Take the fear out of networking and make it work for you
Reading Time: 10 minutesLearn how to get over your fear of networking and make authentic connections to boost your career success, including a 60-second “elevator pitch”.
Reading Time: 10 minutesLearn how to get over your fear of networking and make authentic connections to boost your career success, including a 60-second “elevator pitch”.
Often, when we think about sexual misconduct and bystander intervention, we’re thinking about intervening in social situations, such as on the dance floor, at a party, or in a relationship. But what happens when you see this happening at your internship, on the job, or at your workplace?
While we might know that it’s equally important to take action in the workplace, we might not exactly know how to do it, especially if we’re dealing with uneven power dynamics—like a boss who’s making crude comments to an employee or an established colleague taking advantage of a new intern. The good news? The basics, which you already know, work here too.
“The skills and strategies that work in social contexts can often be applied to other settings, including professional contexts such as a summer internship or other job,” says Laura Santacrose, assistant director of the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives at Cornell University in New York, who developed Cornell’s “Intervene” project, a bystander intervention initiative for students. The knowledge and confidence that we’ve gained from intervening in other contexts make a difference. Knowing we have the skills to step in makes us more likely to do so, according to a 2014 study of college students in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
Besides reinforcing your own personal values, you’re also setting the bar high for the rest of the organization. And that’s important. “Employers hope to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all employees. A safe and inclusive environment fosters teamwork among colleagues, greater workplace satisfaction, and higher levels of innovation and creativity on the job. Employees who are able to facilitate such an environment are highly valued by both their employers and by their clients,” says Jeanine Dames, director of the Office of Career Strategy at Yale University in Connecticut.
So how do you do it?
Whenever we intervene, it’s critical to consider the potential risks involved and to make a safe plan. The power dynamics between supervisors and employees may make it difficult to intervene directly, so consider subtle or indirect actions. “There may be additional supports in a professional setting that will make an intervention easier [than in a social situation], including support from a human resources department,” says Santacrose.
Now that you know the basics, or at least can refer back to them, let’s get into some examples. Use the following scenarios to think about possible intervention strategies. What strategies would you choose?[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Scenario 1: Inappropriate jokes
” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:20|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%20Condensed%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Imagine that you share an office space with several other summer interns. One of the interns, Taylor, often makes sexual jokes and suggestive comments. You and the other interns find the jokes annoying, but one of the interns, Sam, looks upset and starts to avoid the space.[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion shape=”square” color=”blue” c_icon=”chevron” active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1505257761599{border-bottom-width: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_tta_section title=”Potential impacts of this behavior ” tab_id=”1504052666707-487f2eae-0de4″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Possible interventions ” tab_id=”1504052666804-66add783-ae2c”][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][vc_custom_heading text=”Scenario 2: Unfair treatment
” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:20|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%20Condensed%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Imagine that you have a part-time campus job in a lab. The professor in charge of the lab chooses a graduate student, Riley, to lead a project. A few weeks ago, Riley asked one of your coworkers, Casey, out on a date. Casey said no. Since then, Riley seems to be treating Casey differently from the other lab members. Riley often dismisses Casey’s comments in meetings and assigns all the menial jobs to Casey.[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion shape=”square” color=”blue” c_icon=”chevron” active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1505257813391{border-bottom-width: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_tta_section title=”Potential impacts of this behavior” tab_id=”1504052753249-e585b76c-21e9″]
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Possible interventions ” tab_id=”1504052753334-d21292d9-c739″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][vc_custom_heading text=”Scenario 3: Callouts on appearance
” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:20|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%20Condensed%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Imagine that you have a part-time job. Your supervisor makes small talk with employees as you arrive in the morning. Topics range from sports to the weather, but on several occasions, your supervisor has made comments about the appearance of one employee, Kai, such as, “You look gorgeous today!” and “That shirt looks great on you!” Your supervisor does not comment on other employees’ appearances.[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion shape=”square” color=”blue” c_icon=”chevron” active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1505257821057{border-bottom-width: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_tta_section title=”Potential impacts of this behavior” tab_id=”1504052838430-8b2d08cc-2ef1″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Possible interventions ” tab_id=”1504052838526-d3cdd71b-5a02″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][vc_column_text]See? Your bystander skills just went pro. When you break it down like this, intervening becomes a little easier, which means your workplace can be just as supportive of a community as your campus is. So remember: Your bystander skills can work in any context, at any time.
Want more bystander info? Check out Cornell University’s bystander initiative, “Intervene.” This interactive training, useful for students of all kinds, offers concrete strategies for intervening in a wide range of social, academic, and professional settings.
Strategies developed by the Communication and Consent Educator program at Yale University. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[school_resource sh101resources=’no’ category=’mobileapp,healthservices, wellnesspromotion, counselingservices, titleix’] Get help or find out more
“Intervene” video and resources on bystander intervention: Cornell University
Brochure on effective intervention strategies: Yale University
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Article sources
Jeanine Dames, JD, director of office of career strategy, Yale University, Connecticut.
Laura Santacrose, MPH, assistant director, Skorton Center for Health Initiatives, Cornell University, New York.
Banyard, V. L. (2011). Who will help prevent sexual violence: Creating an ecological model of bystander intervention. Psychology of Violence, 1(3), 216–229.
Banyard, V. L., Plante, E. G., & Moynihan, M. M. (2004). Bystander education: Bringing a broader community perspective to sexual violence prevention. Journal of Community Psychology, 32(1), 61–79.
Bennett, S., Banyard, V. L., & Garnhart, L. (2014). To act or not to act, that is the question? Barriers and facilitators of bystander intervention. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 29(3), 476–496.
Bowes-Sperry, L., & O’Leary-Kelly, A. M. (2005). To act or not to act: The dilemma faced by sexual harassment observers. Academy of Management Review, 30(2), 288–306.
Carmody, M. (2005). Ethical erotics: Reconceptualizing anti-rape education. Sexualities, 8(4), 465–480.
Garcia, S. M., Weaver, K., Moskowitz, G. B., & Darley, J. M. (2002). Crowded minds: The implicit bystander effect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83(4), 843–853.
McDonald, P., Charlesworth, S., & Graham, T. (2016). Action or inaction: Bystander intervention in workplace sexual harassment. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 27(5), 548–566.
McMahon, S., & Banyard, V. L. (2012). When can I help? A conceptual framework for the prevention of sexual violence through bystander intervention. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 13(1), 3–14.
Rayner, C., & Bowes-Sperry, L. (2008, June). Mobilizing bystanders to intervene in workplace bullying. In The 6th International Conference on Workplace Bullying.
Who knew books could be so expensive? Oh, wait—we did. But that doesn’t mean you have to buy into the idea that new is better. In most cases, new is unnecessary. Go for used or even rentals, which you can get from your library for free or online at a lower cost. And don’t count out e-books. These are often more affordable and have the added bonus of being environmentally friendly. Just make sure the e-book includes all the pieces you’ll need, such as a digital access code for supplemental online content.
Before you shell out $500 for a new bio book, check out the best sites for book deals, recommended by students like you:
That picturesque collection of extra-long sheets and coordinating lampshades is lying to you. You can get just as much use out of a Craigslist desk and Grandma’s throw pillows—and you might even get more friends because of it. The point here is that your ideal room or apartment décor might be better suited for your first paycheck after graduation. That doesn’t mean you can’t make your space feel like home; you just need to be a little flexible doing it.
Shop around on sites like Craigslist and OfferUp (but make sure you’re putting safety before a good deal here because this can get weird—try to meet in a neutral, public location and take a roommate, friend, or bodyguard with you). And don’t discount Facebook Marketplace or other social media groups where students can buy, sell, and trade old stuff. Your school might have one just for students looking for the futon of their dreams. Check it out.
“My first couch was threadbare and hideous, but it was free, and a neutral slipcover made it work in my apartment.”
—Emily, fourth-year undergraduate, University of Windsor, Canada
If you can swing it, hold off on buying supplies—sans the essentials, of course—for the first few weeks of the semester. A lot of stores put office, desk, and room supplies on sale after the big rush, and that means you can get a lot more goods for your green. So treat yourself to that extra-plush body pillow; your patience paid off.
Those double XL coffees from the café add up fast, and those meal plans can be expensive. We’re talking $1,000 to $3,500 per semester expensive depending on your school, according to a 2015 NBC News report. Ouch. Many schools offer a range of meal plan options, and choosing a smaller one might save you some money. You still have to eat, though, so shrinking your meal plan goes along with expanding your kitchen skills.
Before we lose you completely, this is an awesome time in your life to learn to make some basics, like pasta, tacos, roasted vegetables, and killer quiches. You don’t even need to make peace with the oven to get going here. Check out our article on five recipes you can make in a microwave to get started.
First year on campus? You’re probably hanging out with some roommates in a res hall. But that might not be the most financially savvy option for all four years. “Depending on where you go to school, living off campus with a few roommates could be less expensive than living in a [residence hall]. At other campuses, [residence halls] are the best value,” says Amy Marty Conrad, director of the CashCourse program, part of the National Endowment for Financial Education that helps students plan how to pay for college.
Bottom line: Do your research. The default option isn’t always the most affordable option, and you owe it to yourself to figure that out. Check with your school too—some colleges require students to live on campus for a certain amount of time. And don’t forget about the live-at-home option. It may not be your fav now, but the financial freedom you’ll have after graduation could get you closer to the life you want. It’s all about those goals.
“Bulletin boards on the school campus always offer different options for housing like renting a room, needing a roommate, [and] cheaper apartments or studios.”
—Alexander, fourth-year undergraduate, College of the Desert, California
Your student ID is so much more than a close-up of your face on your first day on campus. It’s essentially gold—and it can save you some too. Businesses want your business any way they can get it, and that usually means that they’ll cut you some slack in your student years. But you have to know what it gets you, and you have to be willing to ask. Some retailers might not advertise discounts, and others might only grant them to the brave few willing to ask the question. It’s worth it to do so, even if they say no.
And remember, this applies to way more than just clothes and food. Car insurance, flights back home, and an evening at the museum are all things you can save on with proof of your student status. Use it before you graduate and take a moment of silence for all the money you save. Or don’t.
What can a student discount do for you? Check out some of the deals here.
While we’re here, be sure you’re sticking to your budget by having one in the first place. It’s OK if you’re new to tracking your finances; in fact, that’s the best place to start. Try a budgeting app like Mint and see where you can make adjustments. Remember, small tweaks can mean big savings. You got this.
