Life after College: Insights and Advice

For many students and their families, graduation from college is a time of great celebration. However, it truly represents so much more than a student simply completing a degree program. It is, in many ways, a switch that is flipped, propelling a person instantaneously into adulthood. Life after college can be both thrilling and overwhelming.

In most college settings, friends and other resources are merely an arm’s length away. Greek organizations, club sports, and other activities can make forging friendships a bit easier. Because of this, life after college can be jarring– especially if your friends go to other cities to begin their careers, or if you yourself aren’t yet sure of what you want to do.

In this blog, we’ll explore life after college, starting with the typical age at which people graduate, how long it usually takes to complete a degree, and the more existential question of what to do after graduation.

• What Does Life after College Look Like?
• How to Make a Seamless Transition to Life after College
• What to Do After Graduating College from an Ivy League School
• How to Ensure Continuous Growth as an Ivy Graduate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Does Life after College Look Like?

Life after college is a big transition that can bring tons of anxiety, uncertainty, and even social isolation. Even for the person who’s looking forward to graduating and starting their professional or adult life, the transition itself is hard, says Amanda Fialk, partner and chief clinical officer of The Dorm, a New York City—and Washington, D.C.—based mental health and treatment facility for young adults.

“When you think about graduating from college, there’s a flurry of different emotions that students typically experience,” Fialk says. “They’re certainly happy and proud that they made it through and made it that far. But they also feel anxiety about the future (and) sadness about leaving their friends and closing such an important chapter of their lives. Many students do experience depression over the loss of this phase of their life.”

Being financially stable is also a factor to consider. In its annual Workplace Benefits Study, the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America found that 67% of Gen Z workers identified “money/finances” as a top source of stress in their lives.

In a March 2022 survey of 1,000 college graduates ages 25 to 35 across the United States, Grand Canyon Education, a partner of Grand Canyon University in Arizona, found that nearly 31% of respondents reported feeling pressure to have a successful career and have their life together.

It is also developing friendships and keeping the relationships going that turn out to be causes of concern for the new graduates. In terms of developing a social life in one’s adulthood, about 55% of the respondents reported at least some degree of difficulty, as compared to 29% during the college period. Furthermore, 60% said they were less satisfied with their social life in the period of adulthood compared to when they were in college.

How to Make a Seamless Transition to Life after College

Everybody’s journey from being a college student into the job market varies. This will mean a direct dive into graduate school in the pursuit of further specialization for some, and for others, a career path with a full-time job. In other cases, some graduates also prefer to take a gap year to focus on other pursuits—traveling, visiting family, or just simply resting.

Regardless of which direction you decide to take, always remember the value in any opportunity that may be put across your path. This includes all experiences, from career fairs to networking with possible employers, which are steps toward the success of your career.

Here are some practical pieces of advice to make the transition less daunting:

1. Accept that financial success takes time.

Though some can make good money right out of college, most don’t. Nearly 40% in the Guardian survey of Gen Z workers reported living paycheck to paycheck, while 80% said they had only about $500 tucked away in an emergency fund. Nate Hoskin, founder and lead advisor of Hoskin Capital, a financial planning firm, says it’s important to realize that income growth takes time.

“You don’t have to be a millionaire by the time you’re 25,” he says. “You are not a failure if your first job out of school isn’t paying you six figures. That’s the first component and is something that’s so misconstrued, particularly coming out of school.”

Hoskin encourages graduates not to be driven by social standards, expectations, and comparing themselves to peers. Buy a house because others are buying a house; make expensive purchases just because others are. Rather, he suggests, understand where your money is going. Make a monthly review of your finances and eliminate the subscriptions or other expenses that are not necessary. The importance of saving money by setting it apart each month as soon as one gets paid cannot be overemphasized.

2. Be intentional with your connections.

Proximity is one big challenge for social connection that recent graduates face, says Blake Blankenbecler, a licensed therapist in South Carolina and creator of The Friendship Deck, a card game designed to strengthen friendships. She added that people generally move away from their college friends, and they’re typically not in living situations that are as conducive to hanging out as college was.

