With more than 20 million students arriving on college and university campuses this fall, how can they and their families make the most of their investment?
Bentley University President Gloria Larson joined Bloomberg Radio’s Carol Massar and Cory Johnson to tackle this question during “The Bloomberg Advantage” program on Tuesday, September 15.
While Larson noted that there is more than one way to measure success and return on investment, guests shared their own perspectives on what families and students can do to understand the value and realize the fullest potential of a college experience:
1. Do Your Homework (Years) Before Move-In Day
Have conversations as a family about what is affordable for you long before the decision is in view. Focus on using resources like the net price calculator, a useful tool that paints a picture of what your financial aid options are. When you are ready to commit to a school, make sure you have thoroughly researched their academic profile. Look at the school’s statistics on retention rate (how many students move from freshmen to sophomore year), four and five year graduation rates, financial aid programs, average student loan debt and career placement rate. These can indicate the types of graduates the school is producing.
- Martha Savery, Director of Public Affairs, Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA)
Listen to the full radio segment here
2. Look Beyond GPA
While focusing on academic success is essential for those four formative years, there are other factors proven to maximize the college experience relative to success in work and life after graduation. Market research from Gallup tells us that experiences such as finding a mentor who encourages your dreams, taking on a long-term project, applying what you’ve learned in the classroom to an internship, and creating meaningful connections with professors are just as important to your overall investment as getting that A in history.
- Brandon Busteed, Executive Director, Education & Workforce Development, Gallup
Listen to the full radio segment here
3. Start Career Planning in Your First Year, Not Senior Year
Don’t wait until senior year to stroll in to your college’s career services office. While you don’t need to have things figured out upon arrival, it is important to be proactive and explore who you are and what you might be interested in. Be “the CEO of your own life” and start determining what your strengths are and focus on what you’re really good at. Your career services office can help you create a strategy.
- Susan Brennan, Executive Director of Career Services, Bentley University
Listen to the full radio segment here
This segment is part of an ongoing series with Bentley and its media partner, Bloomberg Radio, that discusses topics related to college graduate career preparedness and higher education, stemming from Bentley’s PreparedU Project
Learn more about Bentley's partnership with Bloomberg Radio.