[school_resource sh101resources=’no’ category=’mobileapp,counselingservices, healthservices, wellnesspromotion, drugandlcohol, residentlife’] Get help or find out moreAll hail the student discount: Carrington College
Amy Marty Conrad, director, CashCourse, Denver, Colorado.
Borges, A. (2016, August 23). The 6 best sites for scoring cheap textbooks. Her Campus. Retrieved from https://www.hercampus.com/life/academics/6-best-sites-scoring-cheap-textbooks
Durand, F. (2016, September 14). 11 things we wish we had known about cooking in college. The Kitchn. Retrieved from https://www.thekitchn.com/11-things-we-wish-we-had-known-about-cooking-in-college-208283=
Jhaveri, A. (2016, August 2). 22 healthy college recipes you can make in your dorm room. Greatist. Retrieved from https://greatist.com/eat/healthy-dorm-room-recipes
Krrb. (n.d.). 37 money saving college life hacks. Blog.krrb.com. Retrieved from https://blog.krrb.com/37-money-saving-college-life-hacks/
National Endowment for Financial Education. (n.d.). CashCourse. Retrieved from https://info.cashcourse.org/#
Pack, R. (2016, July 19). 25 essential dorm room cooking hacks. Daily Meal. Retrieved from https://www.thedailymeal.com/25-essential-dorm-room-cooking-hacks
White, M. C. (2015, August 25). School meal plans convenient, costly…and sometimes required. NBC News. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/freshman-year/school-meal-plans-convenient-costly-sometimes-required-n415676
Why leadership? Two reasons: First, employers love leadership. Four out of five employers look for leadership skills on new college graduates’ résumés, according to the Job Outlook 2016 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Second, “leadership” is broad enough that you can potentially find ways to demonstrate relevant characteristics and skills in any situation, including working as a lifeguard or camp counselor. For more comprehensive resources, and to make your summer work on your résumé, see Get help or find out more.
Here’s why it’s worth getting comfortable with the idea of yourself as a potential leader. Not all leaders have the title “president” or boss other people around. Leadership is about having influence and inspiring others to take productive action. When you think about leadership, remember these key points:
Does everything have to be about your résumé?
As much as we’re talking here about career potential, other goals are valuable too: earning money, developing yourself personally, keeping busy, and having fun. It’s OK if your summer isn’t directly about building your résumé. It’s worth thinking about it through that lens, however, because you might find that your role has some career relevance that you hadn’t spotted initially. For example, working retail or in the food industry can build customer service and communication skills.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Hiring managers want to know the numbers. Use statistics and precise information. How many events did you help staff? Your organization or club’s social media followers grew by what percentage? How much money did you help raise? How many like-minded organizations did you reach out to about a potential collaboration? When you took over tracking inventory, how much of your boss’s time did you free up for them to work on growing the business? Track your activities and tasks on a spreadsheet for easy access in a job search.
How to keep track of your workplace goals and accomplishments
Future interviewers will want to hear your stories about specific projects, ideas, or accomplishments. Here’s what that could look like.
Find ways to demonstrate your initiative
Managers love when employees or interns propose new projects to expand their programs or increase revenue. These types of projects show innovation, creativity, and commitment, all valuable leadership traits. It’s especially valuable if your initiative will be sustainable when you’re no longer around to do it. Just make sure you have enough time to complete the tasks you were initially assigned and are in a position to take on any extra work.
Consider what you could accomplish this summer:
Future employers want to know that you can apply those same skills to their own organizations and challenges. When preparing for job interviews, plan how you’ll tell your stories of overcoming challenges, developing your own projects, and helping your employer accomplish their goals. The creativity, persistence, and dedication that you put into that new sign, updated database, or increased Facebook “likes” could translate into real, usable assets at your future company (depending on their strategic goals).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
If you have a condition that may be relevant to your presentation or performance, it can be useful to address it (without necessarily disclosing a diagnosis). For example:
Almost any work placement can provide opportunities to develop leadership skills. Here, students identify what they learned from short-term roles in four different fields. Jeff Onore, a career coach based in Massachusetts, discusses how they can present that experience to employers—in person or on paper. These strategies are relevant to a wide range of career interests, skills, and experiences.[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_tabs style=”modern” color=”white” alignment=”center” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section title=”In the interview” tab_id=”1493228642125-0c9722da-f085″][vc_column_text]
Student perspective |
How to talk about it |
Government agency |
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“I worked with [a county probation department], and I was taught to be more responsible and take deadlines seriously. I also learned that you yourself are solely responsible for your work and to always double-check [everything].” —Third-year undergraduate, California State University, Channel Islands |
“Working with a probation department tells me the student is mature and professional. Employers like to see people do challenging things in challenging environments. Stress the fast pace as well as the empathy you need to work in that field.” |
Childcare |
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“I gained a lot of leadership skills in a job in a daycare. Working with children aged six weeks to five years presents a new challenge every day, sometimes basic and other times very complicated. It requires making a lot of judgment calls on your feet and then communicating about your decisions to parents and supervisors later.” —First-year graduate student, University of Delaware |
“Own this; confidently say [you] gained leadership skills working in a daycare, a role that some people would play down. You can say, for example, ‘One thing I’ve learned about leadership: You need to stay calm.’” |
Student perspective |
How to talk about it |
Amateur theater |
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“As stage manager for a college play, I knew that some cast members got along better than others, but all had to interact. After and before rehearsals, I’d ensure everyone was in a decent mood, and work out any misgivings.” —Fourth-year undergraduate, Wayland Baptist University, Texas |
“Stage Manager, 2014–2017:
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Summer camp |
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“I was a camp counselor, which makes it easy to gain authority over the group, but more difficult to have a common communication basis where they feel comfortable talking to you about what they need [while also respecting] rules you set into place.” —Third-year undergraduate, University of Central Arkansas |
Include the metrics, and put some meat on the role:
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The workplace brings frustrations and constraints, as well as opportunities. Here, students describe five barriers that may make it harder for them to transfer certain skills and experiences into jobs after graduation. Jeff Onore, a career coach based in Massachusetts, looks at ways to approach it. These strategies are relevant to a wide range of career interests, skills, and experiences.
Student perspective |
Expert perspective |
1. Gender/sexuality bias |
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“I am unsure if I can give my most valuable leadership positions—as president and vice president of finance of the Queer Student Alliance—on my résumé, for fear of discrimination or implicit bias against me.” —Second-year undergraduate, Tulane University, Louisiana |
“There may be room to say you effected social change as president of a student alliance. Be prepared at your interview to be asked the name of the organization. If you’re applying to pretty liberal employers—universities, arts, etc.—this may not be an issue. In more conservative fields, the reality is that this can be trickier to navigate.” |
2. Sexual harassment |
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“Sexual harassment has caused me to leave an internship at a law firm.” —Second year graduate student, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland |
“No one will ask why you left an internship the way they might ask why you left a job. In this case, focus on what you learned in the internship.” |
3. Economic hardship |
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“It’s very difficult to participate in unpaid internships, offered by many nonprofits, when the cost of higher education is so debilitating.” —Fourth-year graduate student, Emory University, Georgia |
“Employers understand that financing college imposes more constraints on some students than others. If you don’t have much internship experience in your field, go right to this framing: It was important for you to work, and this is what you accomplished in the jobs you held (your good work ethic, your time management, and so on).” |
4. Deafness and disability discrimination |
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“[It was problematic that I had] no access to communication: American Sign Language, transcripts, closed captioning, etc.” —First-year graduate student, California State University, Northridge |
“If your college has connections with companies that do a good job accommodating deaf and disabled employees, start there. Some employers can be identified through the Lime Connect Network for the STEM fields or through chapters of the US Business Leadership Network in all fields. Disclosing deafness or a disability is unpredictable—some employers will be much more receptive than others. In the US, your right to reasonable accommodations on the job is protected by federal law. You can encourage an employer to contact the Job Accommodation Network for free expert help in figuring out accommodations. Or you might decide an employer isn’t worth the struggle.” —Lucy Berrington, editor of Student Health 101 |
5. Age and gender discrimination |
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“Discrimination based on age and gender is something that I have been faced with, as I am a young female in the engineering field, which is predominately male. I know I am sometimes underestimated and pushed aside by peers because of this, but it only fuels my fire to be stronger and show them my leadership skills.” —First-year graduate student, Villanova University, Pennsylvania |
“The STEM fields are looking to recruit more women. Recognize your value to them. There may be a certain amount of age and gender discrimination, so it’s important to determine what the company culture is like. The first thing to do is to network through the engineering department at your school. People are often kind to those who have had a similar experience. Look at Glassdoor.com for information about the culture at corporate engineering departments, and use internships to take the temperature of different work environments. A large company may prioritize discrimination training; a small company may give you a chance to get certain kinds of experience more quickly.” |
Comprehensive guide to an internship [pdf]: Grinnell College
How to make the most of your summer job [pdf]: Harvard Law School
How to make your summer work on your résumé: HerCampus
Jodie Collins, supervisor, Multicultural and Student Programs, Olympic College, Washington.
Jeff Onore, career coach, Waltham, Massachusetts.
National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2017). Job outlook 2016: Attributes employers want to see on new college graduates’ résumés. Retrieved from https://www.naceweb.org/s11182015/employers-look-for-in-new-hires.aspx
Student Health 101 survey, February 2017.
Useful?
The tough parts of travel (e.g., money) are presented in a way that can inspire you to want to explore the world immediately (or at least one other country). I’ve already planned my next road trip, keeping their money-saving tips in mind (seriously, my car might be packed). Where’s the beach?
Fun?
From biking through Chicago to lounging in Miami and backpacking in the mountains, I enjoyed hearing about the hosts’ adventures—and how to have my own on a budget. #alloftheaboveplease
Effective?
I’ve traveled internationally before, but this podcast helped me feel more comfortable and realistic about it. I learned not to carry an excessive amount of cash, to contact my bank and phone company in advance, and which no-fee ATMs to use. As for food, a sit-down restaurant can be a one-time splurge, but street vendors will give you a more authentic feel for a cheaper price.
Sarah Kaya, third-year undergraduate majoring in social work and minoring in psychology, Defiance College, Ohio
“This podcast aims to inform and inspire the modern traveler, with episodes running 30–60 minutes. One of the biggest things stopping most people from traveling: money. This podcast explores how not to burn a hole through your wallet on vacation.
