| Are you a current high school student thinking | | | | it's a start!) |
| about going to college? A working professional | | | | Networking. Clubs. Fraternities. Seminars. |
| ready to explore other options and expand your | | | | Conferences. All of these organizations or events |
| knowledge? No matter who you are, or what | | | | offer an opportunity for you to rub shoulders |
| stage in life you are at, there is something waiting | | | | with other peers, professionals or professors (the |
| for you at a 2 or 4-year university. Deciding to | | | | three most important P's) who can give you |
| attend college is one of the biggest and best | | | | insight into job prospects, internships, |
| decisions an individual can make in their life. There | | | | assistantships or share any information which may |
| are so many exciting and rewarding opportunities | | | | be useful to maximize your collegiate experience |
| for you to take advantage of - everything from | | | | and get a head start on building a career. |
| gaining valuable knowledge to establishing a strong | | | | Experience. For college alumni, it's a badge of |
| network of contacts. Listed below are six | | | | honor to say you spent your freshmen year with |
| top-notch reasons you should go to college today! | | | | your best buddies collecting spare change to go |
| Knowledge. Knowledge is power. How far will you | | | | eat out at the latest Thai restaurant or reminisce |
| get without it? By investing in a college degree, | | | | about the "good 'ol days." As most college |
| you'll obtain knowledge and skills useful for getting | | | | graduates will tell you, college is more than just a |
| a great job, building a solid career, and interpreting | | | | place to get an education, it's a place to get |
| life on a different scale. For example, let's say you | | | | experience and embrace life's ups and downs. It's |
| enroll at X University and major in English - you'll | | | | all about learning and living, and college is the best |
| learn more than just technical and business writing. | | | | place to do it. |
| In your other core classes (aside from your | | | | Friendship/Relationships. What would life be like |
| major) you're exposed to philosophy (logic and | | | | without friends? One could not even imagine. In |
| brainstorming), sociology (understanding human | | | | college, you'll have quite a few people to choose |
| behavior), psychology (how people think), and | | | | from. It's the perfect place to spread your wings |
| communication (speech improvement and people | | | | and find your BFF. If you're shy, or quiet don't |
| skills). All of these courses help build your | | | | worry - you can always join a club or develop a |
| development on a professional and personal level. | | | | relationship with your roommate (if he or she isn't |
| In all, your college education gives you a leg up on | | | | too weird..). College is the perfect place to develop |
| the job market and provides you with extra skills | | | | long-lasting and life-long friends. Friends for life. |
| to add to your "professional toolkit." | | | | Job/Internships. One of the many benefits of |
| Money. Sure, it looks like nothing more than just a | | | | going to college is being able to nab an internship. |
| piece of paper, but that college degree will garner | | | | Colleges do a fantastic job of supplying students |
| you more money than your non-degree holding | | | | with career services like job/internship placement, |
| peers. (In fact, people with college degrees earn | | | | and alumni mentors to help guide them in the |
| an estimated 1.3 million more than people without). | | | | process. Any student of any major has a fair |
| Isn't that a good enough reason to go to college? | | | | chance of getting some much needed experience |
| Also, if you're interested in the sciences, | | | | to pad the resume before treading into the "real |
| mathematics, and engineering fields you can | | | | world." If you're lucky, that internship may land |
| expect to see starting salaries in the $50,000s. | | | | you a full-time job. Sounds pretty good to me. |
| (However, this does depend on location, relevant | | | | © 2010, Janelle Howell Inc. All rights reserved. |
| experience, and other additional factors... but hey, | | | | |