In Case You Missed it: May Recap
All of the articles from May & everything else in between
When Choosing a College: It's Not About the Best College, It's About the Right College
This big decision can be complicated, let’s help you make the best decision for you
I Love College – Asher Roth
Oh, college. What an amazing, exhausting, daunting, and freaking awesome time you are. For many, going to college is the simple goal – it’s the dream! Really choosing the school where that dream is going to come true, though, can be much more of a challenge than some are ready for. Not only do you need to figure out what you want, but your family, friends, and even people who are irrelevant to this choice will try to tell you what they think you want.
This article is here to help you cut through the noise and remember that at the end of the day, the college you choose will be your home for the next 2-8 years (depending on what your program looks like and how many classes you fail – yeah, it happens).
There are a lot of crucial components people sometimes overlook when choosing a college, so use this article as a reminder of what should be on that pro/con list you are making.
So, grab your favorite drink and let’s get to working on that college list!
Misconceptions About What is Important
High school movies and TV shows create a huge misconception for real life teens about what life is really like, where priorities should lie, and combined, what is important about choosing a college. But, hey, that is just my opinion, the campus’ proximity to a Chick-fil-A could be really to you!
A short list of things that are not important when choosing a college are listed below. Things that maybe should not be on your pro/con list are:
- Other people that are going to that college
- School’s national “rankings”
- Sticking with high school friends
- Being close to your hometown (this one might be important to some)
- What others will think about your decision
- The physical campus being “SO beautiful!” You need to like more than just the brick building you might never even go in
The conclusion I hope you take from that list is that this is your decision, so while there might be many outside opinions being thrown at you, at the end of the day it is you who will be attending this school. Do what is right for you.
What is Actually Important
Major/Minor Programs
This is the most important thing to consider when choosing a college - duh. This is why you are going to college, to study something you are passionate about and want to do in your career!
If a college doesn’t have your program, I wouldn’t even keep it on your list. Seriously. Take it off. Unless you don’t have a clear idea of what you want to major in, the only schools that should be on your list are ones that have the program you are planning to pursue.
Also, consider that just because the school might not rank nationally, one of their specific programs might. A school you might have ranked lower because it seems less prestigious than another, might actually end up ranking higher in the program you want, so make sure you check that.
This can really come into play when applying for jobs and the company hires a candidate from a “worse” school than you. The specific program they earned their degree through might just be ranked higher than the program you received that same degree through at a “better” school. I use air quotes when I describe schools as “better” or “worse” because there are no schools that are truly better than others when you are choosing what is right for you. Remember that.
Physical City and State
This is a hugely overlooked consideration. Being comfortable in the city/state you are living in for the next 4+ years is so important. We all know how awful it feels to be visiting a new place that you don’t like. Imagine that feeling, but you aren’t visiting. You live there. Without your parents. Horrifying, right? So, make sure you don’t put yourself in that position when it comes to college.
*Insert Ferris Bueller’s voice* If you have the means, make sure you tour the campus, stay for a couple of nights in the city and really picture yourself there for four years. If you see a bright future and love the town, then keep it on the list. If you truly don’t think you could go to that grocery store for four years, use that gym for four years, scratch it off the list.
That being said, do not write off an entire university based on one quick campus tour and one-night hotel stay. Give it a fair chance. Every new place can seem daunting, so if you can, give every place a least a second look. If you are reading this thinking, “I do love the campus!” then you need to scroll back up to the top and start reading this from the beginning. The college is more than just the campus and brick buildings, it is the entire city and even state it is located in.
Campus Culture/Environment
Every college has a specific culture. Shocker, I know! It could be a major Power Five conference sports school. It could be a small private Catholic school. It could be a school with tons of extracurriculars, or it could have two clubs. It could be in the center of a major city, or it could be a in a “college town.”
P.S. College towns are the best. That is my non-bias, totally factual opinion.
