Get Career Goals in Gear This Summer

From the Editors of The Real College Guide


Summertime … it’s for relaxing by the pool, road-tripping and -- if you’re lucky -- making some money. But summer is also a good time to chill out and think about your future career goals. We help put it in perspective, starting now, with eight simple rules:



Career Goal Rule No. 1: Figure out What You Enjoy
Do what you love. It’s a phrase undergrads hear all the time -- because those four little words pack a lot of punch. “I definitely believe students should look for subjects and careers they love,” says Leslie Stevenson, director of the Career Development Center at the University of Richmond. “When you love something, your natural interest in the topic translates to enthusiasm and a willingness to invest more time in the area.” Don’t know what you love? More on that later, so read on. …



Career Goal Rule No. 2: Keep It Real
While most would agree that it is important to be passionate about your career, reel in your expectations to align with reality. Your hopes of being a professional athlete could be lofty, but consider segueing that passion into an area such as sports medicine or broadcasting. And even if the job of your dreams is attainable, it’s doubtful you’ll rise to the top of your field right out the gate. You want to be the next great American author? You might have to write your share of press releases, for example, before ever getting published.



Career Goal Rule No. 3: Be Forward-thinking
Prediction is an imperfect science. Just ask Wall Street. You never know what the future will hold after four years in college, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to look ahead. “In conjunction with pursuing something you’re passionate about, it also helps to pick a career with potential to grow -- especially in this current job market,” says former Fox News Channel entertainment editor and film critic Bill McCuddy. “Never hurts to be one step ahead of the game.”

Organize Your Life With SpringPad

Not too many things come along that completely change the way I live my life on a day-to-day basis. Facebook, iPods, Netflix and Google all did -- and now there is another....SpringPad.

Android QR Code

SpringPad is an online/smart phone application that simply helps you remember. Everything from tasks to ideas are easily stored away for a later time using this sleek interface.

So, with that said -- I've decided that instead of sitting here and giving you a run down about the entire app (mainly because this ain't no freakin' tech blog); all I'm going to say is that this app is definitely worth a download and hopefully you will fall in love with it as I have.

For Android users, click or scan the QR Code to the right and all you iPhoner's out there can find it on the App Store for....oh yeah, Free!

(P.S. - Just in case some of you are wondering, N0-- no one paid me to say this...I just really love this app!)

How NOT to Go 6 Years for a 4 Year Degree

I know--it's been awhile since I have bestowed my mystic knowledge of college survival tips 'round these parts, and I do apologize.  Been a little busy over here on my end, but I'm back now and ready to shower down my wisdom from the mountaintop yet again. So here it is....enjoy

Stick With Your First Major
When I came out of high school, it was really hard for me to pick my major for college. It felt like I was choosing the job I would have for the rest of my life. I felt like Jerry Seinfeld in that "Bee" Movie.

Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I wasn't sure exactly what it was I wanted to do with my life, but that I was "almost positive" it was going to involve some business aspect. So, I majored in Business and that was that. After all, you can't have a career for long if you can't make enough money to survive while doing it.

Grow out of the party scene quickly
Yes, I know you are finally on your own and the freedom from your parents is great and all--but if you screw around too much your first year, you might be back under their tyrannical rule sooner than you think.

Top Ten Majors Most Likely To Get You Hired

By Lauren Joffe for The Real College Guide

For students entering a somewhat bleak hiring market, your college major could be the biggest factor in determining your likelihood of securing a job. Based on a survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), here are the majors that offer students the best chances of getting hired upon graduation:

10. Communications/Journalism
And so we reach the final major most likely to get you hired out of college -- communications and journalism majors today have just above a 35 percent chance of getting hired upon graduation -- which may not be the highest of the bunch, but certainly lands them on this list.

9. Liberal Arts/Humanities
Liberal arts and humanities have always garnered heat from parents, grandparents and employers regarding hiring attractiveness come May. But not to worry -- you just make the cut, receiving a somewhat unexpected 37-percent chance of landing that job.

8. Health Sciences
Health sciences majors, ranging from physical therapy to audiology, might not fare as well at the accounting majors out there, but still rake in impressive hiring stats at 38.7 percent. And with graduate coursework almost always required in health sciences fields, we don’t doubt you’ll secure employment.

7. Mathematics
Well, maybe not as easy as 1, 2, 3 … but mathematics majors should be counting their lucky stars. Yes -- math majors show a close percentage rate with their VPA counterparts, reaching just below the 40 percent mark with a 37.5-percent chance of getting hired.

