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1. You will significantly increase your chances of having a very
satisfying and successful college experience.
You will expand and deepen your career exploration.
You will gain experience, knowledge, and skills that will make you
more attractive to potential employers and graduate schools.
SOME ADVICE ON
CHOOSING A MAJOR
 Review your college’s
course catalog – read the
description of the
major(s) you are
interested in.
 Look for majors that line
up with your career
interests – assess your
values, interests,
personality and skills.
 Talk to academic
advisors and professors.
 Take career interest
assessments.
 Consider taking a minor
– allows you to explore a
group of focused courses
outside of your major.
WHY USE
COLLEGE
RESOURCES?
College can be one of the most exciting times in your life. You will meet lots of people, gain new experiences,
learn quite a bit and develop skills that will make you marketable to potential employers. However, college
can also be a little intimidating and stressful especially in the beginning. Below are suggestions to help you
have a great college experience, and achieve the level of success you are hoping for.
Expect your adjustment to college to be somewhat challenging.
 It is not uncommon for freshmen to struggle academically or to have bouts
of homesickness in their first academic term.
 If you are having a rough adjustment, don’t be ashamed – be patient with
yourself and reach out for help.
Be prepared to take responsibility for your own success.
 Don’t count on having professors or others hold your hand in college.
Start networking with experienced students right away.
 These students can answer basic questions and help shepherd you
through the critical adjustment period.
Make your academics your top priority (especially early on).
 Do not let social activities, work or extracurricular activities get in the way
of your academic success.
Take time to get settled into your classes before you get too involved in
extracurricular activities.
 Be sure you are doing okay in classes before focusing on the extras.
Get well acquainted with your academic advisors and professors.
 Important sources of support for academic scheduling and success.
Get your information from the source.
 Don’t just rely on peers to give you accurate information – go to the
source to confirm (e.g. academic advisors, professors, career center).
Start exploring student organizations to join.
 A great way to network with other students with similar interests.
 Do not commit yourself too deeply to an organization until you have
settled into your classes (e.g. don’t pledge for a fraternity/sorority in your
first semester).

2. One of the most valuable college resources is the career center. It is designed to equip students
with opportunities, skills and contacts to make the transition into a full-time job easier and more
successful. Using the career center can be the difference between multiple job offers or no job
offer upon graduation. Below are the services and value that the college career center can provide.
Counseling Services
 Self-Assessment: Help with determining your career interests, skills, personality traits and
values through in-depth conversations and administering of career interest assessments.
 Career Identification: Recommendation of careers that may fit you based on your interests,
values, skills, goals and personality traits.
 Internship and Job Search: Assistance with identifying employment opportunities.
 Resume Writing: Help with constructing and developing resumes that will highlight your
qualities and make a favorable impression on employers and graduate schools.
 Graduate School Applications: Assistance with crafting personal statements and other pieces
of the graduate school application process.
 Interview Preparation: Assistance with preparing for a variety of interviews, and sharpening of
interviewing skills to help impress employers and graduate school admissions staff.
Other Services
 Workshops: coverage of areas such as resume writing, interviewing, and job search.
 Career Fairs: opportunity to interact with a number of employers in various industries.
 Internship & Job Listings: employment opportunities posted online.
 Career/Industry Panels & Speaker Events: coverage of various career
topics and fields.
YOUR COLLEGE CAREER CENTER
Ron Roberts, Jr.
Career & College
Planning Partner
ronald.robertsjr@yahoo.com
Academic Advisors/Support Centers: assistance with class scheduling/academic success
Alumni: can help provide internship and job opportunities; potential mentors
Career Centers: career preparation and employment leads: career interest assessments; resume
writing; interview preparation; internship/job information; workshops/events
Counseling Centers: assistance with various issues: college transition; stress management;
depression; anxiety; relationship difficulties; body esteem; substance abuse; suicidal feelings
Leadership Programs: opportunities for leadership development; potential connections with
campus and community leaders
Multicultural Centers: exposure to cultural differences; support based on diversity
Professors: potential allies for your academic success; can provide career guidance and
employment leads; can provide letters of recommendation
Recreational/Intramural Sports: a way to have fun and stay fit; another way to bond with your
peers; opportunity to build leadership and teaming skills
Resident Advisors/Directors: guidance and support if you’re living in college housing
Student/Campus Activities Offices: gateway to campus opportunities: student organizations;
concerts; cultural activities; athletic events; leadership programs; speaker events
Student Organizations: affiliation with peers around similar interests (e.g. academic, cultural,
social, religious, community service, political); leadership development opportunities
Study Abroad Programs: international exposure; opportunity to expand your network globally
Volunteer Opportunities: opportunity to positively impact communities and build skills

