way when you were starting college? </p>

<p>Don’t worry, many of my daughters senior friends are STILL figuring out what they are going to do and they have much less time to get their act together.</p>

6

<p>I don’t think that you should decide on grad school right now simply because you don’t know what to do. Look at Teach for America or a similar program if the Peace Corps makes you uncomfortable. Could you stay on campus another year and perhaps double major, take electives, or take grad school courses? You can contact companies, including the places you did your internships, to ask about jobs for recent graduates, but since you don’t think you’ll be ready for the “real world,” you may want to look at other options first. You should know, though, that many students never really feel ready. It’s just a step you have to take.</p>

7

<p>Kathiep–
If your comment was addressed to my post, please note what the OP said:</p>

<p>“I am really involved with the GW TV station and I have held two internships while in D.C. (one on the hill and the other at the state department). However, I am unsure about what I want to do, but I might enjoy working in entertainment (like for a TV network for example). Unfortuately, I really have no idea how to go about doing that and am unsure my degree in International Affairs will actually help me in doing so.”</p>

<p>I am suggesting that one alternative the OP might consider is geting an internship IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM OR A RELATED FIELD which might lead to a job. I think that’s a bit different than the internships (s)he’s already done.</p>

8

<p>You might ask the career center if they have any placement contacts there - great company, cool building right next to a metro stop, the employees I know there are very happy.</p>

<p>However, if the reference to “really into the TV station” implies “I’m not ready to leave college yet” that is a) a legitimate feeling, and b) a different story. </p>

<p>If that’s an underlying factor, you could (assuming you and your family can afford it) postpone the decision for a year or so by doing something useful, fun, and related - such as leveraging your international affairs degree by doing a year abroad. Doesn’t have to be an MA or MBA. For example, Oxford offers a second BA. If you have good skills in another language, you could look for a similar program in other countries, maybe even related to film or TV. Build language skills while making your CV a stand-out. Whaddya think?</p>

9

<p>I think the natural progression after graduating should be a job if possible. An internship or a summer job this summer exploring a possible career would be ideal but I think the goal should be a job after graduation, not another internship. I was thinking that her current experience with the GW tv station was a stepping stone to an entry level job. I apologize if I stepped on your toes jonri, it was unintentional.</p>

<p>I wonder, greenface if you really have to graduate in one year. Can you take some more classes (perhaps broadcast journalism) besides the ones you need for your major to get your college career back on a four year path? An extra year in school would help you clarify your career goals.</p>

10

<p>Kathiep,</p>

<p>I just honestly thought you thought I’d missed the fact that the OP had done 2 internships, that’s all.</p>

<p>But again, I don’t get why it’s more advisable for her to stay in college for a 4th year taking courses–presumably at a cost of $40,000+ at GW --to see if they might help figure things out than it would be to graduate in 3 years and spend the following year doing an internship. I don’t think taking a few courses in broadcast journalism to see if she really likes it is necessary and I don’t think it is going to be enough to get her a job in that field, if that’s what she wants. I do think, based on the experience of the kids I know, that an internship might. </p>

<p>We just disagree–that’s fine. Your previous post didn’t say you thought that it was a mistake to take an internship after graduating. I thought you were just saying that since she’d already done 2 internships another wasn’t going to help. </p>

<p>Broadcast journalism is a VERY popular career and she will be competing in the job market with many others. I don’t think a few more courses is going to land her the kind of job she wants. I could be wrong about that. Maybe it will. </p>

<p>Again, if it were my kid and I could afford to help, if (s)he said to me, I have two options : (1) I can graduate in 3 years. I’d like to spend the following year doing an internship, but it won’t pay enough for me to pay my bills, so I would very much appreciate it if you would help me financially during that year or (2) I can delay my college graduation a year and take more courses to see if I can figure out what I might like to do and that will cost you $40,000+, I don’t think choice #2 is the obvious winner. </p>

<p>We just have different opinions–which is what this board is about.</p>

<p>Oh, and while I think a year in Oxford would be great fun, there is usually no financial aid for Americans seeking second BAs. Given the current state of the $, I suspect a year at Oxford would cost considerably more than a year at GW.</p>

