The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Making The Most Of Your Bachelors
If you’re thinking about going or returning to school for a career change, you most certainly aren’t alone. That being said, you likely know how quickly the cost of an undergraduate degree can mount up, and that’s even if you’re earning Maryville’s Bachelors in Accounting online. Knowing how to make the most of your degree and chosen school can go a long way in your sense of satisfaction and career opportunities once you’ve successfully completed a program and have earned your degree.
Skip Majors That Sound More Like Job Descriptions
Even if you know for a fact what you want to do with your degree, it’s best you avoid overspecialization when it comes to your concentration. A degree name that sounds more like a job description has a strong chance of limiting your career opportunities. You don’t know how your chosen industry will change over the years, and presenting yourself as a versatile and multifaceted candidate is sure to work in your favor. There’s also the fact that even if the job title you desire is available when you graduate, you might want a career change sometime down the line, and you likely don’t want to have to go back to school to make that change.
While narrowing down your options for schools, be sure to ask about student annual return on investment. ROI is how much you’ll get back in future jobs compared to how much you spent on tuition. If you know you’ll only earn a bachelor’s degree, be sure to ask about the ROI for undergraduate students to get an accurate idea. Your final choice of school doesn’t have to be the one that offers the highest ROI, but it should most certainly factor into your decision as well as how you plan your career.
Get to Know Your Professors
Do yourself a favor and connect with your professors once classes start. Professors aren’t just teachers, they can also serve as mentors and provide you with valuable information and potential connections in your chosen field. Start forging this connection as early in the semester as you can, because as time goes on, they’re likely to be swamped with responsibilities, which means they might not have as much time to get to know you.
Diversity Your Course Load
While it makes perfect sense to load up your course load with classes related to your major, it’s a good idea to add some variety. See if there are any courses or subject that complement your focus to give yourself a broad base of knowledge. Know that you aren’t expected to be an expert in your major when you graduate, and you’ll more than likely have plenty of chances to learn on the job. As you’re choosing courses, do some research on the instructor to see what kind of reputation she or he has. After all, what’s the use of taking a course that interests you if the teacher is a complete bore?
If there’s any kind of work experience or internship available for the degree program, take full advantage of it. Even though you might not get paid, you’re sure to earn useful experience. What’s more is you could even get an offer for a job at the end of your internship. Because you’re likely to only have time for one or two internships while earning your degree, make sure you research your options to find the best fit for your schedule and personal desires as well as your professional goals.
Both your time as well as your money should be well-spent while earning your bachelor’s degree. Your choices can make all the difference in your professional future, so make sure you proceed with a solid plan.
