Time Management: Before It’s Too Late

The beginning of a college student’s junior year brings about a multitude of important questions regarding one’s future that many students are often unprepared for. When should I begin applying for jobs? Do I have to go to grad school? Which entrance exam do I take? Where do I even take it?

The idea of graduating and suddenly morphing into an “adult” leaves many students feeling anxious and overwhelmed as they are forced to fast-forward into the future. The key to making this process the least stressful as possible is to create an organized schedule to help a student better manage his or her time.

The first thing a student should do is look at their options. By the end of sophomore year, a majority of students have declared their major and have a better sense of what interests them and what they are passionate about. Depending on a student’s major, some paths may be more defined than others. For example, business majors have many options. Since there are multiple career options that don’t require a student to obtain a master’s degree, a student can choose to continue either their education immediately or apply for jobs that only requires a bachelor’s degree. Even if a student chooses to enter the work force immediately after graduating, there is always the option of attending grad school after a few years of experience is gained. There are even an increasing number of companies who will offer financial support if an individual chooses to go to grad school to further their academic career once they begin working for that company.

Unfortunately, other majors don’t leave as much room for creativity and a student’s options may be more confined. For example, a speech pathology/audiology major’s options are considerably more restricted with only a bachelor’s degree. According to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Penn State, “a master’s degree is the minimal entry-level degree to work as an Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and a doctoral degree (Au.D or Ph.D.) is required to work as an audiologist in the profession because every state requires that SLPs and audiologist to be licensed to practice” (College of Health and Human Development 1). That being said, students considering a career in either of these fields must be prepared to obtain a master’s degree.

In the case of a more confined path like speech, a student should meet with his or her advisor by the middle of junior year to create a schedule that will help map out the next few semesters. On top of a full course load, many students take on a plethora of extra-curricular activities that take up a large portion of time. Meeting with an advisor can help a student prioritize their activities and set aside the appropriate amount of time to devote to the process of applying to grad school. Many advisors will likely have first-hand experience in the field the student is considering entering. The knowledge, experience and advice an advisor has to offer can help the student achieve his or her goals. Also, advisors often have easy access to important information such as test-prep courses, testing locations and tutors that students may be unaware of.

Planning ahead can make a student’s load a lot less heavy. By attending a prep course and studying for a graduate entrance exam in the spring semester of junior year, a student will have the option of taking (and re-taking) the standardized tests over the summer. By doing so, students will have a better idea where they stand and their scores will help guide them towards choosing the right schools that match their academic achievements. With the test behind them and a new and beneficial relationship with their advisor already developed, a student will be better prepared to apply to their chosen graduate programs come senior year.

Source:

“Undergraduate Programs FAQs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at Penn State.” The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at Penn State. The Pennsylvania State University. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://csd.hhdev.psu.edu/undergrad/ugrad_faqs.html>.