“The hosts are Travis and Heather, a married couple who travel the world together (goals, am I right?). Their motto is ‘travel more, spend less.’ Besides which ATM fees to avoid and how to tactfully use cash on the road, they also cover topics like taking spontaneous road trips or even traveling solo.” To find out why travel is good for you, and discover more budget resources, see No excuse needed: Why travel is good for your health.
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Except for those times when a credit or debit card is a necessity, seriously consider leaving it behind. In studies, using cash is consistently associated with lower spending, and more deliberate (and healthier) purchasing choices. Use these strategies to keep your bank balances up and your credit card balances down.
We’re more likely to buy something if we’re paying with plastic than if we’re paying with cash, says a 2012 study in the Journal of Consumer Research. That’s because handing over cash gives us a painful emotional jolt, while paying with plastic is just too comfortable, according to the Journal of Experimental Psychology (2008).
For those occasions when you do use plastic, set up transaction notifications (e.g., texts) on your banking or budgeting app. This may help you maintain a more realistic sense of your spending. If you use a credit card, never spend more than you can pay off in full that month.
How paying with credit affects our food choices
Paying with credit cards is associated with less healthy food choices. A 2011 study of shopping behavior found that shoppers using credit or debit cards picked up more food items that were considered unhealthy; cash buyers were more likely to avoid junk foods.
When we encounter cookies, cakes, and pies—and when we’re paying with plastic—“the emotive imagery and associated desire trigger impulsive purchase decisions,” researchers wrote (Journal of Consumer Research, 2011).
Speaking of grocery shopping, watch out for free samples and how they affect your buying decisions. Even those nano-servings of prepped food in grocery stores invoke our sense of reciprocity, according to a 2011 study in the British Food Journal. This can make us more likely to buy products we don’t need.
As we’ve seen, cash gives us the gift of uncomfortable self-awareness about our expenditure. We don’t like parting with real money. In contrast, we see gift certificates (and credit cards) as “play money,” and we’re more inclined to get reckless with them, wrote researchers in the Journal of Experimental Psychology (2008).
Paying bills automatically can help protect us from overdue charges and bad credit. The downside: Automatic payments are another example of passive transactions, and these have risks. When we pay bills automatically, we’re not watching our spending or looking around for better options. Review those bills routinely, and sign up for payment alerts.
Credit cards involve passive, behind-the-scenes transactions. They make spending too comfortable and going into debt too easy. Consumers using plastic are focused on the benefits of the product instead of thinking about the cost, according to a 2011 study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Passive transactions can work if you use them to avoid debt and save money. For example, when you automatically pay off your credit card every month using online banking “Bill Pay,” you’re building your credit score while avoiding racking up interest charges. If you overspend and can’t pay the credit card bill in full, pay as much as you can—more than the minimum required payment.
Every credit card use = a high-interest loan
Every time you use your credit card, even on smaller items, you’re taking out a high-interest loan. Small credit card loans add up quickly. They incur high financial penalties for late repayment and contribute to serious debt. A video game, night out, or pair of sneakers is so not worth this.
Credit card companies may “require” a relatively low repayment each month. We may feel we’re in good standing if we pay off that $25, but if we spent $50 that month using our credit card, we start racking up interest charges on top of the amount we already owe. If you can’t pay the full bill, always try to pay more than the minimum. As a rule, avoid spending more than you can repay that month.
“A major problem is that some consumers underestimate the total costs of piecemeal borrowing. Apparently people who would never take out a big loan are willing to take out a number of small loans that are big in the aggregate,” writes Dr. Cass Sunstein, a leading behavioral researcher (in New Republic). “One survey found that small purchases of nonessential goods (including movies and DVDs) are a major contributor to credit card debt. Financial distress, including consumer bankruptcies, is a possible consequence.”
Calculate your credit card interest and repayment timeline
Millennials are the age group most likely to overdraw their bank accounts, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2014). Often, overdrafts are the result of small transactions. Going overdrawn effectively makes these transactions far more expensive because they incur bank fees.
ATM charges are added fees. If you’re paying $2.95 to withdraw cash from an ATM that isn’t “partnered” with your bank, two withdrawals a week are costing you more than $300 a year. It’s time to find out where you can make free withdrawals. Some stores provide cash-back services without a fee.
Bakker, T., Kelly, N., Leary, J., & Nagypal, E. (2014, July). Data point: Checking account overdraft. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Retrieved from https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201407_cfpb_report_data-point_overdrafts.pdf
Chatterjee, P., & Rose, R. L. (2011). Do payment mechanisms change the way consumers perceive products? Journal of Consumer Research, 38.
Dratch, D. (2014, January 7). How behavioral economics explains six common money mistakes. CreditCards.com. Retrieved from https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/behavioral-economics-6-money-mistakes-1267.php
Heilman, C., Lakishyk, K., & Radas, S. (2011). An empirical investigation of in-store sampling promotions. British Food Journal, 113(10), 1252–1266.
Raghubir, P., & Srivastava, J. (2008). Monopoly money: The effect of payment coupling and form on spending behavior. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 14(3), 213–225.
Renzulli, K. A. (2014, August 27). The spending mistake that millennials are making. Time.com. Retrieved from https://time.com/money/3182089/millennials-spending-mistakes/
Sunstein, C. R. (2012, October 5). Show me the money. New Republic. Retrieved from https://newrepublic.com/article/108153/show-me-the-money
Thomas, M., Desai, K. K., & Seenivasan, S. (2011). How credit card payments increase unhealthy food purchases: Visceral regulation of vices. Journal of Consumer Research, 38. Retrieved from https://forum.johnson.cornell.edu/faculty/mthomas/VisceralRegulationofVices.pdf
Jasmine, Los Angeles, California |
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“Finally, an app that makes you stop feeling so broke all the time! LearnVest helps you plan how much to spend for different occasions, whether it’s gifts, personal care, your dog’s chew toys…whatevs. It also helps make debt repayment plans. You can do it all on your own or with expert help by working with a LearnVest planner.”
Useful?
If you can’t remember where your last paycheck went (or if you don’t get a paycheck at all), then definitely! LeanVest syncs to your online bank account. There’s an option to have an expert help you plan and budget: Everyone gets a free 15-minute consultation, and you can buy more time.
Fun?
Managing money isn’t what I’d call “fun,” but it’s necessary. The app is pretty straightforward. It didn’t take very long to set goals and categorize my spending. I was able to categorize cash transactions fairly quickly and write in where I spent the money.
Effective?
No one is responsible for your money issues but yourself. LearnVest showed me how much interest my savings account was generating each month. It also showed me my net worth. All my recent transactions were displayed and categorized so I could see how much I typically spend on food, school, and personal items. It also subtracted spending from the income I said I received monthly, and so it shows me my progress.
Where to buy
Ultimately, we all get to choose how we spend our disposable income, even if there’s not much of it. And it’s our experiences, not our possessions, that are our main source of happiness and our sense of who we are, research shows. “Nobody would say that your identity is the kind of car you drive,” says Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a social psychologist at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The Myths of Happiness (Penguin, 2013). “Who you are as a person is more about all the experiences you’ve had throughout your life.” In a 2009 study, students reported that experiences made them feel more alive than possessions did, according to the Journal of Positive Psychology.
OK, we get it: The thrill of the climbing wall trumps the new jeans. Being suspended in the air with the adrenaline junkies is what will shape you, help you connect with others, and leave you with stories worth sharing. And that’s just the beginning. For nine ways to spend your money (and your time) on what will expand your identity and happiness, instead of your clutter, read on.[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion style=”modern” shape=”square” color=”mulled-wine” c_icon=”chevron” active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”How to up your happy” tab_id=”1508974305161-741a462d-b016″][vc_column_text]More good news: Happiness is accessible, and the college years are the perfect time to go get it.
How? By gathering experiences, not stuff. Why? A bunch of reasons:
“Who you are is the sum of your experiences but not the sum of your things,” says Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a social psychologist at the University of California, Riverside.
“Even when an experience goes wrong, we appreciate it. “People tend to focus on what they learned or how they grew as a result of something negative,” says Dr. Lyubomirsky.
“Even though [our things] last physically, it’s our experiences that live on in the identity we form and the connections we make,” says Dr. Thomas Gilovich, happiness researcher and professor of psychology at Cornell University, New York.
A 2010 analysis of eight studies confirmed that we tend to ruminate on and compare the stuff we buy more than we doubt the value of our experiences (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology).
Experiences often strengthen our relationships. “The social aspect is really one of the keys to happiness. Shared experiences can do a lot, and people can anticipate and reminisce about them together,” says Dr. Lyubomirsky.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][vc_column_text]Trying something new, pushing yourself, developing a skill—these experiences are usually worth the investment. Your everyday blah has less to give you, experts say. “Think about the experience of watching TV and having an identity of ‘I’m a TV watcher.’ How gratifying is that? Not terribly,” says Dr. Thomas Gilovich, happiness researcher and professor of psychology at Cornell University, New York. “But if you’re out in the wilderness camping with friends and have the identity of ‘I’m adventurous,’ that’s likely to be very gratifying.”
Start a hiking group that meets on weekends, or join a tennis league. If you’re a big reader, try a book club to add the social element. Sometimes, we need to purchase items in order to access formative experiences. Those hiking boots or the latest J. K. Rowling novel will set you up for self-discovery and maybe new friends.
This is totally free and can up your happy. Record your thoughts, insights, memories, and stories in a place you can revisit—like a journal, blog, or note-keeping app. Print some of your photos (yes, you can still do that) and keep them visible so you recall those good times.
Good news: “A lot of experiences that provide happiness aren’t very expensive,” says Dr. Gilovich.
Then be wary of going near your Amazon wishlist—you’re more likely to make impulsive purchases and experience buyer’s remorse, according to a 2014 survey (CreditCards.com). Shopping is best done with a calm mind.
OK, fine, you do need some things, like pants. When students researched a product before buying, they experienced less buyer’s remorse, in a study by a researcher at Kansas State University (2011).
The pleasure of clean, organized space may make it easier to stop buying things you don’t need. Marie Kondo, author of the bestselling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (Ten Speed Press, 2014), recommends pulling out everything you own and asking yourself, “Does it spark joy?” Yes? Keep. No? Donate, recycle, or toss.[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion shape=”square” color=”black” c_icon=”chevron” active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Why happy matters” tab_id=”1508973412401-dc7774db-f2f4″][vc_column_text]So we can’t buy happiness—fine. But let’s not pretend money is irrelevant. Really, we’re talking about having a good life in ways you can sustain. And that’s important, because expanding your happy expands a whole lot of other things too, like your resilience—your ability to deal with the not-so-good stuff.
