College applications are similar to puzzles. They’re made up of tiny bits, such as the college essay, resume, work experience, and so on. These pieces of puzzle are necessary to create a clear image of one’s abilities and future ambitions. During high school, each student has to focus on each of these pieces, glue them together, and confidently send the final result over to the admissions officers.
This metaphorical way of seeing things is easier said than done. The college application process requires plenty of time, patience, hard work, and dedication. All first-generation college students should know that a crucial component of a successful application is one’s work experience.
You might wonder why a teenager should start their career so early on. We’ll let you find out more about this in the following article. We’ve put together four reasons why work experience is so important to one’s college admission. Read on!
- It Showcases One’s Level of Maturity
Maturity is not necessarily associated with one’s teenage years. However, when a high school student showcases this rare trait, they’ll be more likely to impress their teachers and parents.
They might even get ahead of their peers if they continue to cultivate a mature mindset. That way, they’ll be able to secure a better chance of getting admitted into college and pursue the career they truly desire.
When a teenager decides to get an internship, a part-time job, or a summer job, they’re taking their first step into adult life and start to get a glimpse of what the future will look like , as a grown-up. Interacting with other employees, doing their job well, and receiving their first paycheck will most likely increase their levels of maturity.
Work experience is an important detail to mention when applying for college. Admissions officers will surely be impressed by one’s willingness to make room for more lucrative activities. Becoming mature enough to manage both work and school is extremely telling of one’s ambitions and it is highly encouraged by most colleges in the country.
- It Requires Early-On Discipline
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Discipline is visible in the little things. It implies waking up early in the morning, getting to work on time, keeping up with the boss’ demands, respecting imposed deadlines, or even working after-hours. When an aspiring college student signs up for all this, it speaks highly of their sense of discipline. If one can hold down a job for a significant amount of time, it means that they will do great in college as well.
Admissions officers look for students that are capable of being dedicated to their dreams. By having work experience in the college application, the student assures the college that they’ll attend classes regularly and stick around until they’ll receive their well-deserved diploma. Disciplined students will always get ahead of others. That’s because they’re going to put in the work and achieve academic excellence.
- It Makes One a Team Player
People rarely work on projects or tasks on their own while at work. In fact, most workplaces encourage their employees to become a part of a specific team and learn to get along with each team member. During high school, most students might have an individualistic mindset. It’s alright, being a little egotistical is expected from most young people.
However, as soon as they commit to a job, they’ll start to give up their sense of selfishness and learn how to get along with as many types of people as possible. Their flexibility and efficiency will increase and they’ll discover sides of their personality that they had no clue about. That’s the beauty of working during high school ━ it brings the team player out of a young one.
Being a team player during college is the norm. Team projects and presentations are a part of daily college life. By getting a job early on, students will have a clear advantage over their peers when it comes to teamwork. They’ll effortlessly adapt to diverse teams and will deliver great results that will help them to stand out during their college years.
- It Ensures One’s Future as an Efficient Adult
Not all people who go to college become employees. It’s been shown that higher education nurtures entrepreneurship. The opportunities are endless and college is an important first step towards reaching one’s career goals. That is why most colleges require work experience for their admissions.
Another important benefit that teenagers have when they get employed is that they get accustomed to the concept of financial literacy. They learn how to manage their money and save it, while their peers might end up learning about this later during their lives.
It’s also important that the students mention work experience that is relevant to one’s college and career ambitions. An aspiring surgeon who only has experience as a baker doesn’t make much sense, does it?
Google might answer the question “What is financial literacy?” quite well, but nothing compares to the real deal. Getting a job will help one manage their finances in a smart way. An employed student might even open up a savings account and take the opportunity to become responsible for their future college life. This is a fantastic, first-hand way of learning about financial literacy.
In conclusion…
Work experience is a total must when it comes to one’s college application. It showcases how mature and disciplined a student is, whether they’re a good team player or not, and how likely they are to pursue an ambitious career as an adult. Admissions officers will surely be impressed by one’s willingness to work at either a part-time job, summer job, internship, or even at a volunteering gig. The possibilities are endless. Just make sure that they relate to the applicant’s college major.
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