Tag Archives: college

Grad School Alternatives

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Here are my alternatives to graduate school for those who are thinking about going BUT have no idea about how it will get you forward towards actual life goals.

1. Go get an internship in the field in which you think you want to work —- you can do this for 5 hours every week volunteering. EVERY INDUSTRY takes free labor. You just have to seek out the right person. Be committed. Do it for  a minimum of 3 months.

2. Start reading the best books in your new field and listening to lectures online. Buy the books used or go to the library. Audit classes at your largest & nearest university. Just sit in and see how long it takes to get kicked out. OR just show up the first day of every class in the degree program and get the course syllabuses. Here is one excellent example.

3. Find a mentor; pick someone who is doing GREAT at the job you want to do. Buy them lunch or coffee EVERY TIME you can. Mow their lawn if you have to. Ask them for direction and insights.

4. Take an entry level job and work your way up. This can still be done and happens all of the time for people who are motivated. At the very least it gets you closer to finding a mentor and gives you an up close view of what you think you want to do but aren’t very sure about. Plus you are getting paid rather than acquiring bills.

5. Create your own opportunity. The hardest path possibly, but well worth the sweat and probably a better use of your dollars. If you are going to spend $60k-ish on school, why not invest that capital in your very own brand new endeavor. Build the thing that you want to do from the ground up. Do it on the side after you have done steps 1-4. Take the leap when momentum gets going. Get a loan if necessary. At least you have a better upside possibility.

direction after _______

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OK – so must of you are past this point, but i have to tell you one of my favorite conversations begins sort of like this:

I am getting ready to leave high school and I don’t really know what I want to do next…

I have had this conversation tons of times and the last few weeks have been great cause I have had the opportunity to speak into the lives of several young people I know regarding their futures. Here are a few quick, very opinionated & personalized pieces of advice. [I look forward to your feedback as it will certainly not be a universally received set of action points]

  • Dream BIG! || why have so MANY people (even young people) stopped dreaming? you will never have a great life on accident – start dreaming about what you want to be and what you want to do.
  • Decide upon your values || be as quick about this as you can – you are making some important, life altering decisions before you turn 25.
  • Live with Purpose || you will discover that life is much, much bigger than you – the sooner you live for something MORE than yourself, the happier you will be.
  • Go to College || get a flexible & foundational bachelors degree; Business if you like leadership or money – English if you like writing or speaking
  • OR Go into the Navy or AirForce || don’t get killed; get leadership experience & discipline; see the world and broaden your world view
  • DO NOT pay for college with loans! || start out at a local community college, pay cash, get good grades & get your AA there (it will get covered up by your BA from a better place); if you NEED to move then find a friend or family member in another community that you like and go to C.C. there. DO NOT GET LOANS! they take too long and you can do it with hard work.
  • Stay employed || see above, you need a job + it will give you some experience to build upon. find something in customer service or that is intellectually stimulating.
  • Get broad employment experience || see this job sucks! - how will you know what you want to do AND what you will enjoy if you don’t try your hand at a few entry level positions that you hate?
  • Take risks || not the stupid kind like drugs, sex and bungee jumping! — risks of life adventure, especially if you have entrepreneurial tendencies OR if you would like to live abroad for further world view development OR if serving a mission of need & hope appeals to you.
  • Travel || don’t take out loans to do it. no other time in your life is as flexible as the time right after high school – see the world!
  • Find a mentor || look for someone is who is doing what you think you might enjoy, buy them a meal & start finding out more. get the practical ‘how to’ stuff from them – college is great but this is where the real learning comes from.
  • Get REALLY good at something || before you turn 25 you should aim to be on a path to having a refined skill or talent that you can contribute to society & the market place. in the long run (by 35) you will find that what you started on has morphed into something brilliantly new but that you probably didn’t see coming when you were younger.
  • Make many friends || if at all possible stay connected (facebook – isn’t it grand!); enjoy your time with them but be sure to go beyond the surface. some of your best long-term friends will come out of unexpected beginnings.
  • Stay connected to a life giving activity || don’t get so focused on your goals that they consume every thing from you & every bit of your free time; find a recreational outlet – don’t get fat!
  • Stop playing so many games || 1 or 2 outlets for fun is important, but many people waste the most energetic years of their life on silly games and useless parties.