Research suggests that “in-the-moment positive emotions” (such as affection, curiosity, compassion, love, and amusement) build our coping resources—our ability to handle challenges and stress. This in turn gives us access to a more satisfying life.
“Happier people are healthier, more productive, more creative, and more charitable. They have more successful relationships and make more money. The evidence is pretty strong that good things come to those who are happier.”
—Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, social psychologist, University of California, Riverside, and author of The Myths of Happiness (Penguin, 2013)[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][vc_column_text]
“There are so many other things I could spend my hard-earned money on. But will I remember the feel of a shiny new car, or the tears of joy as I paraglided through the Swiss Alps? I spend my money on experiences that make me feel alive.”
—Kira Collings, second-year dietetics student, Utah State University
Follow us on Instagram, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #happyspending
Online tool and app for managing money: Mint.com
Apply happiness research to your own life: Greater Good Science Center
Pursue happiness and good habits: Gretchen Rubin
Quitting the consumer culture: Center for a New American Dream
Interactive modules on money stuff: FoolProof Financial Education Systems
Student budget calculator: Bankrate.com
Thomas Gilovich, PhD, professor of psychology, Cornell University, New York.
Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, professor of psychology, University of California, Riverside.
Carter, T. J., & Gilovich, T. (2010). The relative relativity of material and experiential purchases. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98(1), 146–159. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20053039
Dovey, C. (2015, June 9). Can reading make you happier? The New Yorker. Retrieved from
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/can-reading-make-you-happier
Gilovich, T., & Kumar, A. We’ll always have Paris: The hedonic payoff from experiential and material investments. In: James M. Olson and Mark P. Zanna, (Eds.) Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Vol. 51. Burlington: Academic Press, 2015, pp. 147–187.
Howell, R. T., & Hill, G. (2009). The mediators of experiential purchases: Determining the impact of psychological needs satisfaction and social comparison. Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(6), 511–522.
Huffman, M. (2011, April 8). How to avoid buyer’s remorse. Consumer Affairs. Retrieved from
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2011/04/how-to-avoid-buyer-s-remorse.html
Kumar, A., & Gilovich, T. (2014). Talking about what you did and what you have: Differential story utility from experiential and material purchases. In Simona Botti and Aparna Labroo (Eds.), Advances in Consumer Research, Volume 41. Duluth, MN: Association for Consumer Research. Retrieved from
https://acrwebsite.org/volumes/1014578/volumes/v41/NA-41
Lyubomirsky, S. L., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 14, 803–855.
Merzer, M. (2014, November 23). Survey: 3 in 4 Americans make impulse purchases. CreditCards.com. Retrieved from
https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/impulse-purchase-survey.php
Saxbe, D. E., & Repetti, R. (2010). No place like home: Home tours correlate with daily patterns of mood and cortisol. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36(1), 71–81. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19934011
Student Health 101 survey, July 2015.
Van Boven, L., & Gilovich, T. (2003). To do or to have? That is the question. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(6), 1193–1202.
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Student life is full of challenges, sometimes triggering a major case of enough already. You’re probably aware that the campus offers a bunch of services and resources designed to help you be healthy, resilient, and successful. Do they work? In surveys by Student Health 101, you say yes: These services can make the difference between passing or failing, an A or a B, staying in or dropping out. Students often say they regret waiting until they were in a crisis, and wish they’d accessed these resources earlier. Some report that for the longest time they didn’t know certain types of support existed.
Campus resources are usually available free or at a low cost. Of course, college gym membership, counseling, and so on are not literally free; their cost is covered by your tuition. If you don’t use them, you’re not getting what you’re paying for. In a recent survey by Student Health 101, more than three out of four college students said this is even more reason to access these services. If you wait until after you’ve graduated to learn yoga or get professional help with your social anxiety, it will likely be costly.
The availability of resources at any given school depends on various factors. To learn what’s typically available and how can it make your life easier, click on each resource.
Here’s how to make sure you’re not missing out:
“The tutoring center has helped me more than words can describe. I finally understand the work I’m doing, plus it’s free! I went from being an average student to being above average and helping other kids in my classes.”
—Fifth-year undergraduate, University of New Mexico
“They helped me bring my essay writing up to over 80 percent grade-level, elevating my writing ability from high school to university quality in one session.”
—Fifth-year online undergraduate, Trent University, Ontario
“Huge! I took a coding class and had no prior programming experience. I was in office hours all the time. Without being able to go to my instructor for help, I would not have done nearly as well in the class as I did.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Missouri University of Science and Technology
“Office hours enabled me to get additional time with my TAs and further understand the material.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
“It’s the difference between passing and not passing classes, going to summer school vs. not going.”
—Third-year undergraduate, California State University, Stanislaus
“Without my advisor, I would be so lost on which classes to take when. She provides me with opportunities outside of just choosing classes to better myself in my career.”
—Third-year undergraduate, Northern Michigan University
“Attending academic advising made an incredible difference in relieving the stress of picking courses and making important choices regarding my studies and undergraduate career.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, Trent University, Ontario
“My academic advisor helps identify a balanced combination of courses so that my course load is not overwhelming.”
—Fourth-year online undergraduate, Florida International University
“It made a world of difference between me going to grad school or not going… between succeeding and failing at the process.”
—First-year graduate student, California State University, Stanislaus
“I wish I had started taking advantage of the recreation center and gym earlier, especially while access is free. Exercise is so important to staying healthy and happy, but I didn’t realize how big of an impact it can have.”
—Third-year undergraduate, Texas Christian University
“Changed my lifestyle and health habits completely.”
—First-year graduate student, University of North Dakota
“It made a huge difference! Taking time between classes to work out helped me recharge and let me be ready to learn.”
—Third-year undergraduate, University of Guelph, Ontario
“It’s great to have free access to fitness equipment. It made a huge difference in my fitness and stress level.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, Ferris State University, Michigan
“Having a gym close by is game-changing!”
—Third-year undergraduate, Queen’s University, Ontario
“Getting support from librarians and library staff has saved me hours of work on papers and projects.”
—Fifth-year undergraduate, Michigan Technological University
“I rented textbooks from the library, which saved me a lot of money.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, University of Windsor, Ontario
“The library made a huge difference. It was a place of quiet where I could put 100 percent of my focus into my work. The people within the library also helped to bring my papers to the next level.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Concordia University of Edmonton, Alberta
“The friendly support of our librarians in helping me find journal articles through the library’s online databases made a huge difference in my being able to complete my research well.”
—Second-year graduate student, Arkansas Tech University
“It changed everything. I finally felt like I was on an even playing field with my peers and didn’t have to stress that my condition was setting me back any more.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, Stanford University, California
“I got sick with mono and didn’t go for help, and my grades went down. I wish I would have said something sooner to get time to finish school work.”
—Third-year undergraduate, Michigan Technological University
“Disability services made a massive difference. I probably wouldn’t have made it through university without their support.”
—Fifth-year undergraduate, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
“The Accessibility Resource Center: The accommodations they allow for me are amazing and have greatly helped me succeed in courses.”
—Third-year undergraduate, University of New Mexico
“I have ADHD and never wanted to be one of those students who gets extra time and help... So I’ve never gotten help that I probably need. I haven’t overcome it and it’s probably negatively affecting me.”
—Third-year undergraduate, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
“The counseling center helped me more than any paid therapist ever has. They helped me nearly overcome my phobia and deal with substance abuse and sexual assault.”
—Third-year undergraduate, University of Memphis, Tennessee
“It made a huge difference in helping me understand myself and relate easier to fellow students.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, Berea College, Kentucky
“There is a good chance I wouldn’t be in university right now without it.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, University of Windsor, Ontario
“Instead of focusing on me and my problems, I took advantage of group therapy, which allowed me to be a part of other people’s struggles and hear their experiences, difficulties, failures, and losses (and have them experience mine as well). I was able to see, learn from, grow, and get back to living my life.”
—Third-year graduate student, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, New York
“It made a tremendous difference in teaching me valuable lessons on controlling anxiety.”
—Fifth-year undergraduate, Michigan Technological University
“I went through an incredibly difficult family emergency while in a very demanding program. Counseling helped me understand and work through the emergency and also provided support when I struggled academically, allowing me to carry on.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Trent University, Ontario
“The health center saved me a lot of money, because I don’t have good insurance coverage.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, University of West Georgia
“Excellent system, easy to access, and the doctors are very friendly. I wish I didn’t have so many hesitations and went to them sooner.”
—Third-year undergraduate, Mount Royal University, Alberta
“I love the free things they give out.”
—Fifth-year undergraduate, California State University, Channel Islands
“It was so great to have assistance on campus and at such great prices for college students! I appreciate it so much!”
—Second-year undergraduate, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
“The health center provided me with that-day doctor appointments, which minimized the amount of time I spent out of class sick.”
—Fifth-year undergraduate, University of Wyoming
“Make use of small amounts of time you get in the day to access career support. This can make an enormous difference in how prepared you are.”
—Third-year undergraduate, University of Miami, Florida
“It helped me a lot in preparing for job interviews and fixing up my résumé, and the facility is really great about [facilitating] different opportunities and connections.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Johnson and Wales University, Rhode Island
“Using this service allowed me to apply to summer jobs, confident that my documents were professional and appealing to potential employers.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, University of New Brunswick
“The Career Advancement Center allowed me to practice my interviewing skills with mock interviews and how to appropriately answer questions.”
—First-year graduate student, Midwestern University, Illinois
“It’s always nice to clear your head and speak to an actual person, and then be able to get back to schoolwork.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Johnson and Wales University, Rhode Island
“RAs are incredibly important and useful. They’re the first person I go to with basically any question, and because they are older students, they can answer (honestly, too) any question that you can come up with.”
—Fifth-year undergraduate, University of North Dakota
“I worked at the Solution Center, which answers the campus main line and also is the IT Help Desk. Being a freshman, I learned a lot about deadlines, how things work, where to find information. I just learned about all my resources and what to do when I have issues with something. I basically learned everything about campus, and it helped so much.”
—Second-year undergraduate at California State University, Channel Islands
“Residence Life has been the most useful resource for advice on all sorts of matters. They became my most trusted mentors on campus.”
—Second-year graduate student, Emory University, Georgia
“My scholarship advisor has been a valuable resource, not just academically, but emotionally. He has helped talk me through all of the ups and downs and put things into perspective.”
