Congratulations; you have completed a
major milestone. But now you may be thinking about what to do after college.
That is a common thought for many college grads. It may seem like everybody
else knows what you should do even though you haven't quite figured out what
life after college looks like. Of course, the obvious answer is to get a job.
But maybe you feel like there should be so much more on the horizon. Well,
don't worry. You are entering a stage of your life when you can make almost anything
happen if you want to.
The reality is that you are likely
moving into one of the best stages of your life. After college, you might have
some student loan or credit card debt. But if you are like many other recent
graduates, you don't have all of the other responsibilities that people who are
30 or older do. You probably don't have to worry about a mortgage, kids, or all
of that other "grown-up" stuff. And do you know what that means?
Freedom. If there is one time in your life when you can take risks, find
yourself, and even do something a little crazy, then this is it (which could be
the case whether you have attended college or not).
Many people like you choose to get a
job and settle down. That's probably what your parents expect, and maybe it is
even what you want to do. But maybe you don't. Maybe you want to defy
expectations and blaze your own trail. After all, you're young, it's your life,
and you're only going to get to live it once. So why not do the things now that
you may not be able to do later?
We have compiled 29 ideas for what you
can do after graduating from university or college. They range from practical
and responsible to fun and outrageous. The ideas are ranked by "mom's
approval rating" on a scale from one to 10. One equals "you might
want to skip Thanksgiving dinner this year." And ten equals "she's
raving about how wonderful and responsible you are to every person that she
talks to." So let's start with the items that might warrant the most
approval from mom.
Life After College: Practical and Fun
Ideas to Consider
What to Bring to College: The Ultimate
Dorm Room Checklist1. Write down some life goals. Where do you see yourself in
five years? 10 years? 20 years? Think about how you want your life to work out.
Determine what your biggest goals are. Then, write them down and share them
with a friend. It may sound a little silly, but one research study found that
this simple action can make a big difference.
Of the people studied, 70 percent of
individuals who wrote down their goals and updated their friends weekly did end
up successfully completing most or all of their goals. In contrast, only 35
percent of the people who never wrote down or shared their goals ended up
successfully achieving them.* So it's a good idea to start planting the seeds
of your future right now.
Mom's approval rating—10
2. Create a budget.
Because that's what adults do, right? A
2014 survey found that a little over 80 percent of Americans keep budgets.** So
it is one of the common things to do as an adult. Budgets are a good idea,
though, no matter your age or your earning or responsibility level.
Budgets are especially useful if you
have other goals, such as buying a house or traveling. You can see how much
money you have left after your bills are paid and identify how long it will
take in order to reach your savings goals. Budgeting is also a great habit to
get into while you are young because it can help you become more financially
responsible as you get older. It doesn't necessarily fall under fun ideas for
what to do after graduating college, but it is important.
Mom's approval rating—10
3. Start a savings account. Or an investment account. Or both. Like budgets, opening savings and
investment accounts are some of the things that you do as an adult. It
certainly doesn't mean that you have to save or invest all of your money. You
can start small and simply put away $25 a month. It's never too early to get
started, no amount is too small to put away, and it's a great habit to form
while you are young. After all, a 2016 survey found that 56 percent of
Americans have less than $10,000 saved for retirement.*** So it might be wise
to start saving what you can now in order to beat the odds.
Mom's approval rating—10
4. Make a plan for paying off your
student loans. If you had to take out student loans
to attend college, then you may want to sit down right now and develop a plan
for paying them back. Although it depends on your debt load and interest rates,
it has been reported that, on average, bachelor's degree holders will take just
over 20 years to repay their college loans. So even though it does not seem
like one of the most fun things to do after college, it is likely a wise thing
to do. Your future self will thank you.
Mom's approval rating—10
5. Break a bad habit. College can be a
great place to develop unsavoury, and often expensive, habits. If your
life after college involves a little too much smoking, drinking, eating junk
food, or lazing around, then this is a good time for you to end that habit.
