I’M IN COLLEGE, NOW WHAT???

1. I’M IN COLLEGE, NOW WHAT??? Adjusting and Surviving Your 1st Year at USC Upstate

2. Nationwide, over 30% of college students leave after the first yearSource: US Department of Education

3. Only 40% of incoming freshmen at USC Upstate will graduate in 6 years or less

4. USC Upstate 2005 6-Year Graduation RatesSource: US Dept. of Education’s National Center of Education Statistics

6. John MontemayorCareer Center Coordinator • Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the W. Paul Stillman School Of Business, Seton Hall University • Hired by USC-Upstate on June 2003 • 10 Years of Experience in Human Resource Management, Staffing, and On-Campus Recruiting • FRESHMAN SCREW-UP

7. Items For Discussion • Perception vs Reality • How I screwed up my first year in college (are you doing the same!!??) • Why students drop out (does this apply to you and what are you doing about it) • Staying in school vs. dropping out (long term ramifications) • Time Management (Mom and Dad can’t help you!!) • Why are you at USC Upstate? • I know what I want but don’t know how to achieve it • 4 year plan • Questions

8. PERCEPTION

9. REALITY

10. PERCEPTION • 48% of 2006 graduates plan to live at home • 44% of 2005 graduates are still living with parents • 82% expect at least one job offer prior to graduation • 64% expect at least 2 Offers • Source: MonsterTrak 2006 Entry-Level Job Survey conducted Feb. 16-March17 2006 from over 6,000 students

11. REALITY • Only 20% have received a job offers prior to graduation • 65% believe it will take up to 3 months to find a full-time job after graduation • Source: Experience.com 2006 survey of 2,700 graduating seniors from over 500 universities. Survey taken approx. 2 months prior to graduation

12. Perception versus Reality • “I have a degree, so I won’t have a problem finding a job making in the 30’s when I graduate” • ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!?? There were 1.2 million college graduates looking for work in 2006, it’s still an employers market. • “I Can’t Find Any Jobs In The Paper.” • Less than 20% of the available jobs are in the classifieds. Network and use the Career Center • “Only a High GPA Will Get Me Hired.” • Employers will look for success outside the classroom as well. • “My First Job Will Be Related To My Major.” • Not necessarily the case, but make sure you have related work experience to the job you want • “The Most Qualified Person Gets Hired.” • The person that gets the job is the one that makes the best impression

13. What Employers Want • “To increase their marketability to potential employers, college students need to leverage any type of relevant work experience in all communications from the resume up to the thank you note.”Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources for CareerBuilder.com • “Internships are the most effective method for recruiting new college graduates for the third year in a row.” National Association of Colleges and Employers 2006 Job Outlook Survey • “Employers scan the resumes of other applicants for the same, relevant experience. If you have an internship listed you have an advantage over job candidates who haven’t participated in this real-world experience.”www.jobweb.com

14. How To Gain Practical Experience • Internships • Join and participate in student organizations • Volunteer Work • Part-time jobs related to your career goal

15. Why Get Involved? • Students who participate in extracurricular activities are more tied to the university and are more likely to graduate • Makes college more exciting • Learn to work with a diverse group of people and achieve common goals • Meet new people, make new friends • Improves your people and leadership skills that you will use in your professional life • Looks great on a resume

16. How I Goofed Off My Freshman Year!! • Based my major on what I thought made the most money, ended up changing my major 3 times • Pledged fraternity 1st semester freshman year • Partied too much + studied too little = Bad GPA • Lost $2000 of academic scholarships after first year in college

17. Top 10 Reasons Students Leave/Drop-Out • Too much fun at the expense of academics • No sense of belonging • Academically unprepared • Financial constraints • Family issues • Academic climate/fit • Choice of wrong major/major not offered • Lack of advising and/or guidance • Demands from work • Family moved Source: A variety of college institutional resources

18. Earnings increase with higher levels of education Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years of age and over 2006 SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics

19. Education paysin higher earnings and lower unemployment rates Unemployment rate (percent) Median weekly earnings Doctoral degree Professional degree Master's degree Bachelor's degree Associate degree Some college, no degree High school graduate, no college Less than a high school diploma NOTE: Data are 2006 annual averages for persons age 25 and over. Earnings are for full-time wage and salary workers. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