What I am trying to say is, the university might have your major and be in a city you like, but if the culture is not your vibe, and you can just feel it, then you probably won’t find yourself enjoying your full college experience.
You might think the things listed above would not hinder your experience, but from personal experience, and knowing a lot of people that have similar experiences, they definitely can. If the vibes are off, man, the vibes are off.
A good rule of thumb is, if you are excited to go on campus and explore all the things the school offers rather than dreading it., then it is probably a good choice.
Extracurriculars
Clubs, intramurals, Greek life, groups, activities, working for the university, are all crucial components to consider in your college search.
This category comes with easy advice: the more opportunities for you to get involved with the school, community, and anything outside of your classes – the better. You want to have seemingly unlimited options of ways to get involved and to enjoy the best four years of your life. You are also there to make lifelong friends, you know.
If joining something new and stepping outside of your comfort zone is not your vibe, that is totally ok. However, I highly suggest choosing a college that at least gives you the options to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.
For example, when I was in high school, I used to think, “No way am I joining Greek life, that is way too daunting.” As a survivor of four years in a fraternity, I can say whole-heartedly that going Greek was the best decision I made in college. It forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and push me to make friends. I am so grateful that I did. I am leaving college with a small, close-knit group of friends that I never would have met if I didn’t swallow my fear and sign up for recruitment.
This is why, even if you don’t think you want all these things right now, make sure your school provides you those opportunities if you change your mind.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
This is how I picture every single college admissions counselor. Jerry Maguire yelling into his cell phone. It is no secret; it costs money to go to college. Do not let that stop you from going. This is why someone, one day, invented financial aid, student loans, and scholarships.
Every school has a list of scholarships and financial aid packages you can apply for listed right on their university website. They could be hidden pretty well, since I don’t think colleges want to over-advertise giving away free money. They are there, though, so keep looking. You can even call the admissions office directly to gather more information as well.
There are scholarships for just about everything, and they are not always first come, first serve. I know you are already rushing to get those housing applications submitted on time so you can get the best dorm with all your best friends. So put that same level of urgency and importance into submitting the applications for financial aid and scholarships.
Student loans are dangerous. They seem great and might solve all of your financial difficulties for the time being, but they can be tricky to manage in the future, so try to avoid them as much as possible. Look into those scholarships and financial aid plans to help boost your ability to attend the university of your dreams.
Career Centers/Services
Let me breakdown the perfect equation to set yourself up for a lifetime of fruitfulness and happiness:
Go to college + Earn a degree = Land a sick job in the field you earned said degree in.
Bada Bing Bada Boom.
That is what it’s all about, right? When you break it down to the basics, you want to major in something you eventually want to get a job in. So, just like it is so important to choose a college with your program, you want to make sure the college also has great career services to help you land that job.
What do “career services” mean exactly? Don’t worry, I got you! Just to name a few services the people working in your school’s career center would provide you…
- Resume, cover letter, portfolio building
- Networking/career events
- Helping you join the alumni connections atmosphere
- Administration/advisors for career counseling
- Clubs you should try in your specific study
These are all things you should be focusing on while you are in college, so how convenient that your university would provide a place to help you with literally every single one! It is almost like they want you to succeed. If the colleges you are looking at have these services, that is a huge pro to add to your list! Most colleges have something along these lines, but you want to make sure you research which colleges have proven success with career building and job landing.
And no, this does not mean, “Oh Harvard has great career services because they are so prestigious.” I mean actually research into the systems put in place by the school and how they will help land you a job in your desired career field. Like I have stated preciously, school prestige does not always mean superior services and better resources.
Bonus: School Spirit & Alumni Relations
This last component is a bonus because it is not the most important thing, but it made my college experiences even better, so I stand by its importance.
Going to a school that has great school spirit is, simply put, the greatest thing ever. For example, going to Washington State University has shown me what true school spirit is all about. Without fail, every single day that I am out and about wearing any Coug gear, and I see someone else also wearing Coug gear, each of us yell out a friendly, “Go Cougs!” I mean, I could literally be at a bar in Palm Springs, CA and someone is wearing Coug gear and will yell across the bar, “GO COUGS!” That is how strong and awesome our school spirit is.