—Third-year undergraduate, California State University, Stanislaus
“The financial aid advisors are a great help; you realize the breakdown of a survival budget throughout school, until you get to where you want to be in life.”
—Second-year student, Elgin Community College, Illinois
“The financial aid office made a big difference in the amount of assistance I receive.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, Cambrian College, Ontario
“Finance services can help you get a jump on financial opportunities on and around campus, such as work-study, job openings, and budgeting.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate student, Clemson University, South Carolina
“Student employment [opportunities at my school were] the top reason why I decided against transferring.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Endicott College, Massachusetts
“The gender equity center changed my perspective, provided support and education, and allowed me to connect with the campus community.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, Boise State University, Idaho
“The international student office provides me with the information that I need for work and study permits.”
—Recent graduate, Fleming College, Ontario
“One girl was harassing and bullying me. The police took the situation very seriously and took me to meet with the dean. I received a no-contact order with that student and have yet to hear from her since.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Indiana University Southeast
“It helped me with my sexual assault case and made me feel like my situation mattered.”
—Fourth-year online undergraduate, University of North Dakota
“I was 20 and a student during winter term [when I was sexually assaulted]. It made me feel powerless. I had tried to be his friend. I reported to my area coordinator and then later the public safety staff. I had to give a statement at the student board. Took three months to come up with a verdict.”
—Undergraduate, Oregon
These responses came from students at numerous colleges and universities across the US and Canada. Some of these resources may be available at your school.
Danielle Berringer, administrative support, Accommodated Learning Centre, University of Lethbridge, Alberta.
Burress, H. (2015, January 19). What factors affect the cost of a personal trainer? Angie’sList.com. Retrieved from https://www.angieslist.com/articles/what-factors-affect-cost-personal-trainer.htm
Colorado Mesa University. (2015). Mentoring. Retrieved from https://www.coloradomesa.edu/student-services/diversity-and-health/mentoring.html
Costa, C. D. (2016, January 1). Why a gym membership is usually a bad investment. Money & Career CheatSheet. Retrieved from https://www.cheatsheet.com/money-career/why-a-gym-membership-is-usually-a-bad-investment.html/?a=viewall
Georgia State University. (n.d.). Nutrition consultations. https://recreation.gsu.edu/fitness/fitness-center/nutrition-consultations/
Hobart and William Smith Colleges. (2011). Treatment providers in the community. Retrieved from https://www.hws.edu/studentlife/pdf/psychotherapists_community.pdf
Hobart and William Smith Colleges. (2016). Sexual misconduct resources and support. Retrieved from https://www.hws.edu/studentlife/titleIX_office.aspx
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2015, May 5). Primary care visits available to most uninsured but at high price. Retrieved from https://www.jhsph.edu/news/news-releases/2015/primary-care-visits-available-to-most-uninsured-but-at-a-high-price.html
Lifecoach.com. (2016). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from https://www.lifecoach.com/coaching-faqs
NCSU Libraries. (n.d.). Technology lending. Retrieved from https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/techlending
MacDonald, J. (2015, December 31). Financial planners: Not just for millionaires anymore. Bankrate.com. Retrieved from https://www.bankrate.com/finance/savings/financial-planners-not-just-for-millionaires-anymore-1.aspx
Student Health 101 survey, July 2016.
Sundberg, J. (n.d.). Is a career coach worth the money? UndercoverRecruiter.com. Retrieved from https://theundercoverrecruiter.com/career-coach-worth-money/
University of Lethbridge. (2016). Resources. Retrieved from https://www.uleth.ca/counselling/content/u-l-resources
The University of Maine. (n.d.). Financial resources for students. Retrieved from https://umaine.edu/sss/finances/
University of Notre Dame. (2016). Want to mentor? Retrieved from https://careercenter.nd.edu/alumni-mentor/want-to-mentor/
University of Washington. (2014). Undergraduate advising. Retrieved from https://www.washington.edu/uaa/advising/finding-help/study-centers-and-tutoring/
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What’s your vacation destination situation? If funds are low or time is short, you may be resigned to not getting a summer break from your regular life. In that case, this word is for you: microtravel. Microtravel means experiencing your own town or state as a visitor or explorer would, putting aside your usual routine, and embracing discovery. (Yes, it’s pretty much the same concept as “staycation,” but without the hint of inertia.) Travel comes with health and wellness benefits, and our happiness comes from our experiences, not our stuff. Microtravel is a sure way to add to those experiences.
In a recent survey by Student Health 101, 63 percent of respondents said they’d had at least one microtravel experience or staycation. “It’s a blast if you plan it and don’t let yourself get stuck in the mindset that it’s just your town, there’s nothing to do there,” says Spencer R., a second-year undergraduate at the University of North Dakota.
“Staycations are tha bomb diggity. Cheap, low risk.” —Sal I., second-year undergraduate, Michigan Technological University
There’s little risk of flight delays or missed connections. And if the prospect of travel makes you anxious, this is a great way to start. “The best part is you’re already there, so you just get up, go, and explore!” —Paula L., first-year undergraduate, Clemson University, South Carolina
The logistics, time, and costs of microtravel are not too onerous, making it easy to team up with partners, friends, and family—if you want to.
Those new eateries, friends, and activities—they’re keepers.
Ever felt obligated to visit the ancient relics, or devastated that the volcano you came for was hidden in the clouds? When you’re microtraveling, the stakes are lower.
Microtravel is a way to honor your family traditions (or make new ones) and explore your local heritage.
The freedom, health, & happiness of travelRun free
Students associate travel with freedom—for example, a break in academic and work expectations, a boost to emotional health and relaxation, and an opportunity to experience nature—according to a small study by researchers at California Polytechnic State University (2010).
Stay healthy
Physically active leisure helps people maintain physical and mental health, especially during times of stress, according to a study of 20,000 people in the Canadian Journal of Public Health (2001).
Love your life
Even the anticipation of vacation travel makes us feel good about our lives and health, according to a 2002 study in the Journal of Vacation Marketing.
Go global (with moderate expectations)
Students expect travel to make them more “global”—i.e., expand their knowledge, perspective, and social and cultural connections—according to the same California Polytechnic State University study (2010).
Get creative
Knowing people from other cultures makes us more creative in tasks that draw on multicultural influences and more receptive to new ideas from outside our own experience, suggests a study from Harvard Business School (2011).
Consider a quirky theme or idea |
A theme or project can help shape your microtravel explorations. “[You] definitely want to get creative, because [when] you’re so familiar with an area it can seem pretty mundane. Think outside of the box and you can’t not have a good time,” says Jonathan M., a fourth-year undergraduate at The College of New Jersey.
Students: Ideas that made our microtravels“My boyfriend and I were both broke. We bought disposable cameras and drove around town taking pictures in front of different things or places that started with each letter of the alphabet, like Rockin’ Robin’s Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor for the letter R. It was so much fun and basically free! We got to experience the little town where we grew up in a whole new way.” —Brittney B., second-year undergraduate, University of Central Arkansas
“Think of something that your state isn’t really known for, then try to find a way to do that.” —Casey S., first-year undergraduate, New Jersey Institute of Technology
“During my undergrad in Atlanta, I loved exploring the city to find the urban art murals by street artists. It’s always fun to take a picture in front of it and admire their talent. It’s completely free and gets you out and about. You can do it walking or in a car.” —Nilza S., second-year graduate student, Clemson University, South Carolina
“My girlfriend and I just decided to take off to the mountains and see how many small little nowhere towns we could visit. It was fun, scary at times, but overall very memorable.” —Tanner S., third-year undergraduate, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado
“Sometimes it’s fun to dress/act the part—employ your imagination to maximize the fun times. I used to live in the Florida Keys, and one of the best staycations was dressing like a gaudy tourist and visiting all the attractions.” —Liz S., second-year graduate student, University of Maryland
Remember to do all the things |
Microtravel means finally having time for that stuff you can’t usually do. “Keep a list throughout the year of places you want to go to but don’t necessarily have time to go to,” says Taylor S., a second-year undergraduate at Tulane University, Louisiana.
Students: What we did with that time when we got it“Going for bicycle rides and hitting up the wineries and breweries like a tourist is always good fun, staying the night at a hotel out at the coast. There’s a reason people from all over the world come here.” —Jason K., first-year graduate student, Sonoma State University, California
“[I would do] different types of fitness classes that I otherwise cannot fit into my day, and different art museums/studios that I may not want to do in my normal weekend routine (or maybe those facilities are too busy on the weekends).” —Kristen S., second-year graduate student, Hofstra University, New York
“I have lived in my college town for almost two years. Any time my family stops by, we all stay in a hotel (even though I could stay at my own place) and we experience new aspects of the city together. Some things, such as the farmer’s market, we experience over time, but for the most part we try different museums and festivals and scavenge for different food spots.” —Jordan M., second-year undergraduate, Drake University, Iowa
“I’ve lived in Wyoming for around eight years, and not once had I been to Yellowstone. Last year I was working in an oil refinery in Montana shortly before my first semester was to begin. My sister and mother drove up there to bring me home. On our way back home we randomly decided to go to Yellowstone. We spent all day at the park, and it was beautiful. Surely a great memory with the people I’m closest to.” —Miguel S., first-year student, Western Wyoming Community College
Seriously consider leaving home |
When you microtravel, it’s vital to establish boundaries to protect against the distractions of regular life. That’s especially important if you’ll be based at home.
Students: When to lose (or keep) the homing instinctProblem
“I feel like individuals still fall into their routines and won’t disconnect like they would on a vacation. Instead they may feel the need to clean up around the house or declutter.” —Kristen S., second-year graduate student, Hofstra University, New York
“Another [drawback] is having work readily available, since you are at home or close to it.” —Name withheld, second-year online student, Fort Hays State University, Kansas
Solution
“Stay in a hotel or hostel so that you don’t have to go home, and then you can spend more time relaxing, and perhaps use the hotel spa to relieve the stress of your day-to-day life.” —Kelsey R., first-year undergraduate, University of North Dakota
“My most memorable staycation was spending time at a local bed-and-breakfast where I grew up and doing the things that were recommended by the owners and were in walking distance. There are so many things I hadn’t even thought to try until the exposure and opportunities were given to me. Alaska has so much to offer.” —Brynn J., second-year undergraduate, University of Alaska Anchorage
Unless being at home is the point
“[I went] camping in my backyard with my little brother.” —Robert G., fourth-year undergraduate, Hofstra University, New York
“I got to stay at home over winter break and visit with old friends
I had not seen in a while.” —Name withheld, fourth-year undergraduate, University of Maryland Baltimore Country
Got public transportation? Use it |
Even if public transportation doesn’t feature much in your regular life, take another look at the routes and schedules (if you have access to them). Buses and trains can deliver you affordably to many adventures.
