Going back to college...

November 30, 2005 10:14 AM

Questions about making the most of going back to school...

I already have an undergrad degree in journalism but after three more years of working retail, I've decided I want to work in multimedia, so I'm enrolling in a special multimedia program that includes animation, sound, video, and digital imaging.

When I get out of school, I really want to be able to enter the professional world.

My questions are...

1) How can I get the absolute most out of being back in school?

2) What is good work for someone to do while they're back in school?

posted by drezdn to Education (10 answers total)

From what I've seen (as a recent back-to-school graduate), internships are the most important thing in getting a job after you graduate. My field was science and math, so maybe it's different, but that is the one thing you absolutely should not skip.
posted by teece at 10:22 AM on November 30, 2005

For (1), just remember it's not about what you absorb, it's what you produce. Make sure you are writing / creating / publishing / disseminating your own projects while you are there and have the school's resources to work with. Don't just take notes and pass tests.
posted by Wolfdog at 11:01 AM on November 30, 2005

What teece and Wolfdog say is correct. In fact, it's probably the case that with this kind of work, potential employers will be more interested in seeing your actual work than in other stuff. So the best thing you could do, if possible, is pick the school and program with an eye to how much actual work you'll produce in a commercial environment. You want a significant portfolio when you come out of school, not just a degree and nothing else.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 11:15 AM on November 30, 2005

I don't think "Don't party" is solid advice. You should try to take what you've learned in the real world and provide yourself with a more balanced university experience than most people are able to have the first time around.

Oh, and electives. Even if it takes an extra semester, don't regret not taking the electives you want to.
posted by jon_kill at 11:42 AM on November 30, 2005

I'm going to echo the other posters by encouraging an internship of some sort. The college I went to (where I did a 'post graduate diploma' - need a B.A., but it's less than a masters) included co-op jobs as part of the curriculum - you needed to do the internship/co-op job in order to graduate. This is an immense help - it gives employers a good excuse to try you out (you're free/cheap after all), and it either gives you a "foot in the door" to a real job with that company, or it gives you real experience to put on your CV and an opportunity to make industry connections.. I would go so far as to say you should choose your program at least partially based on whether the it offers a similar set-up.
posted by Kololo at 11:45 AM on November 30, 2005

Good suggestions here, but I'm not sure about the "don't party" bit.

Going back to school is a great way to network with both professors as well as the students.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 2:06 PM on November 30, 2005

Former 26 year old University Freshman here...

Even if you're doing great in a class, go talk to the professor. Make sure all of them know your name. Stop in after you aced their class, talk about industry trends. The professor who knows you is more likely to give advice when you need it most. They know people.

Subscribe to an industry mag or two. Think for the present and the future. Where is the industry going? Particulaly in your field of interest.

Join a club related to your field or not. Meet people. Age difference does not matter. If it does to someone else, move on.

If you can handle food industry that may be the way to go for work. Some of my best friends to this day were from the Penn State Sub Shop. Worked there for five years and ate 10-12 meals per week for free.

Best of luck.
posted by UncleHornHead at 2:22 PM on November 30, 2005

Oh yeah, Don't be bashful about going down boozy-bum lane occasionally.
posted by UncleHornHead at 2:23 PM on November 30, 2005

1. Don't EVER miss class.

2. Sit near the front, nowhere near the back.

3. If the professor says something that you don't follow or understand, raise your hand and engage him, even with something as dumb as "I'm sorry, can you restate that, I didn't follow". If you're doing #1 and #2, then if you don't understand something, probably nobody does.

Worked wonders for me my second time through college, in stark contrast to my first time. All 3 rules work together. And they're in order. Never EVER miss class.
posted by intermod at 8:01 PM on November 30, 2005 [1 favorite]

Internships are great, and make sure to get good grades, and meet people who will help you.

But, most of all pay close attention to what Wolfdog said: make sure you are creating a portfolio as you go along. You will absolutely need to prove your talents and skills. Every time you get assigned a major project, think of a way to do it so that it will fit in with your portfolio. Always make things look professional. Clean off any rough edges. If you do get an internship, ask for permission to include samples from your work there.

You seriously do not want to have to spend 3 months after you graduate trying to unite a mess of different projects into some semblance of a coherent vision.

Opportunities come out of the blue. Be ready! Part of the networking you should do is to show off your stuff, and you need to present your best face. Your portfolio will be your first impression to many people.
posted by voidcontext at 9:33 PM on November 30, 2005 [1 favorite]