Student Issues / Attending College

After years of school, finally entering the "real world" is certainly cause for celebration. Graduating from college is an incredible achievement and with it comes unlimited opportunities for the future.

But what exactly do you do after you graduate from a community college? What are your first steps?

Many community college students spend so much time and effort focusing on passing their classes and keeping up their GPA that they fail to really think about what comes next. You don’t necessarily need to plan the next ten years of your life down to the finest detail, but you should have some kind of game plan in place for when you finish school. If you aren’t quite sure what to do after you finish community college, here are five suggestions.

1. Update Your Resume and Beef Up Your Interview Skills

The whole point of going to college is to get the education and experience you need to land your dream job. Just because you have the right degree, however, doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get the job you want. You need to make yourself look valuable to potential employers, and that largely comes down to two things: Your resume and your interview skills.

When you apply for a job, potential employers will look at your resume first. If they don’t like what they see, you’re unlikely to make it past that first round of cuts, and you probably won’t get an interview. You could be the most charismatic person in

There was a time when obtaining a college degree almost guaranteed you a job after graduation. Unfortunately, that no longer seems to be the case. Hundreds of thousands of college graduates enter the “real world” each year and many of them struggle to find a job in their field, no less a job at all.

Many college graduates find that entry-level positions require work experience – experience which they can’t get if no one will give them a job. Add to that the challenge of being labeled a “millennial,” and finding steady employment after graduation is like finding a diamond in the rough.

So, how do you break through the millennial stereotype to land your first job? Keep reading to learn what the top millennial stereotypes are and how to overcome them to get a job.

This TEDx Talk by Keevin O'Rourke discusses How to Make Millennials Want to Work for You.

What Are the Most Common Stereotypes About Millennials?

First and foremost, it needs to be established exactly what a millennial is. There is some confusion regarding which ages fall into the millennial category, but most researchers agree that millennials are the generation born between 1980 and 1996. People born during this generation have been assigned all kinds of labels including lazy and entitled. The more these labels are used, the more they perpetuate the stereotype – a stereotype that may or may not have

Mental illness is still somewhat of a taboo subject, even though it affects millions of Americans of all ages. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about 1 in 5 American adults experience some form of mental illness each year. Although awareness of mental health has improved and telehealth services have expanded, many people with mental illness still do not receive treatment because of stigma, cost, and barriers to care.

The stigma of mental illness makes it difficult for people who struggle with it to reach out for help, especially when they are young and may not be sure what’s going on.

Unfortunately, mental illness is very common in college students, and it can impact more than just academic performance; it can affect quality of life as well. Keep reading to learn more about common mental health issues, the challenges they create for students, and how to manage them.

Understanding Common Mental Health Issues

There are many different forms of mental illness, and they affect people in different ways. Though mental health issues are vast and varied, there are some more common than others. The top mental health issues facing college students include the following:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Eating Disorders
• Addiction

Depression is not just one of the most common forms of mental illness overall; it also affects many college students on some level. The American College Health Association continues to report that anxiety

Everyone experiences stress from time to time, but stress is a constant companion for many college students. The pressure of maintaining good grades in multiple classes while engaging in extra-curricular activities and keeping up with friends can be draining. Sometimes, it leads to anxiety, depression, or more serious consequences. Keep reading to learn about some of the most common causes of stress in college and its effect on your mental and physical health. You’ll also receive some tips for reducing and managing your stress.

This video explains why college is so stressful for many students.

Why is College So Stressful?

According to the National College Health Assessment, nearly 50% of undergraduate students reported feeling overwhelmed by their academic responsibilities. Furthermore, the National Institute of Health reports that 30% of college students experience profound depression, which is often confused with extreme stress. But what is it that makes college so stressful? Here are some of the most commonly reported causes of stress in college students:

• Living away from home for the first time
• The pressure to perform well on school work and tests
• The financial burdens of college
• The pressure to land a good job after school

Though college can be a great time to explore new things and blaze your trail, for many students, it is their first time being away from home, which can be challenging. Living in an unfamiliar environment around unfamiliar people can be

Students who attend community college over a traditional four-year university do so to save money or to have greater flexibility with their classes. Just because you choose a community college, however, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a true college experience. Many community colleges are starting to offer their students the same benefits that more traditional colleges offer, including study abroad opportunities. If you are a community college student considering a study abroad program, take the time to learn the pros and cons before you make your choice.

Can Community College Students Study Abroad?

Unless you’ve done some research, you may not know that studying abroad is even an option for community college students. The fact of the matter is, however, that more community college students are taking advantage of study-abroad programs than ever before. Research shows that nearly 6,000 community college students participated in study abroad programs from 2012 to 2013. That was a 12% increase from the year before, and the number continues to rise. Even though more community college students are studying abroad each year, they are still just a drop in the bucket. Regarding the total number of American students who study abroad each year, community college students only represent about 3%.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Studying Abroad?

Before you decide to study abroad, there are many things you need to think about. Arranging a study abroad program requires a lot of preparation, and it’s not something you should