Students: How we got around“Start small and use the public transportation. It’s a great learning experience and puts you in closer proximity to the locals.” —Courtney F., fourth-year undergraduate, University of Kansas
“[I did a] tour of Portland using all modes of transportation available—train, car, walking, hiking, streetcar, and elevated tram.” —Dave S., fourth-year graduate student, Oregon Institute of Technology
“Traveling to the beach/tide pools in the San Diego area—I love just getting on the 30 MTS bus and taking it south and getting off at a random spot. One time, I came across a sick sea lion pup with another group of people. We called the rescue people, and they came and took him to safety.” —Gillian E.-E., fourth-year undergraduate, University of California, San Diego
“Uber is also a great way to get around; going from bar to bar or something like that. I want to do this, get my friends, get a room somewhere. For me, travel is typically such a pain. The airport security look suspiciously at my braille laptop, and they try to take my cane, and ask if I need my service dog with me. Apparently, somewhere I signed on to educate the ignorant.” —Caitlin W., fifth-year undergraduate, Northern Illinois University
Plan your plan |
Figure out your policy on planning. The risk of going planless is that the demands of routine life may encroach on your precious exploration time. On the other hand, spontaneity is a rare pleasure. “Planning or spontaneity can set the tone for the vacation and can present its own set of pros and cons,” says Cristophet C., a first-year graduate student at the University of California, San Diego.
Students: The pros and cons of planningThe plan plan
“Staycations can become fun as long as they are thought out decently; otherwise you just view your time off as wasted.” —Aron A*., second-year graduate student, University of North Dakota (*Name changed)
The no-plan plan
“You just have to let yourself go wherever you feel your feet are taking you. If you have no idea where you are, that’s even better. It makes the experience more enjoyable and chances are, when you are trying to find your way out, you will find something amazing that you would never have even seen.” —Elizabeth S., first-year undergraduate, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
The part-plan plan
“It helps me to make a schedule for the first part of my staycation, to help get into the ‘vacation mood,’ and then leave the latter part a little looser, to decide as I’m going along.” —Reba S., second-year graduate student, University of Wisconsin–Madison
“Having a plan helps, but always be ready for the unexpected. Spontaneity can sometimes be the best part of your staycation! And to make it work you just kind of have to pack your bags and leave. I’ve rarely planned a staycation down to the last detail; it’s more fun to be spontaneous with it!” —Name withheld, fourth-year undergraduate, East Tennessee State University
Switch off when you can |
To protect your downtime and your headspace, try a remote campsite or B&B beyond the reach of phone signals or wifi. You probably won’t get irretrievably lost in the woods—and a printed map (remember them?) is great for getting found again.
Students: How to disconnect“It was a three-day backpacking trip, and I went with a group of six. We packed all our food and belongings into four large Tupperware bins and canoed out for about three hours to a desolate island in the middle of the Everglades. No phone service, no water, no electricity. It was great!” —Andrea W., graduate student, University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences
“Put down your cell phone and get off your computer and enjoy the outdoors.... I went to Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania, with my girlfriend’s family. It’s about three hours from home, and there’s no TV or cell service. Board games, hiking, snow, and family.” —Ben G., fourth-year undergraduate, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Pennsylvania
“Rather than taking out your phone to take photographs and video, use a disposable, digital, instant, single lens, or any other type of camera. Another option is to not take photos or video at all, to allow oneself to immerse fully in the present.” —Amy N., fourth-year undergraduate, Western Washington University
“If you are so in love with a town, it can change, and if you used to hate it, it can become the most beautiful city you have ever seen and experienced.”
—Callixte N., first-year graduate student, University of North Dakota
“I was so amazed by the old and the new that I have taken for granted for so long.”
—Emily L., third-year undergraduate, University of New England, Maine
“The key is to not think that this is what you’re doing because you can’t afford to do otherwise. You should be entirely into this and try to get the most out of it.”
—Elham M., graduate student, Clemson University, South Carolina
Alone
“It sometimes feels best when experienced alone. I finally explored downtown LA and all the museums that were so close to me, [which] I never visited.” —Nur B., fourth-year undergraduate, University of California, Los Angeles
“Last year for fall break I stayed in St. Louis and explored the city on my own. It was a really nice experience and more relaxing than having to fly or travel to another location.” —Kriti P. third-year undergraduate, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
With a friend
“My best friend and I used a weekend to visit different tour spots in our hometown. First, we went to a local rafting place we had never been. It was a blast! After taking a catamaran down the river, we then went to a local putt-putt golf place. We played all 18 holes; I even got a hole in one!” —Abby B., second-year undergraduate, Northern Michigan University
“Went hiking with a friend of mine. Awesome experience.
Saw new sights that I’ve never seen before and pushed
myself to complete things that I hadn’t done.” —Luciano E., third-year undergraduate, New Jersey Institute of Technology
In a group
“I visited Nashville in December for the first time with an all-women group from my church. We toured three of the [historically] black colleges. We enjoyed the beautiful Christmas decorations and lights. Enjoying a nice restaurant and shopping was a treat.” —Name withheld, fourth-year undergraduate, The University of Memphis, Tennessee
“I find it’s better to go in smaller groups than in larger groups. It makes things more intimate, and people tend to not split off into smaller groups.” —Arnaldo M., fourth-year undergraduate, Florida International University
“One weekend, a group of us went the Getty museum and tried a new burger place (thank you, Yelp—great suggestion). Afterward we went to Venice Beach and the Santa Monica Pier. The next day we woke up early, hiked to the Hollywood sign, had a picnic in the park, then ended the day with a movie at a new theater that has reclining seats—super cool. It was all pretty spontaneous, and we all had a great time!” —Briana R., third-year undergraduate, California State University, Channel Islands
“I went to a different state where food and hospitality was very different from mine. It was new and refreshing, and I took stuff home and integrated it into my daily life.” —Name withheld, second-year undergraduate, University of Maryland, College Park
“I made it a goal to eat at a brand-new place every day of the week. The experience really opened my eyes to how much more my hometown has to offer.” —Eddie F., third-year undergraduate, University of Massachusetts Lowell
“It opened more doors for me as far as networking and social events. I got the chance to explore the best restaurants and social clubs.” —Rahul S., fourth-year undergraduate, Northern Illinois University
“Boston is big enough that you definitely won’t go everywhere your first year. I mentioned to this guy that I had never seen the Public Garden, and he took me there as our first date. We’ve been together for a year and a half now!” —Jill S., fourth-year undergraduate, Suffolk University, Massachusetts
“It was Christmas break, and I was volunteering at the local food kitchen. After it was all done, I saw an older woman who had missed the event, so I took her home for dinner. The next day I drove her all over some of the neighborhoods to look at the Christmas lights. We remained friends until she quietly passed away four years later. At her memorial, I got to meet her kids and grandkids and could share some of her with them. They knew who I was!” —Manon P.-M., third-year graduate student, University of the Pacific, California
“It’s so easy to become smitten with other glamorous places that you forget that excitement, charm, and culture could be hiding right in your hometown.” —Name withheld, second-year undergraduate, University of Illinois Springfield
“We went to the visitors’ center of our hometown and actually found a bust of my great-grandfather and a story about his contribution to the city’s development. It was very moving and inspiring.” —Mary M., second-year undergraduate, Hofstra University, New York
“Many of us take for granted family time, as well as our local communities. Some have an annual trip to the beach or an amusement park. While those trips can be fun and exciting, it’s also important to experience your local community and the sights it has to offer. Many times you can also experience these sights with close friends and family.” —Scott V., third-year graduate student, The University of Memphis, Tennessee
“My friends and I went geocaching here in my small college town. We ended up going to a cute little log cabin and actually discovered that there was a movie about the founding of our town. While we were there, a person who was actually born in the log cabin, a historical site, pulled up and took a picture with us.” —Derick S., second-year undergraduate, Texas Lutheran University
“My favorite staycation was when my family and I hiked [Mount] Katahdin for my brother’s 24th birthday. It had been a goal my whole life, and although the weather didn’t cooperate, it was an experience of a lifetime. We made memories along the way, and it is every Mainer’s aspiration to be able to say they reached the top of Katahdin!” —Katelynn C., first-year undergraduate, University of Maine
“This was inside a sculpture in Madison Square Park. It’s easy for a native New Yorker like me to hide behind 8 million people and stay comfortable with where I am without ever leaving my neighborhood. But then I remember that I can always be a tourist in my own backyard, if I let myself.” —Persephone Tan, first-year graduate student, University of Pennsylvania
Follow us on Instagram and don’t forget to use the hashtag #Microtravel
Search online for “Free [name of your town]”
Search online for “Staycation [name of your town]”
Find events near you: Eventful.com
Offbeat attractions: RoadsideAmerica.com
Plan your itinerary using this tool: Utrip
What’s up where you’re at: USATourist.com
Chua, R. Y. J. (2011). Innovating at the world’s crossroads: How multicultural networks promote creativity. Harvard Business School Working Paper 11-075. Retrieved from https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6645.html
Gilbert, D., & Abdullah, J. (2002). A study of the impact of the expectation of a holiday on an individual’s sense of wellbeing. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 8(4), 352–361.
Iwasaki, Y., Zuzanek, J., Mannell, R.C. (2001).The effects of physically active leisure on stress-health relationships. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 92(3), 214–218.
Smith, C. E. (2009). Students’ beliefs about the benefits of travel and leisure: A qualitative analysis. [Unpublished] Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=rptasp
Student Health 101 survey, February 2016.
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What if a potential employer, academic supervisor, or date searches for you online (as they certainly will), and finds—right there!—your elegant design portfolio or insightful blog posts, and the Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube account that demos your passion and thoroughly engaging personality? Establishing a positive online presence (a “personal brand”) can make the difference in whether or not you get seriously considered for an internship or job.
