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How to spend four years of your life...
It has been a short run for me here as the editorial author for the Manhattan Engineer; so short that it only lasted two issues. I can tell my last article has influenced many of you (especially the main campus folk) as I've seen so many new faces around Leo. I'm still waiting for a thank you check from the bookstore for boosting their sales. In this last article I'd like to relay some words of wisdom to you, my fellow students, which have helped me survive these past four years at Manhattan College. I'm no philosophy major nor am I trying to preach to you like your parents and professors have for so long. However, there are some things that I feel you must know and that, regardless if you want to hear them or not, I'm going to tell you. Of course I realize that you can stop reading this at any moment, but I'll just assume you don't.
Your parents and your professors may be telling you that the most beneficial thing to come out of your college career is your GPA. I may agree with this to some degree, however, I feel this is not the most important. Your GPA will probably only be looked at by the companies you interview with for your first job. In order to get those first job interviews, however, you must have connections and contacts at companies. This is the most important element that you must graduate with. Now, I'm not saying you should keep a GPA below a 2.0 just as long as you have contacts. The grades are important too, but I'm assuming that as Manhattan College students, you all have the capacity and the ability to keep your GPA above a 3.0.
"By golly John, how am I ever going to get contacts for companies that exist in the 'real world'?" It's so simple, the answer is lying right in front of you: CLUBS!! Join clubs! Do it now! If you're not in one club or organization at this school, stop reading this magazine and join a club. Marketing majors should be in the marketing club, electrical and computer engineers should be in IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), and mechanical engineers should be in ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). That's the only business club I know of, but I'm sure there are more! There's also some kissing up you have to do. Know who your dean and department chair person is. Say hello to them in the hallway. I'm actually begging you to do this. They are like a bridge to the 'real world': they actually talk to people in this alternate world. Job opportunities, internships, and other crazy 'real world' stuff is always going on inside their offices and they are always looking for that one student that stands out who they can hand these opportunities to.
"Gee whiz, John, my professors say I need at least 6 hours a week outside of class which means if I'm taking five courses, that's 45 hours a week! When will I ever have time for clubs?" Let me tell you this now, if you are spending 45 hours a week outside of class and are struggling with the courses, you need to switch your major. You are most likely not even interested in the course material. It's okay to switch too. It's tough to make a decision on what you will be doing for the rest of your life during your first two years of college. I switched from psychology to civil engineering to computer engineering. Guess what? I'm graduating on time and I really enjoy my major now.
To get back on track here, one of the best things this college offers is the Mentor Program. If you are a student in this school, you should apply for the Mentor Program. Although my mentor was in my old civil engineering major, he has still become a great professional friend and has provided me with ample advice and experience working with those in the mysterious realm of the 'real world.' I joined IEEE since I am a computer engineering major and that has led to more contacts and an internship. I was offered, and took, a work from home internship with IEEE doing website updates for one of their many sub-societies. Yes, you read that correctly. I have an internship working from home. Before you ask, yes, it is as awesome as it sounds. I joined SHPE (Society of Hispanic and Professional Engineers) which has taken me to Philadelphia twice and Washington D.C. by the end of February for career conferences. Guess what? I made more contacts there and it has led to more job opportunities and interviews! My final example is my favorite, since I'm sure you're all expecting it: the Manhattan Engineers. Aside from providing you with a little soft reading after you've battled through "Algorithms in Biology," I'm also the business manager in charge of all the advertisements that bother you throughout the magazine. You're welcome, by the way. Having to get in contact with representatives at companies and actually meeting some of them have led to potential job opportunities even before they've seen my transcript and resume.
The end of the page and my consistent two-article blabbering comes to an end. Thank you for tolerating my ramblings for two issues. I hope that there is an author out there worthy enough to waste your time as much as I have for the past two issues. I want to leave you with a double thought: (1) get above a 3.0, join clubs and organizations and I guarantee that no matter what your major is you will go incredibly far (from what I've heard); (2) don't ever go to China Wine if you're craving good Chinese food. Thank you Manhattan College, I've made my best friends here and have truly been able to set myself up for the life that I want to live.