I share with you that story to show you the importance and the connection between school spirit and a strong post-grad community. You will be a part of the strong school community for the rest of your life, so choose one that you love and are proud to be a part of.
Putting it all together
Okay, I threw a lot at you, and it might feel overwhelming, but that is ok. College is going to be great no matter what.
There is one last pearl from me to you that I would like to end this newsletter with. If you retain only one thing from this entire article, retain this: All of the aspects of college life listed above are singular points, they are not the whole picture. When searching for the right college for you, remember it is about putting every one of these puzzle pieces together. When all the pieces are together and you feel comfortable, confident, excited, safe, challenged, and like you will have a kickass time, then that is the college for you.
All you need to do next is dive right in, confidently, and without hesitation. This way you will be sure to enjoy every moment of your college experience. If you are like me, you are probably sitting at your desk job wishing you could relive college because it was just so damn great. And that my friends, is the ultimate goal.
Cheers!
Credit: What You Need to Know
Credit can add to your life or take away from your life. Let this article help breakdown the ins and outs of what credit is all about
Credit: Breaking it Down to the Definition
Breaking down credit to its simplest definition would be this: credit is borrowing money from the bank, and then paying it back at a later time. It’s that simple - in theory - but there is a lot to it that people don’t understand.
The biggest pitfall for people is when you don’t pay back the credit on time. What happens then is an interest fee is tacked on to your total, making your overall payment more than the actual price of the item you bought. I think it is common sense that if you are going to borrow money, you are going to need to pay it back in a timely manner. Well, banks feel the same way. You need to pay them back in a timely manner.
Your credit report is where you can look through a detailed and itemized list of all the things you have used credit to purchase. As you guessed it, this report then dictates what your credit score is each and every day. If you are really following along, then you just put the pieces together right there, and that is the first step. You might be thinking to yourself, “man, I don’t think I have ever really thought about my credit score. I have no idea what my credit score is.” Well, folks, that is about to change today.
Next Step: Secure the Card
How you obtain a credit card will depend on where you are starting your credit journey. If you are starting this process as a young person (18-20), you can have a family member help set up a credit account and become an authorized user with you. This means that you will both have access to using the card, but maybe your “authorized user,” which let’s be honest, is probably your mom or dad, can be the ones making payments. Many people do this, and it is a great strategy. This way you are using credit, building your score, and setting yourself up for success in life before you might be ready to actually manage a credit card all on your own.
If you are starting from scratch, you can get a secured credit card, which I won’t go into too much detail about Basically, this isn’t your end-all-be-all card but is instead supposed to be used to help build your qualifications to apply for better an unsecured card later on down the line.
I am not here to advise you to choose one path or the other, so consult a family member or even head over to your local bank and have them break it down for you.
Let’s dive into the things you really need to know about credit, the perks, and downsides.
Pitfalls/Benefits
As we break down this list, I will be explaining the positives and negatives of each point. The formula is very simple. If you avoid some of the most common mistakes, you will have better credit. I will be giving my tips and tricks as well about how to avoid these pitfalls. Please be mindful, this is not official financial advice. Consult a banking and credit expert before making any decisions.
Applying for Too Many Credit Cards
We are all enticed to get credit cards from our favorite stores because it usually means more discounts. While that does save you money in the short term, is it going to save you money in the long term? Is it really a good idea to have more credit cards than you do pairs of sunglasses? Most experts would say no. I have read many articles discussing the fact that most successful people only between one and three credit cards, total. I only have one and I can tell you from experience that if you manage just one really well, your credit score will be high!
People often fall victim to the misconception that taking on more credit cards is a good thing. That would be correct if you are always on top of your payments. Let’s be honest though people, that is going to be hard to manage. So, keep it simple and don’t go overboard with racking up too many credit cards.
