In a previous column, I pointed out that some students don’t want to go to college, and probably shouldn’t. This column is for those who both want to go to college and want to use their time wisely.
You know who you are: you joined the debate team instead of the prom committee, and you took AP calculus II when your friends chose an extra gym class. Whether it’s a math problem, a crossword, or a great ‘whodunit,’ you love a challenge. If this sounds like you, you’re probably looking to get more out of college than just a four-year party and access to the job market.
To take advantage of the opportunities that await you, you should have two goals in mind while in college. Yes, you should prepare yourself for future employment—both your first job, and later ones as you build a career—by getting good grades, working in your field, and learning specific skills for employment.
But you should also strive to become an educated person, with an understanding of literature, history, and the sciences. College should fulfill your curiosity and satisfy your need for intellectual stimulation. Avoid the temptation to just “get by” with easy As in fluff courses. This country needs people with a solid education, an understanding of the past, and critical thinking skills.
Here are a few guidelines to help you achieve both job and personal goals:
- First, study something you love. You’re more likely to succeed if learning is fun. For many jobs, any major will do, as long as you keep your GPA high enough. Employers look for a degree because it proves that you are intelligent and willing to learn. So, there’s no real reason to study business if you hate it, or to major in a social science instead of English literature. The same is true for professional schools. Medical school accepts students from almost any science background; a pre-med degree is not required. Future lawyers can study economics, English, political science, or even math.
There are exceptions, of course; if you want to be an architect, engineer, accountant, or teacher, you have to take the courses that will prepare you to sit for state-regulated tests. The same goes in many of the hard sciences. No matter what you choose, studying a subject—and choosing a career—that you love will ensure that your courses will become opportunities to learn and succeed instead of drudgery.
- Examine general education requirements closely. At most colleges, they’re more like a buffet than a balanced meal. Broad requirements, such as “six credit hours in the social sciences,” can be fulfilled by either serious courses such as macroeconomics and American government, or they can be fulfilled by cotton candylike “Leisure Behavior, Health and Wellness” and “Social Deviance.”
Choose your courses based on your learning objectives, not just which ones fit your schedule. In his study, “How Solid Is the Core,” George Leef suggests students take, at least, two semesters of English composition, some type of introductory literature course, a course in Western history or Western civilization (preferably both), a United States history course, four semesters of foreign language, and a rigorous science course. To that, I would add a course on logic and an introductory economics course.
- Become an informed student. You can get a solid education at almost any reputable school. It just takes some work to find the best courses. Study course descriptions. Ask upperclassmen to recommend courses. Research faculty at ratemyprofessor.com. If you’re uncertain, shop around.
If you plan to take five courses in a semester, enroll in six, then drop the one you like the least. Although this practice is tedious for you and an annoyance for professors, it can help ensure that you don’t end up taking biased or boring courses just because everything else is full.
- Learn to write. No matter which major you choose, writing will be important. You’ll have to write papers for classes, answer essay questions on tests, and communicate with professors. Later, even if you accept a job in the sciences, writing will be important for communicating with colleagues, explaining lab results, and publishing your work. If your writing needs work, look for ways to improve it. Take courses on composition. Visit the writing center at your university. Ask your professors if they’ll look at rough drafts of your work before you turn it in. Practice now will help you become more successful later on.
- Get an internship. Working while in college has two benefits. First, it makes students more disciplined by forcing them to organize their time, set schedules, and establish priorities. I received the best grades in the semesters during which I worked the most hours. Second, having a part-time job in your field will prepare you for a career after college and make it easier to get a job once you have graduated. Employers look for experience in addition to grades, so listing part-time work or an internship on your resume will give you a leg-up over other recent grads in the job market.
- Do independent research. The best way to do this is to complete an honors thesis in your department; an honors thesis will allow you to fulfill your natural curiosity about a subject that you love. If you’ve always been fascinated by art during the French Revolution or the unintended consequences of U.S. farm policy, this is your chance to really dig into the topic. If an honors thesis isn’t an option, a course in research methods will suffice. Learning research methods—other than Google and Wikipedia—prepares you to find your own knowledge once you leave school. After graduation, you won’t have access to structured courses, helpful university librarians, or science labs.
You’re going to devote four years of your life and a good deal of money to get through college, so it’s wise to make it a rich intellectual experience, rather than just an extended party or your ticket to a job. Administrators, advisors, and professors can guide in your journey, but ultimately, you are in control of your college experience. Make the most of it!