Life After College: Next Steps For Recent Graduates
You have spent years and years studying, and you finally did it – you got your diploma! Now, it seems like everyone is asking you what’s next. It’s okay if you don’t yet have an answer to that question, if you’re not sure where to start, or if you’re just feeling overwhelmed in response to all of the changes that are happening in your life. Making a plan and ensuring you’re receiving enough emotional support can be helpful during what can be a turbulent time in many people’s lives. If you’re not sure how to move forward, consider speaking with a licensed therapist to gain clarity.
Options for recent college graduates
Can’t decide on your next steps? Below are a few options to consider.
Transitioning from higher education to the workforce
For many recent graduates, it can be natural to go from studying at college to seeking out full-time work and pursuing a successful career in one’s adult life. In many ways, the period immediately following college graduation can be the ideal time to go after your dream job. You are likely still connected to professors, former supervisors, and mentors from your college life who can serve as references. You may lean on your college’s career center to help with your job search, and you are generally unencumbered by classes when scheduling interviews.
Full-time work can be a very different experience from college, but it can also come with perks, like a salary, health insurance, and a retirement fund.
Pursuing additional schooling
College may not have sated your desire for learning, or perhaps your dream job requires additional degrees, as can be common for aspiring lawyers, therapists, scientists, doctors, and other positions that require an MBA or an MEd. In some cases, graduate programs may request standardized test scores, application essays, letters of recommendation, and potentially a few years of work experience before you apply, so make sure you fully understand each program’s requirements.
Joining other former college students in volunteering
After focusing on your own learning for so many years, it can be rewarding to give back in your post-grad life. Volunteering can also further learning in a different way as you engage with new people and communities that might be different from the ones from which you came. Organizations like Teach for America and the Peace Corps can help you pursue this goal.
The importance of financial management after finishing higher education
Graduating college and entering the “real world” can come as a bit of a financial shock. Recent graduates may suddenly have to juggle new student loan payments, expenses associated with moving or relocating to a new city, the loss of parental financial support, and leaving subsidized university housing to take their chances on the rental market.
They may also be making more money than ever before, though, and they may no longer have to worry about expenses like health insurance, which may be part of their benefits package if they are employed.
All of these fiscal changes can be overwhelming, so it may be beneficial for grads to seek out support.
Resources for financial planning for recent college graduates
- Family members and older friends who have been through the transition before
- Mentors and advisors from your undergraduate life
- Financial advisors – You can seek one out on your own, and many companies also provide access to advisors for their employees, often associated with the organization that handles your company’s employee retirement plans
What to do if you are not satisfied with your first job
It can be rare for your first job out of college to pay your desired salary or be your dream job. At many organizations, entry-level positions can involve long hours, hard work, lower pay, and little recognition or authority.
It can be important to keep in mind that this phase of your working life should not last longer than a few years, so if you believe in the work you are doing or the mission of the company, it can be worth it to persevere. If at any point you sense that you are being exploited, or if promotion opportunities do not open up over time, it could be a sign that change is needed.
Ways for former college students to take care of their mental health
Graduating college can be a tumultuous time. However, there are steps you can take to proactively care for your mental health and weather any emotional storms.
Building and maintaining your social support system, including your college friends
Having a strong social support network is usually tied to several positive health outcomes, while a lack of support can be associated with worse physical and mental health. Emotional support can be particularly crucial during time periods of intense change and emotional upheaval. It can be important to maintain relationships with the good friends you had in college and also put effort into creating a new community at your job or school.
Engaging in “me time” and personal reflection
During this phase of your life, it can be easy to get caught up in what other people want or expect of you. For example, you may experience pressure to apply to graduate school because that is what your college mentor really wants you to do, or to take a job in the same field as your college major, even if that job isn’t satisfying to you.
Taking time for yourself to consider what brings you joy and what causes you stress in your post-college life can help you ensure you are making the choices that are best for you. Intentionally reflecting and journaling can be ways to accomplish this personal growth.
Focusing on the interaction between physical health and mental health
It might not seem like you have much control over your emotional state during this time in your life, but one thing you may have more power over is your physical health. Physical and mental well-being can be closely related, so taking charge of your physical health could boost your mental health. This can involve eating nutritious food, exercising often, and maintaining a regular sleep schedule.
Signs post-grad life could be taking a toll on your mental health
Some signs this change could be happening include the following:
- A sense of hopelessness
- Anhedonia, or the lack of ability to feel pleasure or joy
- A loss of motivation to engage in a job search or build community in a new city
Resources for student support
It can be a little destabilizing to transition from college, where everything you needed was usually on campus, to the larger world, where you may not know where to turn for assistance. Still, there is a range of support options available and easily accessible for recent college graduates who need help.
- Campus counseling centers: If your post-grad plans include graduate school, your new university will likely have on-campus counseling available.
- Online therapy: Online therapy through accredited services like BetterHelp can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection and typically does not require insurance.
- National organizations: Organizations like the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) focus on providing mental health education and resources to the public at large, with an emphasis on younger people.
- Crisis helplines: If you need immediate support, the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available.
Benefits of online therapy for students
If you are between health insurers, or you are not sure where you are going to be in a few months, it may be complicated to set up regular appointments with a therapist in person. Online therapy may be a beneficial alternative in this scenario.
Researchers have found that attending online therapy may be just as effective as attending traditional in-person therapy appointments for addressing symptoms of mental health conditions. A 2020 study examined the impact of online therapy on reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, two mental health conditions commonly associated with times of upheaval and change, like the post-graduation period. The researchers found that online therapy appeared to be comparable to in-person therapy when it came to symptom reduction.
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