3. The importance of finding a mentor on campus, especially for low income and first generation students. It has
been historically proven that low income and first generation have been more successful in regards to
retention and degree awarded from having the benefit of a mentor.
Marcellus Brookshaw, EOP Advisor, California State University, Chico
Balance your life---get enough sleep, eat properly, study productively, get to ALL your classes. You will do
better if you are always healthy and not feeling stressed. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint.
Go to class---it sounds obvious, but it is easy to rationalize sleeping through a class. Professors talk about
what is important to them, and therefore what will be on the exams. Just going to class maximizes your
opportunity to succeed.
Jim Ellis, Dean, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
Get to know your professors, and have them get to know you. They all have office hours and you should take
advantage of them, particularly at the beginning of the semester when students typically don’t go in. Just
introduce yourself, tell them why you are taking the class and what your goals are. When the time comes for
grading, you will get the benefit of the doubt, and when you need a recommendation for graduate school,
they will be there for you as they know you.
Jim Ellis, Dean, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
Students must try to connect with teachers, especially in classes that they experience challenges and
difficulties in. Be engaging in discussion, ask questions and utilize office hours to show that as a student you
take your education seriously. Another benefit of getting to know your professors is the aspect of using them
as references and writers of letters of recommendation.
Marcellus Brookshaw, EOP Advisor, California State University, Chico
Take advantage of what your school has to offer in the way of student organizations, clubs, concerts, talks,
seminars, sports. You want to leave your school knowing that you maximized what it had to offer.
Jim Ellis, Dean, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
The importance of Academic Support Services (i.e. supplemental instruction, tutoring, learning
accommodations, etc.). Students should seek these services proactively, BEFORE they experience academic
difficulty or fall behind.
Meet regularly with their assigned academic advisor. This will ensure the student is making satisfactory
performance in their chosen field of study, while also progressing appropriately for timely graduation.
KC Mmeje, Assistant Vice President & Dean of Students, Loyola University Chicago
Utilizing resources are important on gaining experience outside the classroom to make friends, find mentors
and have places where students can feel comfortable. For example, as a low-income and first generation
student I heavily utilized the student learning center to help in challenging classes like math and science along
with the Educational Opportunity Program and Cross Cultural Leadership Center for academic/personal
counseling and getting involved in multicultural programming.
Marcellus Brookshaw, EOP Advisor, California State University, Chico

4. Not everyone can fully afford college, so applying for scholarships, work study and campus jobs are ways to
help students’ financial situations. In addition, the valuable skills of writing applications for scholarships and
gaining work experience looks great on a resume and shows potential employers that you a hard worker and a
marketable candidate.
Marcellus Brookshaw, EOP Advisor, California State University, Chico
The importance of pursuing internships/research opportunities usually during junior year. These experiences
are incredibly important to life after graduation and will help students increase their marketability for
employment or post-graduate study.
KC Mmeje, Assistant Vice President & Dean of Students, Loyola University Chicago
The aspect of connecting with alumni is a great way to build a student’s professional network. The strength of
a school’s alumni network along with students’ properly utilizing this resource will enable them to get their foot
in the doors of future employment opportunities. Earning good grades and having work experience can only
go so far, it’s also who you know within your network that can be the difference maker of a job opening.
Marcellus Brookshaw, EOP Advisor, California State University, Chico
I highly recommend that incoming college freshmen take the time to build their Competitive Candidate Profile
of the next few years. What you achieve (Prestige), how well you achieve goals (Performance), who you
associate with (Pedigree) and how you tell your story (Projection) will have a direct effect on your ability to
obtain gainful employment. So take it seriously. It’s an investment that will pay itself several times over and
throughout the life of your career.
Damion Donaldson, Career Counselor, California State University, San Bernardino
Get internships during your time in college, particularly during the summer, and in areas where you think you
might be interested in having a career. You will learn about organizations, how they work, and how different
cultures operate. At first it may be difficult, but go to friends and family, and ask if they have projects that need
to be done over the summer---everyone has a project they cannot get to, that they feel is important.
Jim Ellis, Dean, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
Ron is a former college career advisor. He has also recruited college students for internships and full-time jobs. He is
passionate about guiding high school and college students to satisfying careers and satisfying college experiences. Ron has a
career and college resource hub (https://careern4yl.wordpress.com/), and can be reached at ronald.robertsjr@yahoo.com.
Ron Roberts, Jr. – Career & College Planning Partner