Congratulations on your acceptance to the university (or universities) of your choice! This is an incredibly exciting time but also a busy one, as you plan the logistics of attending college. Factors such as packing, moving expenses, financing your tuition and fees, and finding part-time employment may be at the top of your to-do list as you begin this amazing adventure. However you shouldn't forget the big picture either; part of that is figuring out what you want to study while you're in college.

“What?” you're thinking “This is crazy! I have four years of college before I even have to think about a job.”  False.  As you'll soon discover, college flies by and before you know it you're a Junior desperately seeking internships; or a Senior in the midst of the pre-graduation job hunt. Given no advance thought, a large part of what you study will probably align with your current personal interests, influences, and location in life. However, a little up-front research might leave you surprised at what you decide to study.  Start by thinking about what you would like to do in the future for employment and whether there are any demands for your chosen occupation.

Getting a job after college is still a pretty tough job for the recently graduated. Nearly one in five adults aged 18-29 years is currently unemployed. A portion of that unemployment is due to ongoing economic factors that college graduates, as individuals, have very little power to change. But some of the problem is that they're unprepared to fill the jobs that are available in the market. With a little foresight and planning, you'll be ready to graduate with a diploma in one hand and a job offer in the other.

It helps to know which college graduates have the worst employment prospects at the moment. Turns out, the least employable graduates right now are…architects! According to a recent study by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University, architecture majors have found themselves at the top of the ranks of unemployed recent college graduates - 13.9% have been unable to obtain work. The next four are:

• fine arts majors,
• liberal arts majors,
• social studies majors, and
• recreation majors. 
  

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t pursue your dream of being an architect – you should; just take care to consider your options carefully and possibly have an alternative plan in place.

As if your future employability isn’t enough to worry about, you also need to consider how much money your chosen career will earn. A recently published article in Forbes, quoting the latest report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), reveals that the big money is going to the college graduates who have good quantitative skills (i.e., statistics) and are educated in engineering or computer sciences. Here are the NACE’s most current list of top paying jobs for newly minted college graduates:

College Major                                                                           Annual Salary

Computer Engineering                                                                    $70,400

Chemical Engineering                                                                      $66,400

Computer Science                                                                          $64,400

Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering                           $64,000

Mechanical Engineering                                                                   $62,900

Electrical/Electronics and Communications Engineering                   $62,300

Civil Engineering                                                                              $57,600

Finance                                                                                           $57,300

Construction Science/Management                                                 $56,600

Information Sciences and Systems                                                  $56,100

So, don’t forget to think about what you want to do post-graduation as you pack your toothbrush and dream about your dorm room. I wish someone had shared this with me when I first started college!

Everyone will advise you to attend office hours- they’re where you make connections with relatively powerful people and where you can make yourself more than just a name on a roll. The problem is no one tells you how to make your time count- here are some quick tips for a pain free and successful session with you soon to be favorite professor.

1. Be on Time! Timing is everything- dig up that syllabus you stuffed somewhere and find their hours and email. Even if appointments aren’t necessary, send them an email asking them for a specific time to make sure they’ll be there. Put it in your calendar and show up on time! If you can, don’t schedule them around when a paper is due for the first time because everyone will be trying to meet with them then- try to go early so they don’t think you’re just worried about your grade.
2. Don’t come empty headed. The biggest mistake most students make is coming to office hours expecting to socialize and get to know the professor right off the bat. What they don’t tell you is that before the professors start sharing their life story with you, you will need to have developed a relationship with them. Show up with a legitimate course-related question.  Even if you feel like you have nothing cogent to ask about the class, come with at least a few questions. It can be about a broad topic like “I just don’t really understand x concept, could we talk about it a little more?” Show that you put a little thought into it and your efforts will be rewarded.
3. Wrong Time? Don’t Fret. Most of us have that one class that always schedules office hours at our worst time of the week. That doesn’t mean your grade should suffer for it. Shoot your professor a nice email explaining you have class/work/naptime during that time and request a different time to meet. Most professors are understanding and would rather make time to see you than have you flounder through their class.
4. Be Appropriate. It’s very easy to forget etiquette in this modern world. Don’t talk about topics you wouldn’t talk about with your grandma. This means no sex, no personal friend drama, and no topic that makes you look unprofessional or irresponsible. The purpose of office hours is to build a relationship not to air your dirty laundry!

Good luck! The first visit is by far the most awkward but after that you may even enjoy your office hours visits. Are there any other tips that you wish you would have known before you went to your first office hours?