The internet offers a range of ways to help you capitalize on, showcase, and develop your skills and potential. When you are actively present online, sharing ideas, making connections, and discovering new opportunities and resources, those possibilities magnify. “Start with your LinkedIn profile and make sure it is tightly composed, easy to read, and to the point,” says Jeff Onore, a career coach based in Boston, Massachusetts. “If you are in a creative profession (or want to join one), then putting your work online is necessary. But don’t overdo it. Create additional online outlets only if you are committed to continually tweeting, posting, revising, and being attentive to your ‘brand.’”
Here’s what a positive online presence can help you do:
Students speak to their goals
In a recent survey by Student Health 101, 82 percent of students who responded said that a proactive online presence could definitely or potentially be valuable to them. More than 3 in 10 said they were already working on this to some degree.
Present your knowledge, skills, or passions to employers or anyone else who may evaluate you in an academic or professional capacity
“In the architecture profession it is important for potential employers to see the graphic work we do, not just a résumé. Many students post portfolios online so they can be viewed prior to an interview or perhaps spark a connection. This is not dissimilar to firms posting their work online for potential clients and employees to see.” —First-year graduate student, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts
Add detail to the basic info on your résumé and LinkedIn profile
“I am passionate about instructional technology. I have been working in higher ed for almost 10 years now and am looking to continue advancing my career. One way is to brand myself as an expert in the technologies used in higher ed.” —Third-year graduate student, The University of Memphis, Tennessee
Customize your various profiles for particular employers or audiences
“I have a LinkedIn account that I use, but it is too diverse; I need to specify different accounts for my different interests/personas. I have a Twitter account that I set up for where I want to be professionally, but content is all over the place. I need to get focused and separate past, current, and future me.” —Third-year online graduate student, University of the Pacific, California
Give potential employers something to find
“I would create professional Facebook/Twitter accounts. I have very private, personal ones, so I am worried an employer may not hire me because they don’t see my presence online.” —Second-year graduate student, University of Wyoming
Be in control of what comes up first
“I have gone about this by putting content out there that I am proud of; for instance, writing for the school magazine about topics I know or care about. Whenever my department wants to feature students on its website, I also jump at the opportunity. Now when I search my name, the articles I have written, and what has been written about me, are some of the first things that come up.” —First-year graduate student, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
Network and connect with others in your (future) field
“I would create a personal blog/website to display my graphic design portfolio work and publish a little about myself. I would also start to actively engage with graphic designers who have blogs and integrate myself into communities of graphic designers.” —Second-year undergraduate, Drake University, Iowa
Expand your exposure to key themes and news in your (future) field
“As an English education major, it’s important that I’m immersing myself in the content that I wish to teach. I currently try to operate a young-adult novel review site where I keep up with the latest trends in YA literature. That way I can speak about it in any conversation, be it an interview or just a discussion with students.” —Fourth-year undergraduate, The College of New Jersey
Advocate for a cause or showcase your values
“If I was looking to brand myself, it would most likely be toward what I’m most passionate about: raising money for cancer [through race events]. I’m creating my own website, and my ‘brand name’ is Tri-ing for A Cure. Every year I increase my fundraising goal. I would love to get my name out there and raise as much money as possible.” —First-year undergraduate, University of Maine
Personalize yourself in relatable ways
“I made myself appear family-oriented, [saying I] like to volunteer and am a trend starter. Posting pictures of my family and the things that I’m proud of is a boost to my reputation.” —Second-year undergraduate, University of Delaware
Demonstrate your commitment to your goals
“I have been working on a blog for the past four years. It’s simply a storyline of my goals [with the message that] no matter what happens, you can’t give up. I’m a runner, and after four years of trying I finally was able to qualify and will be running the 2016 Boston Marathon!” —Third-year undergraduate, Averett University, Virginia
Separate your public and personal online presence
“I would use one email address for professional branding endeavors and try to maintain a separate personal online persona.” —Second-year online graduate student, University of Maryland
What you post depends on your goals, your choice of online forum, how much time you have available, and other factors. Consider these steps:
Successful blogs and social media feeds are based around a particular theme. They usually include visual images: People are more likely to look at photos and graphics than they are to read words. Your theme could be:
Some content elements are obvious. On LinkedIn, you would summarize your career goals and relevant achievements, with the option of posting your résumé and samples of your work. On a blog or personal website, you’d include a brief bio; present visual work or post updates; and link to relevant publications or your social media accounts.
“In the past, a college student would send résumés through the mail (what??) or email specific employers. Now, with the advent of LinkedIn and other public postings, your résumé is available 24/7 to everyone. The relative anonymity of a mailed résumé is a different concept from how much more fully you may present online. Be cautious.” —Jeff Onore, career coach, Boston, Massachusetts
Think about who your audience is
“I would first try to step into the shoes of the people I’d want to ‘sell’ myself to.” —Third-year undergraduate, University of New Hampshire
Create content that interests your audience
“Think about what you are saying before you say it, always with an eye on serving an audience. Quality content really just means giving the audience something that they can get invested in, too.” —Ann Handley, chief content officer at MarketingProfs, Massachusetts
Share relevant content from other sources
“Look for interesting posts about your topic and share them. It’s a good idea to link to quality content and share things that are more ‘on topic’ for your audience. Use hashtags around that topic and grow a following that is interested in that topic.” —Andrea Vahl, social media consultant, author, and blogger
Speak to your audience in a voice they recognize
“I am in the process of making a webcomic and website for myself. I make everything themed and worded in a certain way to attract the audience I want to be interested in my story.” —First-year student, Collin College, Texas
Incorporate visuals
“I try to post a lot of pictures of my animal connections and involvements with rescuing and rehabilitating animals.” —Third-year undergraduate, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Use keywords strategically
“I would make sure that keywords that are on my website show up on my professional pages (LinkedIn, ResearchGate, etc.), and I would update my blog to reflect these interests.” —Third-year graduate student, University of Miami College of Arts & Sciences
Consider different outlets for different purposes
“I am building my brand as a traveler as well as a humorous person. While I’m here interning for a development organization, I post blogs about the business and agricultural environment in Mozambique. When I return to the States, I plan to create a blog that is more social and pertaining to music and working-class culture. I also plan to build on my blog posts for my internship by creating a more politically and economically conscious blog.” —Third-year graduate student, American University School of International Service, Washington DC
Think about quality control
“High-quality pictures (no selfies!). Nothing negative about anything or anyone.” —Fourth-year undergraduate, University of California, Merced
Minimize digressions from your theme
“Avoid sharing your every move, meal, or thought. When you post too much, you can overwhelm your audience and get unfollowed.” —Andrea Vahl, social media consultant, author, and blogger
Be aware of your mood and motivation
Read everything twice and edit it before you post; avoid writing in haste or anger; and be cautious and respectful about how you respond to other people’s posts. —Jim Joseph, marketing instructor at New York University (in Entrepreneur)
Where to start? These questions will help you find your niche:
Successful blogs and social media accounts are dynamic and up-to-date. They involve a significant time commitment. If your goal is to display your visual work, a gorgeous website would be ideal, but an Instagram gallery may be more realistic and looks good, too.
Where does your intended audience hang out online?
“[I would] become active in whatever source I want to be involved with. Find discussion boards, network with other users, and make impactful statements.” —Third-year undergraduate, University of Wisconsin–Platteville
Will your content involve visuals?
“I created a LinkedIn profile, but I would certainly love a platform to portray my work and my experience in a more visual format.” —First-year graduate student, Florida International University
Does your future career rely on a particular online forum?
“Schools are looking for teachers who know how to use Twitter and when I start looking for jobs as a teacher, I want schools to know that I am technologically proficient.” —Fourth-year undergraduate, Old Dominion University, Virginia
Are you aiming for a diverse audience?
“I would make an Instagram for my artwork, as well as a website or a Tumblr blog. Getting the work out on many platforms so that people will see it and want to share it is the key.” —Second-year graduate student, Kutztown University, Pennsylvania
Will your content be time sensitive?
“Using Twitter is huge. It helps you advocate for anything that you are passionate about and allows immediate interaction.” —Third-year undergraduate, University of Alaska Anchorage
Will you have limited time for posting?
“I would lean toward trying to use easy advertising methods, such as hashtags on Instagram, where it is very simple for anyone to access what I am trying to put forward.” —Third-year undergraduate, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Do you want to integrate and connect your online networks?
“Ideally the different mediums would support each other; blogs, tweets, etc. would be consistent.” —Second-year online graduate student, University of Maryland
Which of your online outlets will be for public or professional purposes, and which are for your personal use? Could your existing profiles be re-oriented toward professional goals, or do you need to open new accounts?
Think about your public/private boundary
“I value the separation of work and private life. I won’t even be Facebook friends with coworkers unless I become good friends with them.” —Fifth-year undergraduate, Boise State University, Idaho
Make sure you are easily found by those you want to find you
“Keep the same name, profile pic, imagery, and look across your social media profiles,” writes Kevan Lee, a professional content tracker at Buffer, an app that lets you plan and strategize your social media posts, in a blog post. This makes you more recognizable to your followers and helps you stand out.
“Consistency is key. [I make] sure all my social media accounts contain the same name so it’s easy to find me on all of them.” —Fourth-year undergraduate, Grand View University, Iowa
If necessary, give yourself an option for staying anonymous
If you want to post snarky updates or controversial comments that might give pause to future employers, keep an anonymous account. No one need know that @PrattlingParrot is you.
“[For professional purposes] I would create a second Twitter with my real name as the username and keep my original account fun.” —Second-year undergraduate, Drake University, Iowa
Consider the professional relevance of your online identity
“I’m going to be a teacher, so if I were to create new accounts (on Twitter or something) I’d make my username ‘Ms. Something’ instead of my first name or a pet’s name or whatever. Also, I only post positive things about my job and my classes in case future employers could see that.” —Fourth-year undergraduate, University of North Dakota
Check your existing accounts and privacy settings
“I think the first step would be to clean up your online profiles. No matter how conscious someone can be, you never know if something you posted may have offended someone. Going back and double-checking is a great start.” —Fourth-year graduate student, East Tennessee State University
In a recent survey by SH101, 72 percent of respondents said they had searched for themselves online with the specific goal of seeing what’s public and heading off potential problems (another 16 percent had not, but planned to). And about 90 percent said they are conscientious about whether or not their content is appropriate, at least some of the time.