Missing a Payment/Not Paying it Off in Full
This is a two-for-one because the consequence is the same. Missing a credit card payment and/or not paying a charge in full can be a big downfall because of the potential interest you will have to pay for not paying the correct amount on time.
The fee percentage can be anywhere from 5% to 25% interest if not paid in time. That is why it is imperative to have your finances organized in a way that you pay off your credit card on time each month.
A way that I make sure I do that is by having reminders set in my phone, plus through my bank they have alerts you can set up that will send you an email/text of when your next payment is due or coming up. Even if you are sitting there right now reading this and thinking to yourself, “yeah no I don’t need that, I can remember on my own.” I would highly recommend thinking twice about setting a quick little reminder in your phone. You will thank me later.
What’s the benefit of paying on time? RAISING THAT CREDIT SCORE, BABY! Not only are you avoiding interest fees, but this is how you raise credit. Come on, that is why you are reading this newsletter in the first place, to learn how to boost that credit score!
Thinking You Have Free Money Each Month
You might be thinking, “well yeah it is free money,” but that is what a majority of people think when they use credit. They don’t feel how real it is because you do not need to pay it off right in that moment. Your bank account doesn’t actually deplete when you charge your credit card, so it is easy to feel like it’s not real. This leads to the dreaded, overspending.
Everyone has a budget, planned out or not, we all have a specific supply of money we can spend every month. A credit card can give people a feeling that their budget is now increased. This is the mindset you want to avoid.
Don’t stray from your budget and just think of your credit card as another way of buying something in the moment, but that does eventually need to come out of your bank account.
What I like to do when I use my credit card, I pay off the credit immediately. That is so whatever account my credit card is attached to; the money will then get withdrawn so I can visually see money leaving my bank account. I know I lost some of you there, but trust me, this is the best way to do it and it should be super easy based on how your accounts are set up.
Avoid overspending and you won’t run into any trouble!
Look Over Your Credit Report
A credit card can be a very easy thing to use on any and every kind of purchase. This, however, can make your credit report very long and sometimes shocking when it comes time to pay off the card. It is important to look over your report to get a feel for what you are spending your money on.
Also, this is a great way to check if there are purchases you didn’t make (fraudulent behavior). Yeah, that stuff is real. Check your credit card regularly to keep an eye on the purchases that are being made with it and make sure you recognize all of them. Banks and financial institutions have great fraud protection, so if you find any fraudulent activity, it would be smart to take advantage of those perks to protect your account.
Set Up Monthly Expenses
Credit cards can be great when used towards things you pay for on a monthly basis. Subscriptions, rent, groceries, etc. Those are all great things that you can plan out and use credit towards. They are also usually on the more expensive side so they can help show that you can handle credit.
Also, this is a good side bar. When using credit, it is beneficial to show you can handle more credit with bigger purchases or charges. This will help build up your credit limit, another helpful tip!
Big Purchases
Great credit reports lead to great credit scores. Great credit scores lead to the ability to buy big things. Houses and cars are great examples of things you can buy with a great credit score. Having a good credit score will show the bank and the sellers that you can handle a loan and secure a mortgage.
It is all on a spectrum as well, so even if you do not have amazing credit, you will still qualify for something. A better credit score, however, will lead to a better loan you can secure for big purchases. So, shoot for the stars and start working on your credit now for these future purchases.
A Great Outlook
Like most of you, I am still learning about credit right alongside you. That’s what it’s all about. These are the types of topics that inspired me to start this newsletter in the first place. To start the conversation. Topics that seem difficult are just overlooked, and I was tired of seeing that happen. Credit is the perfect example of that.
I was never taught about credit in school, and it is so important to our everyday lives. So, what I say with this article is to take it as an introduction, and to then go out and start your journey of understanding how credit and credit cards are going to be a part of your life.
Start a budget, stick to it, use your credit wisely, and raise that score.
With that, I leave everyone with the challenge to tackle finances head on and take control of them, instead of them controlling you.
