Academic Advice from an Academic Advisor
Five years on the job, and my philosophy, approach and empathy to advising have changed. While I am still the 4.0 GPA, turn papers in early, overachiever at heart, I have observed a lot over the years that impacts the advice I am now able to give. Enjoy :)
(1) Don't major in what your parents tell you to major in.
This is how people end up majoring in Accounting, and struggle through ACC 218 three times before they realize they're not good with numbers. I'm tired of parents telling their kids what to major in. College is about exploring passions, talents and desires. You are supposed to change your major 3 or 4 times. Do it! It's free! And why, after having a studied a subject you hate for 4 years, would you want to work in a job you hate for the next 40?
(2) It doesn't matter in what you get your undergraduate degrees.
Believe it or not, I discovered my last semester of UG that I did not want to be a business major. I'll tell you the full story over a glass of wine some time, but suffice it to say, most grad schools and most employers don't give a crap what you studied in undergrad. Grad schools care about test scores, personal statements and references. Employers care about work experience, internships and transferable skills. So for God's sake (and mine, and your parents) stop worrying so much about your major! MBA programs accept music majors...nuff said.
(3) Don't worry about Cs, Ds, and Fs.
I mean, seriously! What is this obsession with GPAs? There were some people who I have had to literally drag across the stage at graduation, hand-picked all their classes so they could survive, and one of them got a paid, awesome internship with the Raiders fresh out. I got his grandma's strawberry bread wrapped in a plastic Target bag as a thanks, and I will always remember this kid as PROOF that grades don't matter.
People with the lowest GPAs get jobs, internships, grad school acceptance letters because nobody gives a shit that you failed a class here and there. What they do care about is commitment, passion and drive. So what if you didn't have it four years ago. Who gives a shit? (sorry, totally irritated and jet-lagged at the moment)
(4) No more dress/speak to impress
New and improved Heidi has finally realized that externals don't matter. I used to know this before LIFE roped me into the black-suit/polished-speech-mentality. I'm over it...hopefully cured permanently this time. If you've been reading my blog you know I have had a huge change of heart, and it has changed my life. I miss the days when you could say what you wanted and it was okay, because it was honest and genuine. Then I realized, those days were only in my head, unless I made them happen.
So, I am. No more SAPA dress codes. No more "Heidi-proofing" a speech. I have seen a friend's heart, and it mattered more to me than externalities. And I will be eternally grateful for that.
There's probably more academic advice in here, but that's all I have in my exhausted, over-tired self at the moment. Motherland stories will come soon, I hope :)
(1) Don't major in what your parents tell you to major in.
This is how people end up majoring in Accounting, and struggle through ACC 218 three times before they realize they're not good with numbers. I'm tired of parents telling their kids what to major in. College is about exploring passions, talents and desires. You are supposed to change your major 3 or 4 times. Do it! It's free! And why, after having a studied a subject you hate for 4 years, would you want to work in a job you hate for the next 40?
(2) It doesn't matter in what you get your undergraduate degrees.
Believe it or not, I discovered my last semester of UG that I did not want to be a business major. I'll tell you the full story over a glass of wine some time, but suffice it to say, most grad schools and most employers don't give a crap what you studied in undergrad. Grad schools care about test scores, personal statements and references. Employers care about work experience, internships and transferable skills. So for God's sake (and mine, and your parents) stop worrying so much about your major! MBA programs accept music majors...nuff said.
(3) Don't worry about Cs, Ds, and Fs.
I mean, seriously! What is this obsession with GPAs? There were some people who I have had to literally drag across the stage at graduation, hand-picked all their classes so they could survive, and one of them got a paid, awesome internship with the Raiders fresh out. I got his grandma's strawberry bread wrapped in a plastic Target bag as a thanks, and I will always remember this kid as PROOF that grades don't matter.
People with the lowest GPAs get jobs, internships, grad school acceptance letters because nobody gives a shit that you failed a class here and there. What they do care about is commitment, passion and drive. So what if you didn't have it four years ago. Who gives a shit? (sorry, totally irritated and jet-lagged at the moment)
(4) No more dress/speak to impress
New and improved Heidi has finally realized that externals don't matter. I used to know this before LIFE roped me into the black-suit/polished-speech-mentality. I'm over it...hopefully cured permanently this time. If you've been reading my blog you know I have had a huge change of heart, and it has changed my life. I miss the days when you could say what you wanted and it was okay, because it was honest and genuine. Then I realized, those days were only in my head, unless I made them happen.
So, I am. No more SAPA dress codes. No more "Heidi-proofing" a speech. I have seen a friend's heart, and it mattered more to me than externalities. And I will be eternally grateful for that.
There's probably more academic advice in here, but that's all I have in my exhausted, over-tired self at the moment. Motherland stories will come soon, I hope :)
Love the advice heidi, but I'm still gonna shoot for the 4.0. Its more of a pride thing than anything. I'm sure you understand ;)
ReplyDeleteHeidi! Words of wisdom...it's who you are that gets you where you need to go - a true desire to be the best person you can be and use all that you have to benefit those around you. To choose a path correction to make sure your talents are put to their optimal use. Booyah!
ReplyDelete