She said that relationship building and maintenance is not that spontaneous during adulthood, and it always requires more mental energy with other responsibilities at work and elsewhere.

According to Blankenbecler, “good friendships don’t happen by accident,” adding: “Up until college, they kind of do, and then you’re thrown into this world where they definitely do not and you have to be a lot more intentional and thoughtful to sustain them and nurture them.”

Whether it’s FaceTime, phone calls, or Zoom calls, Fialk says to schedule time to talk with friends living elsewhere so that those friendships don’t dissipate with distance. For students who end up in the same city as their friends, she encourages them to maintain regular social events as much as possible, even when work or life get busy.

3. Try something new.

While keeping old friendships is important, experts say, branching out into new ones is important, too. Which isn’t always easy. Blankenbecler frequently calls this transitional season “the second middle school.”

“It’s just this awkward, a bit cringey time where you don’t quite know who you are outside of college,” she says. “You’re trying to make your way. The world has more challenges and is a bit more nuanced than maybe you were told to believe, but you can’t know until you’re experiencing it.”

It can also be a lonely time, especially for those who feel isolated from friends and family. “You just start with what you are familiar with,” she said, “and you try to make friends with those you spend time regular time with, like coworkers.” But after a while, she encourages people to take risks and enter into social settings that might be intimidating.

Other times, it is finding an avenue to meet friends in the less obvious places—book clubs or work-related social events. Sometimes, it’s interacting with people of the same life stage or hobbies and interests: a pal going to the gym is one way to find friends that are good for our health.

One rule Blankenbecler says she has in the first 6 to 12 months after moving to a new city or new situation is to say yes to as many things as she can within reason. In this situation, you might not be friends with everyone you meet. You might even realize that the new hobbies or things you get exposed to don’t align with your interests. That’s okay. What matters is that you get used to being around people, and you remain open to life and the world around you.

4. Reach out to others.

For some new graduates, the rush of excitement about the freedom of adulthood can be overwhelming, and having to live with parents or even roommates is less compelling. But do not totally dismiss those choices, Hoskin says, especially if it could help save money.

College graduation can be intimidating, says Fialk, and adulthood will hit you with a lot all at once. It’s normal not to feel great about the transition at first, she says. Recent graduates don’t have to face that transition alone.

5. Create routines that work for you.

Set practical goals for yourself and know that it is okay to ease into the 9-to-5 life. After all, you had been busting your hump during college years for this moment. Now is the time to take those skills and education into your place of business, to show people what you are worth. Just keep in mind that it’s perfectly fine to feel like you don’t exactly know what you’re doing—that comes with time and experience.

Creating a routine for yourself that gives room for good sleep, exercise, and playful activities may further help your transition to life after college. Be mindful of a sustainable balance of activities that would make you thrive professionally and personally.

What to Do after Graduating College from an Ivy League School

While graduating from an Ivy League may in itself be a great feat, remember that having an Ivy League degree is only the beginning and can further open doors and exceptional opportunities.

There’s no denying that having an Ivy League degree does carry relevant weight within the job market. Employers usually associate qualities found in top-tier candidates with a graduate from an Ivy League institution, due to their reputation for academic excellence and rigor of standards during admissions.

Where do Ivy graduates work?

Anywhere! Ivy League graduates may work at law firms, Wall Street, tech companies, healthcare institutions, nonprofits, and even within the government. These institutions crave the analytical and critical thinking skills that Ivy Leaguers bring to the table.

Other grads choose routes that take them away from these institutions, perhaps following a dream they are passionate about. For example, going on a road trip across the country to volunteer at animal sanctuaries and applying their veterinary degree, or, for education graduates, setting up camps in poor communities to learn. Some may choose to start their own business or a startup tech company. The world is your oyster.

How to Ensure Continuous Growth as an Ivy Graduate

In this section, we’ll explore how to nurture one’s personal growth and maximize your potential in life after college.