Cheers!
Michael Scott's Rules of Business
Yeah, you read that right. These rules actually have some merit, and here’s why
The Office
Arguably the greatest TV comedy of all time, The Office does a great job of making fun of the typical American workplace. I was reflecting on Episode 4 of Season 2, The Fire, where Michael Scott, the Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton, is enlightening their newest employee, Ryan, on the 10 Rules of Business. If you have not seen this episode, I highly recommend you stop reading this and go watch it before continuing…simply because it is hilarious. While this scene is obviously comical in many ways, one being that we never actually get to learn all 10 rules, some of the concepts Michael discusses have value.
After my umpteenth time watching this episode, I decided it was time to review and analyze Michael Scott’s Rules of Business for myself. While it will be difficult not to take a comedic approach here, it is important to acknowledge the truth behind some of his ridiculously silly pieces of advice. We are going to uncover them in this newsletter. Obviously, there is still going to be some humor in this because who can’t laugh at The Office? Not me.
Why Rules?
Whether you realize it or not, every great business has a set of rules one way or another. These rules are either explicitly stated somewhere like a handbook, or they are unspoken rules maintained by the staff through workplace environment and culture. The recipe for success is to study and repeat what does work, while eliminating what doesn’t work. In essence, this is the function of a business day-to-day.
Why do you think certain companies are able to grow at such exceptional leaps and bounds? They have a playbook that works, and they stick to it. Studying new strategies, but never repeating a failed one.
Michael Scott’s Rules of Business
Alright, let’s get into what you are really here for: to talk about Michael Scott. We are going to go one by one through his list, breaking down the fundamentals behind his ideas. True fans of the show remember that Michael Scott starts his speech with telling Ryan and Dwight that he will talk about his 10 rules of business, but never ends up getting to all of them. The world may never know what the rest of Michael Scott’s rules of business are.
Rule #1: You need to play to win, but you also have to win to play
What a great first rule from Mr. Scott, very well worded. Even though it is a very choppy and confusing statement, it really drives home a great general rule of business, and even life.
To succeed at anything, you need to start somewhere. Nothing just happens, and that is especially true in business. True innovation and growth come from trying things out and learning how to maneuver around problems that arise. You might not think this rule applies to you, but the funny thing is, it applies to everyone. No matter what you are doing in your life right now, you are playing a game and trying to win it.
Ask yourself this question: How can I continue playing the game of life with the goal of being successful?
The second part of this rule rings every truer. Bear with me as I try to make sense of Michael’s seemingly nonsensical statement. As you progress through this game of life, you have to be winning in certain aspects to continue playing. This is known as the cutoff point in the formula in which we find winners and losers. The people who succeed in life are the ones pushing through the challenges, while the others are staying stagnant.
How this relates to most young people is within their current job. You might be an entry level employee, but that should not stop you from helping the mission of breaking through those challenges your company might face.
That idea you have, share it. You think of something in a meeting, share it. You think of things that can be done differently, share them. These are all ways to complete the full rule of business. It is all about playing to win, and if you are playing correctly, you will be able to continue playing.
This first rule serves as a change in perspective, as that is what I believe Michael Scott was going for when he so confidently said this to the temp, Ryan, during the episode.
Rule #2: Adapt, React, Readapt, Apt.
When Michael Scott says this in the show, it becomes one of those moments where you just have to laugh because you know he started his sentence without really knowing where it was going but hoping he would find out along the way. An improversation, if you will (a reference to later in the show, for my die-hard fans out there). And truly, I don’t think he knew where that sentence was going. If you go back, however, and listen to the equation he lays out, it turns out to actually be a great rule of business!
As humans, we are always reacting to things in our lives, on our phones, in business, and much more. It is human nature to react. However, problems arise in the way we adapt or readapt to the things presented to us. This is not only a business issue, but a big issue we face in most aspects of life.