After all, the longer you partake in an activity, the more formed your habit
becomes, which makes it harder to quit. So your best bet is to ditch those bad
habits while you're still in your 20s.
Mom's approval rating—10
6. Connect with your family. This is something that many people discover naturally in their 30s and
40s, but there is no reason that you can't get started now. If you are like a
lot of people in their 20s, then your life is likely centered more around your
friends than your family. After all, it may not have been that long ago that
you "broke free" from your parents' home. Or maybe you are even still
living there. Regardless, as you get older, you will probably develop an
appreciation for your family. So building connections and relationships with
them now is a move that you likely won't regret.
Mom's approval rating—10
7. Obtain industry certifications. If you don't know what to do after college, then you may want to
consider pursuing recognized industry credentials that could help boost your
professional status. For example, if you completed a technology program, then
there are almost countless certifications that you could attain ranging from
networking to cloud computing. Having certifications, in addition to your
post-secondary education, can help you stand out from other job applicants,
which is a plus regardless of your career field.
Mom's approval rating—10
8. Find an internship. Some people complete internships during their studies, but there are
also opportunities available after graduation. There are internships that do
pay. But, whether they are paid or not, they can provide you with valuable
on-the-job experience. The entry-level job market can be quite competitive, and
a post-graduate internship can offer you the opportunity to gain experience
that other recent graduates do not have. It could even lead to a full-time job
since a lot of companies end up hiring the interns that really impress them.
Mom's approval rating—10
9. Research grad schools. Thinking about attending a graduate college or university might be the
furthest thing from your mind right now, but it doesn't hurt to take a look in
order to gain a clearer perspective of your future. If you are thinking that
you would like to complete one of the after-college programs, such as a
master's degree program, then it could be beneficial to explore your options
now and discover the schools that interest you. That way, when you are
navigating your career path, you can make sure that you are keeping in line
with your future education goals.
Mom's approval rating—10
10. Buy a house. When some people think about what to do after college graduation,
buying a house makes the top of the list. After all, if you are ready to settle
into adult life, know where you want to live, and were lucky enough to snag a
decent-paying job, then buying a house may be a good plan. There are still a
lot of affordable housing markets across the country, and buying the right
house can also be a wise investment decision.
Mom's approval rating—10
11. Volunteer. There are lots of things to do after graduating college, and getting a
job and making money is just one of them. Although volunteering won't put any
money in your pocket, the practical experience that you could gain and the
personal fulfilment that you could achieve is often worth the commitment. Take
a look around your community and explore the charities and organizations that
are in need. You could find yourself doing something like caring for animals at
the local shelter, serving meals at the soup kitchen, or helping build a home
for a local family in need. The options are almost endless.
Mom's approval rating—10
12. Start your own business. Initially, this may sound impossible, but the reality is that your 20s
can be a great time to take a risk and start a business. That's because those
who are in the their 20s are typically more tolerant of risk, can bounce back
from failure more easily, and are energetic, adaptable, and motivated. And just
think, if you start a successful business now, then you have your entire
professional life ahead of you to reap the rewards.
Mom's approval rating—10
13. Develop a regular workout routine. If you haven't got one already, then developing a workout routine is
something that you should do after college. Forming good, healthy habits now
can only benefit you as you get older. And when you are young and have lots of
energy, it's a great time to explore a variety of activities and attend
different classes to find something enjoyable that also helps keep you fit and
healthy.
Mom's approval rating—10
14. Learn how to cook. The days of surviving on ramen noodles are over. Most likely anyway. So
why not learn some new skills and expand your palate? You can impress your
friends with your new cooking talents and learn how to make dishes that could
rival your mother's. If cooking is not your thing, then learn how to dance or
discover some other new and fun activity that you have not tried before.
Mom's approval rating—9
15. Learn another language. The younger we are, the easier it is for us to learn and retain new
languages. So, now that you have graduated and are wondering what you should do
after college, why not learn a new language? You can self-teach, take an online
course, or find a continuing education class at your local college. You will
likely find it fun and entertaining, and you never know when a second language
will be a valuable job asset down the road.