1. Learning doesn’t end with your degree.

Being an Ivy League graduate, your hunger for knowledge should never be satiated. Consider taking lifelong learning courses or workshops.

This can be utilized for picking up new skills, working on a passion project, or taking a course of study outside one’s present field—constant learning that feeds personal development and will keep the mind sharp.

Now most of the Ivy League universities consider the need for lifelong learning and provide special courses for their alums. Such lifelong learning opportunities will help a person further develop his college-acquired skills and knowledge. One can use these courses to stay connected with the best quality education the Ivy League is known for.

For example, Harvard offers its alumni an MS/MBA in Biotechnology: The Life Sciences Program. The two-year MS/MBA builds upon prior knowledge of biotech and life sciences with the most recent business and scientific findings, thereby allowing leaders to create transformative organizations that will drive new drug discoveries or therapeutics.

Harvard also offers a JD/MBA program at Harvard in the field of law, which integrates two complementary disciplines that would turn out graduates for professional roles that demand leadership, legal expertise, and a general management perspective in private enterprise, government, and nonprofit sector.

2. Maximize your network.

The role that Ivy League alumni networks can play in personal growth cannot be overstated. Being an Ivy League graduate means that one joins one of the most prestigious communities in existence, which is both sector-wise and geographically diverse.

This powerful network can significantly impact your personal development. If you are networking with other alumni, partaking in some alumni-related activity, or doing something as simple as actively engaging in online forums related to your university, then you are opening yourself up for valuable mentorship, guidance, and new opportunities.

It has a supportive alumni network where one can discuss ideas, seek advice, and gain insight from people who have walked similar paths.

For example, Columbia University has an extensive alumni network that provides the following exclusive discounts and benefits: insurance, credit card, car rentals, alumni clubs and shared interests groups, online directory, virtual alumni book club, Columbia libraries, and a travel study program—just to mention a few.

3. Prioritize mental health.

Personal growth also involves mental and emotional nourishment. Pressures from an Ivy League education and the transition after graduation can be overwhelming.

Find a hobby that includes mindfulness, meditation, or yoga practice to help you cultivate calm and balance. It also helps with managing anxiety caused by life after college. Avail counseling or therapy if needed because a healthy state of mind is crucial for a balanced life.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What age do people graduate college?

In the United States, the normal age to enter college is 18-19. A bachelor’s degree is usually finished within four years, so one is just expected to graduate college with a degree at 22-23 years old.

Actual statistics today, however, show over 60% of bachelor’s students take as long as six years to finish their degree, but of course this factors in those who have different circumstances in life like working students, parents, and the like.

2. How long does it take to graduate college?

It depends on your degree program and life circumstances. But generally speaking, most bachelor’s degree programs take four years to finish. 

There’s been a recent change to this, though. While the majority of college students in the United States used to take between four and five years to earn the 120 credits required to graduate with their bachelor’s degree, it has since become more common for undergraduates to take six years to finish.

3. Is it advisable to take a gap year after college?

Generally speaking, absolutely! It’s up to you if you want to rest for a while and think about other pursuits. There are different reasons why graduates decide to go on a gap year. First, others just want to recover from college burnout. For some, it could be trying out new hobbies or discovering other passions like engaging in sports or taking up arts and crafts. It’s different for everyone. But what matters most is that a refreshed mind will surely be more ready to take on life after college.

Takeaway

• The post-graduation phase is like a stepping stone to your future. It’s filled with uncertainties and choices, but with adequate understanding and planning, it can become the beginning of a fulfilling new chapter in your life.
• Take the time to prioritize your mental health and well-being, as they are essential for your overall success and happiness.
• Learning doesn’t stop once you earn your degree. There are numerous ways to experience continuous growth beyond the classroom like studying for a master’s degree, or engaging in activities that’s mentally stimulating for you.
• Having all the necessary information is essential before deciding on a path. AdmissionSight is always here to assist you with any questions or concerns. We have more than ten years of expertise assisting students in successfully getting through the challenging admissions process.