A lot of us find ourselves in the same natural human rut of never changing our reactions to unexpected things that happen in our days. In business you find that the most successful people are the ones who change their reaction each and every time something unpredictable and unprecedented happens. They never let the barrier block them from achieving the goal.
Look inward and reflect on the way you react to the constants in your day. You might have a sales script that has worked for the past ten clients you called, but on the eleventh client it didn’t work. Successful people take on that challenge of crafting the script in a different way moving forward, rather being discouraged and never adapting. This is just a sales example, but you will find this to be true in any and every field of work. The problem usually arises in how you react. We all know when new things are presented to us it can be hard to react positively. Lucky for you, Michael Scott is here to change that mindset. If you make slight changes, or adaptations, to your mindset, you will see a large change in your productivity and overall success.
What Michael Scott is saying with this rule of business, I assume, is that this equation is never ending. Act, React, Readapt, Act. Over and over. I challenge everyone to have this sentiment written down somewhere so you can use it as a way to motivate yourself to have a different perspective.
Rule #3: In business, image is everything
He nailed it with this one. It might be sad, but it is true. People who are under the impression that image “is what it is” and cannot be changed or controlled, are sorely mistaken. Image is everything, people, utilize the many platforms in existence to help create your image exactly how you want it. Truly living by this Michael Scott rule means you are taking your image into your own hands, not just living with it.
When you think of the people you trust and the businesses you buy products from, what comes to mind? It might not be glaring, but everyone subconsciously thinks about the image the brand has created. You think of the company they run, their social media presence, how they hold themselves, etc. These are all things that make up their image.
It goes without saying that people with the most defined images tend to find more success in what they do. Now, I want to be clear that I said the word “defined,” which does not always mean a positive image. There is a large population out there that can manipulate people into believing they have a different image than what the true reality is. I strongly advise not to take it in that direction. I am saying that building your own identity can be very powerful, and you should start creating that image as soon as you finish this article.
Let’s use The Office as a perfect example of what I mean here. Each character in the show has a defined image that is indisputable. Michael is trying to be the best boss ever, while actually having an understated understanding of business. Dwight is a hard worker that doesn’t always pick up on the social ques around the office. Jim is the laid-back employee that says he doesn’t care about his job but is really good at it. Their images are very clear cut and define the audience’s feelings towards them.
There are so many platforms out there that you can use to help create the image you want for yourself. Take those opportunities and start creating. This will not only help you but will help everyone who surrounds you in work and personal life.
Rule #4: Safety first, i.e., don’t burn the building down
This final rule on the list explains itself. In the episode, there was a small fire in the office, and everyone had to evacuate. As they are all standing around the parking lot playing awkward ice breaker games, Michael, probably impromptu, throws in the rule that safety is first. Even though, this was maybe the third or fourth rule he shared over the course of the episode.
I want to expand off of this short rule by saying I believe it relates to not only safety, but to health and happiness as well.
To have a successful business, you need to have happy and healthy employees. Even if you are the one running the business, it is crucially important that people prioritize their happiness and their health to maintain a positive lifestyle. One way to incorporate this into your work life is to choose a company that aligns with your goals, aspirations, and overall culture. There are seemingly unlimited companies out there, so don’t settle for what is currently in front of you if it won’t make you happy showing up to work each day.
When Michael was explaining this rule, I have to assume he was basically reminding Ryan to take care of the person inside the employee. Take control of yourself and your life when the workday ends and explore the world to find things that bring you joy.
Start With Small Steps
Michael Scott’s 10 Rules of Business, which is really just his 4 Rules of Business with more to come, rings very true outside of the fictional Scranton Business Park building. The rules to live by should help you realize your potential and motivate you to do everything you can to reach it. There are so many resources out there like The Office that can teach you valuable ways to look at business a different way. They might not be as good as The Office, but they are close runner ups.
You can never know too much about business, so take on the challenge of incorporating these four rules into your everyday life and I know you will see an improvement in happiness and success quicker than you think!
As always, cheers everyone!
Did you know??
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