I Attended 3 Different Colleges In 4 Years: Here’s What I Learned

Why did I take this unconventional route? At the end of high school, like many of my peers, I questioned the value of a college degree given the risks of college loans, poor educational quality, no guarantee of a stable career, and stress resulting from managing part-time employment with class schedules. 

But over the past four years, I found a number of ways to tailor my college experience so that it worked for me. In addition to attending three separate schools, I learned how to cultivate relevant experience outside the classroom, find a side-job that brought me peace rather than stress, build relationships and negotiate with my professors for better grades, and act on personal convictions for my own educational needs. Tailoring my college experience ensured I graduated with a full-time job offer and three years experience on my resume. 

If you want a college education but feel like it’s impossible to achieve, just know you don’t have to do it the same way everyone else does. Here are some strategies I’ve learned on how to make college work for you. 

Create Your Own Opportunities  

Employers usually hire based on experience rather than education. In addition to classes, look for the many opportunities, often directly at your fingertips, which offer real-world experience. 

Attending a community college granted me direct access to the local businesses, chambers, or nonprofits. Often, representatives from these organizations came to campus and hosted job fairs or spoke to classes with the sole purpose of recruiting students. Offering services to these nonprofits, local businesses, and individuals with the understanding that you exchange help for experience grants a plethora of opportunities to meet people, land interviews, and expand your resume. 

In six months to a year of working these community based opportunities, you will have gained that much experience in the workforce, which makes your job application stand out to recruiters. True, you should expect little or no compensation, but the experience on your resume is crucial to making your degree work for you. 

Sometimes, this looks like taking a job you feel unqualified for. I experienced this when asked to develop social media and branding strategies for a daycare and nonprofit. Even though I wasn’t passionate or qualified to develop any type of social media branding, I did it anyway. This taught me resilience and perseverance, which are valuable qualities most employers want to see in job candidates anyway. 

Work Smarter, But Still Work Hard 

You may have read the previous tactic and thought to yourself, “I cannot do work that I do not get paid for. I have bills and no time to work for free.” I understand. Your time and effort is valuable. 

Completing decent work while your creativity, mindfulness, energy, and motivation burns out is not ideal–especially as women! Our bodies are designed uniquely, which makes finding jobs that nourish our feminine qualities without draining our mental, physical, and emotional health, complex. 

Despite this, in order to succeed as a student, maintain relevant job experience, and pay bills, towards the end of my college career I worked three part-time jobs. To alleviate the stress, I supplemented income with jobs I knew were refreshing. For example, frequent, consistent babysitting. 

There is nothing so peaceful as holding a baby while she naps, playing Barbies with sisters, or letting spider-man-ninja-pirate rescue you from the lava monster in the kitchen. As a woman, this helped to strengthen my mind and heart, provide rest, and grant a personal goal–eventually starting a family–while pushing through academia. Facebook mom or neighborhood groups are a great way to find good families to babysit.

One family who frequently hired me had the sweetest baby who slept in the bassinet most mornings. While the mom ran errands or met friends for brunch, I completed classwork while rocking her baby. Whenever the baby needed to be held, fed, or changed, then I would get to hold her! Date night sitting is also ideal for students. After the kids fall sleep and the house is picked up, class work can be completed until the parents arrive. 

You do not have to take the drive-thru job if you don't want to! Be creative to find the avenue of income which will work for you. 

Professors Are People Too 

Don't be afraid to acknowledge the humanity of your professors. Far too often, I was the only student taking notes or engaging in class discussions. By clearing away your devices, acknowledging the speaker in the room, and taking regular notes, you immediately differentiate yourself from your peers, earning the recognition and appreciation of your professor. 

One of my first English professors acknowledged the effort I put into class discussions, and after I skipped two weeks of class due to personal issues, he graciously walked me through the material missed after inquiring how he could help. A few years later, I reconnected with him at a job related event and we discussed the job’s mission for student mental health. Through this interaction, he gained more appreciation for student mental health in our community and is now an avid supporter and church ambassador for this mission! 

It’s important to engage positively with your professors, as they’re more likely to offer extensions for late assignments, recommend internships, invite you to staff socials, vouch for your job applications, or connect you with people in your field. Understanding, of course, you submit diligent, thorough work on time. 

The Art of Negotiation 

Negotiation is a vital life-skill, so start sharpening it with your B- in Psychology. This is especially helpful if you’re trying to maintain a good GPA or keep a scholarship. Basic, effective communication is your friend in every situation, so begin in the most rudimentary situation, asking for help with a grade. 

Attending an online university carries both its merits and challenges, one challenge being I rarely spoke with professors directly. Once, I desperately needed an extension on an essay but knew this specific professor upheld a strict no-extension policy. Instead of asking outright for an extension, I asked to submit work in increments so she could see I wasn’t waiting until the last minute. By negotiating on her terms, she gave me the extension I needed. 

Other People Literally Do Not Care, So Do The Things 

In order to make college work for you, you’ll need to take actions which might make your peers and family question your decisions. For me, this occurred when switching to a private, online institution as my sanity and bank account healed. Close family and friends grew concerned I would never complete higher education. Their opinions eventually dissuaded me from completely transferring the first semester. This cost me the first pick of classes for the second semester as my transcript slowly forwarded over. 

Remember, you’re the one in control of your life–not your parents, peers, friends, or mentors–you.

So, make that lifestyle change! Email your professors asking their opinion on an obscure subject, tell your friends you’re not drinking anymore, take the job you’re unqualified for, delete the dating apps, reach out to that high-profile person your aunt knows and blubber about subjects you don’t understand. Take the risks, create your own opportunities, work smart and hard, show compassion, and live your own life. 

This is Great, But What If I Don’t Want to Go to College? 

College isn’t for everyone, and it’s not the only path to a successful career. However, relying on the integrity of a degree slowly wearing out its welcome in the American workplace is not an ideal situation. If you decide college is the right avenue for you, understand you’re entering a space which requires you to spend your time wisely. You don’t want to find yourself graduating and settling for less in your career or job options. 

The encouraging thing is that when college is done the right way, it offers much more than just a degree. By networking with local organizations, you not only gain new skills, but also learn more about yourself. You develop resilience, insight, passion, and grit. You expand the horizons of your resume, build meaningful connections within your field, and learn to trust your ability to navigate life’s challenges. These experiences are often more valuable than the degree itself, and they add significant weight to your resume. 

So, go ahead—put yourself out there and make your college years a worthwhile adventure that works for you!