This is at least partly about networking, so:
Go public with your goals and achievements
“I have tried to network with as many people as possible so that they know what I am doing and [can] help me spread the news. Networking is extremely important.” —First-year undergraduate, Florida International University
Identify potential contacts
“I would line my posts up with my career goals. I’d like to work with the mining industry, so I have started to follow mining companies on social media, making sure my work experience is known in my profile.” —Third-year undergraduate, Montana Tech of the University of Montana
“I signed up with and followed a lot of authors and publishers on Twitter to help build my platform as a writer.” —Recent graduate, University of Central Arkansas
Aim to learn from them too
“I have started a blog but would like to further my knowledge [of the field] to build more of a stage for myself.” —Second-year undergraduate, Utah State University
Build a relationship with your audience
“I do believe that blogging or vlogging could be of interest to me. The most important thing would be to slowly create an association with readers/viewers. If you simply do it for yourself, you might as well keep a journal.” —Third-year undergraduate, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Interact with your contacts
“Something that very much benefited me was recognizing that ‘connecting’ online isn’t necessarily networking. I have random additions on LinkedIn who have not said a word to me in two years. Now I make sure I’m interacting. Have a reason for connecting and following up. Share information and identify where you can physically meet and talk. That’s the difference between ‘networking’ and just ‘connecting.’” —Fourth-year undergraduate, University of Lethbridge, Alberta
Projecting positively online is not about faking it.
Positivity is powerful—not just IRL but in how we reflect those real-life experiences online. “Stay away from negativity,” says Vahl. Tweet others as you would want to be tweeted. A 2011 study analyzed more than 46,000 tweets and found that positive messages were more likely to be retweeted (System Sciences).
Be thoughtful about your photo and profile
“[Use] the same profile picture, one that reflects your personality/you, [and] conscious and reflective profile descriptions.” —Second-year graduate student, Clemson University, South Carolina
Be the person you’d want to work with
“[I would project] a positive and career-focused image. Nothing posted that will harm my possibilities with future employers.” —Fourth-year undergraduate, Grand View University, Iowa
Consider ways that your quirky perspective can work online
“[I would] make it based on something unique about me, that other people could relate to. For example, I follow Diary of a Tall Girl on Twitter because her posts are super-relatable.” —Second-year undergraduate, Michigan Technological University
Consider building on your existing online foundation
“I think for those who have Facebook or Instagram, we’ve all pretty much already branded ourselves in some way—e.g., the foodie, the adventurer/explorer, the hipster, the politician.” —First-year graduate student, University of California, San Francisco
Keep it real while staying on-message and mature
“To brand myself would imply that I feel there is something about myself I am fearful [that others will know]. I feel wholehearted honesty works well when talking to other people.” —Fourth-year undergraduate, Tulane University, Louisiana
Take note of blogs, sites, and social media accounts that impress you, and why. Think about how you can learn from them:
Check out what’s working for others
“Continuously finding people who have similar, bigger goals and taking notes on what they do best, where they had difficulties; applying that knowledge to my own social media posts; connecting with people who have different interests/views, but similar core values to my own.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Michigan Technological University
Talk to people who present positively online
“I would definitely consult with people who have created successful personas online.”
—Fifth-year undergraduate, San Diego State University, California
Find out what professionals notice
“I would potentially consult with professionals in the field to help me get the most out of it.”
—Second-year graduate student, University of Wisconsin–Madison
To maximize the action on your social media accounts, post at certain times of day. Web marketing guru Neil Patel recommends this schedule (in Quicksprout):
1 p.m. – The most shares |
3 p.m. – The most clicks |
5 p.m. – The most retweets |
12 p.m. & 6 p.m. – The highest click-through rates |
3 – 4 p.m. – The most likes |
8 – 11 p.m. – The best visibility |
Misty Copeland
Misty Copeland was the first-ever African-American to be promoted to principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre. Follow her on Twitter to learn more about her story, see what she does for others, and marvel at how she remains positive through tough times. + Visit Misty’s Twitter
Johanna Basford
Johanna Basford has played a huge role in the adult coloring books movement. She hand-draws all of the pages in her books, giving them a more authentic and original feel. Check out her down-to-earth Twitter feed for a peek into her world of drawing, to get some professional coloring tips, and to find out how her drawings have inspired others to become more creative and mindful. + Visit Johanna’s Twitter
Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin is one of the few Asian-Americans who have played basketball in the NBA. His Twitter feed is filled with positive messages, including proud posts about his heritage and photos showing how he gives back to his fans.
+ Visit Jeremy’s Twitter
Dylan Millsap @dylanthenomad
This student, a talented photographer, goes around the world with his camera in hand. He’s studying screenwriting at the Academy of Art University in California.
Kara Benz @boho.berry
For how to live a more centered life, check out these tips on journaling, creating goals, and getting organized.
John and Hank Green
You may know John Green as the author of The Fault in Our Stars (Penguin, 2012). He and his brother, Hank, are together known on YouTube as the VlogBrothers, and incited a band of followers who call themselves the Nerdflighters. Check out their channel to see the insightful videos that have become so popular. + Check out John and Hank on YouTube
Seán William McLoughlin or “Jacksepticeye”
For cheerful, engaging video commentary, come here. “Jacksepticeye on YouTube is my inspiration. He has a way of making [his audience] feel engaged and wanted even though truly we’ve never met each other,” says a second-year undergraduate at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. + Check out Jacksepticeye on YouTube
Estée Lalonde
This lifestyle and beauty video blogger from Canada is currently living in London. “Estée is my all-time favorite YouTuber! She is serious inspiration and her personality shines through her content,” says a second-year undergraduate at Metropolitan State University in Minnesota. + Check out Estée on YouTube
Ann Handley, chief content officer at MarketingProfs, Boston, Massachusetts.
Jeff Onore, career coach, Boston, Massachusetts.
Andrea Vahl, social media consultant and co-author of Facebook Marketing All-in-One for Dummies, Louisville, Colorado.
Blickley, L. (2015, April 2). How celebrities are using social media in a more positive and passionate way. Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/02/celebrities-social-media-for-good_n_6979790.html
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Student Health 101 survey, February 2016
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Paying for college sure can induce a sense-of-humor failure. But at Student Health 101 we had to find an upside, so here it is: The cost of higher education is an opportunity to build certain vital life skills—like stress management, financial self-empowerment, damage limitation, and problem solving. We’re confident these skills will be at least as valuable to you as your degree is. To get started, check out what students wish they’d known about loans, scholarships, and grants.
“I wish I would have done my research and realized sooner that there are multiple options.”
—Graduate student, University of Wyoming
“I wish I’d known more about what different things mean: variable interest rates, deferment, deferral, etc.”
—Graduate student, Suffolk University, Massachusetts
Translate loan language into English
“Look at when the interest starts accruing, how much interest will accrue in school and later, and how long it will take to pay it off at what monthly payments.”
—Undergraduate, University of Alaska Anchorage
“[I didn’t know] the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized government loans, as well as the payback rules.”
—Undergraduate, Utah State University
“I wish I had known to start that spreadsheet immediately.”
—Undergraduate, Santa Clara University, California
“I didn’t have to accept the loan in full. If I had known this I may have borrowed less.”
—Undergraduate, University of Montana–Western
“Even if your mom pays your loan, it’s still in your name. Make sure she makes those payments on time!”
—Undergraduate, Metropolitan State University, Minnesota
If you don’t pay on your loan, you will go into default. This can negatively affect your credit score and reduce your options for getting a cell phone, or buying or renting a place to live.
“I wish I’d known how readily available scholarships are, if you just look for them.”
—Student, Normandale Community College, Minnesota
Student story
Felecia Hatcher was awarded $130,000 in scholarships. Her advice: Focus on what you’re great at or what you love, and apply for local scholarships: “The pool is so much smaller.” Hatcher is author of The “C” Students Guide to Scholarships (Peterson’s, 2011).
“I wish I had known a way to avoid having to take out loans in the first place.”
—Undergraduate, Humboldt State University, California
“I knew in high school that a family member was going to cover all my expenses for college, so I didn’t pay attention when they were explained my senior year. But after two years there was family drama and they dropped my funding. I had about a month to learn everything I needed to know about loans and get two federal direct loans and a private loan. Should have paid attention.”
—Undergraduate, Pacific Lutheran University, Washington
“I just wish I had applied for more scholarships. It took me until grad school to start doing that.”
—Graduate student, University of Southern Maine
“’I didn’t realize how easy it was to just accept [loans] and how hard it was to pay them off. The available amount looks great but just makes you stuck with more debt!”
—Graduate student, California State University, San Marcos
“I wish I would have known about alternatives before I signed away to be in debt.”
—Graduate student, California State University, San Bernardino
“[I wish I’d known] community college is cheaper and I could work before I got to school. Also the average amount of years it would take a person in my financial situation to pay off a loan of the size that I took out.”
—Undergraduate, Western Illinois University
Source: Student Health 101 survey, August 2015. 950+ students answered this question.
“I wish I’d known that I should pay off unsubsidized loans before subsidized loans.”
—Undergraduate, Western Washington University
“I wish I’d known that each student is allotted a certain amount of federal aid for the whole course of his/her undergrad education, which means students have the potential to run out of federal aid if they need an extra year or two.”
—Undergraduate, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
“I wish I’d known about income-based repayment plans. If so, I would not have had semesters with no textbooks or a shortage of toilet paper.”
—Graduate student, Western Illinois University
“I wish I [knew] the importance of paying off the principal as I attended school. This really helps in the long run!”
—Undergraduate, University of Wyoming
“I wish I knew how much I owe, how to pay it off as I go, how much they’re growing in interest, and how long it will take me to pay off!”
—Undergraduate, Roger Williams University, Rhode Island
Source: Student Health 101 survey, August 2015. 950+ students answered this question.
“Don’t lose your login information. Phoning student loan help is basically useless.”
—Undergraduate, Mount Royal University, Alberta
“I wish I’d tracked the total amount. I had so many smallish loans that when I graduated and got the total I was shocked. Way higher than expected.”
—Graduate student, Husson University, Maine
“Budget smartly and know the benefits of having a savings account.”
—Undergraduate, Humboldt State University, California
“[I wasn’t aware of] the high interest rate. I should’ve saved up while I had the chance rather than buying those shoes I wanted.”
—Undergraduate, University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley
“Vote for a legislature and government officials who will work for lowering student loan interest rates.”
—Graduate student, University of the Pacific, California
10 tips for recent graduates: Project on Student Loan Debt
8 tips for student loans: Forbes
Guide to financial aid: FinAid.org
Benefits of paying on the interest: US News & World Report
What happens if you don′t repay?: US News & World Report
What to do if you can′t repay: Forbes
Does your loan get you a tax deduction? Internal Revenue Service