STUDENT LIFE 11 WAYS TO PREPARE FOR POSTGRAD LIFE ANNIKA TOMLIN • COLLEGE TIMES
G
raduation is coming up. Are you ready to start your adult life? Or are you running around like a mad person trying to make sure everything is in order? It isn’t necessary to stress out incessantly about postgrad life. Here are 11 ways to breeze through it.
#11 PLAN FOR GRADUATION TRIP
Those who plan on taking a gap month—or even year—should start planning now. Flight prices increase the closer you get to your departure date. Hotels may book up, too. Save up by putting aside a small amount from each paycheck. Keep in mind that it never works to plan a trip at the last minute—especially if it’s a long-term trip. Do your research and find a trip that won’t break the bank before you have to start paying back student loans.
#10 CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WISELY
That sad reality is friendships go out the door after graduation. You’ll probably stay friends on socials but choose your companions wisely. Maintain those important friendships by spending the day with them, when schedules allow. Keep friends who will support you in good times and give you a shoulder to cry on when you’re down. How many people in your life would you consider your ride or dies? Those are the people who you need to focus on staying in constant contact with.
#9 CLEAN UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA
We live in a digital age where anything you say and put online can and will come back to haunt you. Think about all of the subtweets, the raunchy photos or any inappropriate comment you posted online. Now think about a future employer reading and looking at that and judging you before even meeting you. That is the reality of today’s job-hunting process. Take a minute and Google yourself. If you don’t like what you see, change it now. Take a weekend to go through all of your past posts and delete anything and everything that you think that can come back and ruin your possibility of getting a job. It will take time, but the long-term impact is worth it.
#8 FIGURE OUT LOAN PAYMENTS
Loan payments don’t start until six months after graduation, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think about them now. Add up the loans you took during college. Brace yourself: it may be shocking. After that, look into repayment options. 2 ECOLLEGETIMES.COM | APRIL 2020
#7 INVEST IN A PROFESSIONAL WARDROBE
“Dress to impress” is something to live by as an adult. You will not be taken seriously in a crop top and cut-out jeans or a basketball jersey and baggy pants. A professional wardrobe shows you took the time to impress employers. You don’t need to buy the most high-end items. There are several secondhand stores or off-brand labels that will do the trick. Purchase four to six outfits that range from business casual to business formal. Look for items that go with something you already own and simply make them more professional looking. These outfits will help you make a great first impression when you are doing job interviews and beyond. Don’t forget to buy shoes as well. The tattered Vans that you’ve had since high school won’t cut it in the real world.
#6 FOCUS ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Planning for your life outside