Mom's approval rating—9
16. Figure out what makes you happy and
do that. You have probably heard that the
average person will have five to seven different careers in his or her
lifetime. Although this may be true for some people, no official studies have
been conducted to back up that claim. What is known is that it is more common
for young people to change jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 50
percent of people aged 20 to 24 years old have only been in their current jobs
for less than a year. And according to 2008 data, the average American worker
spends 4.1 years with the same employer. An additional study that is following
workers throughout their working lives has found that, between the ages of 18
and 42, study participants have held an average of 10.8 different jobs.****
So, although switching career fields
may not happen as often as many people believe, changing jobs is more common,
especially among people in their 20s. This means that you can take the time to
figure out what it is that you love without it negatively affecting your
future. Explore different jobs and employers and find what keeps you engaged
and interested. If you can discover that now, then you can set yourself up for
a higher level of job fulfillment and stability as you get older.
Mom's approval rating—9
17. Decide where you want to live and
move there. You are as young and free as you are
going to get. So now is the time to figure out where you want to start building
your future. And once you have figured that out, start packing and move there.
It's the time for you to do it because the reality is that, as you get older
and take on more responsibilities, it's less likely that you'll pick up and
move. So if you've always wanted to live on the West Coast or would like to
settle somewhere in the Midwest, then go for it.
Mom's approval rating—9
18. Learn the art of humility. Sometimes when we are young, coming out of college, and feeling ready
to take on the world, we can let our egos get the better of us. You are
brimming with knowledge and ideas that you want to share, and you want to prove
to employers that you are a success. Although this is great, you need to be
sure that you don't come across as being arrogant or conceited. Learning how to
be humble can lead to greater success in the workforce. Humility reminds you
that you don't know it all and you can't do it all. Collaboration and teamwork
is important in the workforce, and you need to appreciate the contributions of
those who are working around you. Learning how to listen to others and being
able to work harmoniously with your coworkers can take you far in the
workforce. And the sooner you learn that, the better.
Mom's approval rating—9
19. Meet someone. If you have dreams of getting a great job, buying a house, and starting
a family, then you may want to start thinking about finding that special
someone. The college dating scene may have been a lot of fun, but you likely
didn't find that person that you want to start building a life with (although,
some people certainly do find their life partners while attending college). If
you are single and wanting to go after something more serious, then take some
time to sit down and assess yourself, your life goals, and the type of people
that could be a good match for you. That way, when you start dating, you will
be able to tell quite quickly whether the person you are seeing could have a
place in your future.
Mom's approval rating—8
20. Work abroad. If there is ever a time for you to take a position overseas, then this
is it. As you take on more responsibilities in your life, it will become much
harder to pursue a career abroad. Not to say that it can't be done when you are
older, but it could be a lot more difficult. So take advantage of this time to
explore the world and learn about other cultures while putting some money in
your pocket. There are many websites that post work-abroad opportunities. And
if you want to do something completely different, then you may want to check
out World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). WWOOF is a volunteer
exchange program in which an organic farm hosts you and provides food and
accommodations in exchange for four to six hours of daily farm work. The
exchanges can be as short as three days and as long as six months.
Mom's approval rating—8
21. Travel the world. Maybe you would
rather travel the world than work overseas.
If you can find ways to live modestly and save money, then you can go just
about anywhere. Some people choose to continue living with their parents in
order to save the money that they would otherwise spend on rent and bills.
Others find seasonal jobs so that they can travel during their off-season.
There are a lot of possibilities for you to consider, and making it happen is
well worth it. The life lessons and personal growth that you can achieve from
traveling can definitely make up for the time spent out of the workforce.
Mom's approval rating—7
22. Go on a road trip to remember. Are you experiencing after-college depression? Why not round-up your
best college friends and head out on a road trip? You can go away for a weekend
or take off for a couple of weeks and check out parts of your country that you
have always wanted to explore. Whether you want to experience NYC, cruise the
Oregon coast, or hike the Appalachians, you surely won't regret making great memories.