11

<p>I just did a quick look at the bios of NPR’s interns. While many are undergrads, some are recent grads, and some have graduate degrees.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.npr.org/about/nextgen/internedition/spring06/index.php?x=people[/url]”>http://www.npr.org/about/nextgen/internedition/spring06/index.php?x=people&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I’m just suggesting that ONE option the OP has is looking for an internship.</p>

12

<p><a href=“a”>quote</a> MTh in Applied Theology; programmes in the Faculty of Philosophy; the second and subsequent years of research programmes in Social Sciences, ?9,235.</p>

<p>(b) Programmes in Humanities other than those listed under (a) and (c); taught programmes in Social Sciences other than those listed under special fee rates; the first year of research programmes in Social Sciences; programmes in the Departments of Mathematics, Statistics and Computing Laboratory other than those listed under (c); programmes in Archaeology, Anthropology, Geography and the Environment, L10,775.</p>

<p>(c) Programmes in the Faculty of Music and the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art; programmes in Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences; MSc in Computer Science and Diploma and MSc in Applied Statistics; programmes in the Departments of Biochemistry and Experimental Psychology, L12,315.</p>

<p>(d) Programmes in Clinical Medicine, Human Anatomy and Genetics, Pathology, Pharmacology and Physiology, other than those listed under special fee rates, L22,570.</p>

<p>Annual increases in fees levels should be expected.</p>

<p>

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It doens’t matter what the dollar does, Oxford won’t outstrip the notorious tuition at GWU.</p>

<p>greenie, you sound as if you’re not quite ready to hit the real world. Did you do a year abroad? Do you have any interest in that? You might go to the study abroad office and see what programs are available that would combine an internship–and a trip abroad. I know there are JYA opportunities in Parliament–maybe there are Internships at the BBC?? or SKy in Australia? those are internships which will get you noticed when you do hit the real job market.</p>

<p>BU offers a semester in Geneva that is reserved for mostly seniors who want to use the internship part as a stepping stone into an NGO job in Geneva which then leads to a stepping stone to grad school. I know a guy with a MASSIVE UN job in Geneva–which he initially got from hunting around on monster.com. Ya never know.</p>

<p>If you want a job in broadcasting or The Business, besides checking with the career office, you need to think hard about who you could ask to recommend you. Do you have a relative or a family friend–or a GWU friend who has a family member who could give you a recommendation? PM kirmum for more suggestions. Also, ask your parents if they know anyone in broadcasting who might be able to help you land your first apprenticeship.</p>

<p>Check the websites of companies like HBO <a href=“http://www.homeboxoffice.com/cmp/job.interns.shtml[/url]”>http://www.homeboxoffice.com/cmp/job.interns.shtml&lt;/a&gt; – it helps if you know someone insdie HBO to give your app a boost.</p>

<p>Also, go back to your bosses on Captial Hill and send them an email and ask them if they have any suggestions for you.</p>

<p>The trick to getting good work is to aks everyone for suggestions. Tell as many people as possible that you are looking for an interesting apprenticeship.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

13

<p>

</p>

<p>Well one argument in favor of staying would be that she has essentially zero chance of going back later and taking any additional courses she would be interested in - if she wants to do them, now is the time.</p>

<p>If staying an extra year means that subsequently she would be much happier in her career and life…may be worth $40k. Depends entirely on the individual case.</p>

<p>Perhaps some program like Fulbright might be an option - something not quite grad school, but academic and a way to nail down exactly what your interests are.</p>

14

<p>I left out the obvious–the OP could take a semester off to do an internship and just graduate a bit later.</p>

15

<p>Hi guys. Thanks so much for the help everyone, especially jonri. I think the internships recommended all sound really interesting. I live in an apartment near the Discovery Channel and never even thought about that. I think I might apply for internships this summer with NPR, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and CBS. The NPR suggestion sounds amazing. I looked it up online.</p>