It has been a short run for me here as the editorial author for the Manhattan Engineer; so short that it only lasted two issues. I can tell my last article has influenced many of you (especially the main campus folk) as I've seen so many new faces around Leo. I'm still waiting for a thank you check from the bookstore for boosting their sales. In this last article I'd like to relay some words of wisdom to you, my fellow students, which have helped me survive these past four years at Manhattan College. I'm no philosophy major nor am I trying to preach to you like your parents and professors have for so long. However, there are some things that I feel you must know and that, regardless if you want to hear them or not, I'm going to tell you. Of course I realize that you can stop reading this at any moment, but I'll just assume you don't.
Your parents and your professors may be telling you that the most beneficial thing to come out of your college career is your GPA. I may agree with this to some degree, however, I feel this is not the most important. Your GPA will probably only be looked at by the companies you interview with for your first job. In order to get those first job interviews, however, you must have connections and contacts at companies. This is the most important element that you must graduate with. Now, I'm not saying you should keep a GPA below a 2.0 just as long as you have contacts. The grades are important too, but I'm assuming that as Manhattan College students, you all have the capacity and the ability to keep your GPA above a 3.0.
"By golly John, how am I ever going to get contacts for companies that exist in the 'real world'?" It's so simple, the answer is lying right in front of you: CLUBS!! Join clubs! Do it now! If you're not in one club or organization at this school, stop reading this magazine and join a club. Marketing majors should be in the marketing club, electrical and computer engineers should be in IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), and mechanical engineers should be in ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). That's the only business club I know of, but I'm sure there are more! There's also some kissing up you have to do. Know who your dean and department chair person is. Say hello to them in the hallway. I'm actually begging you to do this. They are like a bridge to the 'real world': they actually talk to people in this alternate world. Job opportunities, internships, and other crazy 'real world' stuff is always going on inside their offices and they are always looking for that one student that stands out who they can hand these opportunities to.
"Gee whiz, John, my professors say I need at least 6 hours a week outside of class which means if I'm taking five courses, that's 45 hours a week! When will I ever have time for clubs?" Let me tell you this now, if you are spending 45 hours a week outside of class and are struggling with the courses, you need to switch your major. You are most likely not even interested in the course material. It's okay to switch too. It's tough to make a decision on what you will be doing for the rest of your life during your first two years of college. I switched from psychology to civil engineering to computer engineering. Guess what? I'm graduating on time and I really enjoy my major now.
To get back on track here, one of the best things this college offers is the Mentor Program. If you are a student in this school, you should apply for the Mentor Program. Although my mentor was in my old civil engineering major, he has still become a great professional friend and has provided me with ample advice and experience working with those in the mysterious realm of the 'real world.' I joined IEEE since I am a computer engineering major and that has led to more contacts and an internship. I was offered, and took, a work from home internship with IEEE doing website updates for one of their many sub-societies. Yes, you read that correctly. I have an internship working from home. Before you ask, yes, it is as awesome as it sounds. I joined SHPE (Society of Hispanic and Professional Engineers) which has taken me to Philadelphia twice and Washington D.C. by the end of February for career conferences. Guess what? I made more contacts there and it has led to more job opportunities and interviews! My final example is my favorite, since I'm sure you're all expecting it: the Manhattan Engineers. Aside from providing you with a little soft reading after you've battled through "Algorithms in Biology," I'm also the business manager in charge of all the advertisements that bother you throughout the magazine. You're welcome, by the way. Having to get in contact with representatives at companies and actually meeting some of them have led to potential job opportunities even before they've seen my transcript and resume.
The end of the page and my consistent two-article blabbering comes to an end. Thank you for tolerating my ramblings for two issues. I hope that there is an author out there worthy enough to waste your time as much as I have for the past two issues. I want to leave you with a double thought: (1) get above a 3.0, join clubs and organizations and I guarantee that no matter what your major is you will go incredibly far (from what I've heard); (2) don't ever go to China Wine if you're craving good Chinese food. Thank you Manhattan College, I've made my best friends here and have truly been able to set myself up for the life that I want to live.
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