20. Real median weekly earnings for college graduates have trended up over time Median weekly earnings of full-time workers (In constant 2006 dollars) Bachelor's degree and higher Some college or associate degree High school graduates, no college Less than a high school diploma NOTE: Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and older. Earnings data have been adjusted using the CPI-U-RS research series. Beginning in 1992, data are based on highest diploma or degree received; prior to 1992, data were based on years of school completed. SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics

21. Education paysin higher earnings and lower unemployment rates • Unemployment rates fall as educational attainment increases. • For example, among persons 25 years old and over, those who have not completed high school are more than three times as likely to be unemployed as persons with at least a Bachelor’s degree. • Earnings increase with higher levels of education. • For example, among workers 25 years old and over, the median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers are nearly two and a half times higher for persons with at least a Bachelor’s degree than for high school dropouts. • Education pays, regardless of race or ethnicity.

22. 2004 Average Annual Salaries • $78,093 (graduate degree) • $51,554 (college graduate) • $28,645 (high school graduate) • $19,169 (high school dropout) • Source: US Census Bureau

23. What A Degree Means in Lifetime Earnings In South Carolina • College Degree - $1,737,536 • Some College - $1,298,200 • High School Diploma - $1,105,076 Source: US Census Bureau (total projected earnings from age 21-64)

24. First year students whose roommates brought a video game player to college studies 40 minutes less each day. That translates into 1st semester grades that were .241 points lower on the 4.0 grading scale.Source: National Bureau of Economic ResearchPublished in USA Today Sept. 19, 2007

25. Time Wasters, Which Are You? • Constantly On Phone • Internet Junkie • PlayStation Champ • Couch Potato • Social Butterfly • Party Animal

26. Time Management Advice • Get Organized • Set Semester Goals • Academically Prioritize • Break down bigger tasks into separate smaller tasks • What part of “NO” do you not understand • Reward Yourself • Get A Job

27. Prepare Academically • GO TO CLASS!!! • Find the ideal place to study • Know when is the best time for you to study • Meet with your advisor often • Get to know your professors • Know the syllabi and when work is due • Know when to seek help • It’s up to YOU!! Lectures and assignments proceed from the assumption you understand the material.

28. Why Am I Here? • Broaden Your Interests • Gain Independence • Meet New People • Pursue Your Goals • Gain A Competitive Advantage When Searching For A Job • FIND A PASSION

29. What Do I Want To Be? • What Are My Interests • What Are My Values • What Are My Skills • What Type Of Environment Do I Want To Work In

30. Questions To Ask When Choosing A Major • What Can I Do With A ______ Degree? • If I Want To Be A _____, What Do I Want To Major In? • If I Want To Be A ____, What Do I Need To Do In College In Order To Be Qualified? • Keep In Mind, Money Isn’t Everything!

31. I’ve Chosen My Major, Now What? • Meet With Your Advisor And Develop A Plan • Expand Your Network • Volunteer • Join Student Organizations • Focus On Jobs That Pertain To Your Major

32. Freshman Year • Adjust to the new environment (both academically and socially) • Continue to explore interests, abilities, and skills through the classes you are taking • Get involved • Discuss career and goal aspirations with faculty advisor • Consider part-time job opportunities that are available through the Career Center

33. Continue to explore career options Declare a major Join student and professional organizations that relate to that major Network with professionals in that field Obtain summer or part-time job that relates to your field Discuss internship opportunities with advisor Sophomore Year - Explore

34. Junior Year - Focus • Conduct research on employers hiring in your field • Develop your resumes and cover letters . Have advisor or career center critique it • Participate in mock interviews at the Career Center • Take on leadership positions on campus • BUILD YOUR RESUME • Begin grad school research if necessary

35. Senior Year – Execute The Plan • Send out cover letters and resumes to companies hiring in your field • Refine interviewing techniques • Obtain faculty and professional references/letters of recommendation • Participate in career fairs and on-campus interviews • Begin the application process to grad school • Develop alternate plan

36. Questions?

37. Keys To Success • Maintain A Balance • Prioritize • Seek Help • Take Responsibility For Your Actions • Think Beyond Today: • Set goals for the semester, the year, your entire 4 years!!

38. Degree Job