7 People You Should Socialize With At College

The Jock
Hanging around The Jock is as good for your health as eating salads and drinking water. Along with maybe a few free tickets and the heads up on all the big parties, The Jocks’ overall healthy living is something you’ll want to pick up. So get off your lazy butt and do a little exercising with them. Being around their constant vigor to succeed might rub off on you.

The Greek
All the parties The Jock doesn’t know about, The Greek does. If someone’s having a party for their Grandmas 80th birthday and they’re getting a keg, The Greek can sniff it out like a bloodhound would an escaped convict. Another useful trait of The Greek is that they usually know who the easiest professors are from passed down knowledge by their Elder Greekers. So if your looking for an easy "A", The Greek can typically point you in the right direction.

The Foreigner
To bring in a fresh perspective on your life, The Foreigner is definitely worth having around. That status quo American mindset of yours is due a culture shake-up right about this time in your life. It’s certainly worth experiencing now when your mind is still young and malleable, than when you’re old and less receptive to others’ ideas.

How College Could Help You Stay Healthy

A new study by the CollegeBoard entitled "Education Pays 2010", gives some interesting statistics comparing those who GO to college to those who DO NOT. Here are some of the more intriguing facts from the report, including one that states how college graduates are said to be healthier than non-college graduates...

6 Tips For Writing A Successful Resume

Don't Be Flashy
A professor once told me that if he got a resume with any kind of color on it whatsoever, he threw it straight in the trash; no questions about it. Employers assume when they see color on a resume, that the resume isn't strong enough to stand on its on and needs gimmicks to catch their attention. So keep it black and white, if you don't want to chance your resume ending up in the trash without even getting a once over.


Keep it simple
No books! Just the absolute basics (Contact Information, Objectives, Qualifications, Accomplishments, Educations, Certificates, Experience, Extracurricular Activities, etc). No need to give them your whole life story, and to be quite honest, you probably don't even need a cover letter unless it's for a really high-end job. With so many people looking these days, its hard to say that employers are wasting time reading a lengthy cover letters when searching.

5 Great Websites Any College Student Should Visit

How-To-Study.com

This website is chocked full of advice on excelling as a student in education. It gives tips on everything, from "Good Listening Skills When in Class," to "Creative Ways to Help you Remember Key Words for Tests." Definitely worth looking up for anyone still in school.


Craigslist

This website is frozen in time. It looks essentially the same as it did 15 years ago when it was created, yet somehow still fills its purpose quiet well. Everything from an apartment to a lover can be found in Craiglist's endless pit of information. Just don't expect any elaborate user experience; only what you need is all you'll get here.

Top 5 Highest Paying Jobs (With Majors and Certifications Needed)

*Updated post name to satisfy Literalist*

Looking for a college major that pays the big bucks, well you better be ready for the long haul according to a recent article by CNBC on "The Top Paying Jobs of 2010". Four out of the five top paying jobs in 2010 are in the medical field and require a doctorate degree.

Here is a list of the top 5 highest paying jobs in 2010 provided by CNBC with a link to information about what majors/degrees and certifications are needed in order to start working in that field.

5. Obstetricians & Gynecologist


Average annual salary: $204,470

Job details : Specialize in women’s health; treat and prevent disease related to pregnancy and the reproductive system.

Majors/Degrees Needed: Click




4. Orthodontists


Average annual salary: $206,190

Job details: Apply braces or retainers to straighten patient’s teeth.

Majors/Degrees Needed: Click

Top 5 Ways To Suck Up To Your Professor

5. Sit In The Front

You should be the little girl in the yellow dress

This one is pretty self explanatory. You sit in the front, the professor sees and remembers you. You sit in the back with your computer open, they never even know you were there. Furthermore, every professor is automatically thinking that all the slackers of the class are going to sit in the back, so in order to steer clear of that stereotype, your going to want to sit as close to the front as possible .

4. Answer Every Question

You may not make many friends doing this, but you gotta do what you gotta do. The next time that deafening silence blankets the classroom right after a question is asked, chime in with an answer to save the day. Even if your unsure that your answer is correct, the professor will see your trying effort as you at least "attempting" to learn the material and better yourself in the class.

3. Go To Their Office Regularly

Going by your professors office lets them know you care. For some reason meeting with them three hours a week just isn't enough; so suck it up and make a little time between classes to go by and ask questions about something relevant to the class. Just make sure you have something to talk about before going in because don't want to look like a creeper just standing there with nothing to say.