<p>I have also been thinking about perhaps getting a Masters in Communications. I really would like to be involved with broadcasting, but not necessarily on T.V. I haven’t taken the GRE, but I am a poor standardized test taker so I am not counting on anything spectacular. I have found a couple MA programs. Does anyone know of any schools with 12-month MA programs? I have been looking at the Newhouse School at Syracuse. It has a 12-month Master’s of journalism program. It sounds perfect but I probably would never get in. The University of South Carolina’s MA program in Communication is also peaking my attention. I got offered a full ride there for undergrad and wouldn’t mind going for graduate school.</p>

<p>My cumulative GPA is not terrible, but only a 3.2. However, my GPA first semester freshman year was a 2.63, so it’s been a pain pulling that up ever since. Coming from an less than average public high-school, I had a hard time adjusting to college classes. I have honestly worked very hard for my grades and GW is pretty challenging. I make mostly B+'s with the occasional A- or B-.</p>

<p>Oxford sounds nice, but I highly doubt that Oxford would even consider me based on my 3.2 GPA (not terrible but not Oxford material). Studying abroad might be an option, however, I would want to graduate from GW first. At most colleges, you can study abroad and just pay the tuition at the international university (which is usually less than 7 grand), but at GW you still have to pay the ridiculous 40,000 dollar tuition regardless. To be honest, I’m not going to be all that sad to be leaving GW…it’s not been a terrible experience but paying 30,000 a year for this university is pretty questionable. I speak french as my language for my degree and am in Arabic 2 at the moment. Going abroad doesn’t really appeal to me for some reason…but I should probably not rule it out. </p>

<p>As far as money is concerned, my parents would help me out for a year since they basically budgeted a fourth year of GW a few years ago. If I could maybe find a 12-month Masters program, I would be spending essentially less money than I would at GW for another year and have a Master’s by age 22. Perhaps that is illogical since I basically know nothing about graduate school but I might run to the library and pick up a book on different programs. Going to graduate school really appeals to me, because A) I love school and B) I could mature while obtaining knowledge for the real world. I wouldn’t want to go to any graduate program that I can’t complete in less than a year though…so maybe that’s not possible. I’m not sure. </p>

<p>Thanks again for all the advice. You all are great guides for those of us with less than adequate knowledge about the world!</p>

16

<p>greenface,
If you think you may be interested in news, note that you don’t really NEED a specific communications/journalism degree for a newsroom job. Many newswriters/producers majored in political science, English, even economics - and started out as production assistants. With your education and background in TV at GW, you could be an interesting candidate. Check out the possibilities in local stations around DC – easier to get a job there than CBS. Of course, a degree from Syracuse (or Columbia, Northwestern or Missouri TV journalism) would be terrific to have. But unless you’re positive you want to go the TV journalism route, it may not be the wisest move right away. Also, consider these two important facts about TV journalism as a career:

  1. It is very hard to land a decent TV newsroom job in a major city right out of school. Most of the time, you start out in podunk cities and podunk stations, then work your way up to the bigger markets.
  2. Be prepared to have your life turned upside down. Most beginning newswriters start out working either weekends or the overnight shift. You’d go to work at 11 PM, work on the morning newscast(s), go home by 7 AM. Not a fun life. But kind of the norm in that field.</p>
17

<p>I wouldn’t go to grad school until you’re sure you know why you’re going and how it will help you get the job you’re hoping for. it’s a lot of money (even if you get scholarships, you’re still giving up on having a job for a few years) and it would stink to find out you’ve prepared yourself for a field you don’t really like!</p>

<p>Your career center might have tests you can take to inventory your interests and skills and match you with certain careers based on that. or you could apply for jobs at places you think you might want to work (I think it doesn’t really matter what you’ll be doing at the place–even if you are doing clerical work, you’ll get a good sense of what the people are like, what their jobs are, what sort of paths people took to get the jobs you hope to have, etc). </p>

<p>Also, if you are looking for a job that allows you to stay in DC and maintain a “high-maintenance” lifestyle without going to grad school, I’d suggest applying for paralegal positions at large law firms. The work is detail-oriented and sometimes tedious, but you will be well-paid (mostly because you’ll be working lots of overtime!) and get good benefits.</p>