Mom's approval rating—7
23. Go to an epic music festival. Have you ever wanted to experience an amazing festival? With multi-day
festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Burning Man, and Vans
Warped Tour, there are incredible events happening all across the country. You
are only young once, so get out there and take part in a fun festival that you
will never forget.
Mom's approval rating—6
24. Audition for a reality show. Do you have a favorite reality show? Have you ever thought about
auditioning for it? It may not seem like an obvious thing to do after college
graduation, but what have you got to lose? You never know what could happen.
You might get the opportunity to be on TV, get your 15 minutes of fame, and
have awesome stories to tell your friends and family for the rest of your life.
Mom's approval rating—6
25. Start checking off your bucket
list. You are never too young to start
working on your bucket list. In fact, this is one of the best times for you to
do those things that you want to make sure you experience before it's too late.
Whether you dream of skydiving, base jumping, cage diving with sharks, or
taking part in any other fun and adventurous activities, now is the time to do
it.
Mom's approval rating—5
26. Get a tattoo. This could be one of those slightly crazy options for after college,
but hey, why not? Commemorate this important milestone in your life by getting
some cool body art. It's not like you have to get an entire sleeve or a full
back piece. You could opt for something small and simple in a concealed area
that honors the next phase of life that you are about to enter. Your mother
doesn't even have to know about it.
Mom's approval rating—4
27. Go to Vegas. Everybody needs to experience Las Vegas at some point in their lives.
And your 20s is likely one of the best times to do it. With endless choices for
entertainment, nightlife, restaurants, spas, luxurious pools, and so much more,
this is one of the more fun (and maybe slightly irresponsible) options when
considering what to do after graduating from university or college.
Mom's approval rating—3
28. Buy a motorcycle. Because why not? Just imagine the feeling of freedom that you would
have cruising down the open road on your motorbike. Riding a motorcycle isn't
just a fun and adventurous way of getting around; it can also be efficient and
affordable if you live in a major city. So there is a practical aspect to it
too. You are in the prime of your life, so you may as well take full advantage
of it.
Mom's approval rating—2
29. Reverse retires. Retirement probably hasn't crossed your mind while trying to figure out
how to start your life after college. But that is exactly what some people are deciding
to do. Those people have decided to enjoy life while young and healthy before
spending their later years working. However, reverse retirement does still
involve some work. What reverse retirees tend to do is work at jobs and live
well below their means so that the majority of their money can go into savings.
When they hit a predetermined savings level, they quit their jobs or take
leaves of absence to go out and do something that they enjoy. When they are
done and the savings run out, they return to the workforce prepared to do it
over again.
The thought behind this is that you can
go on adventures that you will likely not be able to do, or enjoy as much, when
you are in your late 60s or beyond. However, in order to reverse retire, you
have to be a prudent saver. And you must be willing to live a modest lifestyle.
You will also have to consider how reverse retiring could impact other goals
that you may have, like owning a home or having children. And you will
definitely want to make sure that you are still putting some money away for
old-age retirement. So there are many aspects to consider, and it will mean
setting aside the notion of having a conventional lifestyle. And it is very
likely that your mom will not approve. But, all of that aside, the people who
have successfully reverse retired are loving it.
Mom's approval rating—1
One More Option: Go Back to College
As you think about what to do after
college, going back to school probably didn't cross your mind. But returning to
school is a reality for many adults. You could find that you do not enjoy the
career field that you studied for or that your chosen career field does not
offer many job opportunities. Or you may realize that you need additional
skills that you did not acquire your first time around.
There are many reasons why people
decide to go back to school, and some schools report that up to 10 percent of
their students already hold bachelor's degrees. Many of those students return
to community colleges or vocational schools where they can quickly earn
certificates, diplomas, or associate degrees.
Collage Student E01: Cool Jobs for 8 Different Types of Passions & Personalities
Collage Student E02: What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
Collage Student E03: What to Do After College: 29 Ideas to Inspire You
Collage Student E04: How Do I Figure Out What Career I Want?
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