The Next Step by Jess Pitts

I know that right now all your energy is focused on just getting through the next couple years of college. But there is more to a college education than the diploma you get to hang on your wall, and you don’t want to be that person thinking “So now what?” after you graduate. It is never too soon to think about what you want to do after college, and just a little bit of planning ahead can really help you make the most out of your degree.
So now it’s time to ask yourself the tough question: “What am I going to do after graduation?” If your answer is “I have no clue” then there are a couple of options to think about. Can you make a career out of your major? Think realistically about the job market for people with a Bachelor’s in your major. Let’s face it – a Philosophy major is probably not going to find a career in Philosophy out of college.

Majors that actually yield a career with a Bachelor’s degree are few and far between, so if you love your major and want a career in that field, you are probably looking at continuing your education after graduation. It is worth researching what requirements or standards there are for being a professional in your field. For example, some states require a Masters in Psychology to be able to be a practicing therapist while others require a Ph.D or Psy.D. What qualifications do you need to be hired in your field?
Other than pursing Masters and Doctoral degrees in your field, you could continue your education through Medical School or Law School. Many Med Schools require a specific undergraduate major such as Pre-Med or Human Physiology. Law Schools will accept applicants with any undergraduate major, and look only at difficulty of course of study as well as how well rounded your undergraduate education was.

Another option is to consider teaching. Adding a certification or licensure in Education is often not difficult, and education is a huge job market. Or if you want to up your pay grade a little, you can spend the time to get a Masters in Education.

If you are not necessarily looking for a career in your field of study, then there are plenty of options opened up simply by having a degree. You just have to be open to working a job that does not require academic specialization, such as sales.

It is not as easy for our generation to start a career out of college as our parents’ generation, but it is not impossible to find the perfect career with a little foresight. Then, once you land a perfect job you get to start paying off all that debt from college!